Demographics of Swaziland
Encyclopedia
This article is about the demographic
features of the population
of Swaziland
, including population density
, ethnicity
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
The majority of Swaziland
's population is ethnic Swazi, mixed with a small number of Zulus and white Africans, mostly whites of British
and Afrikaner
descent. This population also includes a small segment within it that is mixed with any number of these ancestries.
Traditionally Swazis have been subsistence farmers and herders, but most now work in the growing urban formal economy and in government. Some Swazis work in the mines in South Africa
. Swaziland also received Portuguese
settlers and black refugees from Mozambique
. Christianity
in Swaziland is sometimes mixed with traditional beliefs and practices. Most Swazis ascribe a special spiritual role to the Swazi Royal Family
.
The country's official languages are Siswati (a language related to Zulu) and English
. Government and commercial business is conducted mainly in English. Asians, Afrikaners, Portuguese, and black Mozambicans speak their own languages.
note:
Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS
; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.
The 2007 Census put the nation's population at 912,229. This number is lower than the 1997 Census, which gave 929,718 residents. The small difference is believed to be the result of massive emigration of Swazis to South Africa in search of work.
46% (male 245,626; female 247,825) (2000 est.),
41.4% (male 242,762; female 238,141) (2003 est.),
38.6% (male 260,840/female 254,781) (2010 est.)
15-64 years:
52% (male 270,308; female 291,884) (2000 est.),
55.1% (male 317,526; female 321,709) (2003 est.),
57.9% (male 383,236/female 391,478) (2010 est.)
65 years and over:
2% (male 11,357; female 16,289) (2000 est.),
3.5% (male 18,040; female 23,041) (2003 est.),
3.5% (male 19,857/female 26,994) (2010 est.)
1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.), 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
under 15 years:
0.99 male(s)/female (2003, 2000 est.)
15-64 years:
0.99 (2003 est.), 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
65 years and over:
0.78 (2003 est.), 0.7 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
total population:
0.99 (2003 est.), 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Life expectancy
total population:
47.85 years (2010 est.)
33.22 (2005 est.)
39.47 (2003 est.)
Total fertility
3.19 children born/woman (2010 est.)
3.32 children born/woman (2009 est.)
3.92 children born/woman (2003 est.)
5.87 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Religion
Christianity
57%, Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40%, other faiths (Muslim
, Bahá'í
) 3% (see Religion in Swaziland
)
(official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Literacy
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
81.6% (2003 est.), 76.7% (1995 est.)
male:
82.6% (2003 est.), 78% (1995 est.)
female:
80.8% (2003 est.), 75.6% (1995 est.)
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
features of the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
, including population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
, ethnicity
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
's population is ethnic Swazi, mixed with a small number of Zulus and white Africans, mostly whites of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
descent. This population also includes a small segment within it that is mixed with any number of these ancestries.
Traditionally Swazis have been subsistence farmers and herders, but most now work in the growing urban formal economy and in government. Some Swazis work in the mines in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Swaziland also received Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
settlers and black refugees from Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in Swaziland is sometimes mixed with traditional beliefs and practices. Most Swazis ascribe a special spiritual role to the Swazi Royal Family
Swazi Royal Family
The Dlaminis are an indigenous African royal house of Swaziland, a southern African nation of which Mswati III is king...
.
The country's official languages are Siswati (a language related to Zulu) and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Government and commercial business is conducted mainly in English. Asians, Afrikaners, Portuguese, and black Mozambicans speak their own languages.
CIA World Factbook demographic statistics
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.Population
1,337,186 (July 2009 est.), 1,161,219 (July, 2003 est.), 1,083,289 (July, 2000 est.)note:
Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.
The 2007 Census put the nation's population at 912,229. This number is lower than the 1997 Census, which gave 929,718 residents. The small difference is believed to be the result of massive emigration of Swazis to South Africa in search of work.
Age structure
0-14 years:46% (male 245,626; female 247,825) (2000 est.),
41.4% (male 242,762; female 238,141) (2003 est.),
38.6% (male 260,840/female 254,781) (2010 est.)
15-64 years:
52% (male 270,308; female 291,884) (2000 est.),
55.1% (male 317,526; female 321,709) (2003 est.),
57.9% (male 383,236/female 391,478) (2010 est.)
65 years and over:
2% (male 11,357; female 16,289) (2000 est.),
3.5% (male 18,040; female 23,041) (2003 est.),
3.5% (male 19,857/female 26,994) (2010 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth:1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.), 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
under 15 years:
0.99 male(s)/female (2003, 2000 est.)
15-64 years:
0.99 (2003 est.), 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
65 years and over:
0.78 (2003 est.), 0.7 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
total population:
0.99 (2003 est.), 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Life expectancyLife expectancyLife expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
at birth
total population:47.85 years (2010 est.)
33.22 (2005 est.)
39.47 (2003 est.)
Total fertilityFertilityFertility is the natural capability of producing offsprings. As a measure, "fertility rate" is the number of children born per couple, person or population. Fertility differs from fecundity, which is defined as the potential for reproduction...
rate
3.19 children born/woman (2010 est.)3.32 children born/woman (2009 est.)
3.92 children born/woman (2003 est.)
5.87 children born/woman (2000 est.)
ReligionReligionReligion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
s
ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
57%, Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40%, other faiths (Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, Bahá'í
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
) 3% (see Religion in Swaziland
Religion in Swaziland
The population of Swaziland is approximately 35 percent Protestant, 30 percent African Zionist, 25 percent Catholic, 1 percent Muslim and Hinduism ....
)
Languages
EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
LiteracyLiteracyLiteracy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
81.6% (2003 est.), 76.7% (1995 est.)
male:
82.6% (2003 est.), 78% (1995 est.)
female:
80.8% (2003 est.), 75.6% (1995 est.)