Eswatini - Geography

Here, let us take a look at the Geography of Eswatini. Landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa. Mother's mean age at first birth is (), whereas, the Maternal mortality ratio is 437 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Geographical data of Eswatini
Location Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references Africa
Tarrain mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Natural Resources asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Natural Hazards drought
Irrigated Land 500 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Major aquifers
Land Boundaries 546 km
Border Countries Mozambique 108 km; South Africa 438 km
Coastline 0 km (landlocked)
Climate varies from tropical to near temperate
Area
Total Area
Land Area 17,204 sq km
Water Area 160 sq km
comparative Area slightly smaller than New Jersey
Maritime Claims
Elevations
Highest point Emlembe 1,862 m
Lowest point Great Usutu River 21 m
Mean elevation 305 m
Land Use
Agricultural land 68.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture permanent pasture: 57.7% (2018 est.)
Forest 31.7% (2018 est.)
Other 0% (2018 est.)
Population Distribution

Because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map

People and Society

In Eswatini, the different Ethnic groups are such that we have:

predominantly Swazi; smaller populations of other African ethnic groups, including the Zulu, as well as people of European ancestry

Population
Pop growth rate 0.7% (2024 est.)
Birth rate 22.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate 9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Health expenditure 6.5% of GDP (2020)
Physicians Density
Hospital bed Density 2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Total fertility rate 2.37 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Gross reproduction rate 1.17 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate 66.1% (2014)
Est married women (ages 15-49) 37.1% (2023 est.)
Literacy age 15 and over can read and write
Education expenditures 5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Net Migration rate -6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Nationality Swati; note - former term, Swazi, still used among English speakers | liSwati (singular), emaSwati (plural); note - former term, Swazi(s), still used among English speakers
Languages English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)
Religions Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and traditional African religions - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other Christian 30% - includes Anglican, Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ, Jehovah's Witness), Muslim 2%, other 8% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous, Jewish) (2015 est.)
Age Structure
0-14 years 31.6% (male 180,328/female 179,840)
15-64 years 64.3% (male 341,298/female 390,884)
65 years and over 4% (2024 est.) (male 16,974/female 28,765)
Dependency Ratios
Total dependency ratio 64
Youth dependency ratio 57.4
Elderly dependency ratio 6.5
Potential support ratio 15.3 (2021 est.)
Median Age
Total 24.6 years (2024 est.)
Male 23.4 years
Female 25.8 years
Urbanization
Urban population 24.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas (Pop) 68,000 MBABANE (capital) (2018).
Sex Ratio
At birth 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over 0.59 male(s)/female
Total population 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant Motality
Total 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male 40.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female 32.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy at birth
Total population 60.7 years (2024 est.)
Male 58.7 years
Female 62.8 years
Drinking Water Sources
Improved: urban urban: 97.5% of population
Improved: rural rural: 74.8% of population
Improved: total total: 80.3% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 2.5% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 25.2% of population
Unimproved: total total: 19.7% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility acess
Improved: urban urban: 92.3% of population
Improved: rural rural: 83.9% of population
Improved: total total: 85.9% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 7.7% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 16.1% of population
Unimproved: total total: 14.1% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
Total 7.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer 2.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols 5.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
Total 9.2% (2020 est.)
Male 16.5% (2020 est.)
Female 1.8% (2020 est.)
Demographic profile

Eswatini, a small, predominantly rural, landlocked country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, suffers from severe poverty and the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. A weak and deteriorating economy, high unemployment, rapid population growth, and an uneven distribution of resources all combine to worsen already persistent poverty and food insecurity, especially in rural areas. Erratic weather (frequent droughts and intermittent heavy rains and flooding), overuse of small plots, the overgrazing of cattle, and outdated agricultural practices reduce crop yields and further degrade the environment, exacerbating Eswatini's poverty and subsistence problems. Eswatini's extremely high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate – nearly 28% of adults have the disease – compounds these issues. Agricultural production has declined due to HIV/AIDS, as the illness causes households to lose manpower and to sell livestock and other assets to pay for medicine and funerals.

Swazis, mainly men from the country’s rural south, have been migrating to South Africa to work in coal, and later gold, mines since the late 19th century. Although the number of miners abroad has never been high in absolute terms because of Eswatini's small population, the outflow has had important social and economic repercussions. The peak of mining employment in South Africa occurred during the 1980s. Cross-border movement has accelerated since the 1990s, as increasing unemployment has pushed more Swazis to look for work in South Africa (creating a "brain drain" in the health and educational sectors); southern Swazi men have continued to pursue mining, although the industry has downsized. Women now make up an increasing share of migrants and dominate cross-border trading in handicrafts, using the proceeds to purchase goods back in Eswatini. Much of today’s migration, however, is not work-related but focuses on visits to family and friends, tourism, and shopping.

All Important Facts about Eswatini

Want to know more about Eswatini? Check all different factbooks for Eswatini below.

Eswatini is found in Southern Africa