Eswatini

Full name of country: Kingdom of Eswatini

Region: Africa

Population: 1,138,089 (2024 est.)

Nationality: liSwati (singular), emaSwati (plural) (noun); Swati (adjective); note - former term Swazi(s) still used among English speakers (noun and adjective)

Land area: 17,204 sq km

Water area: 160 sq km

Capital: Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital

National anthem: "Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi), by Andrease Enoke Fanyana Simelane/David Kenneth Rycroft

National holiday: Independence Day, September 6 (1968)

Population growth: 0.7% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +2

Flag: The flag features five horizontal bands: a wide central red band flanked by two thinner yellow bands and then two sky-blue bands on the top and bottom. The red stands for past battles; the blue represents peace and stability; and the yellow signifies the country's natural resources. Centered in the red band are a traditional shield (black and white, signifying racial harmony) and staff, as well as two spears. Two feathers, from the lisakabuli and ligwalagwala birds, adorn the staff.

Motto: "Siyinqaba" ("We are the fortress")

Independence: September 6, 1968 (from the UK)

Government type: monarchy

Suffrage: 18 years of age

Legal system: mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a small country in southeastern Africa known for its rolling veldts and longstanding monarchy. It is landlocked and nearly completely surrounded by the country of South Africa. The only portion of the country that is not bordered by South Africa is the northeastern region, which borders Mozambique. Eswatini is home to rich farmland and has significant mineral resources, but poverty remains widespread.

Eswatini has been affected more than any other African nation by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. AIDS, drought, poverty, and starvation have brought much suffering to the country. The United Nations has worked with the country's government to try to alleviate some of these problems.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: Most people living in Eswatini are Swazis, an ethnic group that belongs to the Bantu language group. SiSwati, which is related to the Zulu language, is the official language of the country along with English; however, English is used for communication purposes in most government affairs. According to 2015 estimates, about 40 percent of Swazis are Zionists, a combination of Christianity and Indigenous ancestor worship. Another 20 percent are Roman Catholic, and 2 percent are Muslim. About 8 percent are members of other faiths, including Baha'i, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism.

Traditionally the Swazi people have been farmers, and the agricultural industry remains an important employer. Others work in industry, government, or in mining operations. While Eswatini produces some well-educated professionals, many leave to find better job opportunities abroad.

A small proportion of the population are not Swazi. This includes refugees from Mozambique, Zulu, and some Europeans, who typically work in the business sector.

Indigenous People: Some of the earliest people to settle in the region were related to the Ngwane, who were the ancestors of the modern Swazi people. In the fifteenth century, they migrated south from central Africa and reestablished themselves in the area that is occupied today by Mozambique.

By the nineteenth century, the powerful Zulu nation and the Ndwandwe clan in the south were a growing threat to the Swazis, so they established their kingdom in lands further to the north, in the region that is known today as Eswatini. The first king of the modern Swazi state was King Mswati Dlamini II (1840–65). The nation's former name of "Swaziland" was derived from the name "Mswati."

Education: Education in Eswatini consists of primary, secondary, and university levels. Primary education is compulsory under the constitution and free of charge. It lasts seven years and addresses basic literacy and mathematics skills. After primary school, students take examinations that assess whether they will move on to secondary education, which lasts for five years.

The national university in Eswatini is the University of Eswatini (formerly University of Swaziland); it is based in the capital of Mbabane, with campuses in Luyengo and Kwaluseni.

Before the HIV/AIDS crisis struck sub-Saharan Africa in the 1980s, Eswatini had been building a successful educational system and had achieved a high rate of school attendance among young people in the country. However, AIDS has had a devastating effect on education in the country. A large percentage of teachers died from AIDS, while many others retired out of fear of contracting the disease. The Ministry of Education and Training has attempted to integrate HIV/AIDS education into school curricula and to retain AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children in school.

