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Compare Lesotho (2001) - Bahrain (2001)

Compare Lesotho (2001) z Bahrain (2001)

 Lesotho (2001)Bahrain (2001)
 LesothoBahrain
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka 12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah

note:
all municipalities administered from Manama
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.)
0-14 years:
29.6% (male 96,697; female 94,330)

15-64 years:
67.43% (male 257,360; female 177,839)

65 years and over:
2.97% (male 9,721; female 9,414) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Airports 29 (2000 est.) 3 (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.)
total:
2

over 3,047 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
25

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
21 (2000 est.)
total:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Area total:
30,355 sq km

land:
30,355 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total:
620 sq km

land:
620 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland 3.5 times the size of 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. Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Possessing minimal oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining, and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir is pushing economic and political reforms, and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In 2001, the International Court of Justice awarded the Hawar Islands, long disputed with Qatar, to Bahrain.
Birth rate 31.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 20.07 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$76 million

expenditures:
$80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (FY99/00 est.)
revenues:
$1.8 billion

expenditures:
$2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Maseru Manama
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 161 km
Constitution 2 April 1993 adopted late December 2000 (new constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)
Country name conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form:
Lesotho

former:
Basutoland
conventional long form:
State of Bahrain

conventional short form:
Bahrain

local long form:
Dawlat al Bahrayn

local short form:
Al Bahrayn

former:
Dilmun
Currency loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR) Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Death rate 15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 3.92 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $720 million (2000 est.) $2.7 billion (2000)
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
chief of mission:
Ambassador Johnny YOUNG

embassy:
#979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 321, Zinj District, Manama

mailing address:
American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama

telephone:
[973] 273-300

FAX:
[973] 272-594
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
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant)

chancery:
3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 342-0741

FAX:
[1] (202) 362-2192

consulate(s) general:
New York
Disputes - international none in March of 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the Hawar Islands to Bahrain and also adjusted Bahrain's maritime boundary with Qatar
Economic aid - recipient $123.7 million (1995) $48.4 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. In Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil revenue granted as aid. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.
Electricity - consumption 55 million kWh (1999) 5.752 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 55 million kWh

note:
electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 0 kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (1999) 6.185 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
0%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
100%

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:
Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point:
Jabal ad Dukhan 122 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 desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for all water needs
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
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
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 Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.3760 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
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
chief of state:
Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)

head of government:
Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Exports $175 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (1998) petroleum and petroleum products 61%, aluminum 7%
Exports - partners South African Customs Union 65%, North America 34% (1998) India 14%, Saudi Arabia 5%, US 5%, UAE 5%, Japan 4%, South Korea 4% (1999)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
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 red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $10.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
18%

industry:
38%

services:
44% (1999)
agriculture:
1%

industry:
46%

services:
53% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $15,900 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.5% (2000 est.) 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 26 00 N, 50 33 E
Geography - note landlocked; surrounded by South Africa close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
Heliports - 1 (2000 est.)
Highways total:
4,955 km

paved:
887 km

unpaved:
4,068 km (1996)
total:
3,164 km

paved:
2,433 km

unpaved:
731 km

note:
there is a paved causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
0.9%

highest 10%:
43.4% (1986-87)
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports $700 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995) nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
Imports - partners South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 7% (1998) France 20%, US 14%, UK 8%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Japan 5% (1999)
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) 15 August 1971 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999 est.) 2% (2000 est.)
Industries food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Infant mortality rate 82.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 19.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6% (2000 est.) 2% (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 ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (1993 est.) 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court High Civil Appeals Court
Labor force 700,000 economically active 295,000 (1998 est.)

note:
44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
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:
1%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
6%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
92% (1993 est.)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
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 based on Islamic law and English common law
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.
unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992; the National Action Charter created a bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum of 14 February 2001
Life expectancy at birth total population:
48.84 years

male:
47.97 years

female:
49.74 years (2001 est.)
total population:
73.2 years

male:
70.81 years

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

total population:
83%

male:
72%

female:
93% (1999 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
85.2%

male:
89.1%

female:
79.4% (1995 est.)
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Map references Africa Middle East
Maritime claims none (landlocked) contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
extending to boundaries to be determined

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - total:
7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 175,609 GRT/207,652 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2 (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 Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP) Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $34 million (1999) $318 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 5.2% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
515,464 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
222,141 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
277,369 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
121,833 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 15 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
5,926 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence from British protection
Nationality noun:
Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

adjective:
Basotho
noun:
Bahraini(s)

adjective:
Bahraini
Natural hazards periodic droughts periodic droughts; dust storms
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Net migration rate -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
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 parties prohibited
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically 1994-97, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active
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.)
645,361

note:
includes 228,424 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 49.2% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.49% (2001 est.) 1.73% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 104,000 (1997) 338,000 (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)
0 km
Religions Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
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.)
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.29 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal none
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)
general assessment:
modern system

domestic:
modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones

international:
tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)
Telephones - main lines in use 20,000 (1997) 152,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,262 (1996) 58,543 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) 4 (1997)
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Total fertility rate 4.08 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.79 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 45% (2000 est.) 15% (1998 est.)
Waterways none none
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