Eswatini

Eswatini is a landlocked developing nation in Southern Africa categorized by a lower-middle income economy. The absolute monarchy operates as a member of the United Nations, the African Union, and the Commonwealth of Nations.

Agricultural foundations

Crop farming and manufacturing provide the majority of employment across the territory. Local economic stability is reinforced because the national currency, the lilangeni, is pegged to the South African rand.

Regional trade partners

As a participating member of the Southern African Customs Union and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the country relies on South Africa as its primary local trading partner. Meanwhile, overseas commerce connects the developing market directly to the European Union and the United States.

Eswatini is a landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa, bordered by South Africa on all sides except the east, where it shares a border with Mozambique. Formally known as the Kingdom of Eswatini and historically called KaNgwane, the nation spans an area of 17,363 square kilometers with a population of 1,136,191.

Historical turning point

Boundaries drawn in 1881.

Colonial territory administered by Britain from 1903.

Full independence regained on 6 September 1968.

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Eswatini is a landlocked country situated in Southern Africa, sharing its borders with South Africa and Mozambique. Known historically as KaNgwane and formally as Swaziland, the nation underwent a name change in April 2018 when the king officially altered it to the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Boundaries drawn in the Scramble for Africa

From British high commission territory to full independence

Absolute monarchy governed without political parties

The political structure of Eswatini is defined as an absolute monarchy, remaining the last of its kind across the African continent. The nation has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. While elections occur every five years to determine the majority for the House of Assembly and the Senate, political parties are strictly prohibited from participating. The current governing framework operates under a constitution that was adopted in 2005.

Historically, the administrative and political landscape shifted profoundly following the Second Boer War, which led to the territory functioning as a British high commission territory starting in 1903. Decades later, the kingdom successfully regained its full independence on September 6, 1968.

Eswatini is a landlocked country situated in Southern Africa, sharing its borders primarily with South Africa and partly with Mozambique. The nation is officially recognized as the Kingdom of Eswatini and is governed as an absolute monarchy.

Artistic expressions

The cultural landscape of the kingdom is deeply intertwined with its long history, featuring prehistoric rock art paintings created by early inhabitants that date back as far as c. 27,000 years ago, continuing into the 19th century. Linguistic traditions are centered around the prevalent language, Swazi, known natively as siSwati, alongside English.

A historical turning point

A major turning point in the nation's cultural and political identity unfolded in April 2018, when King Mswati III officially changed the country's name from the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Kingdom of Eswatini to mark the fiftieth anniversary of independence. This modification honored the traditional Swazi designation for the land, reinforcing a continuous heritage that stretches from ancestral Bantu migrations and the mid-eighteenth-century establishment of the kingdom under Ngwane III to the modern era.

Eswatini is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. Bordered entirely by South Africa except for its eastern frontier with Mozambique, the sovereign state covers an area of 17,363 square kilometers.

The historical trajectory of the nation was fundamentally reshaped during the European Scramble for Africa, which led to the demarcation of its modern borders in 1881. Following the tumult of the Second Boer War, the territory transitioned into a British high commission territory in 1903. This colonial chapter endured until 6 September 1968, when the nation successfully reclaimed its full independence.

Decades later, a significant commemorative milestone marked another defining transition for the absolute monarchy. To honor the fiftieth anniversary of independence in April 2018, King Mswati III officially changed the country's designation from the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Kingdom of Eswatini, aligning the official title with the traditional Swazi name for the land.

Landlocked and defined

Eswatini, officially the Kingdom of Eswatini, is a landlocked nation in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa on all sides except an eastern frontier with Mozambique.

Compact contours, varied faces

Stretching no more than 200 km north‑to‑south and 130 km east‑to‑west, Eswatini is the second smallest country on the continent. Within its 17 363 km² lie a cool, mountainous highveld and a hot, dry lowveld, creating a climate mosaic despite the modest scale.

Independence – a turning point

After the Second Boer War, the territory became a British high‑commission territory in 1903. Boundaries drawn in 1881 during the European Scramble for Africa persisted until the kingdom reclaimed full sovereignty on 6 September 1968, marking a decisive break from colonial administration.

Monarchy and modern law

Eswatini remains the only absolute monarchy in Africa, ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. A constitution adopted in 2005 outlines a bicameral Parliament, yet political parties are barred from contesting the five‑year elections that determine the House of Assembly and Senate majorities.

Economy anchored to neighbours

Classified as a lower‑middle‑income economy, Eswatini’s currency, the lilangeni (SZL), is pegged to the South African rand, reflecting its close trade ties with South Africa, the principal regional partner. The United States and the European Union rank among its major overseas markets. Agriculture and manufacturing together provide the bulk of employment.

People, language, health

The population of 1 136 191 is predominantly ethnic Swazi, speaking siSwati and English‑SZ. Health challenges are stark: 28 % of adults live with HIV/AIDS, contributing to a life expectancy of 58 years as reported in 2018. Youth form a large share, with 35 % aged fourteen or younger and a median age of 22 years.

Key facts

Item	Detail
Capital (executive)	Mbabane
Legislative capital	Lobamba
Population	1 136 191
Area (km²)	17 363
Currency	lilangeni (SZL)
Official languages	en‑SZ, ss‑SZ
ISO 2‑code	SZ
ISO 3‑code	SWZ

For a comprehensive overview, see the Eswatini entry on Wikipedia.