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
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 17,204 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 160 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 159

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 546 km
border countries (2): Mozambique 108 km, South Africa 438 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
varies from tropical to near temperate

Terrain:
mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Elevation:
mean elevation:
[see also: Mean Elevation country ranks ]
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:
agricultural land: 68.3% arable land 9.8%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 57.7%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 31.7%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
498.5 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
4.51 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.04 cu km/yr (4%/2%/94%)
per capita: 962.1 cu m/yr (2005)

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