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Compare Faroe Islands (2004) - Lesotho (2005)

Compare Faroe Islands (2004) z Lesotho (2005)

 Faroe Islands (2004)Lesotho (2005)
 Faroe IslandsLesotho
Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 49 municipalities 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years: 21.6% (male 5,056; female 5,041)


15-64 years: 64.6% (male 15,975; female 14,187)


65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,877; female 3,526) (2004 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 milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 1 (2003 est.) 28 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 25


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Area total: 1,399 sq km


land: 1,399 sq km


water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative eight times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Maryland
Background The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self-government was attained in 1948. 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 13.89 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 26.53 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $488 million


expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
revenues: $698.5 million


expenditures: $697.6 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (2004 est.)
Capital Torshavn Maseru
Climate mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 1,117 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Faroe Islands


local long form: none


local short form: Foroyar
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho


conventional short form: Lesotho


former: Basutoland
Currency Danish krone (DKK) -
Death rate 8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 25.03 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $64 million (1999) $735 million (2002)
Dependency status part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948 -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 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 none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 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 Faroese are considering proposals for full independence; Denmark dispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands fisheries median line boundary of 200 nm; Denmark disputes with Iceland, the UK, and Ireland the Faroe Islands claim extending its continental shelf boundary beyond 200 nm none
Economic aid - donor - ODA $4.4 million
Economic aid - recipient $135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1998) $41.5 million (2000)
Economy - overview The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export prices. Unemployment is falling and there are signs of labor shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget surpluses, which in turn help to reduce the large public debt, most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present fishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level of fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians. 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 149.1 million kWh (2001) 308 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 16 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)
Electricity - production 160.4 million kWh (2001) 314 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m


highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues NA 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, 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 Scandinavian Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates Danish kroner per US dollar - 6.5877 (2003), 7.89 (2002), 8.323 (2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999) maloti per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3 February 2004)


cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister


elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)


election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA%


note: coalition of Social Democrats, Union Party, and People's Party
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 NA (2001) NA
Exports - commodities fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999) manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
Exports - partners Denmark 36.7%, UK 32.1%, Netherlands 6.1%, Nigeria 5.6%, Norway 5.4% (2003) US 97%, Canada 2.1%, UK 0.3% (2004)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) 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 - $1 billion (2001 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 27%


industry: 11%


services: 62% (1999)
agriculture: 15.2%


industry: 43.9%


services: 40.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 10% (2001 est.) 3.3% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 62 00 N, 7 00 W 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography - note archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
Highways total: 463 km


paved: 454 km


unpaved: 9 km (1999)
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%
Imports NA (2001) NA
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999) food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (2000)
Imports - partners Denmark 52.7%, Norway 22.5%, Iceland 4.7%, Germany 4.2%, UK 4% (2003) Hong Kong 46.8%, China 25.5%, South Korea 5.6%, Germany 4.8% (2004)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 8% (1999 est.) 15.5% (1999)
Industries fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 6.38 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 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) 5.1% (1999) 5.3% (2004 est.)
International organization participation IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU 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
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch none 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 24,250 (October 2000) 838,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34% 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Land boundaries 0 km total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
Land use arable land: 2.14%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.86% (2001)
arable land: 10.87%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 89% (2001)
Languages Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system Danish 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 Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party 20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party - Union Party 7, Social Democrats 7, Republican Party 8, People's Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1


note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 20 November 2001 (next to be held 8 February 2005); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, Union Party 1
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: 79.05 years


male: 75.6 years


female: 82.51 years (2004 est.)
total population: 34.47 years


male: 35.49 years


female: 33.42 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA


note: probably the same as Denmark proper
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 84.8%


male: 74.5%


female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
Location Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Europe Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 24,051 GRT/11,998 DWT


by type: cargo 3, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 1


foreign-owned: Denmark 2, Norway 1, United Kingdom 1


registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
-
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Denmark 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 no regular military forces Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army and Air Wing
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA $32.3 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 2.3% (2004)
National holiday Olaifest, 29 July Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun: Faroese (singular and plural)


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


adjective: Basotho
Natural hazards NA periodic droughts
Natural resources fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
Net migration rate 1.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Lisbeth PETERSEN] 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 46,662 (July 2004 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 NA 49% (1999)
Population growth rate 0.66% (2004 est.) 0.08% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjordhur -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Religions Evangelical Lutheran Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 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: good international communications; good domestic facilities


domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed


international: country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable
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 23,000 (2002) 28,600 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 30,700 (2002) 92,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995) 1 (2000)
Terrain rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate 2.22 children born/woman (2004 est.) 3.35 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 1% (October 2000) 45% (2002)
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