Moving to Eswatini: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

1,104,479

Population - note

Note: Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS

this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population Growth Rate

1.17%

Urban Population

21.200000

Population in Major Urban Areas

MBABANE (capital) 66,000

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Age Structure

35.500000

Median Age

20.700000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

26

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

13.95

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

2.96

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

65.2%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

65.2%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

19.5

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.5

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.030000

Ethnic Groups

African 97%, European 3%

Nationality Noun

Swazi(s)

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Literacy - total population

81.6%

Literacy - male

82.6%

Literacy - female

80.8%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

8.3%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

11.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

50.010000

Infant Mortality Rate

57.190000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

57.190000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

320

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.17

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

2.1

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

8%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

Intermediate

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.7%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

93.600000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

63.100000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

5.8%

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Economic Overview

A small, landlocked kingdom, Eswatini is bordered in the north, west and south by the Republic of South Africa and by Mozambique in the east.

Eswatini depends on South Africa for a majority of its exports and imports.

Eswatini's currency is pegged to the South African rand, effectively relinquishing Eswatini's monetary policy to South Africa.

The government is dependent on customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) for almost half of its revenue.

Eswatini is a lower middle income country.

As of 2017, more than one-quarter of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS; Eswatini has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate, a financial strain and source of economic instability.

The manufacturing sector diversified in the 1980s and 1990s, but manufacturing has grown little in the last decade.

Sugar and soft drink concentrate are the largest foreign exchange earners, although a drought in 2015-16 decreased sugar production and exports.

Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and floods are persistent problems.

Mining has declined in importance in recent years.

Coal, gold, diamond, and quarry stone mines are small scale, and the only iron ore mine closed in 2014.

With an estimated 28% unemployment rate, Eswatini's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and to attract foreign direct investment is acute.

Eswatini's national development strategy, which expires in 2022, prioritizes increases in infrastructure, agriculture production, and economic diversification, while aiming to reduce poverty and government spending.

Eswatini's revenue from SACU receipts are likely to continue to decline as South Africa pushes for a new distribution scheme, making it harder for the government to maintain fiscal balance without introducing new sources of revenue.

Industries

Mining (coal), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile and apparel

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

1.9%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$9,740,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$9,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

1.9%

GDP - official exchange rate

$4,305,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 78.7% Government
• consumption: 24% Investment in fixed
• capital: 11.6% Investment in
• inventories: -0.1% Exports of goods and
• services: 50.7% Imports of goods and
• services: -64.9%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

11.9%

GDP by Sector- Industry

46.6%

GDP by Sector- services

41.5%

Industrial Growth Rate

1%

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Inflation Rate

5%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

lilangeni (SZL)

Currency Name and Code

SZL

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

8.5%

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Labor Force

1,234

Unemployment Rate

40%

Major Industries

Mining (coal), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile and apparel

Agriculture Products

Sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep

Population Below Poverty Line

69%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

28,043

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

9%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

70%

Annual Budget

$961,700,000 (USD)

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-1.1%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

33.5%

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Full Country Name

Kingdom of Eswatini

Country Name

Eswatini Note: pronounced ay-swatini or eh-swatini

Local - Long

Umbuso weSwatini

Local - Short

eSwatini

Pronunciation

ay-swatini

Former Name

Swaziland

Etymology- history of name

The country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified

Independence

6 September 1968 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968)

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Government Type

Absolute monarchy

Constitution

• History: Previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006
• Amendments: Proposed at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both houses and/or majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of amendments affecting "specially entrenched" constitutional provisions requires at least three-fourths majority vote by both houses, passage by simple majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of "entrenched" provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses, passage in a referendum, and assent of the king

Legal System:

Mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law

Executive Branch:

• Chief of State: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Russell Mmiso DLAMINI (since 3 November 2023)
• Cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch; at least one-half of the cabinet membership must be appointed from among elected members of the House of Assembly
• Elections/Appointments: The monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly

Legislative Branch:

• Description: Bicameral Parliament (Libandla) consists of: Senate (30 seats; 20 members appointed by the monarch and 10 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the House of Assembly; members serve 5-year terms) House of Assembly (70 seats statutory, current 69; 59 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies or tinkhundla by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, 10 members appointed by the monarch, 4 women, one each representing each region, elected by the members if representation of elected women is less than 30%, and 1 ex-officio member - the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: Senate - last election held on 12 October 2023 , senate fully constituted on November 5 when monarch appointed remaining 20 senators; (next to be held in 2028) House of Assembly - last held on 29 September 2023 (next to be held in 2028)
• Election Results: - Senate - percent of seats by party - NA; seats by party - NA;
• Composition: men 17, women 13, percent of women 43% House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 59;
• Composition: men 58, women 12, percent of women 17.14%;
• Note: total Parliament percent of women 4.1%

