{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>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. <br><br>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.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "26 30 S, 31 30 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Africa"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "17,364 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "17,204 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "160 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than New Jersey"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "546 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Mozambique 108 km; South Africa 438 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "0 km (landlocked)"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "text": "none (landlocked)"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "varies from tropical to near temperate"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Emlembe 1,862 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Great Usutu River 21 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "305 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "68.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 57.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "31.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "0% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "500 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "drought"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,138,089"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "538,600"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "599,489 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "liSwati (singular), emaSwati (plural); note - former term, Swazi(s), still used among English speakers"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Swati; note - former term, Swazi, still used among English speakers"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "<p>predominantly Swazi; smaller populations of other African ethnic groups, including the Zulu, as well as people of European ancestry</p>"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "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.)"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>Eswatini, a small, predominantly rural, landlocked country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, suffers from severe poverty and the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. A weak and deteriorating economy, high unemployment, rapid population growth, and an uneven distribution of resources all combine to worsen already persistent poverty and food insecurity, especially in rural areas. Erratic weather (frequent droughts and intermittent heavy rains and flooding), overuse of small plots, the overgrazing of cattle, and outdated agricultural practices reduce crop yields and further degrade the environment, exacerbating Eswatini's poverty and subsistence problems. Eswatini's extremely high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate – nearly 28% of adults have the disease – compounds these issues. Agricultural production has declined due to HIV/AIDS, as the illness causes households to lose manpower and to sell livestock and other assets to pay for medicine and funerals.</p> <p>Swazis, mainly men from the country’s rural south, have been migrating to South Africa to work in coal, and later gold, mines since the late 19th century. Although the number of miners abroad has never been high in absolute terms because of Eswatini's small population, the outflow has had important social and economic repercussions. The peak of mining employment in South Africa occurred during the 1980s. Cross-border movement has accelerated since the 1990s, as increasing unemployment has pushed more Swazis to look for work in South Africa (creating a \"brain drain\" in the health and educational sectors); southern Swazi men have continued to pursue mining, although the industry has downsized. Women now make up an increasing share of migrants and dominate cross-border trading in handicrafts, using the proceeds to purchase goods back in Eswatini. Much of today’s migration, however, is not work-related but focuses on visits to family and friends, tourism, and shopping.</p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "31.6% (male 180,328/female 179,840)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "64.3% (male 341,298/female 390,884)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "4% (2024 est.) (male 16,974/female 28,765)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "64"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "57.4"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "6.5"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "15.3 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "24.6 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "23.4 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "25.8 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.7% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "22.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "24.8% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "68,000 MBABANE (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.03 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.87 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.59 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "437 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "40.7 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "32.5 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "60.7 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "58.7 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "62.8 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "2.37 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.17 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "66.1% (2014)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 97.5% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 74.8% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 80.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 2.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 25.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 19.7% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "6.5% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2020)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 92.3% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 83.9% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 85.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 7.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 16.1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 14.1% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "16.5% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "7.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "2.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "5.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.2% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "16.5% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "1.8% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "5.8% (2014)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "37.1% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "5% of GDP (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "88.4%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "88.3%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "88.5% (2018)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "12 years (2013)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "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"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "varies from tropical to near temperate"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "68.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 57.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "31.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "0% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "24.8% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Food insecurity": {
      "severe localized food insecurity": {
        "text": "<em>due to higher staple food prices - </em>the latest analysis indicates that nearly 259,000 people faced acute food insecurity between January and March 2023, an improvement compared to the previous year; food insecurity in 2022-23 is driven by high food prices and a slowdown in economic growth, curbing households’ income earning opportunities (2023)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "2.25% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0.1% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "15.07 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "1.16 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "1.9 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "218,199 tons (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "1.01 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "4.51 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Kingdom of Eswatini"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Eswatini"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Umbuso weSwatini"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "eSwatini"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Swaziland"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> pronounced ay-swatini or eh-swatini"
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "absolute monarchy"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "26 19 S, 31 08 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named after a Swati chief, Mbabane KUNENE, who lived in the area at the onset of British settlement"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "6 September 1968 (from the UK)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "both parents must be citizens of Eswatini"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "5 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Russell DLAMINI (since 6 November 2023)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "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"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "Parliament (Libandla)"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "bicameral"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch - lower chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "House of Assembly"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "74 (59 directly elected; 4 indirectly elected; 10 appointed)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "plurality/majority"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "9/29/2023"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "21.6%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "September 2028"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> four women, one representing each region, elected by the members if representation of elected women is less than 30%"
    },
