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Eswatini
Africa
One of Africa's last absolute monarchies, Eswatini is a small, landlocked country with a culture rooted in tradition and a growing tourism sector.
1,200,000
Population
17,364
Area (km²)
Mbabane
Capital
18
Historical Events
Historical Timeline
Cities
18 Events
August 22, 2025 - Human rights lawyers sue the government over the U.S. deportation agreement, challenging its secrecy and implications for rule of law.
August 08, 2025 - Eswatini Tourism Authority activates its 2025 events calendar in Maputo, Mozambique, promoting cultural and adventure tourism.
August 06, 2025 - IMF completes Article IV mission, forecasting 4.3% growth from 2.8% in 2024, urging fiscal reforms amid inequality.
July 31, 2025 - The World Bank emphasizes digital transformation for growth, projecting 5% GDP expansion driven by policies and global conditions.
July 25, 2025 - Pro-democracy protesters demonstrate outside the U.S. embassy in Ezulwini against the deportation deal, amid broader concerns over trade tariffs and human rights.
July 16, 2025 - Eswatini receives five U.S. criminal deportees (from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos) under a secretive third-country agreement, sparking outrage over lack of consultation and potential security risks.
April 22, 2025 - World Health Day commemorations highlight health equity progress, including responses to malaria and neglected tropical diseases.
March 24, 2025 - Eswatini Mobile launches 5G services, marking entry into the "5G era" and aiming to enhance connectivity.
January 01, 2025 - The government announces a partnership with Google to boost digital infrastructure and economic resilience.
December 31, 2024 - Human rights deteriorate with arbitrary arrests of critics and journalists; gender-based violence surges, with over 1,100 cases reported in the first five months; economy grows 4.9% but unemployment hits 35.4% (48.7% for youth), declared a national emergency.
November 01, 2024 - The Supreme Court rules in favor of suspended junior police and correctional officers, ordering the government to implement a promised salary increase amid economic pressures.
August 13, 2024 - The Supreme Court upholds provisions of the 1938 Sedition and Subversive Activities Act and overturns a 2016 ruling invalidating parts of the 2008 Suppression of Terrorism Act, restricting freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.
July 15, 2024 - Former MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube are sentenced to 25 and 18 years in prison, respectively, for supporting 2021 pro-democracy protests; they face torture in detention, including denial of food.
June 26, 2024 - Eswatini hosts the Sustainable Cooling Summit in Manzini, focusing on climate action, sustainable technologies, and a planned plastic bag ban in partnership with Italy.
December 31, 2023 - Pro-democracy demonstrations, sparked in 2021, continue with waves of unrest; a special SADC security organ summit in August addresses the violence, but no reforms follow.
September 29, 2023 - Parliamentary elections under the non-partisan Tinkhundla system elect 59 House of Assembly members; opposition boycotts highlight lack of political pluralism, with King Mswati III retaining ultimate control.
January 21, 2023 - Human rights lawyer and opposition activist Thulani Maseko is shot dead in his home by unidentified gunmen, marking a major escalation in attacks on critics; the government fails to conduct a credible investigation.
January 01, 2023 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pledges support to President (King) Mswati III during a visit, amid regional concerns over democratic backsliding.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eswatini
100 Questions
Eswatini is in Southern Africa, bordered by South Africa and Mozambique.
Eswatini has two capitals: Mbabane (administrative) and Lobamba (royal and legislative).
Around 1.3 million people as of 2025 estimates.
siSwati and English are official languages.
Tropical and temperate, with wetter summers and drier winters.
The lilangeni (SZL), pegged to the South African rand.
Blue, yellow, and red with a shield, spear, and staff.
Mbabane, Manzini, Lobamba, and Siteki.
On September 6, 1968, from Britain.
King Sobhuza II.
King Mswati III (as of 2025).
An absolute monarchy, one of the last in the world.
In 2018, King Mswati III announced the change to reflect indigenous heritage.
Predominantly Swazi people, with small Zulu and Tsonga minorities.
Christianity (mostly Protestant and Catholic), mixed with traditional beliefs.
Around $6 billion in 2025 estimates.
About $4,600.
Around 88%.
About 61 years, affected by HIV/AIDS.
Around 3.1 children per woman.
About 55%.
Sugar, wood pulp, textiles, citrus, and soft drink concentrates.
Machinery, fuel, food, and vehicles.
Coal, asbestos, gold, diamonds, timber, and water.
Maize, sorghum, beans, vegetables, and meat.
Traditional dried meat.
Pumpkin porridge, a popular traditional dish.
Maize beer, tea, and commercial soft drinks.
Sishwala (thick maize porridge served with meat and vegetables).
Football, rugby, and cricket.
Yes, known as Sihlangu Semnikati (“King’s Shield”).
Yes, mainly in athletics and boxing.
Traditional Swazi music, gospel, and Afro-pop.
Drums, rattles, flutes, and string instruments.
Sibhaca (male dance) and umhlanga (reed dance for maidens).
A cultural festival where young women present reeds to the Queen Mother.
The “Festival of the First Fruits,” central to Swazi kingship.
Men and women wear colorful cloths (emahiya) with cultural symbols.
They are active in farming, trade, and family but face inequality in law and politics.
Around 85%.
Around 91%.
High, especially among youth, around 30%.
About 60%, though agriculture contributes less to GDP.
Maize, sugarcane, cotton, and citrus.
Cattle, goats, and poultry.
Sugar production, forestry, mining, and textiles.
University of Eswatini and Limkokwing University.
Under strain, especially due to high HIV/AIDS prevalence.
HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, and respiratory diseases.
One of the highest in the world, around 27% of adults.
High, but declining.
Also high, reflecting health challenges.
“Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati” (“Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi”).
“Siyinqaba” (“We are a fortress”).
The lion.
The purple-crested turaco.
The red-hot poker (Kniphofia).
Emlembe (1,862 m).
The Great Usutu River valley (~21 m).
Administrative capital and business hub.
Largest city and industrial center.
Royal village and legislative capital.
Lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, and antelope.
Hlane Royal National Park, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mkhaya Game Reserve.
Eswatini’s largest protected area, home to lions and rhinos.
A community-run reserve promoting eco-tourism.
Known for endangered species like black rhinos.
Around 95%, higher than older generations.
Around $4,600 annually.
Declining steadily.
Around 30%, with most people still in rural areas.
Focused on subsistence farming.
Hydropower and imports from South Africa.
Moderate in solar and hydro.
Overdependence on South Africa for trade and power.
Calls for democracy versus monarchy control.
Main trade partner, energy supplier, and political influencer.
Neighbor with transport and trade routes.
Supports stability and integration.
Provides aid for health, education, and development.
Communities in South Africa, the UK, and the U.S.
Significant for family income and education.
Moderate, linked to South Africa’s economy.
Relatively high for its small land area.
Weaving, beadwork, pottery, and wood carving.
Strongly tied to monarchy, ceremonies, and clan traditions.
It attracts international visitors as a showcase of Swazi tradition.
They hold authority in local governance and land allocation.
Central in politics, culture, and religion.
Fighting HIV/AIDS and improving rural healthcare.
Expanding access in rural areas and addressing high dropout rates.
About 6% difference.
Around 7 years.
Lower than rural areas.
Umhlanga (Reed Dance), Incwala, and Independence Day.
Stable, tied to South African markets.
Slowing due to falling fertility and health challenges.
Promising if health improves and governance reforms occur.
It is one of the few remaining absolute monarchies in the world.
It preserves strong cultural traditions while balancing modern pressures, making it culturally distinct.