Eswatini

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

total:

24.8 years (2025 est.)

male:

23.4 years

female:

25.8 years

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.)

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

total population:

60.7 years (2024 est.)

male:

58.7 years

female:

62.8 years

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.)

total:

8.5% (2025 est.)

male:

16.1% (2025 est.)

female:

1.2% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

0.1% (2022)

women married by age 18:

1.9% (2022)

men married by age 18:

0% (2022)

• limited supplies of potable water;
• overhunting depleting wildlife;
• population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation

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

urban population:

24.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

218,200 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

17.3% (2022 est.)

municipal:

41.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

20.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

1.006 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

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

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

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

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

legislature name:

Parliament (Libandla)

legislative structure:

bicameral

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

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)

note: the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in all constitutional matters

• 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

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:

[email protected]

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:

[email protected]; Homepage - U.S. Embassy in Eswatini (usembassy.gov)

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 tassels

meaning:

• 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

• 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”

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

• 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

agriculture:

6.8% (2023 est.)

industry:

34.7% (2023 est.)

services:

51.7% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

58.2% (2024 est.)

male:

56% (2024 est.)

female:

60.3% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

lowest 10%:

1.4% (2016 est.)

highest 10%:

42.7% (2016 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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.)

• 1 state-owned TV station;
• satellite dishes can access South African providers;
• state-owned radio network with 3 channels;
• 1 private radio station (2019)

total:

301 km (2014)

narrow gauge:

301 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

• 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:

4,459 (2024 est.)

IDPs:

56 (2024 est.)