Judicial Branch:

• office: Justices of the Supreme Court and High Court appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the chairman of the Civil Service Commission; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75
• Subordinate courts: Magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)

Regions or States:

4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Political parties exist but conditions for their operations, particularly in elections, are undefined, legally unclear, or culturally restricted
• the following are considered political associations: African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Stanley S. MALINDZISA]
• Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Sibongile MAZIBUKO]
• People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mlungisi MAKHANYA]
• Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA [Jan SITHOLE]

Suffrage:

18 years of age

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: No Citizenship by descent
• only: Both parents must be citizens of Eswatini Dual citizenship
• recognized: No Residency requirement for
• naturalization: 5 years

Capital Name

Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)

Capital - geographic coordinate

26 19 S, 31 08 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• AfDB
• AU
• COMESA
• FAO
• G-77
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• ISO (correspondent)
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• MIGA
• NAM
• OPCW
• PCA
• SACU
• SADC
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant) Charges d'Affaires Caitlin PIPER (since 27 October 2023)
• Embassy: Corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini, P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106
• Mailing Address: 2350 Mbabane Place, Washington DC 20521-2350
• Telephone: (268) 2417-9000
• FAX: [268] 2416-3344
• Email: MBACONSULAR@state.gov
• Website: https://sz.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Kennedy Fitzgerald GROENING (7 June 2022)
• Chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
• Telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002
• FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254
• Email: embassy@eswatini-usa.com

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Geographic Location

Africa

Geographic Coordinates

26 30 S, 31 30 E

Total Area

6,704 Square Miles 17,364 Square Kilometers

Land Area

6,642 Square Miles 17,204 Square Kilometers

Water Area

62 Square Miles 160 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

332 Miles 535 Kilometers

Border Countries

Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

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Terrain

Mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Highest Point

1,862 Meters

Highest Point Location

Emlembe 1,862 m

Lowest Point

21 Meters

Lowest Point Location

Great Usutu River 21 m

Natural Resources

Asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Irrigated Land

192 Square Miles 498 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Swaziland is divided into four well-defined regions running from west to east.

The mountainous highveld, where Mbabane is located, has a humid, near-temperate climate with mean annual rainfall of 40-90 inches (100-230 centimeters), rarely suffering from drought.

Daytime weather is more variable in the highveld than in other regions; a foggy morning may be followed by a sunny afternoon and vice versa.

Temperatures in Mbabane range from an average of 51ºF to an average of 72ºF.

In some parts of Mbabane, frost develops in winter and snow occasionally occurs.

The middleveld and the Lubombo Plateau (the central and extreme eastern sections) are subtropical and drier, with mean annual rainfall of 25-47 inches (65-120 centimeters).

Temperatures average 78ºF to an average low of 57 degrees.

The middleveld is the site of the industrial center of the country, Manzini, as well as the University of Swaziland campuses and has an average elevation of 2,500 feet.

The average elevation of the Lubombo Plateau is 1,800 feet.

The lowveld is subtropical and drier with a mean annual rainfall of 20-30 inches (50-90 centimeters); the majority of this rainfall is from heavy storms.

Temperatures in Big Bend, the largest town in the lowveld, range from an average low of 58ºF to a high of 84ºF.

The altitude ranges from 500 to 1,000 feet.

Terrain

Mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Location

Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Total Area

6,704 Square Miles 17,364 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

Environment - Current Issues

• Limited supplies of potable water
• wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting
• overgrazing
• soil degradation
• soil erosion

Environment - International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection Signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

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Exports

$1,417,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$1,643,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit

Major Imports

Motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Top Export Partners

South Africa 72%, EU 14.2%, Mozambique 3.7%, US 3.5%

Top Import Partners

South Africa 88.8%, EU 5.6%, Japan 0.6%, Singapore 0.4%

Export Partners

South Africa 72%, EU 14.2%, Mozambique 3.7%, US 3.5%

Import Partners

South Africa 88.8%, EU 5.6%, Japan 0.6%, Singapore 0.4%

Country Description

Swaziland is a small developing nation in Southern Africa.

Several well-developed facilities for tourism are available.

The capital is Mbabane.

Safety & Security

Public protests, demonstrations, and strikes occur from time to time in Swaziland and are mostly in response to on-going labor relations/difficulties.

Armed law enforcement personnel have been known to use force to disrupt such events.

During the course of such events, police may not distinguish between “innocent bystanders” and protesters.

U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, political rallies, and street demonstrations.

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Crime

Violent crime is a concern and is the most significant threat to U.S. citizens visiting or working in Swaziland.

