Lesotho

Kingdom of Lesotho

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: Khotso, Pula, Nala (Peace, Rain, Prosperity)
Official language	Sesotho,English
Capital	Maseru
(optionally) Capital's coordinates	29° 18' S, 27° 28' E
Largest City	Maseru
Monarch	Letsie III
Prime Minister	Pakalitha Mosisili
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 137th 30,355 km² Negligible
Population  - Total (Year)  - Density	Ranked 143rd 2,143,141 70.6/km²
GDP (PPP)  - Total (Year)  - GDP/head	Ranked 147th $5.106 billion $2,700
Currency	Loti (L)
Time zone	UTC +2
Independence	4 October 1966
National anthem	Lesotho Fatse La Bontat'a Rona
Internet TLD	.LS
Calling Code	266

Lesotho is a country in southern Africa. It is entirely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa.

Table of contents

1 History 2 Politics 3 Districts 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 Miscellenous topics

History

Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the United Kingdom on October 4 1966. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of authoritarianism, which included seven years of military rule.

Politics

Districts

Lesotho is divided into 10 districts: Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, and Thaba-Tseka.

Geography

Economy

Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's only important natural resource is water. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, livestock, and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. The number of such mine workers has declined steadily over the past several years. In 1996 their remittances added about 33% to GDP compared with the addition of roughly 67% in 1990. A small manufacturing base depends largely on farm products which support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Agricultural products are exported primarily to South Africa. Proceeds from membership in a common customs union with South Africa form the majority of government revenue. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, generating royalties that will be an important source of income for Lesotho. The pace of parastatal privatization has increased in recent years. Civil disorder in September 1998 destroyed 80% of the commercial infrastructure in Maseru and two other major towns. Most firms were not covered by insurance, and the rebuilding of small and medium business has been a significant challenge in terms of both economic growth and employment levels. Output dropped 10% in 1998 and recovered slowly in 1999.

Demographics

Culture

• Communications in Lesotho
• Transportation in Lesotho
• Military of Lesotho
• Foreign relations of Lesotho