Eternal president: Kim Il-sung (deceased) Chairman, National Defence Commission: Kim Jong-il
Population
1,386,914
24,589,122
Life Expectancy
49.420 years
69.200 years
Capital City
Mbabane
Largest city
Manzini (population: 110,537)
Pyongyang (population: 3,222,000)
Human Development Index
0.542
0
GDP per capita
$5,400 US
Literacy Rate
81.6%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
3.6
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
20.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
40.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
NA
Political System
monarchy
Communist state one-man dictatorship
Independence date
6 September 1968 (from UK)
Religions
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Languages
English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Korean
Exports
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
External Debt
$703,100,000 $
Exchange Rate
emalangeni per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
6
Location
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
