Government and power in Eswatini
Who leads Eswatini, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Unitary monarchy with an executive king; 'tinkhundla-based' system of government.
Who leads Eswatini?
- Head of state: King Mswati III (Head of State of the Kingdom of Eswatini)
- Head of government: Russell Mmiso Dlamini (Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini)
- Foreign minister: Pholile Shakantu (Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Eswatini)
Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.
Governance scores
The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.
- Voice and accountability
- Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.
- Political stability and absence of violence
- Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.
- Government effectiveness
- Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.
- Regulatory quality
- Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.
- Rule of law
- Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.
- Control of corruption
- Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.
How does Eswatini score on voice and accountability?
Voice and accountability: 31 out of 100 in 2025, 167th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 41.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 33.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Eswatini score on political stability?
Political stability and absence of violence: 55.6 out of 100 in 2025, 147th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 56.4). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 57.8.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Eswatini score on government effectiveness?
Government effectiveness: 35.2 out of 100 in 2025, 158th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 36.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 45.8.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Eswatini score on regulatory quality?
Regulatory quality: 43.9 out of 100 in 2025, 139th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 42.9). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 49.7.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Eswatini score on the rule of law?
Rule of law: 45.8 out of 100 in 2025, 137th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 44.6). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 50.1.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Eswatini score on control of corruption?
Control of corruption: 31.9 out of 100 in 2025, 144th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 32.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 42.2.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many women are in Eswatini's parliament?
Women held 21.6% of seats in the national parliament (single or lower chamber) in 2025, 113th highest of 184 countries with data. Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union, via the World Bank.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many of Eswatini's ministers are women?
Women held 25.0% of ministerial posts in 2025, 75th highest of 190.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much does the government of Eswatini spend?
Central government spending (expense) was 24.6% of GDP in 2021.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much tax does the government of Eswatini collect?
Central government tax revenue was 24.3% of GDP in 2021, 16th highest of 127.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much does Eswatini spend on the military?
Military spending was 1.6% of GDP in 2025, 78th highest of 149 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, via the World Bank).
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow good are Eswatini's official statistics?
The World Bank's Statistical Performance Indicator, which scores how well a country's official statistics system works, was 61 out of 100 in 2024, 128th highest of 187.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many people in Eswatini use the internet?
63.4% of people used the internet in 2024.
Source: World Bank · saved copyOfficial bodies that hold power in Eswatini
Public contracts
- Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory AgencyProcurement regulations, tender notices, registered suppliers and procurement reports in Eswatini.
Government below the national level
- Regions (4: Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo, Shiselweni): Regional administrator appointed by the King for a term matching Parliament's
- Tinkhundla (59): Each elects one member of the House of Assembly; led by a bucopho (committee) elected from the chiefdoms, chaired by the indvuna yenkhundla
- Urban local authorities (14: city councils, town councils and town boards): City councils fully elected by ward (first-past-the-post); town councils and boards partly elected and partly appointed; councillors serve three years and choose a mostly ceremonial mayor
- Chiefdoms (imiphakatsi, about 385): Chief selected by the family council according to custom, then appointed by the King
How local power works in Eswatini
Places in Eswatini
Sources
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Central government spending (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 808094019f50…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Tax revenue (GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08c94b750f31…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Military spending (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7f6913a783b…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.