2011 Edition

Background

Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled for the first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995 and subsequently succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Botswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections of February 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties continue to dispute how the electoral law was applied to award proportional seats in the Assembly.

Area

30,355 sq km 30,355 sq km 0 sq km

total

30,355 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

highest point

Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

lowest point

junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

Environment - current issues

population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

0.05 cu km/yr (40%/40%/20%) 28 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

28 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.05 cu km/yr (40%/40%/20%)

Geographic coordinates

29 30 S, 28 30 E

Geography - note

landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

909 km South Africa 909 km

border countries

South Africa 909 km

total

909 km

Land use

10.87% 0.13% 89% (2005)

arable land

10.87%

other

89% (2005)

permanent crops

0.13%

Location

Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

periodic droughts

Natural resources

water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone

Terrain

mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Total renewable water resources

5.2 cu km (1987)

Age structure

33.5% (male 323,934/female 321,727) 61.1% (male 573,773/female 602,443) 5.4% (male 50,956/female 52,053) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

33.5% (male 323,934/female 321,727)

15-64 years

61.1% (male 573,773/female 602,443)

65 years and over

5.4% (male 50,956/female 52,053) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

26.93 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.6% (2005)

Death rate

15.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 97% of population rural: 81% of population total: 85% of population urban: 3% of population rural: 19% of population total: 15% of population (2008)

rural

19% of population

total

15% of population (2008)

urban

3% of population

Education expenditures

12.4% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,

Health expenditures

13.2% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

23.6% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

14,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

290,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.33 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate

55.04 deaths/1,000 live births 59.28 deaths/1,000 live births 50.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

50.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

55.04 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Sesotho (official) (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa

Life expectancy at birth

51.63 years 51.51 years 51.76 years (2011 est.)

female

51.76 years (2011 est.)

total population

51.63 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 84.8% 74.5% 94.5% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.5% (2003 est.)

male

74.5%

total population

84.8%

Major cities - population

MASERU (capital) 220,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

530 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

22.9 years 22.8 years 22.9 years (2011 est.)

female

22.9 years (2011 est.)

male

22.8 years

total

22.9 years

Nationality

Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) Basotho

adjective

Basotho

noun

Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

Net migration rate

-8.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2003)

Population

1,924,886 (July 2011 est.) estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population growth rate

0.332% (2011 est.)

Religions

Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 40% of population rural: 25% of population total: 29% of population urban: 60% of population rural: 75% of population total: 71% of population (2008)

rural

75% of population

total

71% of population (2008)

urban

60% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

10 years 10 years 10 years (2008)

female

10 years (2008)

male

10 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.96 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.94 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

27% of total population (2010) 3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

27% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Capital

Maseru 29 19 S, 27 29 E UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

29 19 S, 27 29 E

name

Maseru

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

2 April 1993

Country name

Kingdom of Lesotho Lesotho Kingdom of Lesotho Lesotho Basutoland

conventional long form

Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form

Lesotho

former

Basutoland

local long form

Kingdom of Lesotho

local short form

Lesotho

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Michele T. BOND 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section) P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho [266] 22 312666 [266] 22 310116

chief of mission

Ambassador Michele T. BOND

embassy

254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)

FAX

[266] 22 310116

mailing address

P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho

telephone

[266] 22 312666

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Molefi Christopher NYAKA 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 797-5533 [1] (202) 234-6815

chancery

2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Molefi Christopher NYAKA

FAX

[1] (202) 234-6815

telephone

[1] (202) 797-5533

Executive branch

King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May 1998) Cabinet according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarchy is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution that came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, determine who is next in the line of succession, or who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age

cabinet

Cabinet

chief of state

King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile

elections

according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarchy is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution that came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, determine who is next in the line of succession, or who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age

head of government

Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May 1998)

Flag description

three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3

4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Independence

4 October 1966 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (120 seats, 80 by popular vote and 40 by proportional vote; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 17 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LCD 61, NIP 21, ABC 17, LWP 10, ACP 4, BNP 3, other 4

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LCD 61, NIP 21, ABC 17, LWP 10, ACP 4, BNP 3, other 4

elections

last held on 17 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

National anthem

"Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers) Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR adopted 1967; the anthem's music derives from an 1823 Swiss songbook

lyrics/music

Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR

name

"Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

National symbol(s)

Basotho hat

Political parties and leaders

Alliance of Congress Parties or ACP (including the Lesotho People's Congress or LCP [Kelebone MAOPE], the Basotholand African Congress or BAC [Khauhelo RALITAPOLE], and a faction of the Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Ntsukunyane MPHANYA]); All Basotho Convention or ABC [Thomas THABANE]; Basotho Batho Democratic Party or BBDP; Basotho Congress Party or BCP; Basotho Democratic National Party or BDNP [Thabang NYEOE]; Basotho National Party or BNP [vacant]; Basotholand African National Congress or BANC; Christian Democratic Party or CDP [Enerst RAMOKOENA]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Pakalitha MOSISILI] (the governing party); Lesotho Workers Party or LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; National Independent Party or NIP [Anthony MANYELI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Media Institute of Southern Africa, Lesotho chapter [Thabang MATJAMA] (pushes for media freedom)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock

