Lesser-known facts about Swaziland

Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy

A landlocked country, smaller than the US state of New Jersey

King Mswati III currently has 15 wives; his predecessor had 125

Has the world's highest prevalence rate for HIV/Aids

Low life expectancy with 54 years for men, 60 for women

More about the country

The son of Sobhuza II, who reigned for 82 years, King Mswati currently has 15 wives. Meaning 'place of the Swazi', eSwatini is the Swazi language name for the tiny nation landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique. Unlike some countries, Swaziland did not change its name when it gained independence in 1968 after being a British protectorate for more than 60 years. Africa's last absolute monarch, King Mswati III, changes the name of the kingdom from Swaziland to eSwatini (the land of the Swazis) at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of its 50th independence anniversary. So from now on, the country will be officially be known as the Kingdom of eSwatini.”

The name Swaziland angers some citizens as it is a mix of Swazi and English.
Marking the country's 50th anniversary of independence, Swaziland's King Mswati III officially renames the country the Kingdom of eSwatini.