Eswatini - Power plug, socket & mains voltage in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

What type of plugs and sockets are used in Eswatini (Swaziland)?

When you are going on a trip to Eswatini (Swaziland), be sure to pack the appropriate travel plug adapter that fits the local sockets. But what do those electrical outlets look like? Although type M sockets are the official standard in Eswatini (Swaziland), type C sockets are ubiquitous as well. Both M and C can be found in every home and hotel. Buildings constructed or renovated after 2018 often also have the new South African-style type N sockets, which are fully compatible with the commonly used type C plugs.

Background information

Eswatini (Swaziland), as a former British colony, adopted the pre-1950s UK standard: types D & M. Originally, there were four plug and socket versions: 2 A, 5 A (=type D), 15 A (=type M) and 30 A. Eswatini (Swaziland) initially standardized on both the 5 amp plug (type D) and the 15 amp plug (type M), but in the end only type M remained. In older buildings, however, type D sockets can still be found.

Due to the large volume of imported appliances equipped with incompatible types of plugs (mostly type C), virtually everybody is using plug adapters to fit type M sockets. In neighbouring South Africa, a new type of plug and socket system has been introduced: type N, which is fully compatible with type C, but not with type M. Type N has gradually started to replace the old type M in South Africa, but so far the process has been very slow. Because of the strong trade ties between Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa, type N sockets have also started to appear in Eswatini and can be found almost all newly constructed or renovated buildings.

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