Budget

$1.176 billion $1.367 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$1.367 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$1.176 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-9% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

10% (31 December 2010 est.) 10.66% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.2% (31 December 2010 est.) 13% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$334.4 million (2010 est.) -$32 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$666.2 million (31 December 2010 est.) $671.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

63.2 (1995) 56 (1986-87)

Economy - overview

Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances from Basotho employed in South Africa, customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), and export revenue for the majority of government revenue. However, the government has recently strengthened its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 permitted the sale of water to South Africa and generated royalties for Lesotho. Lesotho produces about 90% of its own electrical power needs. As the number of mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years, a small manufacturing base has developed based on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries, as well as an apparel-assembly sector. Despite Lesotho's market-based economy being heavily tied to its neighbor South Africa, the US is an important trade partner because of the export sector's heavy dependence on apparel exports. Exports have grown significantly because of the trade benefits contained in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. Most of the labor force is engaged in subsistence agriculture, especially livestock herding, although drought has decreased agricultural activity. The extreme inequality in the distribution of income remains a major drawback. Lesotho has signed an Interim Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF. In July 2007, Lesotho signed a Millennium Challenge Account Compact with the US worth $362.5 million. Economic growth dropped in 2009, due mainly to the effects of the global economic crisis as demand for the country's exports declined and SACU revenue fell precipitously when South Africa - the primary contributor to the SACU revenue pool - went into recession, but growth returned to 3.5% in 2010.

Electricity - consumption

236 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

107 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

200 million kWh electricity supplied by South Africa (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.9 (2010) 8.47 (2009) 7.75 (2008) 7.25 (2007) 6.85 (2006)

Exports

$823.2 million (2010 est.) $715.9 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals

Exports - partners

US 58.4%, Belgium 34%, Canada 3.7% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

8.4% 33.9% 57.7% (2010 est.)

agriculture

8.4%

industry

33.9%

services

57.7% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,700 (2010 est.) $1,700 (2009 est.) $1,600 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2010 est.) 3% (2009 est.) 4.7% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.127 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.303 billion (2010 est.) $3.223 billion (2009 est.) $3.129 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1% 39.4% (2003)

highest 10%

39.4% (2003)

lowest 10%

1%

Imports

$1.885 billion (2010 est.) $1.668 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products

Imports - partners

South Korea 26.9%, China 23.1%, Taiwan 22.1%, Hong Kong 6.6%, US 4.4% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2010 est.)

Industries

food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (2010 est.) 7.2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

29.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

854,600 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa 14% (2002 est.)

agriculture

86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa

industry and services

14% (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

1,690 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

49% (1999)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$918.6 million (31 December 2010 est.) $962 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.057 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $876 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$60.61 million (31 December 2010 est.) $54.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$588.6 million (31 December 2010 est.) $467.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

55.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

45% (2002)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations; government controls most private broadcast media; satellite TV subscription service is available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are obtainable (2008)

Internet country code

.ls

Internet hosts

632 (2010)

Internet users

76,800 (2009)

Telephone system

rudimentary system consisting of a modest number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a small radiotelephone communication system; mobile-cellular telephone system is expanding privatized in 2001, Telecom Lesotho was tasked with providing an additional 50,000 fixed-line connections within five years, a target not met; mobile-cellular service dominates the market and is expanding with a subscribership exceeding 30 per 100 persons in 2009; rural services are scant country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

domestic

privatized in 2001, Telecom Lesotho was tasked with providing an additional 50,000 fixed-line connections within five years, a target not met; mobile-cellular service dominates the market and is expanding with a subscribership exceeding 30 per 100 persons in 2009; rural services are scant

general assessment

rudimentary system consisting of a modest number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a small radiotelephone communication system; mobile-cellular telephone system is expanding

international

country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

38,800 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

698,800 (2010)

Airports

26 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

914 to 1,523 m

1

over 3,047 m

1

total

3

under 914 m

1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

18 (2010)

914 to 1,523 m

5

total

23

under 914 m

18 (2010)

Roadways

7,091 km 1,404 km 5,687 km (2003)

total

7,091 km

unpaved

5,687 km (2003)

Manpower available for military service

472,456 508,953 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

508,953 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

472,456

Manpower fit for military service

270,184 275,734 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

275,734 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

270,184

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

19,110 20,037 (2010 est.)

female

20,037 (2010 est.)

male

19,110

Military - note

Lesotho's declared policy is maintenance of its independent sovereignty and preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; restructuring of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and Ministry of Defense and Public Service over the past five years has focused on subordinating the defense apparatus to civilian control and restoring the LDF's cohesion; the restructuring has considerably improved capabilities and professionalism, but the LDF is disproportionately large for a small, poor country; the government has outlined a reduction to a planned 1,500-man strength, but these plans have met with vociferous resistance from the political opposition and from inside the LDF (2008)

Military branches

Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing) (2010)

Lesotho Defense Force (LDF)

Army (includes Air Wing) (2010)

Military expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women serve as commissioned officers (2009)

Disputes - international

none