Eswatini

Quick Facts

🇸🇿
Capital:
Mbabane
Official Language(s):
English, Swazi
Currency:
Swazi lilangeni (L), South African rand (R)
Population:
1,160,164

Overview

Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official name Swaziland and formally the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast. At no more than 200 km (120 mi) north to south and 130 km (81 mi) east to west, Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa; despite this, its climate and topography are diverse, ranging from a cool and mountainous highveld to a hot and dry lowveld.

Institutional Framework

The strength of a country's institutions directly impacts its economic development and stability. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty, protect property rights, and enable efficient markets through:
  • Rule of law and contract enforcement
  • Control of corruption
  • Government effectiveness and regulatory quality

* Indicators normalized to 0-100 scale

Economic Structure

The composition of an economy reveals its strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for growth. Understanding the balance between sectors (agriculture, industry, services) and their sophistication helps assess economic resilience and development opportunities.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic Scale & Power

An economy with $4,737,671,576.329B(2021) GDP, showing strong growth at 3.4%(2021). Emerging economy with development potential.

GDP Growth
3.4%(2021)
GDP PPP
$11,880,364,539.806

Economic Structure

Economic structure shows 53.0%(2021) in services, 32.4%(2021) in industry, and 7.5%(2021) in agriculture. Balanced economic structure.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic health indicators show 34.2%(2021) unemployment and N/A inflation. Trade profile with N/A exports and N/A imports as % of GDP.

Unemployment
34.2%(2021)
Inflation
N/A
Exports/GDP
N/A
Imports/GDP
N/A

Innovation & Competitiveness

Innovation capacity determines a country's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy. Key indicators like R&D investment, patent applications, and high-tech exports reveal the potential for sustainable economic growth and value creation.

High-Tech Exports

0.3

% of manufactured exports

ICT Exports

0.1

% of total goods exports

Digital Adoption

56.2

% of population using internet

Mobile Connectivity

120.1

Subscriptions per 100 people

Manufacturing Value

27.0

% of GDP

International Position

A country's integration into global markets affects its economic opportunities and risks. Trade relationships, financial flows, and geographic advantages or constraints shape its development trajectory and resilience to external shocks.

Financial & Trade Geography

Trade Profile

Trade represents N/A of GDP, with a trade balance of N/A.

FDI Inflows
2.38%(2021)
FDI Outflows
1.24%(2021)

Financial Security

External Debt

26.38%(2021)

Foreign Reserves

$0.57B(2021)(2.6 months of imports)

Supply Chain & Technology

Technology Trade

ICT Imports
2.73%(2021)
High-Tech Exports
0.33%(2021)

Economic Structure

Manufacturing
26.97%(2021)
Services
53.02%(2021)

Trade Agreements & Dependencies

Trade Agreements

No major trade agreements

Critical Dependencies

    Growth Trajectory

    Understanding growth patterns helps predict future economic performance and development challenges. Key factors include productivity trends, investment levels, and structural transformation progress, which together determine long-term prosperity potential.

    Growth Potential Indicators

    Human Capital

    Education and workforce development

    16.9/100

    Trade Position

    International trade and competitiveness

    3.7/100

    Economic Structure

    Sectoral balance and sophistication

    39.0/100

    Demographics & Human Capital

    Demographics are fundamental to understanding a country's economic potential and challenges. The population structure influences everything from labor force availability to social security systems and public spending priorities.

    Demographics

    Population Overview

    Total population of 1,206,593(2021) with 1.2%(2021) annual growth. Median age is N/A with fertility rate at 2.839 births/woman(2021).

    Life Expectancy
    57.066 years(2021)
    Birth Rate
    24.134 per 1,000(2021)

    Age Structure

    Working-age population (61.8%(2021)) with youth at 34.3%(2021) and elderly at 3.9%(2021). Total dependency ratio: 61.8%(2021).

    Young Dependency
    55.5%(2021)
    Old Dependency
    6.3%(2021)

    Gender & Migration

    Population is 50.9%(2021) female and 49.1%(2021) male, with sex ratio of 1.029 males/female(2021) at birth. Net migration: -4,242(2021).

    Male Mortality
    545.723/1,000(2021)
    Female Mortality
    343.638/1,000(2021)

    Development Indicators

    Urban population growing at 2.0%(2021) annually, with 75.6%(2021) in rural areas. Literacy rate: N/A.

    Urbanization
    24.4%(2021)
    Infant Mortality
    40.8 per 1,000(2021)

    Population Structure

    The population pyramid visualizes the age and gender distribution, revealing crucial insights about economic sustainability. A balanced pyramid with a strong working-age population (typically ages 15-64) indicates greater economic potential, as this group supports both the younger and older generations through:
    • Labor force participation and productivity
    • Tax contributions to support social services
    • Innovation and economic growth

    An aging population (top-heavy pyramid) or youth bulge (bottom-heavy) can create demographic pressures on social systems and economic stability.

    Source: World Bank Development Indicators

    Security Context

    Security considerations fundamentally affect economic development and investment attractiveness. Both geographic factors and military capabilities influence a country's stability and its ability to protect economic interests and maintain sustainable growth.

    Geographic & Resource Security

    Food & Agriculture

    Arable land comprises 10.3%(2021) of territory, with 69.5%(2021) total agricultural land. Cereal yield: 1,432.4 kg/hectare(2021).

    Food Production Index
    104.57(2021)
    Cereal Production
    102,695.67 MT(2021)

    Energy Security

    Net energy imports at N/A of consumption. Renewable energy makes up 82.9%(2021) of total. Electricity access: N/A.

    Resource Rents
    N/A

    Water Resources

    Fresh water resources of 788 m³/capita(2021) per person. Annual precipitation: 28.998 mm(2021).

    Forest Area
    1.8%(2021)

    Environmental Vulnerability

    2188.0%(2021) of population affected by climate disasters. Forest coverage at 1.8%(2021) providing natural buffer.

    Annual Rainfall
    28.998 mm(2021)

    Military & Security

    Military Capabilities

    Military expenditure at N/A of GDP. Armed forces personnel: N/A ( N/A of labor force).

    Arms Exports
    895 USD(2021)
    Arms Imports
    N/A

    Strategic Status

    Military Alliances

    No major military alliances

    Nuclear Status

    Non-Nuclear State

    Security Environment

    Refugee population: 71,810(2021)Internally displaced: 68,856(2021)

    Strategic Geography

    Strategic Features

    • Landlocked country
    • Borders 2 countries