Swaziland

Government
Absolute monarchy.

Geography
Swaziland, is surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique. The country is largely mountainous.

Historical Background
Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection.

Name 

Kingdom of Swaziland

Capital

Lobamba 

Government

Absolute Monarchy-King Mswati III-Indlovukazi Queen Ntombi-Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini-Deputy Prime Minister Themba N. Masuku

Area

Total 17,364 km2 (157th) 6,704 sq mi 

Population

2009 estimate 1,185,000[1] (154th)  -  2007 census 1,018,449 

GDP (PPP)

2009 estimate-Total $5.858 billion[2]

GDP (nominal)

2009 estimate-Total $2.983 billion[2]

Currency

Lilangeni (SZL)