Eswatini Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

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

Population

1,137,268 (2025 est.)

Area

17,364 sq km

Location

Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

🧭 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 during the late-19th century, and Swaziland (as it became known) was administered as a UK high commission territory from 1903 until its independence in 1968. A new constitution that came into effect in 2005 included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear, and the kingdom is still considered an absolute monarchy. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018 to reflect the name most commonly used by its citizens. In 2021, MSWATI III used security forces to suppress prodemocracy protests. A national dialogue and reconciliation process agreed to in the wake of violence has not materialized. In November 2023, King MSWATI III appointed a new prime minister following peaceful national elections. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty, corruption, and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections. Eswatini is the only country in Africa that recognizes Taiwan.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Geographic coordinates

26 30 S, 31 30 E

Map references

Africa

Area — total

17,364 sq km

Area — land

17,204 sq km

Area — water

160 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries — total

546 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Mozambique 108 km; South Africa 438 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

None (landlocked)

Climate

Varies from tropical to near temperate

Terrain

Mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Elevation — highest point

Emlembe 1,862 m

Elevation — lowest point

Great Usutu River 21 m

Elevation — mean elevation

305 m

Natural resources

Asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Land use — agricultural land

69.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 58.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

25.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

5.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

500 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

Because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

Drought

Geography - note

Landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

1,137,268 (2025 est.)

Population — male

557,204

Population — female

580,064

Nationality — noun

LiSwati (singular), emaSwati (plural); note - former term, Swazi(s), still used among English speakers

Nationality — adjective

Swati; note - former term, Swazi, still used among English speakers

Ethnic groups

Predominantly Swazi; smaller populations of other African ethnic groups, including the Zulu, as well as people of European ancestry

Languages

English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)

Religions

Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and traditional African religions - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other Christian 30% - includes Anglican, Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ, Jehovah's Witness), Muslim 2%, other 8% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous, Jewish) (2015 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

31.6% (male 180,328/female 179,840)

Age structure — 15-64 years

64.3% (male 341,298/female 390,884)

Age structure — 65 years and over

4% (2024 est.) (male 16,974/female 28,765)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

52.2 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

44.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

7.5 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

13.3 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

24.8 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

23.4 years

Median age — female

25.8 years

Population growth rate

0.87% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

20.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-3.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization — urban population

24.8% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

68,000 MBABANE (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.87 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.59 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

38 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

40.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

32.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

60.7 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

58.7 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

62.8 years

Total fertility rate

2.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.3 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 73.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 26.5% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

11.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 92.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 84.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 86.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 15.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

16.5% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

7.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

2.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

5.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

8.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

16.1% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

1.2% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

36.4% (2022 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

0.1% (2022)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

1.9% (2022)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

0% (2022)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

19.2% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — total population

90.8% (2022 est.)

Literacy — male

91.1% (2022 est.)

Literacy — female

90.4% (2022 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Limited supplies of potable water; overhunting depleting wildlife; population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

Varies from tropical to near temperate

Land use — agricultural land

69.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 58.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

25.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

5.2% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

24.8% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

1.326 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

410,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

916,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

16.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

218,200 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

17.3% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

41.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

20.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

1.006 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

4.51 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Kingdom of Eswatini

Country name — conventional short form

Eswatini

Country name — local long form

Umbuso weSwatini

Country name — local short form

ESwatini

Country name — former

Swaziland

Country name — etymology

The country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified

Government type

Absolute monarchy

Capital — name

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

Capital — geographic coordinates

26 19 S, 31 08 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

The origin of the name is unclear; it may come from the Mbabane River next to the city, whose name is said to derive from the word lubabe, a type of shrub; another theory cites a local chief, Mbabane KUNENE, as the source of the name

Administrative divisions

4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Legal system

Mixed system of civil, common, and customary law

Constitution — history

Previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both houses and/or majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of amendments affecting "specially entrenched" constitutional provisions requires at least three-fourths majority vote by both houses, passage by simple majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of "entrenched" provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses, passage in a referendum, and assent of the king

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

Both parents must be citizens of Eswatini

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age

Executive branch — chief of state

King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Russell DLAMINI (since 6 November 2023)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch; at least one-half of the cabinet membership must be appointed from among elected members of the House of Assembly

Executive branch — election/appointment process

The monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament (Libandla)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

House of Assembly

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

74 (59 directly elected; 4 indirectly elected; 10 appointed)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

9/29/2023

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

21.6%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

September 2028

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Senate

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

30 (10 indirectly elected; 20 appointed)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

