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Compare Lesotho (2001) - Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2002)

Compare Lesotho (2001) z Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2002)

 Lesotho (2001)Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2002)
 LesothoAshmore and Cartier Islands
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka -
Age structure 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 corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock -
Airports 29 (2000 est.) -
Airports - with paved runways total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)		 -
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
25

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
21 (2000 est.)		 -
Area total:
30,355 sq km

land:
30,355 sq km

water:
0 sq km		 total: 5 sq km


land: 5 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Background 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. These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983 it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve.
Birth rate 31.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
Budget revenues:
$76 million

expenditures:
$80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (FY99/00 est.)		 -
Capital Maseru -
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers tropical
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 74.1 km
Constitution 2 April 1993 -
Country name conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form:
Lesotho

former:
Basutoland		 conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands


conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Currency loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR) -
Death rate 15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
Debt - external $720 million (2000 est.) -
Dependency status - territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Diplomatic representation from the US 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		 none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US 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		 none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international none -
Economic aid - recipient $123.7 million (1995) -
Economy - overview 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. no economic activity
Electricity - consumption 55 million kWh (1999) -
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) -
Electricity - imports 55 million kWh

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

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)		 -
Elevation extremes lowest point:
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

highest point:
Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m		 lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Environment - current issues 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 NA
Environment - international 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 Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, -
Exchange rates 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 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 $175 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) -
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (1998) -
Exports - partners South African Customs Union 65%, North America 34% (1998) -
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March -
Flag description 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 the flag of Australia is used
GDP purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
18%

industry:
38%

services:
44% (1999)		 -
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2000 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 2.5% (2000 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 12 14 S, 123 05 E
Geography - note landlocked; surrounded by South Africa Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
Highways total:
4,955 km

paved:
887 km

unpaved:
4,068 km (1996)		 -
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
0.9%

highest 10%:
43.4% (1986-87)		 -
Imports $700 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) -
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995) -
Imports - partners South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 7% (1998) -
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) -
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999 est.) -
Industries food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism -
Infant mortality rate 82.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) -
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6% (2000 est.) -
International organization participation 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) 1 (2000) -
Irrigated land 30 sq km (1993 est.) 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court -
Labor force 700,000 economically active -
Labor force - by occupation 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa -
Land boundaries total:
909 km

border countries:
South Africa 909 km		 0 km
Land use arable land:
11%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
66%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
23% (1993 est.)		 arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (all grass and sand) (1998 est.)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa -
Legal 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 the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply
Legislative branch 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:
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:
83%

male:
72%

female:
93% (1999 est.)		 -
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims none (landlocked) contiguous zone: 12 NM


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
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. defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
Military branches Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP) -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $34 million (1999) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
515,464 (2001 est.)		 -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
277,369 (2001 est.)		 -
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) -
Nationality noun:
Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

adjective:
Basotho		 -
Natural hazards periodic droughts surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals fish
Net migration rate -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
People - note - the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem
Political parties and leaders 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 NA -
Population 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.)		 no indigenous inhabitants


note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh waster at Ashmore Reef's West Island
Population below poverty line 49.2% (1999 est.) -
Population growth rate 1.49% (2001 est.) -
Ports and harbors none none; offshore anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) -
Radios 104,000 (1997) -
Railways 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 Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% -
Sex ratio 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 -
Telephone system 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 20,000 (1997) -
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,262 (1996) -
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) -
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains low with sand and coral
Total fertility rate 4.08 children born/woman (2001 est.) -
Unemployment rate 45% (2000 est.) -
Waterways none none
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