Health Care: The Ministry of Health provides a number of public health programs, clinics, and support and outreach services throughout the country. There are several hospitals as well as a number of smaller clinics and public outreach sites. The main hospital is the Mbabane Government Hospital, which is located in the capital. Some of the nongovernmental medical clinics are run by private for-profit agencies, Christian missionaries, and nongovernmental organizations.

Because of a shortage of health resources, widespread poverty, and a population that is largely affected by HIV/AIDS, the nation's health infrastructure has been weakened considerably. An estimated 28 percent of the adult population were living with HIV/AIDS in 2023, which is the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world. Problems such as a lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation also affect public health in the country. The urban population tends to benefit more from government health spending and health programs than the rural population does, although the government has attempted to improve access to health services in rural areas.

In order to address the HIV/AIDS problem, the government has instituted a number of educational programs, such as the Swaziland National AIDS Program (established in 1987). There has also been a movement to educate the tinyanga, or traditional Swazi healers, about the dangers of the disease.

Average life expectancy at birth is 60.7 years, with females averaging 62.8 years and males 58.7 years (2024 estimates). The country ranked 142 out of 193 countries and territories on the 2022 United Nations Human Development Index.

Food: As in many poor African nations, some of Eswatini's people experience food shortages and hunger. A combination of drought, HIV/AIDS, hailstorms, and other agricultural problems forced the country's prime minister to declare a national disaster in 2004. In 2016, an estimated 58.9 percent of the people lived below the poverty line. Hunger is especially problematic among the elderly and children who have been orphaned by AIDS.

Maize is a staple food in Eswatini; cornmeal and corn on the cob are important food sources. Traditional dishes of Eswatini include meat stew, while Swazi beer is a popular beverage. Greek, Hungarian, and Indian cuisine is frequently available in urban areas.

Arts & Entertainment: Eswatini is known for its traditional arts and crafts. Swazi craftspeople create beaded ornaments, baskets, and jewelry; they are also skilled copper artisans. Karosses are special mats made out of animal skins. Craftspeople also weave mats from grass and sisal, and carve bowls, figurines, and drums from wood.

Notable artisans include Johan Mhlanga, a master wood sculptor of Eswatini whose work is collected around the world. The country has also produced many talented painters and artists. An accomplished painter, Lucas Mlambo's work is internationally known. Lucas Macie, a refugee from Mozambique, also created paintings that are sought after by international collectors.

Traditional Swazi sports include kugwaza inzema (javelin throwing), butjoki (archery), and wrestling (kubambana ngemandla). The National Sports Council was created in 1999 and is responsible for sports development in the country. Other popular sports include football (soccer), golf, rugby, swimming, and volleyball.

Holidays: In addition to the many Christian holidays observed in the country, Eswatini also celebrates the traditional holidays of Dec Incwala (Fruit Ceremony) and Umhlanga (Reed Dance). Dec Incwala is traditionally held in January and lasts for four days; the exact dates are determined by astrologers. It celebrates the country's fertility with a number of rituals, including one in which the king blesses the country's produce.

Umhlanga is held in late August or early September. It includes rituals in which the women of Eswatini honor the queen mother. In one event, young women perform traditional dances before the royal family. Independence, or Somhlolo Day, is celebrated annually on September 6.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Eswatini is a landlocked country, bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. The western region tends to have higher elevations, with lower plains in the east. The country consists of four separate regions: the highveldt, the middleveldt, the lowveldt, and the Lebombo plateau. Each region extends between the country's northern and southern borders.

In the west, the highveldt covers one-third of the country's land area. It consists of plateaus, hills, valleys, and basins. The highveldt is part of an escarpment that is connected to the Transvaal plateau.

The middleveldt contains eroded plateaus and hills, while the rolling lowveldt plains make up a slightly smaller percentage of the land. On the eastern border of the country, the Lebombo Ridge is a plateau.

Natural Resources: Eswatini is rich in mineral resources, such as coal and diamonds. There is also a quarry stone industry, which serves the domestic market. Timber is grown for export; wood pulp and wood products bring the second largest export earnings into the country. Eswatini's rich wildlife resources are important to its tourist industry.

