factbook.json/africa/wz.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "Autonomy for Eswatini was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. A new constitution came into effect in 2006, which included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in April 2018. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections. <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</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": {
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "305 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Great Usutu River 21 m"
      },
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Emlembe 1,862 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% (2011 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 9.8% (2011 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.8% (2011 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 57.7% (2011 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "31.7% (2011 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "0% (2011 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 <a href=\"../attachments/images/original/ESWATINI_Population_density.jpg?1554224289\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">population distribution map</a>"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "drought"
    },
    "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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "Law of the Sea"
      }
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "1,113,276 (July 2021 est.)",
      "note": "<p><strong>note:</strong> estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected</p>"
    },
    "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 indigenous ancestral worship - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other 30% - includes Anglican, Methodist, Mormon, 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 – more than 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": "33.63% (male 185,640/female 185,808)"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "18.71% (male 98,029/female 108,654)"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "39.46% (male 202,536/female 233,275)"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "4.36% (male 20,529/female 27,672)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "3.83% (male 15,833/female 26,503) (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "70.8"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "64"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "6.9"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "14.6 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "23.7 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "22.5 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "24.7 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.77% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "23.87 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "9.9 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 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 <a href=\"../attachments/images/original/ESWATINI_Population_density.jpg?1554224289\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">population distribution map</a>"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "24.2% of total population (2020)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "2.46% annual rate of change (2015-20 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"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "0.9 male(s)/female"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "0.87 male(s)/female"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "0.74 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.6 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.9 male(s)/female (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Maternal mortality rate": {
      "text": "437 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "41.2 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "45.57 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "59.13 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "57.05 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "61.28 years (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "2.48 children born/woman (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "66.1% (2014)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 96.8% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 72.3% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 78.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 3.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 27.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 21.7% of population (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current Health Expenditure": {
      "text": "6.9% (2017)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "0.33 physicians/1,000 population (2016)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 93.5% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 82.4% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 85% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 6.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 17.6% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 15% of population (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "27.1% (2019 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "200,000 (2019 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "2,300 (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "intermediate (2020)"
      },
      "food or waterborne diseases": {
        "text": "bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "malaria"
      },
      "water contact diseases": {
        "text": "schistosomiasis"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "16.5% (2016)"
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "5.8% (2014)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "7.1% of GDP (2014)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "88.4%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "88.3%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "88.5% (2015)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "12 years (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "47.1%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "44.2%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "50.1% (2016)"
      }
    }
  },
  "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": "<p><strong>note:</strong> pronounced ay-swatini or eh-swatini</p>"
    },
    "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)"
      },
      "note": "<br><br><strong>etymology:</strong> 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)"
    },
    "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"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law"
    },
    "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": "&nbsp;King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo DLAMINI (since 27 October 2018); Deputy Prime Minister Themba MASUKU (since 6 November 2018)&nbsp;"
      },
      "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": {
      "description": {
        "text": "bicameral Parliament (Libandla) consists of:<br /> <div class=\"category_data\">Senate (30 seats; 20 members appointed by the monarch and 10 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the House of Assembly; members serve 5-year terms)<br />House of Assembly (73 seats; 59 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies or tinkhundla by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, 10 members appointed by the monarch, 4 women elected by the members if representation of elected women is less than 30%;&nbsp;members serve 5-year terms)</div>"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "Senate - last held on 23 October 2018 (next to be held - 31 October 2023)<br />House of Assembly - last held on 21 September 2018 (next to be held in 2023)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Senate - percent of seats by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 20, women 10, percent of women 33.3% <br />House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 59; composition - men 60, women 5, percent of women 7.7%; note - total Parliament percent of women 15.8%"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest courts": {
        "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 and leaders": {
      "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 [Sibusiso DLAMINI]<br />Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Dr. Alvit DLAMINI]<br />People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU]<br />Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA [Jan SITHOLE]"
    },
    "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 Njabuliso Busisiwe Sikhulile GWEBU (since 24 April 2017)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 234-5002"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 234-8254"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Lisa J. PETERSON (since February 2016)"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "(268)404-6441; EMER: +(268)7602-8414"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "7th Floor, Central Bank Building, Mahlokohla Street, Mbabane"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "PO Box 199, Mbabane, Eswatini"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[268] 2416-3344"
      }
    },
    "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": "<p><strong>note:</strong> adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles</p>"
