Eswatini (Swaziland)

The main languages spoken in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) are:
siSwati (Swazi) - an official language, spoken by the Swazi people, a Bantu ethnic group who make up the vast majority of the population.
English - the other official language, used in government and business.
English and siSwati are both official languages of Eswatini.

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 17,364 sq km

Land boundaries:
border countries: Mozambique, South Africa

Terrain: mountainous regions, rolling hills, and fertile valleys; the Lubombo Mountain range runs along the eastern border, reaching elevations up to 1,400 m

People

Population: 1.12-1.3 million (varies by source; 2022-2026 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.63%
65 years and over: 3.83% (2022 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population 64.1 years (World Bank, 2025); (male 57.62, female 61.81 in earlier estimate)

Infant mortality rate: 39.63-43.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Nationality:
noun/adjective: Swazi(s)/Liswati (singular)/Emaswati (plural)

Ethnic groups: predominantly Swazi, a Bantu ethnic group

Languages: English (official), siSwati (official)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Eswatini
conventional short form: Eswatini
former: Swaziland; renamed by King Mswati III in 2018 to reflect the name most commonly used by its citizens

Data code: WZ

Government type: absolute monarchy

National capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (royal and legislative)

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: King Mswati III

Independence: 6 September 1968 (from the UK)

Background: a Swazi kingdom was founded in the mid-18th century and ruled by a series of kings, including Mswati II, a 19th-century ruler whose name was adopted for the country and its predominant ethnic group; European countries defined the kingdom's modern borders in the late 19th century, and Swaziland was administered as a UK high commission territory from 1903 until independence in 1968; a 2005 constitution provided for a more independent parliament and judiciary, though the legal status of political parties remains unclear and the kingdom is still considered an absolute monarchy; in 2021 Mswati III used security forces to suppress pro-democracy protests, and an agreed national dialogue and reconciliation process has not materialized

Economy

Economy - overview: lower-middle-income, landlocked Southern African economy; diverse sectors including agriculture, mining, and manufacturing (coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles); heavily tied to South Africa economically

GDP (purchasing power parity): $16.32 billion (2025 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 5.1% (2025)

GDP - per capita: $13,730 PPP (2025 est.)

Inflation rate: 6.1% (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate: 34.2-40% (varies by source/year)

Population below poverty line: 69% (2006)

Currency: Swazi lilangeni (SZL); South African rand also widely used

Military

Military branches: Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Army (includes a small air wing); Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) (2025)