Population
In 2019, Swaziland had a population density of 65
residents per km2. About 24 percent of the
population lives in cities (2017), of which the industrial
and commercial center Manzini (94 900 residents, 2010) and
the capital Mbabane (61 800) are the largest. According to
Countryaah data, the
differences between the city and the countryside are great.
Since independence, Swaziland has received a significant
number of refugees, mainly from Mozambique but also from
South Africa.
The population is completely dominated by the Swazi
people, a Bantu people who speak a Nguni language and are
divided into a series of patrilinear clans, organized in a
hierarchical organization. The power of political assemblies
at both local and national levels is balanced between
aristocratic and non-aristocratic clans. The king's wives
and children live in special royal villages, which are
scattered in different parts of the country. Across the clan
system and its organization, a division of the adult males
into different age classes also cuts. The age-class system
forms the basis for the military organization, which has
strong ceremonial features. Within Swaziland, several other
bantu groups have been absorbed by the Swazi culture, which
was gradually established in the present Swaziland from the
16th century. Although the Swazi culture has a close
relationship with the Zulu culture, the Swazi kings never
entered into an alliance with Zulu during the many wars and
ravages that Zulu undertook, especially during the 19th
century. Swaziland instead became a sanctuary for many bantu
groups who fled the Zulu War. The supply in Swaziland has
traditionally been based on agriculture and livestock care,
but within the aristocracy, large incomes have been acquired
through concessions to Europeans. Alongside the Swazi
people, small contingents of Zulu (96,000), Tsonga (25,000)
and Whites (18,000) of South African descent reside in the
country. The supply in Swaziland has traditionally been
based on agriculture and livestock care, but within the
aristocracy, large incomes have been acquired through
concessions to Europeans. Alongside the Swazi people, small
contingents of Zulu (96,000), Tsonga (25,000) and Whites
(18,000) of South African descent reside in the country. The
supply in Swaziland has traditionally been based on
agriculture and livestock care, but within the aristocracy,
large incomes have been acquired through concessions to
Europeans. Alongside the Swazi people, small contingents of
Zulu (96,000), Tsonga (25,000) and Whites (18,000) of South
African descent reside in the country.
Language
Official languages are English and Siswati (Swazi), a
Bantu language that is the mother tongue of the majority of
the population. Smaller groups speak other bantu languages,
such as tsonga and zulu.
Religion
In Swaziland today almost 90% are Christians.
Christianity came to the country late; the first Christian
communities were established in the 19th century. Among the
larger communities are native Zionist churches.
These consist of a mixture of Christianity and domestic
worship of the ancestors. They started operating in the
country in 1917 and today over 40% (2010) of Swazis are
members of one of these. There are also small groups of
Muslims in the country, mainly immigrants from South Asia.
About one-twentieth of the population belongs to the
Catholic Church.
It is estimated that approximately one in ten Swazis
encompasses indigenous traditional religion, which does not
preclude their participation in the activities of Christian
churches and communities. A clear example of this is that
the king is the country's religious leader. He is
responsible for and has control over the sacred medicine of
the indigenous traditional religion that gives the country
rain. He is also solely responsible to the ancestors for how
the Swazis behave. At the same time, the royal house and the
government support many Christian activities. The king and
other members of the royal family participate in worship
services at Christian holidays such as Easter. On these
occasions, the king is invited to preach.
The country is an authoritarian monarchy. The current
constitution (which came into force in 2006) rests on
religious grounds. It begins with the people of the Kingdom
of Swaziland humbly submitting to God, which can be
interpreted as the Constitution stipulating Christianity as
the country's official religion. The constitution and other
laws guarantee religious freedom, but religious minorities
are sometimes discriminated against as traditional law and
custom, as well as the authority of some 360 chieftains,
tend to disadvantage them.
Christian programs, but not programs from non-Christian
organizations, are available through state etheric media.
Religious education, mainly in Christianity but also some
general religious education, in compulsory school is
compulsory in the lower stages, but voluntary in the higher.
The following days are national holidays: Good Friday,
Easter Day, Ascension Day and Christmas Day.
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