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "<p>A small, landlocked kingdom, Eswatini is bordered in the north, west and south by the Republic of South Africa and by Mozambique in the east. Eswatini depends on South Africa for a majority of its exports and imports. Eswatini's currency is pegged to the South African rand, effectively relinquishing Eswatini's monetary policy to South Africa. The government is dependent on customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) for almost half of its revenue. Eswatini is a lower middle income country. As of 2017, more than one-quarter of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS; Eswatini has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate, a financial strain and source of economic instability.</p><p></p><p>The manufacturing sector diversified in the 1980s and 1990s, but manufacturing has grown little in the last decade. Sugar and soft drink concentrate are the largest foreign exchange earners, although a drought in 2015-16 decreased sugar production and exports. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and floods are persistent problems. Mining has declined in importance in recent years. Coal, gold, diamond, and quarry stone mines are small scale, and the only iron ore mine closed in 2014. With an estimated 28% unemployment rate, Eswatini's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and to attract foreign direct investment is acute.</p><p></p><p>Eswatini's national development strategy, which expires in 2022, prioritizes increases in infrastructure, agriculture production, and economic diversification, while aiming to reduce poverty and government spending. Eswatini's revenue from SACU receipts are likely to continue to decline as South Africa pushes for a new distribution scheme, making it harder for the government to maintain fiscal balance without introducing new sources of revenue.</p>"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2017": {
        "text": "1.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2016": {
        "text": "1.4% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2015": {
        "text": "0.4% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": {
        "text": "6.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016": {
        "text": "7.8% (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "B3 (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$9.898 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": {
        "text": "$9.681 billion (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017": {
        "text": "$9.457 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<p><strong>note:</strong> data are in 2010 dollars</p>"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$4.484 billion (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$8,622 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2018": {
        "text": "$8,521 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2017": {
        "text": "$8,408 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<p><strong>note:</strong> data are in 2010 dollars</p>"
    },
    "Gross national saving": {
      "Gross national saving 2017": {
        "text": "25.4% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Gross national saving 2016": {
        "text": "29.7% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Gross national saving 2015": {
        "text": "23.3% of GDP (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "6.5% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "45% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "48.6% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "64% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "21.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "13.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "-0.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "47.9% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-46.3% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Ease of Doing Business Index scores": {
      "Overall Ease of Doing Business score 2020": {
        "text": "59.5 (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "sugar cane, maize, roots/tubers nes, grapefruit, oranges, milk, beef, potatoes, vegetables, bananas"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "soft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "5.6% (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "427,900 (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "10.7%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "30.4%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "58.9% (2014 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2014": {
        "text": "28% (2014 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2013": {
        "text": "28% (2013 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "63% (2010 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016": {
        "text": "54.6 (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "1.7%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "40.1% (2010 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "1.263 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "1.639 billion (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "28.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-8.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "28.4% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "25.5% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "1 April - 31 March"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2017": {
        "text": "$604 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2016": {
        "text": "$642 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2018": {
        "text": "$2.389 billion (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2017": {
        "text": "$2.154 billion (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "South Africa 94% (2017)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "soft drink concentrates, sugar, timber, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus, and canned fruit"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2018": {
        "text": "$2.605 billion (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2017": {
        "text": "$2.853 billion (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "South Africa 81.6%, China 5.2% (2017)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$563.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$564.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$526.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$468.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "currency": {
        "text": "emalangeni per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "14.44 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2016": {
        "text": "14.6924 (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2015": {
        "text": "14.6924 (2015 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2014": {
        "text": "12.7581 (2014 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2013": {
        "text": "10.8469 (2013 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "90% (2019)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "98% (2019)"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "87% (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "381 million kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "1.431 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2016)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "1.077 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "295,900 kW (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "39% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "41% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2018)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "5,300 bbl/day (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "5,279 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)"
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy": {
      "text": "1.14 million Mt (2017 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "40,003"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "3.65 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "1,025,061"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "93.53 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "earlier government monopoly in telecommunications hindered its growth; new regulatory authority established in 2013 has aided expansion in&nbsp;the telecom sector; 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE services (2019)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "Eswatini has 2 mobile-cellular providers; communication infrastructure has a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscriber base; fixed-line stands at 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 94 telephones per 100 persons; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay (2019)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)"
      },
      "note": "<br><br><strong>note:</strong> the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated"
    },
    "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": {
      "total": {
        "text": "510,984"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "47% (July 2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "7,000"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "less than 1 (2017 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "3 (2016)"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "total": {
        "text": "14 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2 (2019)"
      },
      "over 3,047 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "2,438 to 3,047 m": {
        "text": "1"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "12 (2013)"
      },
      "914 to 1,523 m": {
        "text": "5 (2013)"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "7 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "301 km (2014)"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "301 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3,769 km (2019)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing (no operational aircraft)) (2019)"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "1.8% of GDP (2019)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "1.9% of GDP (2018)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2017": {
        "text": "1.9% of GDP (2017)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2016": {
        "text": "2% of GDP (2016)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2015": {
        "text": "1.8% of GDP (2015)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force has approximately 3,100 active personnel (3,000 Army; 100 Air Force) (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the inventory of the UEDF consists mostly of equipment from South Africa; the only publicly recorded military acquisitions since 2010 were two secondhand helicopters from Taiwan in 2019 (2020)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted (2013)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>in 2006, Swati king advocated resorting to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa</p>"
    }
  }
}