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Compare Dominican Republic (2001) - Lesotho (2001)

Compare Dominican Republic (2001) z Lesotho (2001)

 Dominican Republic (2001)Lesotho (2001)
 Dominican RepublicLesotho
Administrative divisions 29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years:
34.11% (male 1,495,477; female 1,431,406)

15-64 years:
60.99% (male 2,664,679; female 2,569,398)

65 years and over:
4.9% (male 199,240; female 221,277) (2001 est.)
0-14 years:
39.28% (male 430,147; female 424,994)

15-64 years:
56.03% (male 588,440; female 631,404)

65 years and over:
4.69% (male 43,033; female 59,044) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 29 (2000 est.) 29 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
13

over 3,047 m:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
16

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
10 (2000 est.)
total:
25

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
21 (2000 est.)
Area total:
48,730 sq km

land:
48,380 sq km

water:
350 sq km
total:
30,355 sq km

land:
30,355 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire slightly smaller than Maryland
Background A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of the 20th century was brought to an end in 1996 when free and open elections ushered in a new government. Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule.
Birth rate 24.77 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 31.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$2.3 billion

expenditures:
$2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $867 million (1999 est.)
revenues:
$76 million

expenditures:
$80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (FY99/00 est.)
Capital Santo Domingo Maseru
Climate tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 1,288 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 28 November 1966 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form:
Dominican Republic

conventional short form:
none

local long form:
Republica Dominicana

local short form:
none
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form:
Lesotho

former:
Basutoland
Currency Dominican peso (DOP) loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate 4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $4.7 billion (2000 est.) $720 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles T. MANATT

embassy:
corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo

mailing address:
Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500

telephone:
[1] (809) 221-2171

FAX:
[1] (809) 686-7437
chief of mission:
Ambassador Katherine H. PETERSON

embassy:
254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)

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

telephone:
[266] 312666

FAX:
[266] 310116
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Roberto Bienvenido SALADIN-SELIN

chancery:
1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 332-6280

FAX:
[1] (202) 265-8057

consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

consulate(s):
Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
chief of mission:
Ambassador Lebohang Kenneth MOLEKO

chancery:
2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

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

FAX:
[1] (202) 234-6815
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $239.6 million (1995) $123.7 million (1995)
Economy - overview The Dominican economy experienced dramatic growth over the last decade, even though the economy was hit hard by Hurricane Georges in 1998. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest ten percent enjoy 40% of national income. In December 2000, the new MEJIA administration passed broad new tax legislation which it hopes will provide enough revenue to offset rising oil prices and to service foreign debt. Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's primary natural resource is water. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, livestock, and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. The number of such mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years. A small manufacturing base depends largely on farm products that 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 for Lesotho. The pace of substantial privatization has increased in recent years. In December 1999, the government embarked on a nine-month IMF staff-monitored program aimed at structural adjustment and stabilization of macroeconomic fundamentals. The government is in the process of applying for a three-year successor program with the IMF under its Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility.
Electricity - consumption 6.78 billion kWh (1999) 55 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 55 million kWh

note:
electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production 7.29 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
87.19%

hydro:
12.4%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0.41% (1999)
fossil fuel:
0%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Lago Enriquillo -46 m

highest point:
Pico Duarte 3,175 m
lowest point:
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

highest point:
Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage 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:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Ethnic groups white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73% Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates Dominican pesos per US dollar - 16.888 (January 2001), 16.415 (2000), 16.033 (1999), 15.267 (1998), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996) maloti per US dollar - 7.78307 (January 2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996); note - the Lesotho loti is at par with the South African rand which is also legal tender; maloti is the plural form of loti
Executive branch chief of state:
President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Cabinet nominated by the president

elections:
president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2004)

election results:
Raphael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez elected president; percent of vote - Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD) 49.87%, Danilo MEDINA (PLD) 24.95%, Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 24.6%
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 $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $175 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (1998)
Exports - partners US 66.1%, Netherlands 7.8%, Canada 7.6%, Russia 7.4%, UK 4.5% (1999 est.) South African Customs Union 65%, North America 34% (1998)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross 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 - $48.3 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
11.3%

