Reuters AlertNet Lite

PEOPLE

Language
English and Swazi are the official languages but various ethnic groups speak their own languages.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	1.2 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	1.1 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	1.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	1.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	1.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	1.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	1.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	1.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	1.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
1.7 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Predominantly Swazi (84 percent). There are also Zulu, Tonga, Shangaan, Indian and Pakistani minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Christian 77 percent; others follow traditional African beliefs.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	24.6 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	24.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	24.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	23.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	23.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	23.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	23.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	23.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1968
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
88 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	39.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	41.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	42.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	39.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	44.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	41.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +2

Climate description
Tropical but temperatures are rarely excessive. Rainfall limited to summer months (October-March) but prolonged periods of rainfall are rare.

Currency
Emalangeni

Telephone dialling code
(+) 268

Driving (left/right)
Left

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	40.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	31.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	32.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	35.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	38.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	40.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	31.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	32.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	34.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	36.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	43.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	41.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	31.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	32.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	36.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	39.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	45.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	66 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	112 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	110 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	108 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	105 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	106 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	106 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	101 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	91 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	164 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	160 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	156 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	153 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	149 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	149 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	142 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	74 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	74 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	70 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	70 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	70 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	No data available percent

Maternal mortality

2005	390 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	370 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	141	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	146	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	147	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	137	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	133	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	125	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	7 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	10 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	10 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	10 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	10 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	10 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	10 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	18 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	22 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	19 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	60 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	62 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	52 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	No data available percent

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	50 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	48 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	52 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - average

2004	79.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	79.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	80.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	80.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	79.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	80.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	80.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	82.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	81.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	80.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	78.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	80.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	80.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	79.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	39 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	39 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	39 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	31 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	40 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	42 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	32 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	31 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	391 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	330 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	220 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	178 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	130 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	77 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	62 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	50 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	31 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	42 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	41 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	41 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	40 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	35 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	19 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	14 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	72 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	84 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	121 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	103 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	Not ranked
2003	Not ranked
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
47.7 percent (1990-2005)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	2560 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2360 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2250 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1610 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1280 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1210 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1490 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1600 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	2.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	2.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	2.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	2.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	1.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	2.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	8.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	9.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	6.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	5.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	5.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	9.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	6.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
1.6 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
40.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2003	18 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000-2004	16 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	16 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	15 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	15 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	26.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	26.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	26.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	26.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	26.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in all the low veldt areas: Big Bend, Mhlume, Simunye and Tashaneni. Chloroquine resistance reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	1198 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	1169 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	1141 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	1127 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	1075 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	994 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	916 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	801 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	32	UNHCR
2007	25	UNHCR
2006	22	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	13	UNHCR
2004	14	UNHCR
2003	No data available
2002	19	UNHCR
2001	15	UNHCR
2000	16	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	775	UNHCR
2007	789	UNHCR
2006	752	UNHCR
2005	760	UNHCR
2004	704	UNHCR
2003	686	UNHCR
2002	653	UNHCR
2001	690	UNHCR
2000	690	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent (2004)

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	6.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	6.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	7.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	5.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	4.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	3.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	3.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

PEOPLE

USEFUL INFORMATION

STANDARD OF LIVING

ECONOMY & AID

HEALTH

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Countries

NGO latest

Jobs