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Compare Armenia (2001) - Lesotho (2005)

Compare Armenia (2001) z Lesotho (2005)

 Armenia (2001)Lesotho (2005)
 ArmeniaLesotho
Administrative divisions 10 provinces (marzer, singular - marz) and 1 city* (k'aghak'ner, singular - k'aghak'); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan* 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years:
23.23% (male 394,194; female 380,911)

15-64 years:
67.04% (male 1,094,646; female 1,141,760)

65 years and over:
9.73% (male 135,477; female 189,112) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 36.9% (male 346,930/female 342,459)


15-64 years: 57.6% (male 526,642/female 548,096)


65 years and over: 5.5% (male 42,003/female 60,905) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 7 (2000 est.) 28 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways - total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
7

over 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 25


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Area total:
29,800 sq km

land:
28,400 sq km

water:
1,400 sq km
total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly smaller than Maryland
Background An Orthodox Christian country, Armenia was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated exclave, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the exclave in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and reinstated in 1995. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 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 Botswanan military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002.
Birth rate 11.47 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 26.53 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues:
$360 million

expenditures:
$566 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
revenues: $698.5 million


expenditures: $697.6 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (2004 est.)
Capital Yerevan Maseru
Climate highland continental, hot summers, cold winters temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Armenia

conventional short form:
Armenia

local long form:
Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun

local short form:
Hayastan

former:
Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho


conventional short form: Lesotho


former: Basutoland
Currency dram (AMD) -
Death rate 9.74 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 25.03 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $836 million (January 2001) $735 million (2002)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael C. LEMMON

embassy:
18 Marshal Bagramian Avenue, Yerevan

mailing address:
American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7020

telephone:
[374] (2) 52-16-11

FAX:
[374] (2) 151-550
chief of mission: Ambassador June Carter PERRY


embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)


mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho


telephone: [266] 22 312666


FAX: [266] 22 310116
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Arman KIRAKOSIAN

chancery:
2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 319-1976

FAX:
[1] (202) 319-2982

consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles
chief of mission: Ambassador Molelekeng E. RAPOLAKI


chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536


FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
Disputes - international Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional demands regarding former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided none
Economic aid - donor - ODA $4.4 million
Economic aid - recipient $245.5 million (1995) $41.5 million (2000)
Economy - overview Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2000. Armenia also managed to slash inflation and to privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in recent years have been largely offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia's severe trade imbalance, importing three times its exports, has been offset somewhat by international aid, domestic restructuring of the economy, and foreign direct investment. Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of government revenue, but the government has strengthened its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, also generating royalties for Lesotho. 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 and a rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. The garment industry has grown significantly, mainly due to Lesotho qualifying for the trade benefits contained in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. The economy is still primarily based on subsistence agriculture, especially livestock, 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.
Electricity - consumption 6.201 billion kWh (1999) 308 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 16 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)
Electricity - production 6.668 billion kWh (1999) 314 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
45.56%

hydro:
23.25%

nuclear:
31.19%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Debed River 400 m

highest point:
Aragats Lerr 4,095 m
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m


highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems 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 party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)

note:
as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia
Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates drams per US dollar - 554.29 (1 February 2001), 539.53 (2000), 535.06 (1999), 504.92 (1998), 490.85 (1997), 414.04 (1996) maloti per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)

head of government:
Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May 2000)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special election last held 30 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 59.5%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 40.5%
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


head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May 1998)


cabinet: Cabinet


elections: none; according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution, which 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 determine who is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch
Exports $284 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA
Exports - commodities diamonds, scrap metal, machinery and equipment, brandy, copper ore manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
Exports - partners Belgium 36%, Iran 15%, Russia 14%, US 7%, Turkmenistan, Georgia (1999) US 97%, Canada 2.1%, UK 0.3% (2004)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange 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
GDP purchasing power parity - $10 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
40%

industry:
25%

services:
35% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 15.2%


industry: 43.9%


services: 40.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2000 est.) 3.3% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 40 00 N, 45 00 E 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography - note landlocked landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
Highways total:
8,431 km ()

