Country Profile: Eswatini

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a landlocked kingdom situated in Southern Africa, bordered by Mozambique and South Africa. The country has a population of approximately 1.14 million people, predominantly of the Swazi ethnic group. Eswatini's economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and trade with South Africa, facing challenges such as high unemployment and poverty rates. The governance structure remains an absolute monarchy, with King MSWATI III wielding significant power since 1986.

Geography

Eswatini is located in Southern Africa, characterized by a landscape of mostly mountains and hills interspersed with valleys and plains. The country covers an area of 17,364 sq km, making it slightly smaller than New Jersey. Being landlocked, it has no coastline and is almost completely surrounded by South Africa, with a total land boundary of 546 km.

Elevation: Highest point is 1,862 m at Emlembe.
Climate: Ranges from tropical to near temperate.
Natural Resources: Includes asbestos, coal, hydropower, and small deposits of gold and diamonds.
Land Use: 69.5% of land is used for agriculture.
Natural Hazards: Prone to drought.

People and Society

The population of Eswatini is estimated to be 1,137,268 in 2025, with a median age of 24.8 years. The country has a diverse cultural tapestry, predominantly Swazi, with English and siSwati as the official languages. The majority of the population practices Christianity, with a significant portion adhering to a blend of Christian and traditional African beliefs.

Urban Population: 24.8% of the total population resides in urban areas (2023).
Literacy Rate: Approximately 90.8% of the population is literate (2022).
Life Expectancy: Average life expectancy at birth is 60.7 years (2024).
Birth Rate: 20.66 births per 1,000 population (2025).
Infant Mortality Rate: 38 deaths per 1,000 live births (2025).
HIV/AIDS Prevalence: The highest globally, though new infections are declining.

Economy

Eswatini's economy is classified as lower-middle-income, heavily reliant on agriculture and trade with South Africa. The GDP (PPP) in 2024 is projected at $12.885 billion, with a real GDP growth rate of 2.6%. Persistent issues such as high unemployment, currently at 34.4%, and reliance on imports highlight the economic challenges.

GDP per Capita: $10,400 (2024).
Unemployment Rate: 34.4% (2024).
Poverty Rate: 58.9% of the population lives below the poverty line (2016).
Exports: Total exports in 2023 reached $2.174 billion.
Imports: Total imports in 2023 were $2.351 billion.

Government

Eswatini is an absolute monarchy, currently ruled by King MSWATI III, with a governance system that includes a bicameral parliament. The political environment allows for limited political party participation, and recent constitutional reforms have aimed to increase the parliament's independence, although the king retains ultimate authority.

Capital: Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (legislative).
Constitution: The current constitution was enacted in 2006, following prior versions.
Suffrage: Citizens must be at least 18 years old to vote.
Legislature: Comprises a House of Assembly with 74 seats, and a Senate with 30 seats.

Military and Security

Eswatini's military is known as the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF), responsible for both external defense and internal security. The country’s military expenditures for 2024 are estimated at 1.4% of GDP, reflecting its focus on maintaining national security amidst political unrest.

Active Personnel: Approximately 3,000 active-duty personnel (2025).
Service Age: Voluntary military service for individuals aged 18-35.
Military Equipment: Comprises mostly older light weapons.
Police Force: The Royal Eswatini Police Service is tasked with internal security.

Energy

In Eswatini, about 82.3% of the total population has access to electricity. The energy mix relies heavily on hydropower, which constitutes 54.4% of total installed capacity, supplemented by biomass and waste.

Electricity Consumption: 1.308 billion kWh (2023).
Installed Capacity: 285,000 kW (2023).
Renewable Energy: Hydroelectricity forms the backbone of energy generation.

Environment

Eswatini faces several environmental challenges, including limited potable water supplies and soil degradation due to population growth and overgrazing. The country is a signatory to multiple international environmental agreements.

Water Resources: Total renewable water resources estimated at 4.51 billion cubic meters (2022).
Urbanization Rate: 2.42% increase annually from 2020-2025.
Waste Management: Approximately 17.3% of municipal solid waste is recycled (2022).

Transportation

The transport infrastructure includes 16 airports and an emerging network of railways spanning 301 km.

Airports: A total of 16 airports as of 2025.
Civil Aircraft Registration Code: 3DC.

Communications

Eswatini has a growing telecommunications sector with a significant rise in mobile cellular subscriptions, reaching 1.74 million in 2024.

Internet Usage: Approximately 58% of the population are internet users (2023).
Fixed Line Subscriptions: 35,600 total subscriptions (2024).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	1,137,268 (2025 est.)
Area	17,364 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$12.885 billion (2024)
Unemployment Rate	34.4% (2024)
Birth Rate	20.66 births/1,000	(2025 est.)
Life Expectancy	60.7 years (2024 est.)
Electricity Access	82.3% (2022 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate	38 deaths/1,000 live births	(2025 est.)
Urban Population	24.8% (2023)
Agricultural Land	69.5% (2023 est.)	Total land used for agriculture