Hhohho Region

Hhohho is Eswatini's most economically advanced region—home to Mbabane (the administrative capital) and anchoring the Manzini-Mbabane corridor that forms the kingdom's urban spine. The economy centers on services, tourism, and forestry: the Piggs Peak and Bulembu areas host planted forests and sawmills that supply regional timber markets. Corporate headquarters concentrate here, including Standard Bank, Nedbank, Swazi Bank, and First National Bank—plus the Central Bank of Eswatini. The region benefits from Africa's last absolute monarchy's unusual stability (King Mswati III has ruled since 1986), though pro-democracy protests in 2021 challenged that perception. Eswatini's economy grew 4.8% in 2023 and is projected at 4.9% for 2024, driven by industry and services concentrated in Hhohho and Manzini. Yet the kingdom's deep ties to South Africa (90% of imports, 70% of exports) create vulnerability: South African tariffs and slowdowns transmit directly to Eswatini. Sugar and soft drink concentrate (Coca-Cola bottling) remain top foreign exchange earners. With 25.8% unemployment and one of the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, even the prosperous northern region faces structural challenges beneath its relative wealth.