Incidents of petty crime and violent crime are prevalent throughout Swaziland.

Criminals will resort to force if necessary, including deadly force, in order to accomplish their goal.

Gangs are not deterred by confrontations with their intended victims.

Carjackings occur in Swaziland, and as with other crimes may become violent if victims do not immediately cooperate.

Congested, dark urban areas are particularly dangerous at night, but daytime attacks are not uncommon.

The presence of other people on the street should not be misinterpreted as an indication of security.

Many victims report being robbed in the presence of witnesses.

Pedestrians are cautioned not to wear jewelry or carry expensive or unnecessary valuables in public.

U.S. citizens are also advised against displaying cell phones and large sums of cash, because they are targets for thieves.

Money should only be converted at authorized currency exchanges and never with street vendors.

Exercise caution when using local taxis.

Ensure the taxi you use is from a reputable company.

Never enter a taxi that is occupied by anyone else besides the driver.

It is good practice to call a friend to let them know the plate number of the taxi you are using.

Crime tends to increase during the holiday season from December to January.If you are the victim of a crime, you should immediately report the incident to the nearest police station.

If there is an emergency, the police can be contacted by dialing 999.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Swaziland, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.

In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings.

In some places, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol could land you immediately in jail.

These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Swaziland, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Persons violating Swaziland’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Swaziland are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case.

To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the U.S. embassy as soon as you are arrested or detained in Swaziland.

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Medical Facilities

Medical facilities are limited throughout Swaziland and emergency medical response capabilities (including ambulance transport) are almost non-existent.

Although the Mbabane Clinic in the capital is small, it is well-equipped and well-staffed for minor procedures, as is the Manzini Clinic in Matsapha.

For advanced care, U.S. citizens often choose to go to South Africa where better facilities and specialists exist.

Most prescription drugs are available locally or can be imported from South Africa, but travelers are advised to bring sufficient quantities of their own required medication.

A doctor’s note describing the medication may be helpful if questioned by authorities.

Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Swaziland.

Traffic Safety

While in Swaziland, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning Swaziland is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Traffic accidents in Swaziland may pose an even greater hazard than crime.

Visitors should use extreme caution when driving, given the relatively high rates of speed of drivers on major thoroughfares.

Other hazards include poor lighting and irregular traffic signals; presence of pedestrians, animals, and slower moving vehicles; aggressive driving behavior; and erratic stopping for pedestrian and animals.

Traffic drives on the left in Swaziland, which requires U.S. drivers to exercise particular caution.

Special care should be used in driving at night and in fog, especially in rural areas.

Rural and suburban areas are poorly lit and pose additional safety hazards as pedestrians and animals cross the road.

Many vehicles are poorly maintained and lack headlights.

Extreme caution is recommended if/when using mini-bus taxis, which follow fixed routes and are flagged down by passengers almost everywhere on the streets and roads of Swaziland.

Many of these vehicles fail to meet minimal safety standards.

Drivers frequently overload the vehicles and travel at excessive speeds.

Fatal accidents involving these conveyances are very common.

The Royal Swaziland Police Service sets up periodic road blocks and use radar to monitor your speed.

Respect the local laws.

If you are pulled over for a moving violation you will be responsible for the consequences.

Always drive with your driver’s license.

Failure to do so will result in a fine.

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Airports - total

14

Airports with Paved Runways

2

Railways

187 Miles 301 Kilometers

Roadways- total

2,233 Miles 3,594 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

670 Miles 1,078 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

None

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Telephones

44,000

Cell Phones

380,000

Internet Users

42,000

Internet Country Code

.sz

Internet Hosts

2,335

Broadcast Media

• State-owned TV station
• satellite dishes can access South African providers
• state-owned radio network with 3 channels
• 1 private radio station

Telephone System

• assessment: A somewhat modern but not an advanced system
• Domestic: The single source for mobile-cellular service with a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscribership base; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 60 telephones per 100 persons in 2011; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay
• International: Country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

1,266,000,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

770,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

460,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

4,567

Anthem Lyrics

Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso teMaswati, Siyatibonga tonkhe tinhlanhla, Sibonga iNgwenyama yetfu, Live netintsaba nemifula. Busisa tiphatsi mandla taka Ngwane Nguwe wedvwa Somandla wetfu; Sinike kuhlanipha lokungenabucili Simise usicinise, Simakadze.

Anthem Lyrics English

O Lord our God, bestower of the blessings of the Swazi; We give Thee thanks for all our good fortune; We offer thanks and praise for our king; And for our fair land, its hills and rivers; The Blessings be on all rulers of our country; Might and power are Thine alone; We pray Thee to grant us wisdom without deceit or malice.

Establish and fortify us, Lord Eternal.