ale (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 101.87 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 38.11 years
male: 36.86 years
female: 39.4 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.92 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi

Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%

Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%

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

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

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland

Data code: WZ

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: Somhlolo (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 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: NA; note--no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the
65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the
elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less
than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693

Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since
9 August 1996)
cabinet: 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 (20 seats--10 appointed by the House of
Assembly and 10 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year
terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats--10 appointed by the
monarch and