NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Kingdom of Swaziland
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s have pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa |
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Geographic coordinates:
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26 30 S, 31 30 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 17,363 sq km
water: 160 sq km land: 17,203 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than New Jersey |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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varies from tropical to near temperate |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m |
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Natural resources:
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asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc |
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Land use:
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arable land: 9.77%
permanent crops: 0.7% other: 89.53% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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690 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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drought |
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Environment - current issues:
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limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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1,161,219
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 41.4% (male 242,762; female 238,141)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 317,526; female 321,709) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 18,040; female 23,041) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 18.5 years
male: 18.2 years female: 18.8 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.83% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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29.37 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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21.08 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 67.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 70.79 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 39.47 years
male: 41.02 years female: 37.87 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.92 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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33.4% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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170,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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12,000 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi |
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Ethnic groups:
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African 97%, European 3% |
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Religions:
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Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and other 30% |
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Languages:
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English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.6% male: 82.6% female: 80.8% (2003 est.) |