Swaziland Geography Profile 2009

Location

Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Geographic coordinates

26 30 S, 31 30 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 17,364 sq km
land: 17,204 sq km
water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries

total: 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

varies from tropical to near temperate

Terrain

mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m

Natural resources

asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Land use

arable land: 10.25%
permanent crops: 0.81%
other: 88.94% (2005)

Irrigated land

500 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources

4.5 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.04 cu km/yr (2%/1%/97%)
per capita: 1,010 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

drought

Environment - current issues

limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note

landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa