Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) is a small, landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa, almost entirely surrounded by South Africa except for a short eastern border with Mozambique. It is one of the smallest nations in Africa, roughly the size of the US state of New Jersey. The country officially changed its name in 2018 to "The Kingdom of Eswatini" to mark 50 years of independence and to distance itself from the colonial-era name Swaziland. Its geography is characterized by four distinct longitudinal regions: the Highveld, Middleveld, Lowveld, and the Lubombo Plateau.

The nation operates as an absolute monarchy, one of the few remaining in the world. King Mswati III has reigned since 1986 and holds supreme executive, legislative, and judicial authority. Eswatini maintains two capital cities: Mbabane serves as the administrative and executive capital, while Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital. The government structure is a "monarchical democracy" known as the Tinkhundla system, which blends traditional African governance with modern parliamentary elements, though political parties remain largely restricted.

The climate of Eswatini varies by altitude, ranging from near-temperate in the mountainous Highveld to tropical in the Lowveld. Most rainfall occurs during the summer months from October to March, often in the form of heavy thunderstorms. The Highveld receives the most precipitation (up to 1,550 mm annually), supporting dense forests and commercial timber plantations. Conversely, the Lowveld is semi-arid and prone to periodic droughts, requiring extensive irrigation for its large-scale sugarcane and citrus industries.