Topic: Photos of Eswatini

Topic: Introduction
Background: Autonomy for Eswatini was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. A new constitution came into effect in 2006, which included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in April 2018. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections.            Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
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 (2): 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: 68.3% (2018 est.)

arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 57.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 31.7% (2018 est.)

other: 0% (2018 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
Map description: Eswatini map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.Eswatini map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 1,121,761 (2022 est.)

note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
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 ancestrypredominantly 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 indigenous ancestral worship - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other 30% - includes Anglican, Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ, Jehovah's Witness), Muslim 2%, other 8% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous, Jewish) (2015 est.)
Demographic profile: Eswatini, a small, predominantly rural, landlocked country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, suffers from severe poverty and the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. A weak and deteriorating economy, high unemployment, rapid population growth, and an uneven distribution of resources all combine to worsen already persistent poverty and food insecurity, especially in rural areas. Erratic weather (frequent droughts and intermittent heavy rains and flooding), overuse of small plots, the overgrazing of cattle, and outdated agricultural practices reduce crop yields and further degrade the environment, exacerbating Eswatini's poverty and subsistence problems. Eswatini's extremely high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate – more than 28% of adults have the disease – compounds these issues. Agricultural production has declined due to HIV/AIDS, as the illness causes households to lose manpower and to sell livestock and other assets to pay for medicine and funerals.Swazis, mainly men from the country’s rural south, have been migrating to South Africa to work in coal, and later gold, mines since the late 19th century. Although the number of miners abroad has never been high in absolute terms because of Eswatini's small population, the outflow has had important social and economic repercussions. The peak of mining employment in South Africa occurred during the 1980s. Cross-border movement has accelerated since the 1990s, as increasing unemployment has pushed more Swazis to look for work in South Africa (creating a "brain drain" in the health and educational sectors); southern Swazi men have continued to pursue mining, although the industry has downsized. Women now make up an increasing share of migrants and dominate cross-border trading in handicrafts, using the proceeds to purchase goods back in Eswatini. Much of today’s migration, however, is not work-related but focuses on visits to family and friends, tourism, and shopping.Eswatini, a small, predominantly rural, landlocked country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, suffers from severe poverty and the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. A weak and deteriorating economy, high unemployment, rapid population growth, and an uneven distribution of resources all combine to worsen already persistent poverty and food insecurity, especially in rural areas. Erratic weather (frequent droughts and intermittent heavy rains and flooding), overuse of small plots, the overgrazing of cattle, and outdated agricultural practices reduce crop yields and further degrade the environment, exacerbating Eswatini's poverty and subsistence problems. Eswatini's extremely high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate – more than 28% of adults have the disease – compounds these issues. Agricultural production has declined due to HIV/AIDS, as the illness causes households to lose manpower and to sell livestock and other assets to pay for medicine and funerals.Swazis, mainly men from the country’s rural south, have been migrating to South Africa to work in coal, and later gold, mines since the late 19th century. Although the number of miners abroad has never been high in absolute terms because of Eswatini's small population, the outflow has had important social and economic repercussions. The peak of mining employment in South Africa occurred during the 1980s. Cross-border movement has accelerated since the 1990s, as increasing unemployment has pushed more Swazis to look for work in South Africa (creating a "brain drain" in the health and educational sectors); southern Swazi men have continued to pursue mining, although the industry has downsized. Women now make up an increasing share of migrants and dominate cross-border trading in handicrafts, using the proceeds to purchase goods back in Eswatini. Much of today’s migration, however, is not work-related but focuses on visits to family and friends, tourism, and shopping.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33.63% (male 185,640/female 185,808)

15-24 years: 18.71% (male 98,029/female 108,654)

25-54 years: 39.46% (male 202,536/female 233,275)

55-64 years: 4.36% (male 20,529/female 27,672)

65 years and over: 3.83% (2020 est.) (male 15,833/female 26,503)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 70.8

youth dependency ratio: 64

elderly dependency ratio: 6.9

potential support ratio: 14.6 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 23.7 years

male: 22.5 years

female: 24.7 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.75% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 23.35 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 9.71 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 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: 24.6% of total population (2022)

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

15-24 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.73 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female

total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 437 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 39.63 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 43.89 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 35.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.69 years

male: 57.62 years

female: 61.81 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.44 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 66.1% (2014)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.5% of population

rural: 74.8% of population

total: 80.3% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population

rural: 25.2% of population

total: 19.7% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 6.8% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 92.3% of population

rural: 83.9% of population

total: 85.9% of population

unimproved: urban: 7.7% of population

rural: 16.1% of population

total: 14.1% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 26.8% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 200,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 2,400 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria

water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 16.5% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 9.2% (2020 est.)

male: 16.5% (2020 est.)

female: 1.8% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.8% (2014)
Education expenditures: 5.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 88.4%

male: 88.3%

female: 88.5% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 12 years (2013)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 47.1%

male: 44.2%

female: 50% (2016)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation
Environment - international 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
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 16.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 1.16 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 1.9 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Land use: agricultural land: 68.3% (2018 est.)

arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 57.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 31.7% (2018 est.)

other: 0% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 24.6% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 2.25% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria

water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to economic downturn - nearly 336,000 people were assessed to be food insecure at least until March 2022, prior to the main harvest period, primarily due to food access constraints, underpinned by the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 218,199 tons (2016 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 41.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 20.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 1.006 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 4.51 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
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

note: pronounced ay-swatini or eh-swatini
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: named after a Swati chief, Mbabane Kunene, who lived in the area at the onset of British settlement
Administrative divisions: 4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968)
Constitution: history: previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006

amendments: 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
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law
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 Cleopas DLAMINI (since since 19 July 2021); Deputy Prime Minister Themba MASUKU (since 6 November 2018)

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

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament (Libandla) consists of:
 Senate (30 seats; 20 members appointed by the monarch and 10 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the House of Assembly; members serve 5-year terms)
House of Assembly (70 seats statutory, current 74; 59 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies or tinkhundla by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, 10 members appointed by the monarch, 4 women elected by the members if representation of elected women is less than 30%, and 1 ex-officio member - the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held on 23 October 2018 (next to be held - 31 October 2023)
House of Assembly - last held on 21 September 2018 (next to be held in 2023)

election results: Senate - percent of seats by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 18, women 12, percent of women 40%
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 59; composition - men 65, women 9, percent of women 12.2%; note - total Parliament percent of women 20.2%
Judicial branch: highest courts: 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); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in all constitutional matters

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 and leaders: 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 [Sibusiso DLAMINI]
Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Sibongile MAZIBUKO]
People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mlungisi MAKHANYA]
Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA [Vacant]
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
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:
embassy@swaziland-usa.com; swaziland@compuserve.com
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanne M. MALONEY (since 4 March 2021)

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.gov

https://sz.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally; blue stands for peace and stability, red represents past struggles, and yellow the mineral resources of the country; the shield, spears, and staff symbolize protection from the country's enemies, while the black and white of the shield are meant to portray black and white people living in peaceful coexistence
National symbol(s): lion, elephant; national colors: blue, yellow, red
National anthem: name: "Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi)

lyrics/music: Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT

note: adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: A small, landlocked kingdom, Eswatini is bordered in the north, west and south by the Republic of South Africa and by Mozambique in the east. Eswatini depends on South Africa for a majority of its exports and imports. Eswatini's currency is pegged to the South African rand, effectively relinquishing Eswatini's monetary policy to South Africa. The government is dependent on customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) for almost half of its revenue. Eswatini is a lower middle income country. As of 2017, more than one-quarter of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS; Eswatini has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate, a financial strain and source of economic instability.   The manufacturing sector diversified in the 1980s and 1990s, but manufacturing has grown little in the last decade. Sugar and soft drink concentrate are the largest foreign exchange earners, although a drought in 2015-16 decreased sugar production and exports. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and floods are persistent problems. Mining has declined in importance in recent years. Coal, gold, diamond, and quarry stone mines are small scale, and the only iron ore mine closed in 2014. With an estimated 28% unemployment rate, Eswatini's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and to attract foreign direct investment is acute.   Eswatini's national development strategy, which expires in 2022, prioritizes increases in infrastructure, agriculture production, and economic diversification, while aiming to reduce poverty and government spending. Eswatini's revenue from SACU receipts are likely to continue to decline as South Africa pushes for a new distribution scheme, making it harder for the government to maintain fiscal balance without introducing new sources of revenue.A small, landlocked kingdom, Eswatini is bordered in the north, west and south by the Republic of South Africa and by Mozambique in the east. Eswatini depends on South Africa for a majority of its exports and imports. Eswatini's currency is pegged to the South African rand, effectively relinquishing Eswatini's monetary policy to South Africa. The government is dependent on customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) for almost half of its revenue. Eswatini is a lower middle income country. As of 2017, more than one-quarter of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS; Eswatini has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate, a financial strain and source of economic instability. The manufacturing sector diversified in the 1980s and 1990s, but manufacturing has grown little in the last decade. Sugar and soft drink concentrate are the largest foreign exchange earners, although a drought in 2015-16 decreased sugar production and exports. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and floods are persistent problems. Mining has declined in importance in recent years. Coal, gold, diamond, and quarry stone mines are small scale, and the only iron ore mine closed in 2014. With an estimated 28% unemployment rate, Eswatini's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and to attract foreign direct investment is acute. Eswatini's national development strategy, which expires in 2022, prioritizes increases in infrastructure, agriculture production, and economic diversification, while aiming to reduce poverty and government spending. Eswatini's revenue from SACU receipts are likely to continue to decline as South Africa pushes for a new distribution scheme, making it harder for the government to maintain fiscal balance without introducing new sources of revenue.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $9.74 billion (2020 est.)

$9.9 billion (2019 est.)

$9.68 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 1.6% (2017 est.)

1.4% (2016 est.)

0.4% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $8,400 (2020 est.)

$8,600 (2019 est.)

$8,500 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.484 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.2% (2017 est.)