Plants & Animals: Plant life in Eswatini varies according to elevation. The highveldt consists of grassland and some forested areas, while the middleveldt and the lower-lying areas have savanna with taller grasses, trees, and shrubs. Some species of flower that are native to the country include Aloe kniphofioides, Dierama galpinii, Strelitzia caudate, and Pimpinella caffra.

Eswatini is home to a number of large animal species, including lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards, and giraffes. Crocodiles and hippopotamuses can be found in the country's rivers, and different species of monkey, baboons, jackals, and mongooses may be found throughout the land. The rolling grasslands are home to herds of antelope, wildebeest, zebras, and impalas. While many large mammals live in the parks and reserves, much of the habitat outside of these areas has been degraded or destroyed.

Habitat destruction also affects the country's bird life. Eswatini has over 400 species of birds, many of which can be found in its reserves. Among these species are eagles, vultures, the lanner falcon, the pied kingfisher, the white-faced duck, and the purple-crested lourie, which is Eswatini's national bird.

Climate: Eswatini has a subtropical climate, which ranges from sub-humid and temperate in the higher regions to semi-arid and warm in the lower-lying areas. Subject to various wind conditions and air masses, which in part affect rainfall and temperature in the country, Eswatini occasionally experiences weather patterns like cyclones and drought. In the semi-arid areas of the country, drought is part of a cyclical climate pattern.

The hottest month is February, with temperatures averaging about 24.1 degrees Celsius (75.3 degrees Fahrenheit). July is the coolest winter month, with temperatures averaging 15.7 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit).

The highveldt region typically experiences frost conditions in the winter. Higher elevations tend to receive more rainfall, averaging from around 800 to 1,400 millimeters (25 to 55 inches). The middleveldt receives from 650 to 1,000 millimeters (25 to 39 inches), while the lowest-lying regions receive around 550 to 800 millimeters (21 to 31 inches) of rainfall per year.

Economy

Eswatini was one of the wealthier countries in Africa in the 1980s and early 1990s due to successful mining, manufacturing, and foreign investment. However, during the 1990s the country began to experience an economic slowdown. Though still considered a lower middle income nation, limited growth and stresses such as HIV/AIDS and drought have created serious economic struggles. The most important industry is the United States-backed soft drink concentrate industry. Sugar is a major export, and the sugar growing and processing industry has created a large number of jobs in the country.

Eswatini's transportation system allows it to transport goods through South Africa and Mozambique. The Port of Maputo in Mozambique is an important shipping center for Swazi goods. The country's major markets are South Africa, Nigeria, and Mozambique. In 2021, the estimated gross domestic product (GDP; purchasing power parity) of Eswatini was US$12.468 billion, and the estimated per capita GDP was US$10,100.

Industry: Industry is important to Eswatini's economy. The sugar refining industry is among the largest sectors. Some of the products manufactured in the country include sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles, and apparel. The Swazi textile industry has at times enjoyed preferential access to US and European markets, but has also seen this access revoked due to concerns over human rights.

Agriculture: Some of the primary agricultural exports are timber and citrus. The Swazi government owns and controls about 60 percent of the country's land, while the rest is privately owned. The farmers of Eswatini primarily engage in livestock herding.

Subsistence farming is common, although agricultural export industries, such as the sugarcane industry, employ many people. Natural disasters like droughts and floods can make farming difficult. Other problems facing agriculture include overgrazing and soil depletion.

Tourism: Before the end of apartheid, unrestricted travel between South Africa and Eswatini enabled many South Africans to visit the country each year. The end of apartheid in South Africa in 1994 has meant that fewer South Africans are traveling to Eswatini. However, because of its natural wildlife resources and its location in sub-Saharan Africa, Eswatini has increased in popularity as a destination for international tour groups; about 873,000 international tourists visited the country in 2015, compared to 300,000 in 1995. The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an extreme negative effect on tourism to Eswatini, with only 345,300 tourists arriving in the country in 2020. By 2022, however, numbers of international visitors to Eswatini had begun to recover; more than 500,000 visitors travelled to the country that year. The Ministry of Tourism and Environment was created in 1996.

