Millennium Development Goals:

Comparing Swaziland and Tonga

Lauren Butler and Shaelynn Miller

Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty

halve the amount of people whose income is
less than $1.50 a day
achieve full and productive employment
work for all
halve the amount of people who suffer from
hunger

Swaziland
Swaziland is on track to fixing the issue of hunger and poverty. In 2001, 69
percent of the population was below the poverty line, with an income of less
than US $1. In 2010, that percentage decreased to 63. Thier goal is to reach 30
percent by 2015.
Employment in Swaziland, however, is on a downfall. In 2007, 37.2 percent of
the population was employed. In 2010, that amount fell to 33.6 percent. Thier
goal is to reach 80 percent by 2015.

Tonga
The country of Tonga does not suffer from extreme hunger and poverty. They
do lack the supplies and needs medically, they dont have access to markets,
and their roads are very rural.
There is an increasing need for cash because of crowded conditions in urban
areas.
Tonga is vulnerable to external shocks because of what a small island and
country Tonga is. They have an open economy and limited resources basis.
They want to create a higher living standard and better quality of life through
every aspect of the economy, government, culture, and total country.

Comparison
Tonga is doing better in the first development goal. While Swaziland has half its
population suffering from poverty, Tonga does not suffer as much from this
issue.

Achieve Universal Primary Education

ensure that all children will be able to
complete a full course of primary schooling

Swaziland
Swaziland is on track to reach universal primary education. In 2000, their net
enrolment ratio in primary education was 79.2. This number increased to 92 by
2010. Their goal by 2015 is 100.
Swazilands literacy rate for people ages 15 to 24 has also increased. 83.7
percent of people in this age group could read in 1986. In 2007, this percentage
increased to 95.4. They are on track to reach their goal of 100 percent by 2015.

Tonga
The government in Tonga runs most of 89% of primary
schools, the other 11% are run by churches.
To improve the quality of education for Tonga, the
government has set up a system that monitors
improvements in education, called a Quality and Assurance
Control Office.
Enrollment rates are high in primary schools, bt by the age
of 15 the rates rapidly decline.

Comparison
Swaziland is in an upward incline of making
better education while Tonga has always had
good primary education. Although Tonga
worries for the older kids with their education.

Promote Gender Equality and Empower

Women

eliminate gender disparity in all levels of

education

Swaziland
There are more boys enrolled in school than girls, with 1,552 more girls not
enrolled in primary school and 5,194 more girls not enrolled in secondary
school.
Swaziland is aiming to have a 30 percent representation of women in the
houses of Assembly and Senate. The African Union is advocating for a 50
percent representation. Currently, they are on the right path toward this goal.

Tonga
Tonga has free education until class 6 and compulsory education
until age 14, for girls and boys both. Girls have equal access to
scholarships for their education as well.
Females account for 78.8% of all employment, so they exceed
the number of males employes.
There are no barriers for girl sto enter parliament but there was
only one female member in 2010.
A policy in the country called A National Policy on gender and
Development was initiated in 2002 to ensure womens rights.

Comparison
Tonga has a lot more equality for women in
their country. Swaziland struggles with the
equality.

Reduce Child Mortality

reduce the under-five mortality rate by twothirds

Swaziland
Swaziland has achieved one of the goals in reducing child mortality, but needs
improvement on the other two.
The proportion of 1-year old children immunised against measles is at 80,
which is their goal.
However, the child mortality rate for infants and children under 5 has seen a
large increase. Put together, the total number comes to 183 for the year 2010.
Thier goal for 2015 is to reduce to 30 in mortality for children under 5 and 24 for
infant mortality.

Tonga
The child mortality rate lowered at one point but then rose
again. This does not show a good representation of the
trends taking place because there are events that happen
year to year that are not noted.
Infant mortality was pretty much the same over the years
with 30 deaths per year.
There needs to be nutritional education at young ages, and
resources need to obtained for progress.

Comparison
Swaziland has a better infant mortality rate than
Tonga. Although, Tonga is at the goal for child
mortality that Swaziland wants to be at.

Improve Maternal Health

reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three
quarters
achieve universal access to reproductive
health

Swaziland
Swaziland has seen a decrease in maternal mortality, but not enough. Between
1995 and 2010, the maternal ratio per 100,000 births fell from 370 to 320
deaths. Their goal is to reach 92 by 2015.
The proportion of births attended by a skilled health personnel has increased
from 70 percent in 2000 to 82 percent in 2010. They are on track to reach their
goal of 100 percent by 2015.

