Eswatini

agricultural land:

68.3%;

• arable land 9.8%;
• permanent crops 0.8%;
• permanent pasture 57.7%

forest:

31.7%

other:

0% (2011 est.)

• limited supplies of potable water;
• wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting;
• overgrazing;
• soil degradation;
• soil erosion

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:

Law of the Sea

noun:

Swazi(s)

adjective:

Swazi

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1.08 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

0.66 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.64 male(s)/female

total population:

1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

degree of risk:

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases:

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease:

malaria

water contact disease:

schistosomiasis (2016)

conventional long form:

Kingdom of Swaziland

conventional short form:

Swaziland

local long form:

Umbuso weSwatini

local short form:

eSwatini

etymology:

"Land of the Swazi" people; the name "Swazi" derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swazi territory was expanded and unified

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)

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 by 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 by the king;
• passage of “entrenched" provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses, passage in a referendum, and assent by the king (2017)

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

both parents must be citizens of Swaziland

dual citizenship recognized:

no

residency requirement for naturalization:

5 years

highest court(s):

• the Supreme Court of the Judicature comprising the Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 6 justices) and the High Court (consists of the chief justice - ex officio - and at least 12 justices);
• note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in all constitutional matters

judge selection and term of office:

• justices of the Supreme Court of the Judicature appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission or JSC, a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the JSC head;
• justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75 for Supreme Court justices and at age 70 for High Court justices

subordinate courts:

magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)

note: the national constitution as amended in 2006 shifted judicial power from the monarch and vested it exclusively in the judiciary

• Swaziland United Democratic Front or SUDF
• Trade Union Congress of Swaziland or TUCOSWA
• Swaziland Solidarity Network or SSN

chief of mission:

Ambassador Njabuliso Busisiwe Sikhulile GWEBU (since 24 April 2017)

chancery:

1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:

[1] (202) 234-5002

FAX:

[1] (202) 234-8254

chief of mission:

Ambassador Lisa J. PETERSON (since February 2016)

embassy:

corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini

mailing address:

P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106

telephone:

[268] 2417-9000

FAX:

[268] 2416-3344

• 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

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

agriculture:

10.7%

industry:

30.4%

services:

58.9% (2014 est.)

lowest 10%:

1.7%

highest 10%:

40.1% (2010 est.)

general assessment:

a somewhat modern but not an advanced system

domestic:

• Swaziland recently awarded a second mobile-cellular service;
• communication infrastructure has a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscriber base;
• combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity roughly 70 telephones per 100 persons;
• telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay

international:

country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2017)

• 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 (2017)

number of registered air carriers:

1; inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

89,791

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:

0 mt-km (2015)

total:

301 km

narrow gauge:

301 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

country comparison to the world: 123

total:

3,594 km

paved:

1,078 km

unpaved:

2,516 km (2002)

country comparison to the world: 160

• 18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service;
• no conscription;
• compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted (2012)