Swaziland’s economy is growing at slow pace. The country is mainly dependent on the industrial, services and manufacturing sector. The major exports include sugar, cotton, and wood pulp. The main trading partners are South Africa, the US and the European Union.

Gross domestic product (GDP)

According to preliminary estimates, GDP at constant prices for 2010 amounted to SZL 13.20 billion, as compared to SZL 12.94 billion in 2009. The GDP growth rate for 2010 was registered at 2%, as compared to 1.2% in 2009.

(Source: IMF)

Gross national income (GNI) per capita

The country’s GNI per capita at PPP is USD 5,132 for 2010 as compared to USD 5,025 for 2005.

(Source: UNDP)

Inflation rate

The inflation rate for 2010 was estimated at 6.2%, as compared to 7.6% in 2009.

(Source: IMF)

FDI inflow

In 2009, the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow was SZL 5.97 billion, including an equity investment of SZL 0.58 billion, reinvested earnings of SZL 2.75 billion, long-term capital of SZL 1.99 billion and short-term capital of SZL 0.66 billion. 

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Portfolio investment inflow

In 2009, the total portfolio investment amounted to SZL 984.4 million, which comprised of investment in assets and liabilities of SZL 1,011 million and -56 million respectively.

Portfolio investment 2009 (SZL million)
Portfolio investment assets
Equity securities	29.30
Debt securities	1,011.00
Portfolio investment liabilities
Equity securities	-56
Debt securities	0
Net Portfolio Investment	984.4

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Central bank assets

In 2010, the Central Bank of Swaziland reported total assets of SZL 6,729.99 millionm as compared to SZL 8,022.86 million in 2009.

 

Assets of Central Bank of Swaziland (SZL million)
	2010	2009
Property, plant and equipment	141,283	81,509
Intangible assets	3,651	4,778
External investments	5,565,282	6,812,390
Claims on private sector	3,825	2,173
IMF Quota subscription account	565,239	544,353
Loans and advances	10,834	8,512
Amounts due from Government of Swaziland	1,035	8,218
Other assets	54.48	34,595
Currency inventory - notes and coins	31,850	38,914
Cash and cash equivalents	352,518	487,421
Total assets	6,729.99	8,022.86

 

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Consumer price index (CPI)

The consumer price index in 2010 is estimated at 205.8, as compared to 193.7 in 2009.

(Source: IMF)

Interest rates

In March 2010, the average rate of interest on deposits was 4.02%.

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Money supply (currency in circulation)

In March 2009, the country’s money supply was SZL 365.472 million, including SZL 326.187 million notes and SZL 39.285 million coins. In 2010, the total money supply was SZL 481.550 million, which increased by 31.76% over the previous year.

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Public debt

The public external debt for 2009-10 amounted to SZL 2,812.5 million, as compared to SZL 3,604.9 million in 2008-09.

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Private debt

In 2009-10, the private non-guaranteed debt was registered at SZL 351.3 million, as compared to SZL 390.1 million in 2008-09.

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Official exchange rate 2010

SZL per USD rate for 2010 was registered at 0.1361.

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Government finances

Fiscal balance

As per the budget, the fiscal deficit in 2011 is SZL 3.65 billion, as compared to a deficit of SZL 1.28 billion in 2010.

B= Budgeted

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Revenue

According to preliminary estimates, total revenue for 2010 amounted to SZL 9,145.70 million, as compared to SZL 9,409.90 million in 2009.

Revenue	2010 e	2008	2009
Total Revenue	8,899.00	7,898.3	9,264.90
Grants	246.7	187.3	145
Total Revenue and Grants	9,145.70	8,085.50	9,409.90

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Tax revenue

The tax revenue in 2010 is estimated at SZL 8.63 billion, as compared to SZL 9.02 billion in 2009. As per the budget, the tax revenue for the year 2012 is projected at SZL 5.57 billion.

B= Budgeted

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland) 

Total grants

The grants amounted in 2010 is projected to be SZL 0.25 billion as compared to SZL 0.15 billion in 2009.

 

P=projected

b= budgeted

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Current account balance

The current account deficit in 2010 is estimated at 12.56% of the GDP as compared to a deficit of 6.22% of the GDP.

 

(Source: IMF)

Balance of payments

Balance of Payments (SZL million)
	2009 P	2008
Current account Balance	-3,593.20	-1,911.90
Balance on goods, services, and income	-5,212.70	-3,644.00
Net current transfers	1,619.50	1,732.10
Capital account	33.9	-72.6
Financial account	-3,997.40	3,702.00
Net errors and omissions	-389.3	98.4
Reserve assets	12.4	-1,817.40

(Source: Central Bank of Swaziland)

Total labour force of the country in 2009 was 3.16 million. Of the total labour force, 2.96 million people were employed and 0.2 million people were unemployed.

(Source: Statistics of Paraguay)

Unemployment rate in the country was 6.40% of total labour force in the year 2009, as compared to 5.70% in the year 2008.

(Source: Statistics of Paraguay)

Minimum wage

Minimum wage rate as of April 2009 in Paraguay was 1,408.86 per month.