Tonga
The maternal mortality rate has declined from
196 per 100,000 to 76 per 100,000 in 2008.
Inequalities in maternal health and mortality are
not evident in Tonga.
They have put in place family planning
programs, advocacy programs, and address
sexual and reproductive health issues.

Comparison
The equality in maternal healthy is not very bad
in Tonga, whereas in Swaziland they are
reaching for a goal that Tonga has already
obtained.

Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Other Diseases

have stopped and begun to reverse the

spread of HIV/AIDS
universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS
have stopped and begun to reverse the
incidence of malaria and other major
diseases

Swaziland
The proportion of population aged 15 to 24 years with comprehensive correct
knowledge of HIV/AIDS has risen to 56.7 percent in 2010. Thier goal is to reach
100 percent by 2015, so they still have a ways to go.
The proportion of population with HIV infection that have access to medicine
rose from 42.1 in 2007 to 78 percent in 2011. They are on track to reach their
goal of 100 percent in 2015.
Swaziland has several areas to work on in this category, but has achieved the
death rate associated with malaria. In this category, they currently have 0
deaths.

Tonga
The prevalence and incidence of HIV continue to stay low
in Tonga.
Condom use at last high-risk intercourse is very low at
21.1% in 2008, this is a concern.
Only 36% of young men have a correct knowledge of
HIV/AIDS.
They are trying to create a stronger awareness of sexually
transmitted diseases.

Comparison
Swaziland has a much better goal than Tonga.
Tonga has a very low rate of boys who have
actual knowledge about HIV.

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Integrate the principles of sustainable
development into country policies and
reverse the loss of environmental resources
reduce biodiversity loss
halve the proportion of the population
without safe drinking water and basic
sanitation

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

achieve a significant improvement in the
lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers

Swaziland
Swaziland is mostly on track to reach this goal, but some improvements need
to be made.
The proportion of the population using an improved sanitation facility sits at
53.8 with a goal of 87.3 by 2015.
However, they are on track in the goal of forestry. The proportion of land
covered by forests was at 45 in 1999. Their goal is to reach 60 by 2015.
The proportion of population that uses an improved water source has also seen
a rise. In 2010, they were at 67.3. Their goal is to reach 69.9 by 2015.

Tonga
There is a problem with forest inventories. 5.3% of the land
area is the total forested area.
Attempts at reforestation have had limited success.
Water pollution in Tonga is becoming a bigger problem with
toxic chemicals from farming.
They have set several acts in place to hopefully benefit the
environment. Such as, A Pesticides Act and Environmental
Impact Assessment Act of 2003.

Comparison
Swaziland is more on track with their
environment. This might be because Tonga is
more developed so they have more things to
affect their environment in a negative way.

Global Partnership for Development

further develop an open, rule-based,
predictable, non-discriminatory trading and
financial system
address the special needs of least
developed countries
address the special needs of landlocked
developing countries and small island
developing States

Global Partnership for Development

deal comprehensively with debt problems of
developing countries
provide access to affordable essential drugs
in developing countries
make available benefits of new technologies,
especially information and communications

Swaziland
Swaziland has received a lot of assistance from Official Development
Assistance. Between 2006 and 2011, Swaziland accepted grants and loans
from the European Union, Taiwan, Japan, the United States of America, as well
as a few organizations. Their total comes to 1,193,517,216.
I would be interested in seeing how much of this money went to improving their
8 development goals.
Swaziland has a high volume of trade exports and imports. In 2011, they
exported 13,217 merchandise.
Swazilands government is embracing new technology, starting with EGovernment and E-Cabinet. There is also an increase in the market for mobile
phones.

Tonga
Most of Tongas development partners have begun to untie
their ODA to the kingdom.
A number of partners have provided untied budget support
like Australia and New Zealand.
The Asian Development bank provided a program grant.
There are increasing addresses to developing strategies to
develop the kingdom even more.

Comparison
I think by the assistance that Tonga and
Swaziland have been receiving that they are
both in a good place in moving forward with
other countries.

Sources

United Nations http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/global.shtml

Swaziland Millennium Development Goals Progress Report http://www.
business-swaziland.com/new/images/mdg2012.pdf
Tonga http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/Tonga/Tonga_MDG_2010.
pdf