no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government
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%
Sunni Muslim
Languages
English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
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
Location
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Area
17,364 km sq
637,657 km sq
Coastline
0 km
3,025 km
Climate
varies from tropical to near temperate
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