industry:
32.2%

services:
56.5% (1999 est.)
agriculture:
18%

industry:
38%

services:
44% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 8% (2000 est.) 2.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 19 00 N, 70 40 W 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography - note shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti) landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
Highways total:
12,600 km

paved:
6,224 km

unpaved:
6,376 km (1996)
total:
4,955 km

paved:
887 km

unpaved:
4,068 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
1.6%

highest 10%:
39.6% (1989)
lowest 10%:
0.9%

highest 10%:
43.4% (1986-87)
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada -
Imports $9.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $700 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995)
Imports - partners US 25.7%, Venezuela 9.2%, Mexico 4%, Japan 3%, Panama 2.6% (1999 est.) South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 7% (1998)
Independence 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 8% (2000 est.) 15.5% (1999 est.)
Industries tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate 34.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 82.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 7.9% (2000 est.) 6% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 24 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 2,300 sq km (1993 est.) 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council made up of members of the legislative and executive branches with the president presiding) High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Labor force 2.3 million - 2.6 million 700,000 economically active
Labor force - by occupation services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%, agriculture 17% (1998 est.) 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Land boundaries total:
275 km

border countries:
Haiti 275 km
total:
909 km

border countries:
South Africa 909 km
Land use arable land:
21%

permanent crops:
9%

permanent pastures:
43%

forests and woodland:
12%

other:
15% (1993 est.)
arable land:
11%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
66%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
23% (1993 est.)
Languages Spanish Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system based on French civil codes 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 bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (149 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 24, PLD 3, PRSC 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (80 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 65 to 80 in the May 1998 election; on 28 February 2001, the Senate approved expansion of the Assembly by a further 50 seats in the next election, which may be held as early as January 2002

elections:
last held 23 May 1998 (next to be held NA March 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - LCD 60.7%, BNP 24.5%, other 14.8%; seats by party - LCD 79, BNP 1

note:
results contested; opposition parties claimed the election was fraudulent and staged a coup; Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces intervened in September 1998 and restored order; the Interim Political Authority (IPA) was set up in December 1998 to create a new electoral system and conduct new elections.
Life expectancy at birth total population:
73.44 years

male:
71.34 years

female:
75.64 years (2001 est.)
total population:
48.84 years

male:
47.97 years

female:
49.74 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
82.1%

male:
82%

female:
82.2% (1995 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
83%

male:
72%

female:
93% (1999 est.)
Location Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
6 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1 (2000 est.)
-
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, Navy, Air Force, National Police Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $180 million (FY98) $34 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.1% (FY98) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
2,281,035 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
515,464 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
1,430,776 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
277,369 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
87,404 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 27 February (1844) Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun:
Dominican(s)

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

adjective:
Basotho
Natural hazards lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts periodic droughts
Natural resources nickel, bauxite, gold, silver water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Net migration rate -3.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km -
Political parties and leaders Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hatuey DE CAMPS]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo] Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Tseliso MAKHAKHE]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Phebe MOTEBANO, chairwoman; Dr. Pakalitha MOSISILI, leader] - the governing party; United Democratic Party or UDP [Charles MOFELI]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP and Setlamo Alliance [Vincent MALEBO]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Chief Peete Nkoebe PEETE]; Sefate Democratic Party or SDP [Bofihla NKUEBE]
Political pressure groups and leaders Collective of Popular Organizations or COP NA
Population 8,581,477 (July 2001 est.) 2,177,062

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 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 25% (1999 est.) 49.2% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 1.63% (2001 est.) 1.49% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo none
Radio broadcast stations AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 1.44 million (1997) 104,000 (1997)
Railways total:
757 km

standard gauge:
375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad)

narrow gauge:
142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominican Republic Government Railway)

note:
240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (2000)
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)
Religions Roman Catholic 95% Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

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

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age

note:
members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network

international:
1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment:
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 - main lines in use 709,000 (1997) 20,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 130,149 (1997) 1,262 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 25 (1997) 1 (2000)
Terrain rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate 2.97 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.08 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 13.8% (1999 est.) 45% (2000 est.)
Waterways none none
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