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: 1,467,152 (2017)

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 - Feb 15, 2019: Swaziland Health Crisis Getting Worse As Budgets Cut. Rural Areas Worse Affected - AllAfrica News: Swaziland
    [Swazi Media] The Government of Swaziland / eSwatini has cut budgets for public health services across the kingdom and rural areas in particular are suffering, according to the latest report from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
  • Wed - Feb 13, 2019: Universal Health Coverage - Leaving No One Behind in the Kingdom of Eswatini - AllAfrica News: Swaziland
    [WHO] The World Health Organization (WHO) recently conducted the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scoping exercise in the Kingdom of Eswatini from 28 January to 1 February 2019. The exercise was led by the Ministry of Health with participation of other stakeholders. Dr Juliet Nabyonga from Inter- country Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa, Dr Stanley Midzi from Zimbabwe country office, Dr. Akin. Oyemakinde, a consultant and Dr Khosi Mthethwa, the Health Systems Strengthening focal point in Eswatini WHO
  • Mon - Feb 11, 2019: Swaziland Absolute King Calls for Stiff Public Spending Cuts but Is Not Making Personal Sacrifice - AllAfrica News: Swaziland
    [Swazi Media] King Mswati III, the absolute monarch of Swaziland /eSwatini, has demanded severe public spending cuts across his impoverished kingdom.
  • Sun - Feb 10, 2019: Poorer African Nations Rank High in Disease-Fighters' League Table - AllAfrica News: Swaziland
    [Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases] Addis Ababa -African countries with modest national incomes are outperforming some richer nations on the continent in the fight against diseases of poverty known as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), according to a new league table ranking.
  • Thu - Feb 7, 2019: We Want Our Land Back, King Mswati - AllAfrica News: Swaziland
    [Fahamu] Swaziland's government has been evicting farmers from their land to expand the monarchy-controlled sugar industry for decades. After years of empty promises that they could return, the children of farmers from Mbuluzi are fighting to get their land back.