Eswatini

Kingdom of Eswatini

LOCATION

Background: 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 name was adopted for the country and its predominant ethnic group. European countries defined the kingdom’s modern borders 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 that came into effect in 2005 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.

Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 17,364 sq km
land: 17,204 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 546 km
border countries: Mozambique 108 km; South Africa 438 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation: highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
mean elevation: 305 m
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use: agricultural land: 69.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 58.1% (2023 est.)
forest: 25.4% (2023 est.)
other: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 500 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: drought
Geography - note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

Population: total: 1,137,268 (2025 est.)
male: 557,204
female: 580,064
Nationality: 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
Ethnic groups: predominantly Swazi; smaller populations of other African ethnic groups, including the Zulu, as well as people of European ancestry
Languages: English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)
Religions: 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.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.6% (male 180,328/female 179,840)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 341,298/female 390,884)
65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 16,974/female 28,765)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 52.2 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 44.7 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 13.3 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 24.8 years (2025 est.)
male: 23.4 years
female: 25.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.87% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 20.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 24.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 68,000 MBABANE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: 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 (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 40.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 32.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 58.7 years
female: 62.8 years
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.3 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 73.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 26.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 92.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 84.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 86.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 15.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 16.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: 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.)
Tobacco use: total: 8.5% (2025 est.)
male: 16.1% (2025 est.)
female: 1.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 36.4% (2022 est.)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.1% (2022)
women married by age 18: 1.9% (2022)
men married by age 18: 0% (2022)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 19.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy: total population: 90.8% (2022 est.)
male: 91.1% (2022 est.)
female: 90.4% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: limited supplies of potable water; overhunting depleting wildlife; population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation
International environmental agreements: 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
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Land use: agricultural land: 69.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 58.1% (2023 est.)
forest: 25.4% (2023 est.)
other: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 24.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 1.326 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 410,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 916,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 16.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 218,200 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 41.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 20.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 1.006 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 4.51 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Eswatini
conventional short form: Eswatini
local long form: Umbuso weSwatini
local short form: eSwatini
former: Swaziland
etymology: the country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified
Government type: absolute monarchy
Capital: name: Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)
geographic coordinates: 26 19 S, 31 08 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; it may come from the Mbabane River next to the city, whose name is said to derive from the word lubabe, a type of shrub; another theory cites a local chief, Mbabane KUNENE, as the source of the name
Administrative divisions: 4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Legal system: mixed system of civil, common, and customary law
Constitution: history: previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006
amendment process: proposed at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both houses and/or majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of amendments affecting "specially entrenched" constitutional provisions requires at least three-fourths majority vote by both houses, passage by simple majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of "entrenched" provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses, passage in a referendum, and assent of the king
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Eswatini
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch: chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Russell DLAMINI (since 6 November 2023)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch; at least one-half of the cabinet membership must be appointed from among elected members of the House of Assembly
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch: legislature name: Parliament (Libandla)
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name: House of Assembly
number of seats: 74 (59 directly elected; 4 indirectly elected; 10 appointed)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 9/29/2023
percentage of women in chamber: 21.6%
expected date of next election: September 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name: Senate
number of seats: 30 (10 indirectly elected; 20 appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/6/2023
percentage of women in chamber: 46.7%
expected date of next election: November 2028
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 justices) and the High Court (consists of the chief justice ex officio and 4 justices)
judge selection and term of office: justices of the Supreme Court and High Court appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the chairman of the Civil Service Commission; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75
subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)
Political parties: political parties exist but conditions for their operations, particularly in elections, are undefined, legally unclear, or culturally restricted; the following are considered political associations:African United Democratic Party or AUDP Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kennedy Fitzgerald GROENING (7 June 2022)
chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002
FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254
email address and website: swaziland@compuserve.com
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) Chargé d’Affaires Marc WEINSTOCK (since August 2025)
embassy: Corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini, P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106
mailing address: 2350 Mbabane Place, Washington DC 20521-2350
telephone: (268) 2417-9000
FAX: [268] 2416-3344
email address and website: ConsularMbabane@state.govHomepage - U.S. Embassy in Eswatini (usembassy.gov)
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple-width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow, with a large black-and-white shield in the center that covers two horizontal spears and a staff with feather tasselsmeaning: blue stands for peace and stability, red for past struggles, and yellow for the mineral resources of the country; the shield, spears, and staff symbolize protection from enemies, and the shield colors stand for ethnic groups living in peaceful coexistence
National symbol(s): lion, elephant
National color(s): blue, yellow, red
National coat of arms: the national coat of arms was adopted in 1968 after independence from the United Kingdom; two national symbols, the lion (representing the king of Eswatini) and the elephant (representing the queen mother), support a traditional Nguni shield; above the shield is the king's lidlabe, or crown of feathers, and at the bottom is Eswatini's motto, Siyinqaba, or "We are the fortress”
National anthem(s): title: "Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (O God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi)
lyrics/music: Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT
history: adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles

Economic overview: 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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $12.885 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $12.553 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $12.135 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $10,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $10,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $10,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.892 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 2.6% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018: 4.8% (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 6.2% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.8% (2023 est.)
industry: 34.7% (2023 est.)
services: 51.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 64% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 19.5% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 3.1% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 48.7% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -51.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, maize, root vegetables, grapefruits, oranges, milk, pineapples, bananas, beef, sweet potatoes (2023)
Industries: soft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 390,600 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 34.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 35.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 35.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 58.2% (2024 est.)
male: 56% (2024 est.)
female: 60.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 58.9% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016: 54.6 (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% (2016 est.)
highest 10%: 42.7% (2016 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.217 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures: $1.439 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2021: 35.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 24.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: $107.534 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$140.972 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: $125.318 million (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $2.174 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $2.095 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $2.132 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: South Africa 61%, Ireland 4%, Mozambique 4%, Kenya 4%, Nigeria 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: scented mixtures, raw sugar, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, garments, wood (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $2.351 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $2.288 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $2.173 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 71%, China 8%, India 4%, USA 2%, Mozambique 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, electricity, plastic products, cotton fabric, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $479.261 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $452.352 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $572.282 million (2021 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $923.266 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: emalangeni per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 18.318 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 18.454 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 16.362 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 14.783 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 16.47 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 82.3% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 86.1%
electrification - rural areas: 81.6%
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 285,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 1.308 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 928.237 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 167.476 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 54.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 37.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: production: 253,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 202,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 201,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 4.644 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 18.823 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 35,600 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1.74 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station; satellite dishes can access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2019)
Internet country code: .sz
Internet users: percent of population: 58% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 34,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3DC
Airports: 16 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways: total: 301 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 301 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Military and security forces: Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Army (includes a small air wing); the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 3,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the UEDF has a small inventory of mostly older light weapons and equipment originating from Europe, South Africa, Taiwan, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the UEDF’s primary mission is external defense, which includes mostly securing the borders; it also has domestic security responsibilities, including protecting members of the royal family; the king is the UEDF commander in chief and holds the position of minister of defense, although the UEDF reports to the Army commander and principal undersecretary of defense for day-to-day operations; the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is responsible for maintaining internal security as well as migration and border crossing enforcement; it is under the prime minister, although the king is the force’s titular commissioner in chief; the UEDF was originally created in 1973 as the Royal Swaziland Defense Force (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 4,459 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 56 (2024 est.)