A Swazi kingdom was founded in the mid-18th century and ruled by a series of kings including MSWATI II, a 19th century ruler whose appellation was adopted to become the name of the country and its predominant ethnic group. The kingdom’s modern borders were defined by European countries during the late-19th century and Swaziland (as it became known) was administered as a UK high commission territory from 1903 until its independence in 1968. A new constitution came into effect in 2005, which included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear, and the kingdom is still considered an absolute monarchy. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018 to reflect the name most commonly used by its citizens. In 2021, MSWATI III used security forces to suppress prodemocracy protests. A national dialogue and reconciliation process agreed to in the wake of violence has not materialized. In November 2023, King MSWATI III appointed a new Prime Minister following peaceful national elections. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty, corruption, and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections. Eswatini is the only country in Africa that recognizes Taiwan.
land: 17,204 sq km
water: 160 sq km
border countries (2): Mozambique 108 km; South Africa 438 km
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
mean elevation: 305 m
arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 57.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 31.7% (2018 est.)
other: 0% (2018 est.)
1,130,043 (2023 est.)
noun: liSwati (singular), emaSwati (plural); note - former term, Swazi(s), still used among English speakers
adjective: Swati; note - former term, Swazi, still used among English speakers
predominantly Swazi; smaller populations of other African ethnic groups, including the Zulu, as well as people of European ancestry
English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)
Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and traditional African religions - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other Christian 30% - includes Anglican, Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Witness), Muslim 2%, other 8% (includes Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous, Jewish) (2015 est.)
Eswatini, a small, predominantly rural, landlocked country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, suffers from severe poverty and the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. A weak and deteriorating economy, high unemployment, rapid population growth, and an uneven distribution of resources all combine to worsen already persistent poverty and food insecurity, especially in rural areas. Erratic weather (frequent droughts and intermittent heavy rains and flooding), overuse of small plots, the overgrazing of cattle, and outdated agricultural practices reduce crop yields and further degrade the environment, exacerbating Eswatini’s poverty and subsistence problems. Eswatini’s extremely high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate – nearly 28% of adults have the disease – compounds these issues. Agricultural production has declined due to HIV/AIDS, as the illness causes households to lose manpower and to sell livestock and other assets to pay for medicine and funerals.Swazis, mainly men from the country’s rural south, have been migrating to South Africa to work in coal, and later gold, mines since the late 19th century. Although the number of miners abroad has never been high in absolute terms because of Eswatini’s small population, the outflow has had important social and economic repercussions. The peak of mining employment in South Africa occurred during the 1980s. Cross-border movement has accelerated since the 1990s, as increasing unemployment has pushed more Swazis to look for work in South Africa (creating a “brain drain” in the health and educational sectors); southern Swazi men have continued to pursue mining, although the industry has downsized. Women now make up an increasing share of migrants and dominate cross-border trading in handicrafts, using the proceeds to purchase goods back in Eswatini. Much of today’s migration, however, is not work-related but focuses on visits to family and friends, tourism, and shopping.
0-14 years: 32.16% (male 181,886/female 181,491)
15-64 years: 63.88% (male 336,243/female 385,599)
65 years and over: 3.97% (2023 est.) (male 16,654/female 28,170)
total dependency ratio: 64
youth dependency ratio: 57.4
elderly dependency ratio: 6.5
potential support ratio: 15.3 (2021 est.)
total: 24.4 years (2023 est.)
male: 23.1 years
female: 25.5 years
0.72% (2023 est.)
22.8 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
-6.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this
urban population: 24.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
68,000 MBABANE (capital) (2018)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
437 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
total: 38.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 42.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 33.9 deaths/1,000 live births
total population: 60.2 years (2023 est.)
male: 58.2 years
female: 62.3 years
2.41 children born/woman (2023 est.)
1.19 (2023 est.)
66.1% (2014)
improved: urban: 97.5% of population
rural: 74.8% of population
total: 80.3% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population
rural: 25.2% of population
total: 19.7% of population (2020 est.)
