Natural resources of Eswatini
Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in Eswatini: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.
Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)
3.0 %
Resources, share of goods exports (2023)
10.3 %
Forest, share of land (2024)
25.3 %
Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Oil, gas and coal
Coal output was 354 thousand tonnes in 2024.
Mining and minerals
The U.S. Geological Survey records 4 mineral commodities with published production in Eswatini between 2019 and 2023, from metals and gemstones to industrial minerals and fuels. The table includes processed products such as cement and steel, which USGS reports alongside raw minerals.
Showing 5 of 5
| Gold, mine, Au content | Metals | kilograms | 6 | 1 | Not published | Not published | Not published | 2021: --; 2022: --; 2023: -- |
| Clay, unspecified, for bricks | Industrial Minerals | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | 2019: --; 2020: NA; 2021: NA; 2022: NA; 2023: NA |
| Sand and gravel, unspecified, sand | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 1,180,000 | 653,000 | 462,000 | 518,000 | 573,000 | 2022: r |
| Stone, crushed, unspecified | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 460,526 | 348,640 | 428,066 | 305,815 | 265,794 | Not published |
| Coal, anthracite | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | Not published | 109,926 | 161,768 | 162,681 | 215,581 | 393,328 | 2022: r |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook, country tables. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Showing 6 of 6
| Bricks | Langa Brick (Fortis Enterprises Ltd.) | Mpaka | 640,000 | Not published |
| Bricks | Mangweni Bricks | Kwalini Quarry, Matsapha | Not published | Not published |
| Coal, anthracite | Maloma Colliery Ltd. (Chancellor House Holdings, 50%; Tibiyo Taka Ngwane, 25%; Government, 25%) | Maloma Mine at Maloma | 480,000 | Not published |
| Gold | Lufafa Mine PTY Ltd. (SDZ Holdings LLC., 50%; Ingwenyama, 25%; Government, 25%) | Lufafa Mine, Hhelehhele, in the Hhohho region | 400 | kilograms |
| Stone, crushed | Camdel Construction (Pty) Ltd. | Kwalini Quarry, Matsapha | Not published | Not published |
| Stone, crushed | Mbabane Quarry (Pty) Ltd. | Mbabane Quarry, Mahamba | Not published | Not published |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook 2018, Eswatini. Last checked 24 October 2026.
What natural resources earn
Natural resource rents were 3% of GDP in 2021, with forests and timber the largest part. That ranks Eswatini 43rd of 54 African countries. See all 54.
View the data as a table
| Period | Oil | Minerals | Coal | Forests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.2 % | 0.0 % | 0.2 % | 2.0 % |
| 2011 | 0.3 % | 0.0 % | 0.2 % | 2.1 % |
| 2012 | 0.4 % | 1.4 % | 0.2 % | 2.2 % |
| 2013 | 0.4 % | 1.7 % | 0.1 % | 2.3 % |
| 2014 | 0.3 % | 0.5 % | 0.1 % | 2.6 % |
| 2015 | 0.1 % | 0.0 % | 0.1 % | 3.2 % |
| 2016 | 0.1 % | 0.0 % | 0.1 % | 4.4 % |
| 2017 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 0.1 % | 3.9 % |
| 2018 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 0.1 % | 3.0 % |
| 2019 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 0.1 % | 3.2 % |
| 2020 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 0.1 % | 3.3 % |
| 2021 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 0.1 % | 2.9 % |
| 2022 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2023 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2024 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2025 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Forest, share of land (2024)
25.3 %
Arable land, share of land (2024)
10.3 %
Renewable fresh water per person (2022)
2,166 m³
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Method and sources
Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.
USGS country page for Eswatini. EIA international energy data. World Bank resource rents.
Frequently asked questions
What natural resources does Eswatini have?
Eswatini's main natural resources are timber and coal. Wood made up 6.5% of its goods exports in 2023, and all resources together 10.3%. The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 3% of GDP in 2021, mostly from forests and timber.
Does Eswatini produce oil?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration records no meaningful crude oil production for Eswatini in 2025.
What is Eswatini's most valuable natural resource?
By export earnings, wood: 6.5% of goods exports in 2023, according to UN Comtrade.
How much do natural resources contribute to Eswatini's economy?
Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 3% of GDP in 2021. That ranks Eswatini 43rd of 54 African countries.
Which companies mine in Eswatini?
The U.S. Geological Survey's 2018 list of Eswatini's mineral industry names 6 operating companies, including Langa Brick, Mangweni Bricks, Maloma Colliery Ltd., Lufafa Mine PTY Ltd. and Camdel Construction. The full list is on this page.