paved:
NA

unpaved:
NA (1997)
total: 5,940 km


paved: 1,087 km


unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 0.9%


highest 10%: 43.4%
Illicit drugs illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - to Western Europe and the US via Iran, Central Asia, and Russia -
Imports $913 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA
Imports - commodities natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (2000)
Imports - partners Russia 17%, US 11%, Belgium 11%, Iran 10%, UK, Turkey (1999) Hong Kong 46.8%, China 25.5%, South Korea 5.6%, Germany 4.8% (2004)
Independence 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 5% (2000 est.) 15.5% (1999)
Industries metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, gem cutting, jewelry manufacturing, software development, brandy food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate 41.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 84.23 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 89.11 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 79.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1% (1999 est.) 5.3% (2004 est.)
International organization participation BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) ACP, AfDB, AU, C, The Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (1999) -
Irrigated land 2,870 sq km (1993 est.) 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Constitutional Court High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Labor force 1.5 million (1999) 838,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 55%, services 25%, industry 20% (1999 est.) 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Land boundaries total:
1,254 km

border countries:
Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
Land use arable land:
17%

permanent crops:
3%

permanent pastures:
24%

forests and woodland:
15%

other:
41% (1993 est.)
arable land: 10.87%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 89% (2001)
Languages Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2% Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system based on civil law system 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 unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 30 May 1999 (next to be held in the spring of 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - unity bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People's Party of Armenia 20), Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a bloc) 21, ACP 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6, Law-Governed Party 6, independents 10, unfilled 2; note - seats by party change frequently
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 direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 80 to 120 in the May 2002 election


elections: last held 25 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - LCD 54%, BNP 21%, LPC 7%, other 18%; seats by party - LCD 76, BNP 21, LPC 5, other 18
Life expectancy at birth total population:
66.49 years

male:
62.12 years

female:
71.08 years (2001 est.)
total population: 34.47 years


male: 35.49 years


female: 33.42 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
99%

male:
99%

female:
98% (1989 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 84.8%


male: 74.5%


female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
Location Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Commonwealth of Independent States Africa
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
Military - note - the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs
Military branches Army, Air Force and Air Defense Aviation, Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops) Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army and Air Wing
Military expenditures - dollar figure $75 million (FY99) $32.3 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4% (FY99) 2.3% (2004)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
905,154 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
715,734 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
34,998 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 21 September (1991) Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun:
Armenian(s)

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


adjective: Basotho
Natural hazards occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts periodic droughts
Natural resources small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
Net migration rate -3.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Pipelines natural gas 900 km (1991) -
Political parties and leaders Armenia Party [Myasnik ALKHASYAN]; Armenian Communist Party or ACP [Vladimir DARBINYAN]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Azat ARSHAKYN, chairman]; Democratic Liberal Party [Ramkavar AZATAKAN, chairman]; Free Armenian's Mission [Ruben MNATSANIAN, chairman]; Law and Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; Law-Governed Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; Mission Party [Artush PAPOIAN, chairman]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National State Party [Samvel SHAGINIAN]; Pan-Armenian National Movement or PANM [Vano SIRADEGHYAN]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Shamiram Women's Movement or SWM [Gayane SARUKHYAN]; Social Democratic (Hnchakian) Party [Ernst SOGOMONYAN]; Stability Group [Vartan AYVAZIAN, chairman]; Union of National Self-Determination or NSDU [Paruir HAIRIKIAN, chairman]; Unity Bloc [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN and Andranik MARKARYAN] (a coalition of the Republican Party and People's Party of Armenia) Basotholand African Congress or BAC [Khauhelo RALITAPOLE]; Basotholand Congress Party or BCP [Ntsukunyane MPHANYA]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Pakalitha MOSISILI] - the governing party; Lesotho People's Congress or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; Lesotho Workers Party of LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; National Independent Party or NIP [Anthony MANYELI]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Chief Peete Nkoebe PEETE]; Popular Front for Democracy or PFD [Lekhetho RAKUOANE]; Sefate Democratic Party or SDP [Bofihla NKUEBE]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 3,336,100 (July 2001 est.) 1,867,035


note: 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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line 45% (1999 est.) 49% (1999)
Population growth rate -0.21% (2001 est.) 0.08% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors none -
Radio broadcast stations AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 850,000 (1997) -
Railways total:
852 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines

broad gauge:
852 km 1.520-m gauge (779 km electrified) (2001)
-
Religions Armenian Orthodox 94% Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female

total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion

domestic:
the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service)

international:
Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat
general assessment: rudimentary system


domestic: consists of a modest but growing number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system; a cellular mobile telephone system is growing


international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 568,000 (1997) 28,600 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 6,220 (1997) 92,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1998) 1 (2000)
Terrain Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate 1.5 children born/woman (2001 est.) 3.35 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 20% (1998 est.)

note:
official rate is 9.3% for 1998
45% (2002)
Waterways NA km -
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