:Svalbard Communications
Ports:
limited facilities - Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay
Airports:
4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over
2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
5 meteorological/radio stations; local telephone service; broadcast stations
- 1 AM, 1 (2 repeaters) FM, 1 TV; satellite communication with Norwegian
mainland
:Svalbard Defense Forces
Note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
:Swaziland Geography
Total area:
17,360 km2
Land area:
17,200 km2
Comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
535 km total; Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline:
none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
none - landlocked
Disputes:
none
Climate:
varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain:
mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Natural resources:
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and
diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 67%; forest and
woodland 6%; other 19%; includes irrigated 2%
Environment:
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Note:
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
:Swaziland People
Population:
913,008 (July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992)
Birth rate:
44 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
12 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
-6 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
98 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
52 years male, 60 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
6.2 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Swazi(s); adjective - Swazi
Ethnic divisions:
African 97%, European 3%
Religions:
Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages:
English and siSwati (official); government business conducted in English
Literacy:
55% (male 57%, female 54%) age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
Labor force:
195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; about 92,000 wage
earners (many only intermittently), with agriculture and forestry 36%,
community and social services 20%, manufacturing 14%, construction 9%, other
21%; 16,800 employed in South Africa mines (1990)
Organized labor:
about 10% of wage earners
:Swaziland Government
Long-form name:
Kingdom of Swaziland
Type:
monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital:
Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions:
4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence:
6 September 1968 (from UK)
Constitution:
none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on 12 April 1973; a new
constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally
presented to the people
Legal system:
based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi
traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Executive branch:
monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists of an upper house or Senate
and a lower house or House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Obed DLAMINI (since 12 July 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
none; banned by the Constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978
Suffrage:
none
Elections:
indirect parliamentary election through Swaziland's Tinkhundala System
scheduled for November 1992
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADCC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA; Chancery at 3400 International Drive NW,
Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 362-6683
US:
Ambassador Stephen H. ROGERS; Embassy at Central Bank Building, Warner
Street, Mbabane (mailing address is P. O. Box 199, Mbabane); telephone [268]
46441 through 5; FAX [268] 45959
Flag:
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red
band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white
shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all
placed horizontally