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Compare Jordan (2001) - Lesotho (2001)

Compare Jordan (2001) z Lesotho (2001)

 Jordan (2001)Lesotho (2001)
 JordanLesotho
Administrative divisions 12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years:
37.23% (male 980,345; female 938,081)

15-64 years:
59.44% (male 1,633,579; female 1,429,631)

65 years and over:
3.33% (male 84,815; female 86,927) (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 wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 18 (2000 est.) 29 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
15

over 3,047 m:
7

2,438 to 3,047 m:
6

914 to 1,523 m:
1

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:
3

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
total:
25

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
21 (2000 est.)
Area total:
92,300 sq km

land:
91,971 sq km

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

land:
30,355 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Indiana slightly smaller than Maryland
Background For most of its history since independence from British administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-1999). A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, through several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he resumed parliamentary elections and gradually permitted political liberalization; in 1994 a formal peace treaty was signed with Israel. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest son of King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and established his domestic priorities. 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 25.44 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 31.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$2.8 billion

expenditures:
$3.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues:
$76 million

expenditures:
$80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (FY99/00 est.)
Capital Amman Maseru
Climate mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April) temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 26 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 8 January 1952 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form:
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

conventional short form:
Jordan

local long form:
Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah

local short form:
Al Urdun

former:
Transjordan
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form:
Lesotho

former:
Basutoland
Currency Jordanian dinar (JOD) loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate 2.62 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $8 billion (2000 est.) $720 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador William J. BURNS

embassy:
Abdoum, Amman

mailing address:
P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200

telephone:
[962] (6) 5920101

FAX:
[962] (6) 5920121
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 Marwan Jamil MUASHER

chancery:
3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 966-2664

FAX:
[1] (202) 966-3110
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 ODA, $850 million (1996 est.) $123.7 million (1995)
Economy - overview Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil. The Persian Gulf crisis, which began in August 1990, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the government to stop most debt payments and suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab states, worker remittances, and trade revenues contracted. Refugees flooded the country, producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting GDP growth, and straining government resources. The economy rebounded in 1992, largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers returning from the Gulf. After averaging 9% in 1992-95, GDP growth averaged only 1.5% during 1996-99. In an attempt to spur growth, King ABDALLAH has undertaken limited economic reform, including partial privatization of some state-owned enterprises and Jordan's entry in January 2000 into the World Trade Organization (WTrO). Debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental ongoing economic problems. 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 6.594 billion kWh (1999) 55 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 4 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 407 million kWh (1999) 55 million kWh

note:
electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production 6.657 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
99.79%

hydro:
0.21%

nuclear:
0%

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

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Dead Sea -408 m

highest point:
Jabal Ram 1,734 m
lowest point:
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

highest point:
Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification 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, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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 Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1% Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.7090 (1996-present )

note:
since May 1989, the Jordanian dinar has been pegged to a group of currencies
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:
King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HAMZAH (half brother of the monarch, born 29 March 1980)

head of government:
Prime Minister Ali Abul RAGHEB (since 19 June 2000)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
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 $2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $175 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (1998)
Exports - partners India, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE, Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Ethiopia South African Customs Union 65%, North America 34% (1998)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of black (top, the Abbassid Caliphate of Islam), white (the Ummayyad Caliphate of Islam), and green (the Fatimid Caliphate of Islam) with a red isosceles triangle (representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916) based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations 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 - $17.3 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
3%

industry:
25%

services:
72% (1998 est.)
agriculture:
18%

industry:
38%

services:
44% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,500 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2000 est.) 2.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 31 00 N, 36 00 E 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography - note - landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
8,000 km

paved:
8,000 km

unpaved:
0 km (2000 est.)
total:
4,955 km

paved:
887 km

unpaved:
4,068 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
2.4%

highest 10%:
34.7% (1991)
lowest 10%:
0.9%

highest 10%:
43.4% (1986-87)
Imports $4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $700 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live animals, manufactured goods food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995)
Imports - partners Iraq, Germany, US, Japan, UK, Italy, Turkey, Malaysia, Syria, China South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 7% (1998)
Independence 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 3.8% (2000 est.) 15.5% (1999 est.)
Industries phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing, tourism food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate 20.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 82.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 0.7% (2000 est.) 6% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, 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) 5 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 630 sq km (1993 est.) 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal) High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Labor force 1.15 million

note:
in addition, at least 300,000 workers are employed abroad (1997 est.)
700,000 economically active
Labor force - by occupation industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52% (1992) 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Land boundaries total:
1,619 km

border countries:
Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
total:
909 km

border countries:
South Africa 909 km
Land use arable land:
4%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
9%

forests and woodland:
1%

other:
85% (1993 est.)
arable land:
11%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
66%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
23% (1993 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 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 Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate (a 40-member body appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

elections:
House of Representatives - last held 4 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001)

election results:
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - National Constitutional Party 2, Arab Land Party 1, independents 75, other 2

note:
the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989 the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held
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:
77.53 years

male:
75.1 years

female:
80.12 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:
86.6%

male:
93.4%

female:
79.4% (1995 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
83%

male:
72%

female:
93% (1999 est.)
Location Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Middle East Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea:
3 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 40,919 GRT/57,777 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 3, container 1, roll on/roll off 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 Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force); Ministry of the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations) Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $608.9 million (FY98/99) $34 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 7.8% (FY98/99) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,458,571 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
515,464 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
1,034,109 (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:
57,131 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 25 May (1946) Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun:
Jordanian(s)

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

adjective:
Basotho
Natural hazards droughts periodic droughts
Natural resources phosphates, potash, shale oil water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Net migration rate 7.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 209 km; note - may not be in use -
Political parties and leaders Al-Umma (Nation) Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'eed THIYAB, secretary general]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general] 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 Council of Professional Association Presidents [Ahmad al-QADIRI, chairman]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general] NA
Population 5,153,378 (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 30% (1998 est.) 49.2% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 3% (2001 est.) 1.49% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Al 'Aqabah none
Radio broadcast stations AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 1.66 million (1997) 104,000 (1997)
Railways total:
677 km

narrow gauge:
677 km 1.050-m gauge (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 Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek Catholics, Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shi'a Muslim and Druze populations) (2000 est.) Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.1 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 20 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
service has improved recently with the increased use of digital switching equipment, but better access to the telephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access to pay telephones is needed by the urban public

domestic:
microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use is made of mobile cellular systems; Internet service is available

international:
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals; fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay link with Egypt and Syria; connection to international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); participant in MEDARABTEL; international links total about 4,000
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 403,000 (1997) 20,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 11,500 (1995) 1,262 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995) 1 (2000)
Terrain mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate 3.29 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.08 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 15% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30% (1999 est.) 45% (2000 est.)
Waterways none none
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