Map of Swaziland
Swaziland is a country in Africa with its capital at Lobamba, home to about 1.26 million people across 17,364 km². The interactive map below plots 7 cities and towns and 1 mountain summits recorded for Swaziland in YearMaps.
- Population
- 1.26 million
- Area
- 17,364 km²
- Capital
- Lobamba
- Continent
- Africa
Interactive Map of Swaziland
Centred on Lobamba at 26.3166° S, 31.1333° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Swaziland
Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini (historically called KaNgwane), also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa on all sides except the east, where it shares a border with Mozambique. At no more than 200 km (120 mi) north to south and 130 km (81 mi) east to west, Eswatini is the second smallest country in continental Africa. However, its climate and topography are diverse, ranging from a cool and mountainous highveld to a hot and dry lowveld. The executive capital is Mbabane, and the legislative capital is Lobamba.
The population is composed primarily of ethnic Swazis. The prevalent language is Swazi (siSwati in native form). The Swazis established their kingdom in the mid-18th century under the leadership of Ngwane III. The country and the Swazi take their names from Mswati II, the 19th-century king under whose rule the country was expanded and unified. Its boundaries were drawn up in 1881 in the midst of the European Scramble for Africa.
After the Second Boer War, the kingdom, under the name of Swaziland, was a British high commission territory from 1903 until it regained its full independence on 6 September 1968. In April 2018, the king changed the official name from Kingdom of Swaziland to Kingdom of Eswatini, the name commonly used in the Swazi language.
Eswatini is a developing country that is classified as having a lower-middle income economy. As a member of the Southern African Customs Union and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, its main local trading partner is South Africa; to ensure economic stability, Eswatini's currency, the lilangeni, is pegged to the South African rand. Eswatini's major overseas trading partners are the United States and the European Union. The majority of the country's employment is provided by its agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Eswatini is a member of the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations.
Eswatini's government is an absolute monarchy, the last of its kind in Africa. The country has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. Elections are held every five years to determine the House of Assembly and the Senate majority, but political parties are prohibited from running. Eswatini's constitution was adopted in 2005.
The Swazi population faces major health issues: HIV/AIDS and (to a lesser extent) tuberculosis are widespread. Twenty-eight percent of the adult population are HIV-positive.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Eswatini (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Swaziland
A Swazi kingdom was founded in the mid-18th century and ruled by a series of kings, including MSWATI II, a 19th century ruler whose name was adopted for the country and its predominant ethnic group. European countries defined the kingdom’s modern borders during the late-19th century, and Swaziland (as it became known) was administered as a UK high commission territory from 1903 until its independence in 1968. A new constitution that came into effect in 2005 included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear, and the kingdom is still considered an absolute monarchy. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018 to reflect the name most commonly used by its citizens. In 2021, MSWATI III used security forces to suppress prodemocracy protests. A national dialogue and reconciliation process agreed to in the wake of violence has not materialized. In November 2023, King MSWATI III appointed a new prime minister following peaceful national elections. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty, corruption, and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections. Eswatini is the only country in Africa that recognizes Taiwan.
- Location
- Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa.
- Climate
- Varies from tropical to near temperate.
- Terrain
- Mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains.
- Highest point
- Emlembe 1,862 m.
- Lowest point
- Great Usutu River 21 m.
- Coastline
- 0 km (landlocked)
- Land borders
- Total: 546 km; border countries: Mozambique 108 km; South Africa 438 km.
- Natural resources
- Asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 69.5% (2023 est.); arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 58.1% (2023 est.); forest: 25.4% (2023 est.); other: 5.2% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Drought.
- Geographic note
- Landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa.
- Languages
- English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)
- Religions
- Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and traditional African religions - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other Christian 30% - includes Anglican, Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ, Jehovah's Witness), Muslim 2%, other 8% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous, Jewish) (2015 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Predominantly Swazi; smaller populations of other African ethnic groups, including the Zulu, as well as people of European ancestry.
