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Compare Lesotho (2001) - Cape Verde (2003)

Compare Lesotho (2001) z Cape Verde (2003)

 Lesotho (2001)Cape Verde (2003)
 LesothoCape Verde
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka 17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
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: 41% (male 85,254; female 83,716)


15-64 years: 52.3% (male 103,690; female 111,992)


65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,498; female 16,987) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Airports 29 (2000 est.) 9


note: 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 6


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
25

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
21 (2000 est.)
total: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Area total:
30,355 sq km

land:
30,355 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 4,033 sq km


land: 4,033 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly larger than Rhode Island
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. The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.
Birth rate 31.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 26.95 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$76 million

expenditures:
$80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (FY99/00 est.)
revenues: $112 million


expenditures: $198 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)
Capital Maseru Praia
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 965 km
Constitution 2 April 1993 new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the president, and a further revision in 1999, to create the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Country name conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form:
Lesotho

former:
Basutoland
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde


conventional short form: Cape Verde


local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde


local short form: Cabo Verde
Currency loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR) Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Death rate 15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $720 million (2000 est.) $325 million (2002)
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 Donald C. JOHNSON


embassy: Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia


mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia


telephone: [238] 61 56 16, 61 56 17


FAX: [238] 61 13 55
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 Jose BRITO


chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007


telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820


FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207


consulate(s) general: Boston
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $123.7 million (1995) $136 million (1999)
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. This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for 72% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 2001 was only 11%, of which fishing accounts for 1.5%. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 2003 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.
Electricity - consumption 55 million kWh (1999) 39.08 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 55 million kWh

note:
electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 0 kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (1999) 42.03 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
0%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

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


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

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


highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
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 soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
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, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
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 Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - NA (2002), 123.21 (2001), 115.88 (2000), 102.7 (1999), 98.16 (1998)
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: President Pedro PIRES (since 22 March 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 2001)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 and 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA February 2006); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president


election results: Pedro PIRES elected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 49.43%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 49.42%; note - the election was won by only twelve votes
Exports $175 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (1998) fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners South African Customs Union 65%, North America 34% (1998) Portugal 38.5%, UK 26.4%, France 23.1%, US 8.2% (2002)
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 three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands
GDP purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $600 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
18%

industry:
38%

services:
44% (1999)
agriculture: 11%


industry: 17%


services: 72% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.5% (2000 est.) 4% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Geography - note landlocked; surrounded by South Africa strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
Highways total:
4,955 km

paved:
887 km

unpaved:
4,068 km (1996)
total: 1,100 km


paved: 858 km


unpaved: 242 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
0.9%

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


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
Imports $700 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995) foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 7% (1998) Portugal 49.1%, Netherlands 7.2%, Germany 5.7% (2002)
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999 est.) NA%
Industries food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair
Infant mortality rate 82.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 50.5 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 55.83 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 45.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6% (2000 est.) 3% (2002)
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 ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2002)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (1993 est.) 30 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
Labor force 700,000 economically active NA
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: 9.68%


permanent crops: 0.5%


other: 89.82% (1998 est.)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
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 derived from the legal system of Portugal
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 or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA December 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 47.3%, MPD 39.8%, ADM 6%, other 6.9%; seats by party - PAICV 40, MPD 30, ADM 2
Life expectancy at birth total population:
48.84 years

male:
47.97 years

female:
49.74 years (2001 est.)
total population: 69.83 years


male: 66.53 years


female: 73.23 years (2003 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: 76.6%


male: 85.8%


female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Map references Africa Political Map of the World
Maritime claims none (landlocked) measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


contiguous zone: 24 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,395 GRT/6,614 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 1


note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: United Kingdom 1 (2002 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) Army, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $34 million (1999) $9.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 1.6% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
515,464 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 95,450 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
277,369 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 53,842 (2003 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Nationality noun:
Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

adjective:
Basotho
noun: Cape Verdean(s)


adjective: Cape Verdean
Natural hazards periodic droughts prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish
Net migration rate -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -12.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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] African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES, chairman]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Jacinto SANTOS, president]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Anibal MEDINA, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA 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.)
412,137 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 49.2% (1999 est.) 30% (2000)
Population growth rate 1.49% (2001 est.) 0.79% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors none Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 0, FM 15 (and 17 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)
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)
0 km
Religions Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
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: 1.02 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female


total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 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)
general assessment: effective system, being improved


domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog and digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarine fiber-optic cable system which is scheduled for completion in 2003


international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 20,000 (1997) 60,935 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,262 (1996) 28,119 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) 1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Total fertility rate 4.08 children born/woman (2001 est.) 3.77 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 45% (2000 est.) 21% (2000 est.)
Waterways none none
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