Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
1,386,914
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
49.420 years
80.910 years
Capital City
Mbabane
Amsterdam
Largest city
Manzini (population: 110,537)
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Human Development Index
0.542
0.958
GDP per capita
$5,400 US
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
81.6%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
3.6
8.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
37.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Unemployment Rate
40.000%
4.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Abolished
Political System
monarchy
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
6 September 1968 (from UK)
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
Religions
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages
English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Exports
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
External Debt
$703,100,000 $
$2,655,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
emalangeni per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.700%
1.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
16
Location
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
