| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
26° 30' South Latitude
31° 30' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
17,363 sq km |
| Climate |
Varies from tropical to near temperate |
| Natural Resources |
Asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc |
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| Political Information |
 |
|
| Country Name |
Kingdom of Swaziland |
| Capital City |
Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital |
| Government Type |
Monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth |
| Administrative Divisions |
4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni |
| Independence Day |
6 September 1968 (from UK) |
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| Demographical Information |
|
|
| Population |
1,173,900 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Swazi |
| Ethnic Groups |
African 97%, European 3% |
| Religion |
Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and other 30% |
| Languages |
English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official) |
| Population Growth Rate |
0.25% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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|
| Currency |
Lilangeni (SZL) |
| Industries |
Mining (coal, raw asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile and apparel |
| Labor Force |
383,200 (2000) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
NA |
| Agriculture Products |
Sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep |
| Export Commodities |
Soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit |
| Export Partners |
South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals |
| Import Partners |
South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9%, Singapore 0.3% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
301 km |
| Highways |
3,107 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
18 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
- |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+268 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.sz |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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 the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country
with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection |
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