|RConstitution:|N Monarchy, member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
|RNational holiday:|N Somklolo (Independence) Day, September 6.
|RNature and climate:|N The country is divided in four topographical regions from west to east; first a highland plateau with tempered climate, then a plateau at medium elevation with subtropical climate, then a lowland plateau with tropical climate and finally in the most eastern parts the Lubombo-mountains with a subtropical climate.
Average temperature in January 20°C and in July 12°C.
Percipitation between 500 and 1000 mm.
|RPeople:|N 90% Swazi, 2% Zulu and 2% European.
|REconomy:|N 53% of the labour force is occupied in agriculture, 9% in industry and trade and 9% in different services.
The most important crops are sugarcanes, mainly for export, cotton, citrusfruits, rice, maize, sorghum and tobacco.
Swaziland is fairly rich on the minerals asbestos, iron and coal that extracted and exported.
There are cottonmills, sugarrefineries, sawmills and some minor workshops.
Handicrafts and tourism are important sources of incomes.
|RHistory:|N The Swaziland royal dynasty has been reigning the last four centuries and is one of the few African dynasties still reigning.
The country has been much larger but in 1820 it was squeezed from the north by the Zulu-people. Annexed by Great Britain in 1877 it regained independence in 1881. During the Boer-war 1903 Swaziland voluntarily asked for British protection. Fully independent country in 1968.
In 1973 the king repealed the constitution and has since then been an absolute ruler. Political parties are banned and parliament may only debate and give advice.
