Swaziland - Country facts
Location
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Background
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
Climate
varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain
mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Population
1,173,900
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AI
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 other 30%
Languages
English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Map of Swaziland
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