Compare Christmas Island (2007) - Swaziland (2008)

Compare Christmas Island (2007) z Swaziland (2008)

	Christmas Island (2007)	Swaziland (2008)

Administrative divisions	none (territory of Australia)	4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Age structure	0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA	0-14 years: 40.3% (male 230,238/female 226,184) 15-64 years: 56.1% (male 304,899/female 331,036) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 15,870/female 24,839) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products	NA	sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Airports	1 (2007)	18 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)	total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways	-	total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (2007)
Area	total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 17,363 sq km land: 17,203 sq km water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative	about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC	slightly smaller than New Jersey
Background	Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.	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 King MSWATI III, the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006, but political parties remain banned. The African United Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.
Birth rate	NA	26.98 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget	revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA	revenues: $1.216 billion expenditures: $1.15 billion (2007 est.)
Capital	name: The Settlement geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)	name: Mbabane geographic coordinates: 26 18 S, 31 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)
Climate	tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds	varies from tropical to near temperate
Coastline	138.9 km	0 km (landlocked)
Constitution	Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992	signed by the King in July 2005 went into effect on 8 February 2006
Country name	conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island	conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland conventional short form: Swaziland local long form: Umbuso weSwatini local short form: eSwatini
Death rate	NA	30.35 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external	-	$538.6 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Dependency status	non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services	-
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (territory of Australia)	chief of mission: Ambassador Maurice S. PARKER embassy: Central Bank Building, Mahlokahla Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445 FAX: [268] 404-5959
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (territory of Australia)	chief of mission: Ambassador Ephraim Mandla HLOPHE chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002 FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254
Disputes - international	none	in 2006, Swazi king advocates resort to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa
Economic aid - recipient	$NA	$46.03 million (2005)
Economy - overview	Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993, but closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, expected to begin operations in the near future.	In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain important foreign exchange earners. In 2007, the sugar industry increased efficiency and diversification efforts, in response to a 17% decline in EU sugar prices. Mining has declined in importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives more than nine-tenths of its imports and to which it sends 60% of its exports. Swaziland's currency is pegged to the South African rand, subsuming Swaziland's monetary policy to South Africa. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union, which may equal as much as 70% of government revenue this year, and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income. Swaziland is not poor enough to merit an IMF program; however, the country is struggling to reduce the size of the civil service and control costs at public enterprises. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and attract foreign direct investment is acute. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2006-07 because of drought, and nearly two-fifths of the adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS.
Electricity - consumption	-	1.3 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports	-	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	-	872 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2007)
Electricity - production	-	460 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m	lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Environment - current issues	loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining	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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups	Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% note: no indigenous population (2001)	African 97%, European 3%
Exchange rates	Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)	lilangeni per US dollar - 7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003)
Executive branch	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia	chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Absolom Themba DLAMINI (since 14 November 2003) cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
Exports	$NA	0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities	phosphate	soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Exports - partners	Australia, NZ (2006)	South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2% (2006)
Fiscal year	1 July - 30 June	1 April - 31 March
Flag description	territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island; the flag of Australia is used for official purposes	three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
GDP - composition by sector	-	agriculture: 11.8% industry: 45.8% services: 42.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	-	1.6% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates	10 30 S, 105 40 E	26 30 S, 31 30 E
Geography - note	located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean	landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
Household income or consumption by percentage share	-	lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 40.7% (2001)
Imports	$NA	3,530 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities	consumer goods	motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners	principally Australia (2006)	South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9%, Singapore 0.3% (2006)
Independence	none (territory of Australia)	6 September 1968 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate	-	1% (2007 est.)
Industries	tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)	coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile and apparel
Infant mortality rate	total: NA male: NA female: NA	total: 70.66 deaths/1,000 live births male: 74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 67.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	-	6% (2007 est.)
International organization participation	none	ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land	NA	500 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch	Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court	High Court; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the monarch
Labor force	NA	300,000 (2006)
Labor force - by occupation	-	agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Land boundaries	0 km	total: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Land use	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)	arable land: 10.25% permanent crops: 0.81% other: 88.94% (2005)
Languages	English (official), Chinese, Malay	English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Legal system	under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law	based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Legislative branch	unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9	bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate (30 seats; 10 members appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats; 10 members appointed by the monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 18 October 2003 (next to be held in October 2008) election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round
Life expectancy at birth	total population: NA male: NA female: NA	total population: 32.23 years male: 31.84 years female: 32.62 years (2007 est.)
Literacy	NA	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.6% male: 82.6% female: 80.8% (2003 est.)
Location	Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia	Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Map references	Southeast Asia	Africa
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm	none (landlocked)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of Australia	-
Military branches	-	Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes air wing), Royal Swaziland Police Force (RSPF) (2007)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	-	4.7% (2006)
National holiday	Australia Day, 26 January (1788)	Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Nationality	noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island	noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi
Natural hazards	the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard	drought
Natural resources	phosphate, beaches	asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Net migration rate	NA	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders	none	the status of political parties, previously banned, is unclear under the new (2006) Constitution and currently being debated - the following are considered political associations; African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Stanley MAUNDZISA, president]; Imbokodvo National Movement or INM; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders	none	NA
Population	1,402 (July 2006 est.) (July 2007 est.)	1,133,066 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 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line	-	69% (2006)
Population growth rate	0% (2007 est.)	-0.337% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)	AM 3, FM 2 (plus 4 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2004)
Railways	-	total: 301 km narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
Religions	Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)	Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%
Sex ratio	NA	at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.018 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.921 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.639 male(s)/female total population: 0.947 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage	-	18 years of age
Telephone system	general assessment: service provided by the Australian network domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005 international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth stations - 1 INTELSAT earth station provides telephone and telex service (2005)	general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership is increasing; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity about 25 telephones per 100 persons; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use	NA	44,000 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular	-	250,000 (2006)
Television broadcast stations	0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006)	12 (includes 7 relay stations) (2004)
Terrain	steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau	mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Total fertility rate	NA	3.43 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate	-	40% (2006 est.)

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