3 cities

Location of eSwatiniSouth AfricaLesothoMozambiqueeSwatiniLobambaManziniMbabane
Country

eSwatini

Kingdom of eSwatini · local name

26.53° S, 31.47° E

No coast at all — every one of its 546 km of border is shared with another country.

coastline 0 km · 185th/229 · land borders 546 km · 137th/230
CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · ranks computed across the countries in this atlas that carry the value

Population
1,148,130
Area
17,364 km²
Population density
≈ 68 / km²
Capital
Mbabane
Natural Earth
ISO codes
SZ · SWZ
GDP (nominal)
$4.89 billion
GDP per capita (PPP)
$10,400
Compare with…Open on map
How big, reallyDrawn at the same scale as Montenegro — the next country down in size. Equal-area projection, not the map you are used to.
eSwatini 17,364 km²Montenegro 13,812 km²

geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area

Where eSwatini sits in the world

Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.

  1. Median age24.8 years173rd of 224 · median 32.6 years
  2. Life expectancy60.7 years216th of 224 · median 76.2 years
  3. Fertility rate2.64 children per woman57th of 225 · median 1.92 children per woman
  4. Population1,148,130161st of 235 · median 5,454,073
  5. Total area17,364 km²157th of 228 · median 83,736 km²
  6. Coastline0 km185th of 229 · median 402 km

Overview

Name

The name derives from 19th century King Mswati II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified. Its conventional long form is Kingdom of Eswatini.

Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person

Government

An absolute monarchy governs eSwatini. Its legal system is a mixed system of civil, common, and customary law. The current constitution took effect on 8 February 2006, after the king signed it on 26 July 2005. eSwatini gained independence from the UK on 6 September 1968. Its national holiday is Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), on 6 September (1968).

Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person

Flag and symbols

The flag has three horizontal bands: blue at top, triple-width red, and blue. The red band is edged in yellow and has a central black-and-white shield covering two horizontal spears and a feather-tasseled staff. Blue stands for peace and stability, red for past struggles, and yellow for the country's mineral resources. The shield, spears, and staff symbolize protection from enemies. The national symbols are lion and elephant.

Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person

Key figures

CIA World Factbook

Economy

GDP (nominal)
$4.89 billion
GDP (PPP)
$12.89 billion
GDP per capita (PPP)
$10,400
GDP growth
+2.6%
Inflation (consumer prices)
2.6%
Unemployment
34.4%
Exports
$2.17 billion
Imports
$2.35 billion

People

Life expectancy
60.7 years
Median age
24.8 years
Birth rate
20.66 per 1,000
Death rate
8.3 per 1,000
Fertility rate
2.64 children per woman
Population growth
+0.87% a year
Urban population
24.8%
Literacy
90.8%
Languages
  • Englishofficial
  • siSwatiofficial
Religions
  • Christian90%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
  • Muslim2%
  • other8%

Land

Total area
17,364 km²Land 17,204 km² · Water 160 km²
Coastline
0 km
Land borders
546 km
Mean elevation
305 m
Highest point
1,862 m Emlembe

Values from the CIA World Factbook archive. Each carries the year it describes; open a year for the exact source field.

Connections

Within
Borders
Contains

Natural geography 2

Natural Earth outlines · features with a Wikidata ID

Mountain ranges 2

Largest cities 3

Population · Natural Earth

  1. Manzini110.5K
  2. Mbabanecapital90.1K
  3. Lobambacapital9.8K

Sources