6.5% of GDP (2020)
0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved: urban: 92.3% of population
rural: 83.9% of population
total: 85.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 7.7% of population
rural: 16.1% of population
total: 14.1% of population (2020 est.)
degree of risk: intermediate (2023)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
16.5% (2016)
total: 7.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 5.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total: 9.2% (2020 est.)
male: 16.5% (2020 est.)
female: 1.8% (2020 est.)
5.8% (2014)
37.1% (2023 est.)
5% of GDP (2021 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.4%
male: 88.3%
female: 88.5% (2018)
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 12 years (2013)
limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
varies from tropical to near temperate
agricultural land: 68.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 57.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 31.7% (2018 est.)
other: 0% (2018 est.)
urban population: 24.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
severe localized food insecurity: due to higher staple food prices - the price of maize meal, the key food staple, increased in the first five months of 2022 and, as of May 2022, were 3 percent higher on a yearly basis; wheat flour prices were also at record highs in May 2022; this mainly reflects the elevated global prices and the country’s high dependence on imported wheat to satisfy national consumption needs (2022)
2.25% of GDP (2018 est.)
0.1% of GDP (2018 est.)
particulate matter emissions: 15.07 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 1.16 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 1.9 megatons (2020 est.)
municipal solid waste generated annually: 218,199 tons (2016 est.)
municipal: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
4.51 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
landlocked southern African economy; South African trade dependent and currency pegging; CMA and SACU member state; COVID-19 economic slowdown; growing utilities inflation; persistent poverty and unemployment; HIV/AIDS labor force disruptions
$10.56 billion (2021 est.)
$9.788 billion (2020 est.)
$9.943 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
7.88% (2021 est.)
-1.56% (2020 est.)
2.7% (2019 est.)
$8,900 (2021 est.)
$8,300 (2020 est.)
$8,500 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
$4.484 billion (2019 est.)
2.6% (2019 est.)
4.82% (2018 est.)
6.22% (2017 est.)
Moody’s rating: B3 (2020)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
agriculture: 6.5% (2017 est.)
industry: 45% (2017 est.)
services: 48.6% (2017 est.)comparison rankings:
household consumption: 64% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 21.3% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 13.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 47.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -46.3% (2017 est.)
sugar cane, maize, roots/tubers nes, grapefruit, oranges, milk, beef, potatoes, vegetables, bananas
soft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel
15.38% (2021 est.)
383,500 (2021 est.)
25.76% (2021 est.)
25.51% (2020 est.)
22.84% (2019 est.)
total: 50.9% (2021 est.)
male: 47.7%
female: 54.1%
58.9% (2016 est.)
54.6 (2016 est.)
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.1% (2010 est.)
revenues: $1.131 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures: $1.454 billion (2020 est.)
-8.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
28.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
25.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
28.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
1 April - 31 March
$124.463 million (2021 est.)
$270.942 million (2020 est.)
$176.144 million (2019 est.)
$2.132 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.808 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2.048 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
South Africa 94% (2017)
carbonated drink mixtures, sugar, gold, industrial additives, clothing, lumber (2021)
$2.173 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.686 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.924 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
South Africa 81.6%, China 5.2% (2017)
motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
$572,281,500 (31 December 2021 est.)
$545,564,200 (31 December 2020 est.)
$440,314,200 (31 December 2019 est.)
$535 million (2019 est.)
$456 million (2018 est.)
emalangeni per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
14.783 (2021 est.)
16.47 (2020 est.)
14.452 (2019 est.)
13.234 (2018 est.)
13.324 (2017 est.)
population without electricity: (2020) less than 1 million
electrification - total population: 82.9% (2021)
electrification - urban areas: 94.5% (2021)
electrification - rural areas: 79.1% (2021)
installed generating capacity: 286,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 1,448,308,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 942 million kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 154.7 million kWh (2019 est.)comparison rankings:
fossil fuels: 44.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 24.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 31% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
production: 108,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 169,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 163,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 135,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 144 million metric tons (2019 est.)
total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
5,279 bbl/day (2015 est.)
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
1.224 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 350,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 875,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
19.371 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
3DC
14 (2021)
2
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
12
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
total: 301 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 301 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
total: 3,769 km (2019)
manyapis