eSwatini (Swaziland) Facts

The Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland) is located in Southern Africa. This landlocked country is bordered by South Africa to the north, south, and west, and Mozambique to the east. It is also known as Swatini or Ngwane.

Mbabane, the largest city of eSwatini (Swaziland) with estimated population of about hundred thousand, is the Administrative capital of the country. The traditional royal capital, however, is Lobamba.

eSwatini (Swaziland) covers an area of 6,704 square miles and has an estimated population of 1,185,000.

Swazi Lilangeni is the official currency of eSwatini (Swaziland). Its ISO 4217 code is SZL. It is divided into 100 cents and is issued by the Central Bank of eSwatini (Swaziland). The South African rand is also accepted in the country.

Mbabane is the largest city of eSwatini (Swaziland). It is located on the Mbabane River and has an estimated population of 95,000. It is named after a Chief, Mbabane Kunene, who lived in this region when the British arrived.

English and SiSwati are the official languages of eSwatini (Swaziland). SiSwati is also the official language of South Africa. It is a Bantu language and is taught in schools.

Christianity is the most popular religion in eSwatini (Swaziland). Approximately 82.70% of the population is Christian. Other non-Christian religions in the country include Islam, Bahai Faith, and Hinduism.

The total adult literacy rate in eSwatini (Swaziland) is 81.6%. Literacy rate for males in the country is 82.6%, while it is 81.6% for females.

eSwatini (Swaziland) is a unitary parliamentary democracy within a constitutional and absolute monarchy. The king of eSwatini (Swaziland) is the head of the state. He appoints the prime minister and certain representatives for both chambers of the parliament. Mswati III is the King of eSwatini (Swaziland). He succeeded his father in 1986. Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini is the current Prime Minister of the country. He assumed office on October 23, 2008.

The national day of eSwatini (Swaziland) is celebrated on September 6. On this day in 1968, eSwatini (Swaziland) gained independence from the United Kingdom. Swazi independence was recognized by the British government in 1881, but certain controversial land and mineral rights placed its administration under the then South African Republic. Its first Legislative Council was constituted on September 9, 1964. It was finally granted independence in 1968.

In 2006, the GDP of eSwatini (Swaziland) was $5.936 billion, while its per capita income, in 2005, was $5,200. Industry accounts for 51.5% of the GDP, followed by services: 36.6%, and agriculture:11.9%. 69% of the population lives below poverty line. Unemployment rate stands at 40%. Coal mining, asbestos mining, textile, wood pulp, and sugar are the major industries. Major trade flows are with South Africa, EU, Japan, Mozambique, and US.