Swaziland :: Africa
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.
++
++
++
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
country comparison to the world: 158
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:
mean elevation:
305 m
lowest point:
Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point:
Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources:
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
agricultural land:
68.3%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
9.8%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
0.8%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
57.7%
(2011 est.)
forest:
31.7%
(2011 est.)
other:
0%
(2011 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
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
People and Society
Population:
1,104,479
(July 2020 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
country comparison to the world: 160
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 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, Mormon, 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.
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%
(male 15,833/female 26,503)
(2020 est.)
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.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Population growth rate:
0.77%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Birth rate:
24.5 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Death rate:
10.1 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Net migration rate:
-6.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
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:
24.2% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
2.46% annual rate of change
(2015-20 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:
0.9 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.87 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.74 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.6 male(s)/female
total population:
0.9 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
437 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Infant mortality rate:
total:
42.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
47.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
38.2 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
58.6 years
male:
56.5 years
female:
60.7 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Total fertility rate:
2.52 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
66.1%
(2014)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
96.8% of population
rural:
72.3% of population
total:
78.3% of population
unimproved:
urban:
3.2% of population
rural:
27.7% of population
total:
21.7% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
6.9%
(2017)
Physicians density:
0.33 physicians/1,000 population
(2016)
Hospital bed density:
2.1 beds/1,000 population
(2011)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
93.5% of population
rural:
82.4% of population
total:
85% of population
unimproved:
urban:
6.5% of population
rural:
17.6% of population
total:
15% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
27.1%
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200,000
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,300
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
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)
country comparison to the world: 124
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
5.8%
(2014)
country comparison to the world: 77
Education expenditures:
7.1% of GDP
(2014)
country comparison to the world: 12
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
88.4%
male:
88.3%
female:
88.5%
(2015)
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:
50.1%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 5
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 Ambrose Mandvulo DLAMINI (since 27 October 2018); 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 (73 seats; 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%; 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 20, women 10, percent of women 33.3% ++ House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 59; composition - men 60, women 5, percent of women 7.7%; note - total Parliament percent of women 15.8%
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 [Dr. Alvit DLAMINI] ++ People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU] ++ Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA [Jan SITHOLE]
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 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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Lisa J. PETERSON (since February 2016)
telephone:
(268)404-6441; EMER: +(268)7602-8414
embassy:
7th Floor, Central Bank Building, Mahlokohla Street, Mbabane
mailing address:
PO Box 199, Mbabane, Eswatini
FAX:
[268] 2416-3344
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
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.
GDP real growth rate:
1.6%
(2017 est.)
1.4%
(2016 est.)
0.4%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.2%
(2017 est.)
7.8%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Credit ratings:
Moody's rating:
B3
(2020)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$10.316 billion
(2019 est.)
$10.112 billion
(2018 est.)
$9.88 billion
(2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.484 billion
(2019 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,821
(2019 est.)
$4,775
(2018 est.)
$4,713
(2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
country comparison to the world: 158
Gross national saving:
25.4% of GDP
(2017 est.)
29.7% of GDP
(2016 est.)
23.3% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
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.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
59.5
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, corn, cotton, citrus, pineapples, cattle, goats
Industries:
soft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel
Industrial production growth rate:
5.6%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Labor force:
427,900
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
10.7%
industry:
30.4%
services:
58.9%
(2014 est.)
Unemployment rate:
28%
(2014 est.)
28%
(2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Population below poverty line:
63%
(2010 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.)
Taxes and other revenues:
28.6% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-8.5% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Public debt:
28.4% of GDP
(2017 est.)
25.5% of GDP
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Current account balance:
$604 million
(2017 est.)
$642 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Exports:
$2.389 billion
(2018 est.)
$2.154 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Exports - partners:
South Africa 94%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
soft drink concentrates, sugar, timber, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus, and canned fruit
Imports:
$2.605 billion
(2018 est.)
$2.853 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Imports - commodities:
motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
South Africa 81.6%, China 5.2%
(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$563.1 million
(31 December 2017 est.)
$564.4 million
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Debt - external:
$526.3 million
(31 December 2017 est.)
$468.9 million
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
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.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
90%
(2019)
electrification - urban areas:
98%
(2019)
electrification - rural areas:
87%
(2019)
Electricity - production:
381 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Electricity - consumption:
1.431 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - imports:
1.077 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
295,900 kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
39% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
20% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
41% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
(1 January 2018)
country comparison to the world: 129
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
5,300 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Refined petroleum products - imports:
5,279 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m
(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.14 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
40,003
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
3.65
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
1,025,061
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
93.53
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
earlier government monopoly in telecommunications hindered its growth; new regulatory authority established in 2013 has aided expansion in the telecom sector; 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE services
(2019)
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 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 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
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:
510,984
percent of population:
47%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
7,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
less than 1
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
3
(2016)
Airports:
14
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 148
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
2
(2019)
over 3,047 m:
1
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
12
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
5
(2013)
under 914 m:
7
(2013)
Railways:
total:
301 km
(2014)
narrow gauge:
301 km
1.067-m gauge
(2014)
country comparison to the world: 122
Roadways:
total:
3,769 km
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 157
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing (no operational aircraft))
(2019)
Military expenditures:
1.8% of GDP
(2019)
1.9% of GDP
(2018)
1.9% of GDP
(2017)
2% of GDP
(2016)
1.8% of GDP
(2015)
country comparison to the world: 61
Military and security service personnel strengths:
the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force has approximately 3,100 active personnel (3,000 Army; 100 Air Force)
(2020 est.)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the inventory of the UEDF consists mostly of equipment from South Africa; the only publicly recorded military acquisitions since 2010 were two secondhand helicopters from Taiwan in 2019
(2020)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted
(2013)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
in 2006, Swati king advocated resorting to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa
