Population, GDP, natural resources, leaders and history of Eswatini: the Magna Factbook country file, with its Magna grade (MCC, ranked #134 of 195).
Eswatini — in Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa. Political status: absolute monarchy. The country's capital is Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital); it covers 17,364 sq km. Independence: 6 September 1968 (from the UK). Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains. Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate. Population: 1.1 million (2025 estimate). Population growth: +0.87% per year. Median age: 24.8 years. Life expectancy: 60.7 years (2024 est.). Languages: English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official) Religions: Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and traditional African …
| Capital | Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital) |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,137,268 (2025 est.) |
| GDP (PPP) | $12.885 billion (2024 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $10,400 (2024 est.) |
| Real GDP growth | 2.6% (2024 est.) |
| Inflation | 2.6% |
| Unemployment | 34.4% |
| Public debt | 35.9% of GDP (2021 est.) |
| Exports | $2.174 billion (2023 est.) |
| Imports | $2.351 billion (2023 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 60.7 years (2024 est.) |
| Median age | 24.8 |
| Urbanization | 24.8% of total population (2023) |
| Government | absolute monarchy |
| Independence | 6 September 1968 (from the UK) |
| Languages | English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official) |
MCC · 43/100 — The Magna grade is our 0–100 composite of structural national power — five dimensions, 100+ indicators. It is the Bureau's own assessment, not a mirror of World Bank or CIA figures.
Momentum 0 — Quarterly momentum: the Bureau's read on the country's trajectory over the last quarter, from −10 (deteriorating fast) to +10 (accelerating).
A neutral quarter in the truest sense: nothing happened that altered the country's course or standing.
The score records absence of momentum honestly — the deeper currents continue, unmoved by the calendar.
Asbestos, Coal, Hydropower, Diamonds.
None. King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
Eswatini maintains 13 embassies and 2 consulates abroad, hosts 7 foreign diplomatic missions, holds permanent missions to UN New York, AU Addis Ababa. The breadth of a diplomatic network is a direct measure of diplomatic power — it shows how far a country’s influence, alliances and interests reach.
| Embassies abroad | 13 |
|---|---|
| Consulates abroad | 2 |
| Foreign missions hosted | 7 |
| Multilateral missions | UN New York, AU Addis Ababa |
Source: Consular Affairs Center, Diplomatic and Consular Networks Database and Rankings, January 2026 (Zenodo, CC BY 4.0). https://zenodo.org/records/18109976
Transport networks are economic power made physical — ports, runways, railways and pipelines decide what a country can move, sell and defend.
| Sea access | Landlocked — no seacoast; exports move through transit corridors across neighbouring countries. |
|---|---|
| Airports (total) | 16 + 1 heliports (registration prefix 3DC) |
| Railways | 301 km |
King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) — Mpaka.
Sources: OurAirports public-domain extract (2026-10-02); per-entry Wikipedia links included; CIA World Factbook via cia_factbook snapshot (2026-09-28); theodora.com CIA mirror (CIA World Factbook Transportation section), scraped 2026-10-02
| Political system | absolute monarchy |
|---|---|
| Next election | No election currently scheduled. |
MCC · 43 Ranked #134 of 195 countries in the Magna Country Rankings. Full ranking breakdown for Eswatini.
Historical timeline of Eswatini
