Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III, the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006, but political parties remain banned. The African United Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

slightly smaller than New Jersey

varies from tropical to near temperate

mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

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

landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

28.09 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

15.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

3.19 children born/woman (2010 est.)

African 97%, European 3%

Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%

English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)

4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

6 September 1968 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 6 September (1968)

signed by the King in July 2005; went into effect on 8 February 2006

based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate (30 seats; 10 members appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; members to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats; 10 members appointed by the monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; members to serve five-year terms)

High Court; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the monarch

the status of political parties, previously banned, is unclear under the 2006 Constitution and currently being debated; the following are considered political associations; African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Stanley MAUNDZISA, president]; Imbokodvo National Movement or INM; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]

Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions; Swaziland and Solidarity Network or SSN

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain important foreign exchange earners. In 2007, the sugar industry increased efficiency and diversification efforts, in response to a 17% decline in EU sugar prices. Mining has declined in importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives more than nine-tenths of its imports and to which it sends 60% of its exports. Swaziland's currency is pegged to the South African rand, subsuming Swaziland's monetary policy to South Africa. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) account for two-thirds of Swaziland's government revenues, and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income. Customs revenues plummeted during the global economic crisis and Swaziland has appealed to SACU for assistance. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and attract foreign direct investment is acute. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2006-07 because of drought, and more than one-quarter of the adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS.

$5.857 billion (2009 est.)

$5.834 billion (2008 est.)

$5.697 billion (2007 est.)

$2.983 billion (2009 est.)

13.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

11% (31 December 2008)

11% (31 December 2007)

14.83% (31 December 2008)

13.17% (31 December 2007)

$211.8 million (31 December 2008)

$244.8 million (31 December 2007)

$441.5 million (31 December 2008)

$529.4 million (31 December 2007)

$51.55 million (31 December 2008)

$204.1 million (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2009)

$203.1 million (31 December 2007)

$199.9 million (31 December 2006)

sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep

coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel

441 million kWh (2007 est.)

1.266 billion kWh (2007 est.)

770 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

4,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

-$180 million (2009 est.)

-$152.7 million (2008 est.)

$1.405 billion (2009 est.)

$1.569 billion (2008 est.)

soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit

$1.559 billion (2009 est.)

$1.7 billion (2008 est.)

motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

$663 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$751.9 million (31 December 2008 est.)

$534 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$554 million (31 December 2008 est.)

emalangeni per US dollar - 10.5 (2009), 7.75 (2008), 7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005)

state-owned TV station; satellite dishes are able to access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2007)

Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing) (2010)

18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

in 2006, Swazi king advocates resort to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa