Eswatini (Swaziland) | History, Capital, Language, Flag, Facts & Geography of Eswatini (Swaziland)
History of Eswatini (Swaziland):
The people of Eswatini (Swaziland) emigrated from Mozambique. They then moved north to present-day Swaziland when pushed south by the more powerful Zulu tribes. Swazilands developed strength and unity in the 1840s under the leadership of Mswati II. Mswati II asked the British for help against Zulu raids.
For a time, Swaziland was administered by South Africa, then came under British control in 1902. It became an independent country in 1968. The country was known as Swaziland until 2018 when the official name was changed to Eswatini.
Information about Eswatini (Swaziland):
| Capital | Mbabane |
| Population | 1,212,909 (Source: 2023 worldometer) |
| Major Cities | Mbabane (capital), Manzini, Nhlangano and Siteki |
| Borders | Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $4,854,167,638 (2022 worldometer) |
| Currency | lilangeni (SZL) |
Eswatini (Swaziland) Economy Key Industries:
Eswatini (Swaziland) Major Industries: mining (coal, raw asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile and apparel
Eswatini (Swaziland) Agricultural Products: sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Eswatini (Swaziland) Natural Resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Eswatini (Swaziland) Major Exports: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Eswatini (Swaziland) Major Imports: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
The Geography of Eswatini (Swaziland):
Total Size of Eswatini (Swaziland): 17,364 km² (source: wikipedia)
Geographical Low Point of Eswatini (Swaziland): Great Usutu River 21 m
Geographical High Point of Eswatini (Swaziland): Emlembe 1,862 m
Climate of Eswatini (Swaziland): varies from tropical to near temperate
General Terrain of Eswatini (Swaziland): mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
World Region or Continent of Eswatini (Swaziland): Africa
Geographical Coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
The People of Eswatini (Swaziland) & Culture
Eswatini (Swaziland) Government Type: monarchy
Eswatini (Swaziland) Nationality: Swazi(s)
Eswatini (Swaziland) National Holiday: Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Eswatini (Swaziland) Independence: 6 September 1968 (from the UK)
Eswatini (Swaziland) National Symbol: lion; elephant
Eswatini (Swaziland) National Anthem or Song: Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati (Oh God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi)
Eswatini (Swaziland) Languages Spoken: English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Eswatini (Swaziland) Religions: Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and other 30%
Interesting Facts about Eswatini (Swaziland):
Eswatini is the last absolute monarchy in Africa and one of the few in the world. This form of government gives the king ultimate power, unconstrained by written law, legislature, or custom.
In 2018, King Mswati III changed the name of the country Swaziland to “Kingdom of Eswatini”. The King announced the official change to the stadium during the 50th anniversary of Swaziland’s independence from British rule.
Sibebe Rock in Eswatini is the second largest monolith (a block of rock) in the world after Uluru in Australia.
Five famous megafauna, lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo, can be observed in Eswatini.
In addition, Eswatini is also home to 132 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, 111 species of reptiles and amphibians, and more than 3,500 species of native plants.
King Mswati III currently has 15 wives. His predecessor had 125. He can choose a new bride at the annual Reed Dance Festival, a cultural event that celebrates purity and virginity.
The Umhlanga Festival – or reed dance – takes place every year in Eswatini. The festival has the participation of tens of thousands of women from all over the country. In recent years, the country has been criticized for its treatment of women and has begun to focus more on preserving its cultural heritage.
Under Swazi law, Eswatini game wardens can shoot and kill poachers caught in the act.
With an area of 17,364 square kilometers, Eswatini is the second smallest country on the African continent after Gambia.
Eswatini is a landlocked country: a country surrounded by land but with no access to the sea. There are currently 45 such countries and 5 are partially recognized.
Eswatini is one of the few countries in the world that has both black and white rhinos.
