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Wealth and National Well-Being

Country Comparisons:
2010: see chart

World Factbook: "In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp were major foreign exchange earners; however, the wood pulp producer closed in January 2010, and sugar is now the main export earner. In 2007, the sugar industry increased efficiency and diversification efforts, in response to a 17% decline in EU sugar prices. Mining has declined in importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active."

Unemployment rate
2006: 40%.

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
2001: Top 10 percent of the population, 40%; bottom ten percent, 1.6%

People

Living in an urban area
2010: 21%

Density: 68 persons per square kilometer estimated for 2005.

Literacy (age 15 and older )
males 82.6 percent, females 80.8 percent

Ethnicities
Mostly a single tribe. Whites 3 percent.

Religion
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Baha'i, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%

Geography

Southern Africa. Landlocked. Borders on Mozambique and South Africa. Equivalent to 132 by 132 kilometers. Mountainous.

Government

Head of state: the king. Prime minister appointed by the king. Advisory body for the king: a bicameral parliament (Senate and Assembly). The Assembly has 65 seats, with 10 members appointed by the king and 55 members elected b y popular vote and serving five-year terms.

One of the world's last absolute monarchies.

Trade unions and opposition parties have been banned.

Capital: Mbabane

Recent History

Independence from South Africa granted in 1968.

Headline from January 2005: King Mswati III takes his 13th wife.

Headline from February 2005: "King Mswati buys 10 BMWs for his wives just two months after being criticized for buying a $500,000 car for himself." (from BBC News)

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
BBC News