Swaziland Stock Market

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 King MSWATI III, the world's last ruling monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection.

Capital City: Mbabane (+2 GMT)

Chief of State: King MSWATI III

Head of Govt.: Prime Minister Absolom Themba DLAMINI

Currency: Lilangeni

Main Cities: Manzini

Major Languages: English, siSwati

Calling Code: 268

Voltage: 220V

Stock Exchanges: Swaziland Stock Exchange

Primary Religions: Protestant, indigenous beliefs

Main Airports

Manzini (MTS) (Matsapha)

U.S. Embassy

American Embassy, 7th floor Central Bank Building, Warner St., Box 199, Mbabane, Swaziland
tel. 268-404-6441/6445

Statistics

GDP: purchasing power parity:

$5.658 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity:

5,000 (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2005 est.)

Labor force:

155,700 (2003)

Exports:

$1.991 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - partners:

South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2% (2004)

Imports:

$2.149 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - partners:

South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9%, Singapore 0.3% (2004)

Population:

1,136,334 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.23% (2006 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line:

69% (2005)

Major Industries:

coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile and apparel

Employing Workers: 47*

Registering Property: 140*

Enforcing Contracts: 132*

Closing a Business: 56*

*2006 World Bank rank out of 175 countries