Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

66,000

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

rudimentary system domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system international : satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

12,000 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1

Televisions [time series]

11,000 (1992 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues : $445 million expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of $128 million (FY94/95 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 loti (L) = 100 lisente note : maloti (M) is the plural form of loti

Debt - external [time series]

$512 million (1993)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no important natural resources other than water. Its economy is based on agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. The number of such mine workers has declined steadily over the past five years; in 1996 their remittances added about 33% to GDP compared with the addition of roughly 67% in 1990. The great majority of households gain their livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor; a large portion of the adult male work force is employed in South African mines. Manufacturing depends largely on farm products which support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, completion of a major hydropower facility will permit the sale of water to South Africa and will support the economy's continued expansion. The pace of the privatization of state-owned firms increased toward the end of 1994.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

13,400 kW (1993) note: 98% of electricity supplied by South Africa

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - production [time series]

NA kWh note: 98% of electricity supplied by South Africa

Exchange rates [time series]

maloti (M) per US$1 - 4.6410 (January 1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992); note - the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand

Exports [time series]

total value: $218 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: clothing, furniture, footwear, machinery and equipment, wool (1993) partners: South African Customs Union 46%, North America 34%, EU 18% (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 14% industry: 46% services : 40% (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,860 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

10% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: corn, clothing, building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1993) partners: South African Customs Union 83%, Asia 12%, EU 3% (1993)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

12.5% (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

8.7% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total : 689,000 economically active by occupation: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa

Unemployment rate [time series]

substantial unemployment and underemployment effecting more than half of the labor force (1996 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 30,350 sq km land: 30,350 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m highest point : Mount Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project will control, store, and redirect water to South Africa

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates [time series]

29 30 S, 28 30 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked; surrounded by South Africa

Irrigated land [time series]

30 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 909 km border countries : South Africa 909 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 11% permanent crops : NA% permanent pastures: 66% forests and woodland : NA% other: 23% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

periodic droughts

Natural resources [time series]

water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals

Terrain [time series]

mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

2 April 1993

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland

Data code [time series]

LT

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Bismarck MYRICK embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section) mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: [266] 312666

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone : [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state : King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded to the throne following the death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on 16 January 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November 1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993) cabinet: Cabinet elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch, but, under the terms of the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election, he has no executive or legislative powers; moreover, under traditional law the king can be elected or deposed by a majority vote of the College of Chiefs; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 234-6815

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[266] 310116

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner

Government type [time series]

modified constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

4 October 1966 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFCTU, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (65 seats; members elected for a five-year term by popular vote) elections: last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held by March 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BCP 65

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Maseru

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Basotho National Party or BNP [Evaristus SEKHONYANA]; Basotholand Congress Party or BCP [Ntsu MOKHEHLE]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Charles MOFELI]

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Current issues [time series]

Years of civil strife have destroyed much of Liberia's economic infrastructure, made civil administration nearly impossible, and brought economic activity virtually to a halt. The deterioration of economic conditions has been greatly exacerbated by the flight of most business people with their expertise and capital. Civil order ended in 1990 when President Samuel Kenyon DOE was killed by rebel forces. In April 1996, when forces loyal to faction leaders Charles Ghankay TAYLOR and Alhaji KROMAH attacked rival ethnic Krahn factions, the fighting further damaged Monrovia's dilapidated infrastructure. Fighting waned in late May 1996, allowing West African peacekeepers to regain control of Monrovia. The Abuja II peace accord was signed in August 1996 replacing the Chairman of the ruling Council of State, Wilton SANKAWULO, with Ruth PERRY. National elections were scheduled for 30 May 1997, but long-term prospects for peace will remain poor unless the warring factions can overcome their greed, mutual suspicions and ethnic hatreds.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), Lesotho Mounted Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 468,658 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 253,025 (1997 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 41% (male 408,723; female 406,849) 15-64 years : 55% (male 533,327; female 566,684) 65 years and over: 4% (male 37,990; female 54,241) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

32.19 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.92 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800

Infant mortality rate [time series]

80.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 51.66 years male: 49.48 years female: 53.91 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.3% male : 81.1% female: 62.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) adjective: Basotho

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

2,007,814 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.83% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none LIBERIA

Airports [time series]

29 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total : 25 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 23 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 4 914 to 1,523 m : 4 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total : 4,955 km paved: 887 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1995 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

total: 2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in the statistics of South Africa narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)