/female 65 years and over:
0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 109.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 37.66 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 5.77 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 35.6% (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 212,000 (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 7,100 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi

Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%

Religions: 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)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 78.3% male: 78% female: 78.4% (1999 est.)

Government Swaziland

Country name: Kingdom of Swaziland conventional short form: Government
type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

Capital: Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital

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

Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 September (1968)

Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12
April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but was
not formally presented to the people; since then a few more outlines
for a constitution have been compiled under the Constitutional Review
Commission (CRC), but so far none have been accepted

Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory
courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age

Executive branch: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of
government: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by
the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister
appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body,
consists of the Senate (30 seats - 10 appointed by the House of Assembly
and 20 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year terms) and the
House of Assembly (65 seats - 10 appointed by the monarch and 55 elected
by popular vote; members serve five-year terms) ele