    "Legislative branch - upper chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "Senate"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "30 (10 indirectly elected; 20 appointed)"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "11/6/2023"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "46.7%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "November 2028"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "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); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in all constitutional matters"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "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"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "political parties exist but conditions for their operations, particularly in elections, are undefined, legally unclear, or culturally restricted; the following are considered political associations:<br>African United Democratic Party or AUDP <br>Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC <br>People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO <br>Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA "
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Kennedy Fitzgerald GROENING (7 June 2022)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "1712 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 234-5002"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 234-8254"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>swaziland@compuserve.com"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador (vacant) Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Caitlin PIPER (since 27 October 2023)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini, P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "2350 Mbabane Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-2350"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "(268) 2417-9000"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[268] 2416-3344"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>ConsularMbabane@state.gov<br><br>Homepage - U.S. Embassy in Eswatini (usembassy.gov)"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally; blue stands for peace and stability, red represents past struggles, and yellow the mineral resources of the country; the shield, spears, and staff symbolize protection from the country's enemies, while the black and white of the shield are meant to portray black and white people living in peaceful coexistence"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "lion, elephant; national colors: blue, yellow, red"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati\" (Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles"
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "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) 2023": {
        "text": "$12.468 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$11.872 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$11.88 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "5.01% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "-0.07% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "10.68% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$10,100 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$9,700 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$9,800 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$4.443 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "2.6% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": {
        "text": "4.82% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": {
        "text": "6.22% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "B3 (2020)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "7.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "34.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "51.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "61.7% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "17.6% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "11.8% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "43.8% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-47.6% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "sugarcane, maize, root vegetables, grapefruits, oranges, milk, pineapples, bananas, beef, potatoes (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "soft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "0.39% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "416,000 (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "37.64% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "37.85% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "35.71% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "65% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "62.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "67.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "58.9% (2016 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016": {
        "text": "54.6 (2016 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality"
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "1.4% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "42.7% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "2.69% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "2.79% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$1.217 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$1.183 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2021": {
        "text": "36.25% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "24.7% (of GDP) (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2023": {
        "text": "$107.534 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "-$140.972 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "$125.318 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2023": {
        "text": "$2.174 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$2.095 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$2.132 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "South Africa 66%, Kenya 5%, Nigeria 3%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 3%, Mozambique 3% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "scented mixtures, raw sugar, garments, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, wood (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2023": {
        "text": "$2.351 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$2.288 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$2.173 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "South Africa 76%, China 4%, US 3%, Mozambique 3%, Mauritania 3% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, gold, plastic products, electricity, garments (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$479.261 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$452.352 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$572.282 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2023": {
        "text": "$959.627 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "emalangeni per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "18.454 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "16.362 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "14.783 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "16.47 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "14.452 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "82.3% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "86.1%"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "81.6%"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "287,000 kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "1.344 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "914.13 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "155.872 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "7.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "51.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "41.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "219,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "124,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "5,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "147,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "4.644 billion metric tons (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "6,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "1.151 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "264,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "887,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "17.642 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "42,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "3 (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "1.52 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "122 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "Eswatini was one of the last countries in the world to open up its telecom market to competition; until 2011 the state-owned Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications also acted as the industry regulator and had a stake in the country&rsquo;s sole mobile network; a new independent regulatory authority was established in late 2013 and has since embarked on significant changes to the sector; mobile market subscriptions have been affected by the common use among subscribers when they use SIM cards from different networks in order to access cheaper on-net calls; subscriber growth has slowed in recent years, but was expected to have reached 8% in 2021, as people adapted to the changing needs for connectivity caused by the pandemic; the internet sector has been open to competition with a small number of licensed ISPs; DSL services were introduced in 2008, development of the sector has been hampered by the limited fixed-line infrastructure and by a lack of competition in the access and backbone networks; Eswatini is landlocked and so depends on neighboring countries for international bandwidth; this has meant that access pricing is relatively high, and market subscriptions remains relatively low; prices have fallen recently in line with greater bandwidth availability resulting from several new submarine cable systems which have reached the region in recent years; in September 2020 a terrestrial cable linked Mozambique with Eswatini and South Africa (2022)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line stands at nearly 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 120 telephones per 100 persons (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "1 state-owned TV station; satellite dishes are able to access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".sz"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "58% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "34,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "3 (2023 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "3DC"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "16 (2024)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "301 km (2014)"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "301 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "4,594 km"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "1,500 km"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "3,000 km (2022)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Army (includes a small air wing); the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) (2024)"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "1.9% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 3,000 active-duty personnel (2023)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the UEDF has a light and small inventory of mostly older equipment originating from Europe, South Africa, and the US (2024)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the UEDF&rsquo;s primary mission is external security but 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&rsquo;s titular commissioner in chief; the UEDF was originally created in 1973 as the Royal Swaziland Defense Force (2023)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
  }
}