7.8% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Moody's rating: B3 (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.5% (2017 est.)

industry: 45% (2017 est.)

services: 48.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 64% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 21.3% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 13.4% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 47.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -46.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, maize, roots/tubers nes, grapefruit, oranges, milk, beef, potatoes, vegetables, bananas
Industries: soft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 427,900 (2016 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10.7%

industry: 30.4%

services: 58.9% (2014 est.)
Unemployment rate: 28% (2014 est.)

28% (2013 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 47.1%

male: 44.2%

female: 50% (2016)
Population below poverty line: 58.9% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 54.6 (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7%

highest 10%: 40.1% (2010 est.)
Budget: revenues: 1.263 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 1.639 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -8.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 28.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

25.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 28.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance: $604 million (2017 est.)

$642 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $1.81 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.07 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.9 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: South Africa 94% (2017)
Exports - commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, timber, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus, and canned fruit
Imports: $1.7 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.93 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.07 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: South Africa 81.6%, China 5.2% (2017)
Imports - commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $563.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$564.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $535 million (2019 est.)

$456 million (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: emalangeni per US dollar -

14.44 (2017 est.)

14.6924 (2016 est.)

14.6924 (2015 est.)

12.7581 (2014 est.)

10.8469 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 90% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 98% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 87% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 286,000 kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 1,448,308,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)

imports: 942 million kWh (2019 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 154.7 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 44.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 24.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 31% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 108,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 169,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 163,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 135,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 144 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 5,279 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.224 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 350,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 875,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 19.371 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 39,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1.243 million (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Eswatini (or eSwatini) was one of the last countries in the world to open up its telecom market to competition; until 2011 the state-owned Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications also acted as the industry regulator and had a stake in the country’s sole mobile network, in an uneasy partnership with MTN Eswatini; a new independent regulatory authority was established in late 2013 and has since embarked on significant changes to the sector;  Eswatini Telecom was provided with a unified license in early 2016, while MTN Eswatini secured spectrum in the 1800MHz band to provide LTE services; Eswatini Mobile has launched GSM, 3G and LTE services, supported by a network sharing agreement with MTN Eswatini; mobile market subscriptions have been affected by the common use among subscribers when they use SIM cards from different networks in order to access cheaper on-net calls; subscriber growth has slowed in recent years, but was expected to have reached 8% in 2021, as people adapted to the changing needs for connectivity caused by the pandemic; the internet sector has been open to competition with a small number of licensed ISPs; DSL services were introduced in 2008, development of the sector has been hampered by the limited fixed-line infrastructure and by a lack of competition in the access and backbone networks; Eswatini is landlocked and so depends on neighboring countries for international bandwidth; this has meant that access pricing is relatively high, and market subscriptions remains relatively low; prices have fallen recently in line with greater bandwidth availability resulting from several new submarine cable systems which have reached the region in recent years; in addition, Paratus in September 2020 completed a terrestrial cable linking Mozambique with Eswatini and South Africa. (2022)

domestic: Eswatini has 2 mobile-cellular providers; communication infrastructure has a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscriber base; fixed-line stands at nearly 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 94 telephones per 100 persons; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay (2019)

international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station; satellite dishes are able to access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2019)
Internet country code: .sz
Internet users: total: 539,623 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 47% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 12,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3DC
Airports: total: 14 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 7 (2021)
Railways: total: 301 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 301 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Roadways: total: 3,769 km (2019)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Army (includes a small air wing) (2022)
Military expenditures: 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

1.9% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $140 million)

2.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $150 million)

2.1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $140 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 3,000 active duty personnel (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the UEDF is lightly armed with mostly South African material; it has received small amounts of secondhand equipment since 2010 (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2021)
Military - note: the UEDF was originally created in 1973 as the Royal Swaziland Defense Force; the UEDF’s primary mission is external security but 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 (2022)

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: in 2006, Swati king advocated resorting to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africain 2006, Swati king advocated resorting to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country.
US Embassy/Consulate: 0760-030-3000; US Embassy in Baghdad, Al-Kindi Street, International Zone, Baghdad, Iraq; BaghdadACS@state.gov; https://iq.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 964
Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only
Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
Currency (Code): Iraqi dinars (IQD)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, D, G

Major Languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Turkmen, Syriac, and Armenian are official in areas where native speakers of these languages constitute a majority of the population
Major Religions: Muslim 95-98% (Shia 64-69%, Sunni 29-34%), Christian 1%
Time Difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: required
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Erbil; Ziggurat of Ur; Iraq Museum (Baghdad); Basra; Karbala; Hatra; Samarra Archaeological City; Babylon
Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, kickboxing, wrestling
Cultural Practices: If meals are served on the floor, sit cross legged or kneel. It is impolite to let your food touch the floor.
Tipping Guidelines: If no service charge is included in the bill, a 10-15% tip is appropriate in nicer restaurants.
Souvenirs: Copperware, hand-woven carpets and rugs, silver, spices, teas, coffees, calligraphic paintings, woven baskets, musical instruments
Traditional Cuisine: Masgouf — seasoned grilled carp	Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022