loping plains
Natural resources:
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and
diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 67%; forest and
woodland 6%; other 19%; includes irrigated 2%
Environment:
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Note:
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

:Swaziland People

Population:
913,008 (July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992)
Birth rate:
44 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
12 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
-6 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
98 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
52 years male, 60 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
6.2 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Swazi(s); adjective - Swazi
Ethnic divisions:
African 97%, European 3%
Religions:
Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages:
English and siSwati (official); government business conducted in English
Literacy:
55% (male 57%, female 54%) age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
Labor force:
195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; about 92,000 wage
earners (many only intermittently), with agriculture and forestry 36%,
community and social services 20%, manufacturing 14%, construction 9%, other
21%; 16,800 employed in South Africa mines (1990)
Organized labor:
about 10% of wage earners

:Swaziland Government

Long-form name:
Kingdom of Swaziland
Type:
monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital:
Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions:
4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence:
6 September 1968 (from UK)
Constitution:
none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on 12 April 1973; a new
constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally
presented to the people
Legal system:
based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi
traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Executive branch:
monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists of an upper house or