11/6/2023

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

46.7%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

November 2028

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 justices) and the High Court (consists of the chief justice ex officio and 4 justices)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Justices of the Supreme Court and High Court appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the chairman of the Civil Service Commission; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)

Political parties

Political parties exist but conditions for their operations, particularly in elections, are undefined, legally unclear, or culturally restricted; the following are considered political associations: African United Democratic Party or AUDP Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Kennedy Fitzgerald GROENING (7 June 2022)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

1712 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 234-5002

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 234-8254

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Swaziland@compuserve.com

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant) Chargé d’Affaires Marc WEINSTOCK (since August 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini, P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2350 Mbabane Place, Washington DC 20521-2350

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

(268) 2417-9000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[268] 2416-3344

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

ConsularMbabane@state.gov Homepage - U.S. Embassy in Eswatini (usembassy.gov)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

6 September 1968 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968)

Flag

Description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple-width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow, with a large black-and-white shield in the center that covers two horizontal spears and a staff with feather tassels meaning: blue stands for peace and stability, red for past struggles, and yellow for the mineral resources of the country; the shield, spears, and staff symbolize protection from enemies, and the shield colors stand for ethnic groups living in peaceful coexistence

National symbol(s)

Lion, elephant

National color(s)

Blue, yellow, red

National coat of arms

The national coat of arms was adopted in 1968 after independence from the United Kingdom; two national symbols, the lion (representing the king of Eswatini) and the elephant (representing the queen mother), support a traditional Nguni shield; above the shield is the king's lidlabe, or crown of feathers, and at the bottom is Eswatini's motto, Siyinqaba, or "We are the fortress”

National anthem(s) — title

"Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (O God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Landlocked southern African economy; South African trade dependent and currency pegging; CMA and SACU member state; COVID-19 economic slowdown; growing utilities inflation; persistent poverty and unemployment; HIV/AIDS labor force disruptions

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$12.885 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$12.553 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$12.135 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

2.6% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

1.1% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$10,400 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$10,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$10,000 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.892 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.6% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

4.8% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

6.2% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

6.8% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

34.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

51.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

64% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

19.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

16.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

3.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

48.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-51.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

Sugarcane, maize, root vegetables, grapefruits, oranges, milk, pineapples, bananas, beef, sweet potatoes (2023)

Industries

Soft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel

Industrial production growth rate

0.5% (2023 est.)

Labor force

390,600 (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

34.4% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

35.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

35.4% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

58.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

56% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

60.3% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

58.9% (2016 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016

54.6 (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

1.4% (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

42.7% (2016 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$1.217 billion (2021 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$1.439 billion (2021 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2021

35.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

$107.534 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$140.972 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

$125.318 million (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$2.174 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$2.095 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$2.132 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

South Africa 61%, Ireland 4%, Mozambique 4%, Kenya 4%, Nigeria 3% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Scented mixtures, raw sugar, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, garments, wood (2023)

Imports — Imports 2023

$2.351 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$2.288 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$2.173 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

South Africa 71%, China 8%, India 4%, USA 2%, Mozambique 1% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, electricity, plastic products, cotton fabric, garments (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$479.261 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$452.352 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$572.282 million (2021 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$923.266 million (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Emalangeni per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

18.318 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

18.454 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

16.362 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

14.783 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

16.47 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

82.3% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

86.1%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

81.6%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

285,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

1.308 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

928.237 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

167.476 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

54.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

37.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — production

253,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

202,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

201,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

4.644 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

18.823 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

35,600 (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

1.74 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

140 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station; satellite dishes can access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2019)

Internet country code

.sz

Internet users — percent of population

58% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

34,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

3DC

Airports

16 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

Railways — total

301 km (2014)

Railways — narrow gauge

301 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

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

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

1.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Estimated 3,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The UEDF has a small inventory of mostly older light weapons and equipment originating from Europe, South Africa, Taiwan, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

Military - note

The UEDF’s primary mission is external defense, which includes mostly securing the borders; it also has domestic security responsibilities, including protecting members of the royal family; the king is the UEDF commander in chief and holds the position of minister of defense, although the UEDF reports to the Army commander and principal undersecretary of defense for day-to-day operations; the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is responsible for maintaining internal security as well as migration and border crossing enforcement; it is under the prime minister, although the king is the force’s titular commissioner in chief; the UEDF was originally created in 1973 as the Royal Swaziland Defense Force (2025)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

4,459 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

56 (2024 est.)