Tourist attractions in Eswatini include Hlane Royal National Park, which features safaris that offer viewing of big game animals like elephants, lions, rhinos, and leopards. Other wildlife preserves include the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mkhaya Game Reserve. Because of its diverse bird population, Eswatini is also a popular destination for bird enthusiasts. Two famous bird sanctuaries are the Hawane and Mbuluzi Game Reserves.

Government

Swaziland emerged as a kingdom in the early nineteenth century under King Mswati Dlamini II. When he died, the country became a protectorate of South Africa from 1894 to 1902. It then became a protectorate of Great Britain until 1968. From the beginning of British rule through the early 1960s, the country's king did not have sovereign power.

The European Advisory Council helped the British government to rule in the region. Britain had initially planned for Swaziland to become part of South Africa after it granted the neighboring country independence; however, the growth of racial tensions and racist policies in South Africa caused Britain to prepare Swaziland for independence instead.

The British government put a temporary constitution in place in 1963 to ensure fair elections in 1964. One influential Swazi political party at this time was the Imbokodvo National Movement (INM). When Swaziland was finally granted independence from Britain on September 6, 1968, the INM party gained power. Supporters of the INM wanted an absolute monarchy. The Ngwane National Liberatory Congress, an opposition party, pushed for a constitutional monarchy.

Throughout the 1980s, the political opposition clamored for democratic reform; the People's United Democratic Movement was an active underground opposition movement. In 1996, a Constitutional Review Commission was established to draft a new constitution. The draft of the constitution was brought before parliament in 2004, adopted in 2005, and went into effect in 2006. In 2018 King Mswati III decreed the country's name change from Swaziland to Eswatini (meaning "Place of the Swazis"), a decision that was criticized by opposition groups as unconstitutional and wasteful.

Today, Eswatini is an absolute monarchy. The government tends to be repressive, and civil liberties such as freedom of the press are not guaranteed. Political parties are not permitted. The monarch has power over what bills will become law, must approve appointees to the office of prime minister, and is at the head of the judicial branch of government. In 2021, King Mswati III enacted security forces in response to protests in support of democracy, leading to widespread calls for political reforms.

The prime minister is the head of the government, which consists of a cabinet and a parliament. Libandla (Parliament), located in the city of Lobamba, consists of two houses; there are seventy-three seats in the House of Assembly and thirty in the Senate. The highest court in the country's judicial branch is the Supreme Court of the Judicature, which includes the Supreme Court and the High Court, which handles constitutional cases. Lower courts include magistrates' courts as well as National Swazi Courts, which administer cases involving customary/traditional laws.

Interesting Facts

• The primitive cycad plant, which has existed virtually unchanged for 50 million years, grows in Eswatini.
• Eswatini is the smallest country in Africa.
• Eswatini's Malolotja Native Reserve is home to some of the oldest mountains in the world, dating back 3.6 billion years.
• Swazi king Mswati III unilaterally declared the country's name change in 2018, allegedly to reduce confusion abroad with Switzerland.

Bibliography

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"Eswatini." The World Bank, 2024, data.worldbank.org/country/eswatini. Accessed 7 Nov. 2023.

"Eswatini." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 16 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/eswatini/. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

"Eswatini Country Profile." BBC News, 12 Apr. 2023, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14095303. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

Nations of the World: A Political Economic and Business Handbook. 13th ed., Grey House, 2014.

Simelane, Hamilton S. "The Political Economy and Historical Trajectory of the Swaziland Fiscal Crisis, 2010–2011." Journal for Contemporary History, vol. 39, no. 2, 2014, pp. 248–71.

Economic Impact Reports, World Travel and Tourism Council, 2021, wttc.org/Research/Economic-Impact. Accessed 16 Aug. 2022.