- Economy
- Landlocked southern African economy; South African trade dependent and currency pegging; CMA and SACU member state; COVID-19 economic slowdown; growing utilities inflation; persistent poverty and unemployment; HIV/AIDS labor force disruptions.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Swaziland in Numbers
- Population
- 1.26 million
- GDP
- US$5.2 billion
- GDP per person
- US$4,108
- Life expectancy
- 64.3 years
- Population growth
- 1.07% a year
- Population density
- 72 per km²
- Urban population
- 26.7%
- Surface area
- 17,364 km²
- Forest cover
- 25.3%
- Arable land
- 10.3%
- Access to electricity
- 89.3%
- Internet users
- 63.4%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Swaziland in Depth
History
Artifacts have been found indicating human activity dating back to the Early Stone Age, around 200,000 years ago. Prehistoric rock art paintings dating from as far back as c. 27,000 years ago to as recently as the 19th century can be found around the country.
The earliest known inhabitants of the region were Khoisan hunter-gatherers. They were largely replaced by the Nguni during the great Bantu migrations. These peoples originated from the Great Lakes region of eastern and central Africa. Evidence of agriculture and iron use dates from about the 4th century. People speaking languages ancestral to the current Sotho and Nguni languages began settling no later than the 11th century.
Geography
A small landlocked kingdom with an area of 17,364 km2 (6,704 sq mi), Eswatini is located at roughly 26°30'S, 31°30'E and is bordered in the north, west, and south by South Africa and by Mozambique in the east. Along the eastern border with Mozambique are the Lebombo Mountains, a mountain ridge at an altitude around 600 metres (2,000 ft). The mountains are broken by the canyons of three rivers, the Ngwavuma, the Great Usutu, and the Mbuluzi. The western border, with an average altitude of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft), lies on the edge of an escarpment.
Eswatini is separated into four geographical regions. These run from north to south and are determined by elevation. Mbabane, the capital, is on the Highveld.
Economy
Eswatini's economy is diverse, with agriculture, forestry and mining accounting for about 13% of GDP, manufacturing (textiles and sugar-related processing) representing 37% of GDP and services – with government services in the lead – constituting 50% of GDP. Title Deed Lands, where the bulk of high value crops are grown (sugar, forestry, and citrus), are characterised by high levels of investment and irrigation, and high productivity. About 75% of the population is employed in subsistence agriculture upon Swazi Nation Land (SNL). In contrast with the commercial farms, SNL suffers from low productivity and investment.
Demographics
The majority of Eswatini's population is ethnically Swazi, mixed with a small number of Zulu and White Africans, mostly people of British and Afrikaner descent. Traditionally Swazi have been subsistence farmers and herders, but most now mix such activities with work in the growing urban formal economy and in government. Some Swazi work in the mines in South Africa. Eswatini also received Portuguese settlers and African refugees from Mozambique. Christianity in Eswatini is sometimes mixed with traditional beliefs and practices. Many traditionalists believe that most Swazi ascribe a special spiritual role to the monarch.
SiSwati (also known as Swati, Swazi or Siswati) is a Bantu language of the Nguni group, spoken in Eswatini and South Africa.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Eswatini (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Swaziland: Key Facts
| Currency | lilangeni |
|---|---|
| Official languages | English, Swazi |
| Head of state | Mswati III |
| Head of government | Edeupa Yerimin |
| Form of government | absolute monarchy |
| Calling code | +268 |
| Internet domain | .sz |
| Highest point | Emlembe |
| Lowest point | Maputo River |
| Established | 6 September 1968 |
Facts from Wikidata Q1050 (CC0).
History of Swaziland: Empires and States
The atlas records 5 polities whose mapped territory included part of Swaziland, from Swaziland in 1885 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Swaziland | 1885–1907 CE | Most |
| British Africa | 1908–1960 CE | Nearly all |
| The British Empire | 1908–1968 CE | Nearly all |
| British East Africa | 1961–1968 CE | Most |
| Eswatini | 1969–2024 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of Swaziland
Swaziland on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Swaziland
The Kingdom of Eswatini, formerly (and still commonly) known as Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa and is informally known as "Africa in a nutshell".
Cushioned between South Africa and Mozambique and Africa's last standing absolute monarchy, Eswatini is one of Africa's smallest countries, attracting up to a million visitors each year. With a population of around 1.2 million, it is also one of Africa’s least populated countries. It is endowed with breathtaking national parks, mesmerising scenery, and lots of wildlife.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Eswatini (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Swaziland
7 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manzini | 110,537 | Manzini | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Mbabane | 90,138 | Hhohho | National capital |
| 3 | Lobamba | 9,782 | Manzini | Admin-0 capital alt |
| 4 | Siteki | 6,152 | Lubombo | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Piggs Peak | 5,750 | Hhohho | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Golela | 3,695 | Shiselweni | Populated place |
| 7 | Hlatikulu | 2,748 | Shiselweni | Admin-1 capital |
Highest Mountains in Swaziland
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emlembe | 1,862 m | 6,109 ft | Africa |
Emlembe
Mountain · 1,862 m
Emlembe is a mountain rising to 1,862 metres (6,109 ft) in Swaziland and South Africa, in the Africa region. The summit stands on the border between them. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
Emlembe is the highest mountain in the African country of Eswatini. It is located in the east uKhahlamba (or Drakensberg) mountain range, on the border with South Africa. It is located in the South African province of Mpumalanga and the Swazi province of Hhohho.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Emlembe (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 1,862 m (6,109 ft)
- Global rank
- #440 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Africa (#67)
- Countries
- Swaziland, South Africa
- Coordinates
- -25.9198°, 31.1300°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Emlembe ranks #440 by elevation, below Yunwu Shan (1,867 m) and above Mauga Silisili (1,858 m).
- Ranges:
- Lebombo Mountains (Africa), Witwatersrand (Africa)
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Swaziland
1 landform recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lebombo Mountains | 17,406 km² | Range/mtn | Africa |
Lebombo Mountains
Range/mtn · 17,406 km²
Lebombo Mountains is a range/mtn in Africa, covering an estimated 17,406 km². It extends across Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland.
The Lebombo Mountains, also called Lubombo Mountains, Rivombo Mountains (Portuguese: Montes Libombos), are an 800 km-long (500 mi), narrow range of mountains in Southern Africa. They stretch from Hluhluwe in KwaZulu-Natal in the south to Punda Maria in the Limpopo Province in South Africa in the north. Parts of the mountain range are also found in Mozambique and Eswatini.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Lebombo Mountains (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Range/mtn
- Mapped extent
- 17,406 km²
- Size rank
- #129 of 216 mountain ranges
- Region
- Africa
- Countries
- Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland
- Coordinates
- -26.1330°, 32.0367°
- Summits:
- Emlembe (1,862 m)
- Adjacent ranges:
- Drakensberg (Africa), Witwatersrand (Africa)
More about Lebombo Mountains
Description
Geologically, the range is considered a monocline; part of a rifted volcanic margin. The Lebombo monocline was aligned with the Explora Escarpment off-shore Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, before the break-up of Gondwana. The Lebombo monocline strikes N-S and dips to the east. It is composed of a sequence of Jurassic age volcanic rock, both basaltic lavas and rhyolitic flows and tuffs. The sequence rests on essentially horizontal Karoo Supergroup sedimentary rocks of the Kalahari Craton to the west and is overlain by Cretaceous to recent sediments to the east. The alternating resistant rhyolite and easily eroded basalts produce a series of parallel sharp cuesta ridges separated by savanna plains.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Lebombo Mountains (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Lebombo Mountains: Key Facts
| Length | 800 km |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q1501766 (CC0).
Countries Bordering Swaziland
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Africa
Swaziland: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Swaziland?
- The capital of Swaziland is Lobamba.
- What is the population of Swaziland?
- Swaziland has a population of about 1.26 million, the #158 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Swaziland?
- Swaziland covers 17,364 km², ranking #160 by area, with about 72 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Swaziland in?
- Swaziland is in Africa.
- Which countries border Swaziland?
- Swaziland shares a land or maritime border with South Africa, Mozambique.
- What is the largest city in Swaziland?
- Manzini is the largest city in Swaziland, with a metropolitan population of about 110,537.
- What is the highest mountain in Swaziland?
- The highest summit recorded for Swaziland in YearMaps is Emlembe at 1,862 m (6,109 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.