Eswatini

Eswatini is a small land in Southern Africa.

It is near Mozambique. Most of the land is near South Africa.

The land has many shapes. Some parts are high and cool. Other parts are hot and dry.

Many Swazi people live here. They speak the Swazi way of talking. They have a king who rules the land.

Long ago, people lived here. They made art on rocks. They also used iron and grew food.

Today, many people work on farms. Others work in making things. It is a busy place to live.

Eswatini is a small country in Southern Africa.

It sits inside South Africa. It also shares a border with Mozambique to the northeast. The land has many different parts. Some areas are high and cool. Other parts are hot and dry.

Most people in Eswatini are Swazi. They speak the Swazi language. The country has a king. King Mswati III has ruled since 1986. He is the last absolute monarch in Africa. This means he holds most of the power.

History in this land goes back a long way. People lived here 200,000 years ago. They made art on rocks. Long ago, the Swazi people settled here. They brought cattle and seeds to grow food. They also made things from iron and clay.

Today, many people work in farming. Others work in making goods in factories. Eswatini trades with many places. South Africa is its main partner. The United States and the European Union are also important.

Eswatini is a small country in Southern Africa.

It is a landlocked place, which means it has no ocean coastline. South Africa surrounds it on almost all sides. To the northeast, it shares a border with Mozambique. The land here is very diverse. You can find cool, mountainous areas called the highveld. You can also find hot and dry areas called the lowveld.

The country has two different capitals. Mbabane is the largest city and the executive capital. Lobamba is the second capital and handles the legislative work. Most people living here are ethnic Swazis. They speak the Swazi language, which is also called siSwati.

The population is quite young. About 35% of the people are 14 years old or younger. The median age in the country is 22 years.

History in this region goes back a very long time. People were active here during the Early Stone Age, about 200,000 years ago. You can still see prehistoric rock art paintings in the country.

Long ago, the Swazi people settled in this area. They came from the Great Lakes region of Africa. These settlers brought cattle, seeds, and iron with them. They also made useful items from wood, clay, and animal skins.

The Swazi kingdom began in the mid-18th century. It was started by a leader named Ngwane III. The country was later expanded by a king named Mswati II. Because of him, the country was named Swaziland or Eswatini. In 2018, the king changed the official name to Eswatini. This is the name used in the Swazi language. The country gained full independence on 6 September 1968.

Today, Eswatini is an absolute monarchy. This means the king holds a lot of power. King Mswati III has ruled the country since 1986.

Many people find jobs in farming or in factories. The country trades with many other places. South Africa is its main trading partner. Eswatini also trades with the United States and the European Union.

Eswatini is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa.

It is surrounded by South Africa on almost all sides. To the northeast, it shares a border with Mozambique. The nation is one of the smallest in Africa. It is known for its diverse topography and climate. The landscape ranges from the cool, mountainous highveld to the hot, dry lowveld.

The country serves as a unique political entity in the region. It is an absolute monarchy, which is the last of its kind in Africa.

The geography of Eswatini creates distinct environmental zones. The highveld regions are characterized by mountains and cooler temperatures. In contrast, the lowveld areas are much hotter and drier. This variety in landforms supports different types of life and activity. The country's physical layout influences where people live and how they work. Most people find employment in the agricultural or manufacturing sectors. These sectors drive much of the local economy.

Eswatini's history is rooted in ancient human activity. Artifacts show that humans were active in the region during the Early Stone Age. This period dates back approximately 200,000 years. Later, the Khoisan hunter-gatherers were the earliest known inhabitants. They were eventually replaced by the Nguni people during the Bantu migrations. These groups moved from the Great Lakes region of central and eastern Africa. They brought cattle, seeds, and iron technology with them.

The Swazi kingdom was established in the mid-18th century. It began under the leadership of Ngwane III. The country was originally called KaNgwane, meaning the country of Ngwane. Later, King Mswati II expanded and unified the nation. He was a powerful fighting king in the 19th century. The names Swaziland and Eswatini both come from his name. In April 2018, the king officially changed the name to Eswatini. This name is the one commonly used in the Swazi language.

Colonial history significantly shaped the modern borders of the nation. During the European Scramble for Africa, the boundaries were drawn in 1881. Following the Second Boer War, Swaziland became a British high commission territory in 1903. This status lasted until the country regained full independence on 6 September 1968. During the colonial era, land ownership became a complex issue. King Mbandzeni granted many concessions to Europeans for agriculture and grazing. In 1910, a commissioner set aside 1,639,687 acres for the Swazi people. This represented about 38% of the total area of the country.

Today, Eswatini operates under a specific political structure. It is an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III since 1986.

While elections are held every five years, political parties are prohibited from running. These elections determine the majority in the Senate and the House of Assembly. The government also follows a constitution adopted in 2005. Economically, Eswatini is classified as a lower-middle income country. Its currency, the lilangeni, is pegged to the South African rand to ensure stability.

The nation faces specific demographic and health challenges. The population is quite young, with a median age of 22 years. People aged 14 or younger make up 35% of the total population. The country also deals with widespread health issues like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. In 2018, the adult population with HIV was 28%. This has impacted the life expectancy, which was 58 years in 2018. Despite these challenges, Eswatini remains an active member of many global groups. It belongs to the United Nations, the African Union, and the Commonwealth of Nations.