Swaziland

COUNTRY FLAG

COAT OF ARMS
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LOCATION MAP

AREA MAP
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INFORMATION

Capital: Lobamba (royal/legislative,) Mbabane (administrative)

Government: Unitary Parliamentary Absolute Diarchy

Current King: Mswati III

Economy:

  • Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland depends heavily on South Africa from which it receives more than 90% of its imports and to which it sends 60% of its exports.
  • The government is heavily dependent on customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), and worker remittances from South Africa supplement domestically earned income.
  • Subsistence agriculture employs approximately 70% of the population.

Population: 1,087,200 (2018)

Land Size: 17,364 sq km (6,704 sq miles)

Major Ethnic Groups:

  • Swazi: 97%
  • European: 3%
 Religions:

  • Zionist (a blend of Christianity and African Traditional Religions): 40%
  • Roman Catholic: 20%
  • Muslim: 10%
  • Other (includes Anglican, Baha’i, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish): 30%

Language(s):

  • English (official, used for government business)
  • siSwati (official)

Links:

RECENT NEWS

  • Fri - Jun 14, 2019: Is Speaking Truth to Swazi Royal Power Bringing Slow Change? - AllAfrica News: Swaziland
    [ISS] Little news emerges from Eswatini, the tiny monarchy landlocked by South Africa and Mozambique, except lurid stories about the latest shenanigans of King Mswati III and his many wives. So it's hardly surprising that few outsiders - and not even many insiders apparently - have been paying attention to quite encouraging recent political developments.
  • Thu - Jun 13, 2019: Time for Swaziland to Follow Botswana's Lead and Decriminalise Gay Sex - AllAfrica News: Swaziland
    [Swazi Media] Swaziland should follow the example of its near-neighbour Botswana and decriminalise gay sex.
  • Thu - Jun 6, 2019: His Majesty King Mswati III Launches End Malaria Fund - AllAfrica News: Swaziland
    [WHO] His Majesty King Mswati III, who is the current chairperson for the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) launched the End Malaria Fund for the Kingdom of Eswatini. This initiative is aimed at mobilising sustainable domestic resources for malaria elimination in the Kingdom, the region and the entire African continent.
  • Thu - Jun 6, 2019: Afreximbank President Visits Eswatini, Signs Declaration for Credit Facility of Up To U.S.$140 Million - AllAfrica News: Swaziland
    [Afreximbank] Mbabane -The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will provide a credit facility valued at up to two billion Rands (about $140 million) to the Kingdom of Eswatini to enable the Kingdom achieve required funding to meet trade and strategic economic goals, Bank President Prof. Benedict Oramah, has announced in Mbabane.
  • Fri - May 31, 2019: Doubts Over Evidence As Swaziland Democracy Activist Musa Ngubeni Jailed Seven Years - AllAfrica News: Swaziland
    [Swazi Media] Musa Ngubeni, the democracy activist in Swaziland / eSwatini, has been jailed for seven years with four of them suspended for possession of explosives.