Country Profile: Kingdom of Swaziland

Geography

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

Government

Independence from South Africa granted in 1968. Head of state: the king. Prime minister appointed by the king. Advisory body for the king: a bicameral parliament, Senate and Assembly. Members of the Assembly elected by popular vote for five-year terms.

One of the world's last absolute monarchies and one of the most miserable of countries.

Trade unions and opposition parties have been banned.

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 criticised for buying a $500,000 car for himself." (from BBC News)

Economy

Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.

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 remain important foreign exchange earners. 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."

Estimated per capita GDP (2009 U.S. dollars)

2009: $4,400 (ranks just behind Guatemala and just ahead of Jordan)
2008: $4,500
2007: $4,400

GDP annual real (not per capita) growth rate estimate

2009: -0.4%
2008: 2.4%
2007: 3.5%

Unemployment rate

2006: 40%.

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

Population

Living in an urban area: 25% (2008)

Jul 2010: 1.354 million. Growth rate: 1.213% (ranks 103rd)
July 2008: 1.129 million.

Density: 68 persons per square kilometer estimated for 2005.

Health

Infant mortality (deaths before the age of one year per 1,000 live births)

2010: 66.71
2008: 69.59
2005: 69.27

Average life expectancy at birth

2010: 47.97
2008: 31.99
2005: 35.65

HIV/ADIS -- adult prevalence rate:
2007: 26.1%

Literacy, Age 15 and Older (2003)

Males 82.6 percent
Females 80.8 percent

Ethnicities

Mostly a single tribe. Whites 3 percent.

Religion

"Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and other 30%"

Satisfaction with Authorities (October 12, 2004)

A report published by the BBC describes a poll of 50,000 families in 28 African countries, by the UN Economic Commission for Africa. There are complaints of "corruption, poor tax systems, run-down and unaccountable public services, weak parliaments and unreformed courts." Swaziland is among the four lowest ranking countries regarding trust in authorities by those polled.

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