(Source: Statistics of Paraguay)

Level of Unionisation

About 15% of the country’s labour force are members of trade unions. The country has 1,600 unions with total membership of approximately 121,000 workers.

(Source: State.gov)

Consumer price index (CPI)

The CPI substantially increased in 2010m due to the increased prices of electricity, petrol, food including non-alcoholic beverages, clothing and footwear.

Base, Index 1980=100

(Source: National Statistics) 

Wholesale price index

Wholesale price index, also known as the producer price index (PPI), in 2010 was 116.2.

WPI Index (2005=100)

(Source: National Statistics)

Interest rates

In 2010, the deposit rate was registered at -0.12%, as compared to 0.08% in the previous year. The repo rate was 0.50% in the same year, as compared to 0.65% over the previous year.

(Source: riksbank)

Money supply (currency in circulation)

(Source: National Statistics)

Government expenditure

(Source: Sweden.gov)

To recover from economic meltdown the Swedish Government has initiated the following measures:

• Increase employment through better labour market policies, scope for innovation and flexible policies for entrepreneurs.

• Introduce more knowledge in schools by creating more apprentices and supplying in-service training for teachers

(Source: Sweden.gov) 

Official exchange rate

Official exchange rate in 2010 was recorded at SEK 7.21 per dollar, as compared to SEK 7.64 per dollar in 2009.

(Source: riksbank)

Government financial well-being

Fiscal balance

The fiscal deficit in 2010 amounted to SEK 10.7 billion.

Total revenue

Total revenue for 2009 is confirmed at SEK 709.5 billion.

(Source: Sweden.gov)

Swedish Government has confirmed s total revenues of SEK 709.5 billion and SEK 770.5 billion in 2009 and 2010 respectively, and has further projected the revenue to grow to SEK 833 billion by 2011.

(Source: Sweden.gov)

Tax revenue

The total tax revenue in 2009 was SEK 1,424 billion. Total tax revenues from the county councils and municipalities were SEK 175.7 billion and SEK 336.4 billion respectively in 2009.

(Source: National Statistics)

Government has reduced taxes for individuals on sickness insurance, changes in employment and lower social security contributions for employees. Government has also provided tax credit for household services, building repairs and maintenance.

(Source: sweden.gov)

Current account balance

(Source: National Statistics)

For September 2010, the net trade balance of Sweden was recorded at SEK 8.1 billion, with export of goods amounting to SEK 102.9 billion and import of goods at SEK 94.8 billion.

Trade within the European Union (EU) accounted for a deficit of SEK 5.7 billion, however trade with countries outside the EU accounted for a surplus of SEK 13.8 billion.

 (Source:National Statistics, NS)

Balance of payments

The net trade balance in goods resulted in a capital inflow of SEK 18 billion in Q2 2010, a decrease of 15.5% as compared to the previous quarter. The net trade balance in services remained constant in the second and third quarter of 2010 at SEK 31.2 billion. Exports in the third quarter declined, due to an increase in the value of the Swedish Krona (SEK), resulting in a weaker trade of goods. A decline in trade, in Q3 2010, lead to the decrease of current account surplus to SEK 50.3 billion.

(Source: National Statistics)

Roadways

The length of roads is about 3,594 km, of which 30% are paved.

(Source: estandardsforum.org)

Railways

The length of the rail network is about 301 km.

(Source: estandardsforum.org)

Airports

(Source: Aircraft-charte-world.com)

Telecommunications networks

In 2010, 90,000 people used internet services. The internet penetration was 6.6% of the population.

Telephone fixed line users and mobile phones users were 40,000 and 70,000 respectively.

(Source: internateworldstats.com, The Government of Swaziland)

Literacy rates

As of 2010, theliteracy rate of  is 94.6%.

(Source: UNDP)

Educational resources

The country has various educational institutions including public and private educational institutions. Education facilities in the country include 5,775 educational institutes in the year 2008, of which 4,599 are official institutes, 671 are private institutes and 505 are private subsidised institutes.

(Source: Statistics of Paraguay)

Health care

In the year 2009, the country had 6,108 hospital beds, of which 4,656 beds are in Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare institutions, 690 beds are in I.P.S. - Central Hospital, 214 beds are in Central Armed Forces Hospital, 74 beds are in Police Hospital and 474 beds are in Hospital and Clinics.

The country had 22,454 health personnel in the year 2009, of which 5,114 were doctors, 702 dentist and 933 were biochemical personnel.

The country’s expenditure on health is about 2.4% of the GDP.

(Source: Statistics of Paraguay, UNDP)

The mass public transport in the country is primarily dependant on roadways.

Ports:  The major ports in Paraguay are - Puerto de Ita Enramada, Puerto de Salto del Guaira, Puerto de Presidente Franco, Puerto de Pilar.

(Source:world port source)

Airports

(Source: Air charter world)

Telecommunications networks

The country had 98.7 telephone subscribers per 100 inhabitants in the year 2008. In the year 2008, the country had 95 mobile cellular subscribers per 100 people.

(Source: UN, World Bank)

Total internet users in the country were 530,300 in 2008.