Swaziland ( Swaziland) is a country in Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa. Swaziland geographic coordinates 26 30 S, 31 30 E; area 17,203 sq km; area comparative slightly smaller than New Jersey; land boundaries Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km; coastline 0 km (landlocked); maritime claims none (landlocked); climate varies from tropical to near temperate; terrain mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains; elevation extremes Emlembe 1,862 m; natural resources asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc; land use 88.95% (2001); irrigated land 690 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards drought; environment current issues limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion; environment international agreements Law of the Sea; geography note landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa;

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Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection government type monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth; capital Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital; administrative divisions 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni; independence 6 September 1968 (from UK); national holiday Independence Day, 6 September (1968); constitution a constitution was due to be adopted in November 2003 but was delayed and scheduled for early 2005; legal system based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; suffrage 18 years of age;

people

Swaziland population 1,173,900 estimates for this country explicit; age structure 3.8% (male 19,273/female 25,028) (2005 est.); median age 18.92 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 0.25% (2005 est.); birth rate 27.72 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 25.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 72.51 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 34.07 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 3.7 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 38.8% (2003 est.); hiv people with aids 220,000 (2003 est.); hiv deaths 17,000 (2003 est.); nationality Swazi; ethnic groups African 97%, European 3%; religions Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and; languages English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official); literacy 80.8% (2003 est.);

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