dropower,
forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: NEGL
meadows and pastures: 62%
forest and woodland: 7%
other: 20%

Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.)

Environment:
current issues: limited access to potable water; wildlife
populations being depleted because of excessive hunting;
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,
Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South
Africa

People
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Population: 998,730 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 227,634; female 229,129)
15-64 years: 52% (male 247,156; female 271,096)
65 years and over: 2% (male 9,864; female 13,851) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.24% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 42.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 88.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.26 years
male: 53.25 years
female: 61.4 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.05 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi

Ethnic divisions: African 97%, European 3%

Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%

Languages: English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 76.7%
male: 78%
female: 75.6%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland

Data code: WZ

Type of government: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)

Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,
Shiselweni

Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)

National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)

Constitu