Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/224.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 11KB | 298 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Swazila.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Swaziland"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Swaziland, click {z,"21.179942,-34.350043,41.775793,-18.692274",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 17,360 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 17,200 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly smaller than New Jersey

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 535 km
{3}border countries:{4} Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 0 km (landlocked)

{2}Maritime claims:{4} none (landlocked)

{2}International disputes:{4} Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating
some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago
part of the Swazi Kingdom

{2}Climate:{4} varies from tropical to near temperate

{2}Terrain:{4} mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
{3}lowest point:{4} Great Usutu River 21 m
{3}highest point:{4} Emlembe 1,862 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond
deposits, quarry stone, and talc

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 11%
{3}permanent crops:{4} NEGL
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 62%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 7%
{3}other:{4} 20%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 640 sq km (1993 est.)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} limited access to potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of
excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion

{2}natural hazards:{4} NA

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

{2}Geographic note:{4} landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 998,730 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 46% (male 227,634; female 229,129)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 52% (male 247,156; female 271,096)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 2% (male 9,864; female 13,851) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 3.24% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 42.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 10.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.03 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 0.99 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.91 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.71 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 88.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 57.26 years
{3}male:{4} 53.25 years
{3}female:{4} 61.4 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 6.05 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Swazi(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Swazi

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} African 97%, European 3%

{2}Religions:{4} Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%

{2}Languages:{4} English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 76.7%
{3}male:{4} 78%
{3}female:{4} 75.6%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Kingdom of Swaziland
{3}conventional short form:{4} Swaziland

{2}Type of government:{4} monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

{2}Capital:{4} Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

{2}Independence:{4} 6 September 1968 (from UK)

{2}National holiday:{4} Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)

{2}Constitution:{4} none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973; a new
constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally presented to the people

{2}Legal system:{4} based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional
law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} NA; note - no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the 65 seats in the House of
Assembly were filled by popular vote in the elections of September and October 1993; of a
population of less than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) is a hereditary monarch
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Prince Jameson Mbilini DLAMINI (since 12 November 1993);
appointed by the king
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet; designated by the king

{2}Legislative branch:{4} bicameral Parliament is advisory
Senate: consists of 30 members (10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by
the king)
House of Assembly: elections last held 26 September and 11 October 1993 (next to be held NA);
results - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; of the total of 65 seats, 10 are appointed by the
king and 55 are elected by secret, popular vote; candidates for election are nominated by the local
council of each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes
in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round

{2}Judicial branch:{4} High Court, judges are appointed by the king; Court of Appeal, judges are
appointed by the king

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4}
{3}note:{4} political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978; illegal
parties are prohibited from holding large public gatherings
illegal parties: Peoples' United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Mario MASUKU; Swaziland
Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), Benedict TSABEDZE; Swaziland Communist Party (SWACOPA),
Mphandlana SHONGWE; Swaziland Liberation Front (FROLISA); Convention for Full Democracy
in Swaziland (COFUDESWA), Sabelo DLAMINI; Swaziland National Front (SWANAFRO);
Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party (NGWASOREP)

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA,
SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Mary Madzandza KHANYA
{3}chancery:{4} 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone], 6685
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador John T. SPROTT
{3}embassy:{4} Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
{3}mailing address:{4} P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
{3}telephone:{4} [268] 46441 through 46445
{3}FAX:{4} [268] 45959

{2}Flag:{4} 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


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} This small landlocked economy is based largely on subsistence agriculture,
which occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing features a number of
agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore
deposits were depleted by 1978, and health concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of
sugar and forestry products are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa,
except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from
which it receives 90% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports. Remittances
from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement domestically produced income by as
much as 20%. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drougth persist as problems for the future.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $3.6 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 2.6% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $3,700 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 25%
{3}industry:{4} 40%
{3}services:{4} 35% (1995 est.)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 14.7% (1995 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 160,355 (1986 est.)
{3}by occupation:{4} private sector about 65%, public sector 35%

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 15% (1992 est.)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $342 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $410 million, including capital expenditures of $130 million (1994 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 4.2% (1993 est.)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 120,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 410 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 1,003 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts;
cattle, goats, sheep

{2}Exports:{4} $798 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} sugar, edible concentrates, wood pulp, cotton yarn, asbestos
{3}partners:{4} South Africa 50%, EU countries, Canada

{2}Imports:{4} $827 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs,
chemicals
{3}partners:{4} South Africa 90%, Switzerland, UK 2.6%

{2}External debt:{4} $240 million (1992)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents

{2}Exchange rates:{4} emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994),
3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990); note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par
with the South African rand

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 April - 31 March


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use
narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge (single track)

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2,960 km
{3}paved:{4} 804 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 2,156 km (1993 est.)

{2}Ports:{4} none

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 17
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 10
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 6 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 30,364 (1993 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio
relay
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 129,000 (1992 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 10

{2}Televisions:{4} 12,500 (1992 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal Swaziland Police Force

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 220,097
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 127,285 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $22 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)