The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2000 to 2025 Africa

Background Eswatini, in 26 editions.

The entry for Eswatini published Background in 26 editions of 36, from 2000 to 2025. The text changed in 12 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
12
the first edition with it
2000
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (2000 to 2025).

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2025 edition

Same as 2024

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The same text in 2024 and 2025.

A Swazi kingdom was founded in the mid-18 th century and ruled by a series of kings, including MSWATI II, a 19 th 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-19 th 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.

A Swazi kingdom was founded in the mid-18 th century and ruled by a series of kings kings, including MSWATI II, a 19 th century ruler whose appellation name was adopted to become the name of for the country and its predominant ethnic group. The European countries defined the kingdom’s modern borders were defined by European countries during the late-19 th century 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, which 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 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.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Eswatini: Background.” The World Factbook, 2000–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/eswatini/background.

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