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Compare Lesotho (2001) - Guinea (2001)

Compare Lesotho (2001) z Guinea (2001)

 Lesotho (2001)Guinea (2001)
 LesothoGuinea
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka 33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*; Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou
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:
43.12% (male 1,637,000; female 1,645,786)

15-64 years:
54.19% (male 2,015,199; female 2,110,745)

65 years and over:
2.69% (male 84,586; female 120,554) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Airports 29 (2000 est.) 15 (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:
5

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
25

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
21 (2000 est.)
total:
10

1,524 to 2,437 m:
6

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Area total:
30,355 sq km

land:
30,355 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total:
245,857 sq km

land:
245,857 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly smaller than Oregon
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. Independent from France since 1958, Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998. Unrest in Sierra Leone has spilled over into Guinea, threatening stability and creating a humanitarian emergency.
Birth rate 31.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 39.78 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$76 million

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

expenditures:
$417.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (2000 est.)
Capital Maseru Conakry
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 320 km
Constitution 2 April 1993 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
Country name conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form:
Lesotho

former:
Basutoland
conventional long form:
Republic of Guinea

conventional short form:
Guinea

local long form:
Republique de Guinee

local short form:
Guinee

former:
French Guinea
Currency loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR) Guinean franc (GNF)
Death rate 15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 17.53 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $720 million (2000 est.) $3.6 billion (1999 est.)
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:
Charge d'Affaires Timberlake FOSTER

embassy:
Rue Ka 038, Conakry

mailing address:
B. P. 603, Conakry

telephone:
[224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23

FAX:
[224] 41 15 22
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 Mohamed Aly THIAM

chancery:
2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 483-9420

FAX:
[1] (202) 483-8688
Disputes - international none border incursions by Revolutionary United Front combatants from Sierra Leone; civil war in that country has engendered a massive flow of refugees to southern Guinea and Liberia
Economic aid - recipient $123.7 million (1995) $359.2 million (1998)
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. Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains a poor underdeveloped nation. The country possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1999. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. The government made encouraging progress in budget management in 1997-99, and reform progress was praised in the World Bank/IMF October 2000 assessment. However, escalating fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders will cause major economic disruptions. In addition to direct defense costs, the violence has led to a sharp decline in investor confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff, while panic buying has created food shortages and inflation in local markets. Real GDP growth is expected to fall to 2% in 2001.
Electricity - consumption 55 million kWh (1999) 697.5 million 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) 750 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
0%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
46.67%

hydro:
53.33%

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:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mont Nimba 1,752 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 deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
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 Guinean francs per US dollar - 1,855.0 (October 2000), 1,572.0 (2000), 1,387.4 (1999), 1,236.8 (1998), 1,095.3 (1997), 1,004.0 (1996)
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 Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)

head of government:
Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since 8 March 1999)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held 14 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003); the prime minister is appointed by the president

election results:
Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56.1%, Mamadou Boye BA (UNR-PRP) 24.6%, Alpha CONDE (RPG) 16.6%,
Exports $175 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $820 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (1998) bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
Exports - partners South African Customs Union 65%, North America 34% (1998) US, Benelux, Ukraine, Ireland (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 three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band
GDP purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $10 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
18%

industry:
38%

services:
44% (1999)
agriculture:
22.3%

industry:
35.3%

services:
42.4% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.5% (2000 est.) 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 11 00 N, 10 00 W
Geography - note landlocked; surrounded by South Africa -
Highways total:
4,955 km

paved:
887 km

unpaved:
4,068 km (1996)
total:
30,500 km

paved:
5,033 km

unpaved:
25,467 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
0.9%

highest 10%:
43.4% (1986-87)
lowest 10%:
2.6%

highest 10%:
32% (1994)
Imports $700 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $634 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995) petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Imports - partners South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 7% (1998) France, Belgium, US, Cote d'Ivoire (1999)
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) 2 October 1958 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999 est.) 3.2% (1994)
Industries food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries
Infant mortality rate 82.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 129.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6% (2000 est.) 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 ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (1993 est.) 930 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Labor force 700,000 economically active 3 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries total:
909 km

border countries:
South Africa 909 km
total:
3,399 km

border countries:
Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
Land use arable land:
11%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
66%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
23% (1993 est.)
arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
22%

forests and woodland:
59%

other:
17% (1993 est.)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa French (official), each ethnic group has its own language
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 French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 11 June 1995 (next scheduled for 26 November 2000 postponed indefinitely due to border fighting with rebels from Sierra Leone and Liberia)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PUP 71, RPG 19, PRP 9, UNR 9, UPG 2, PDG-AST 1, UNP 1, PDG-RDA 1, other 1
Life expectancy at birth total population:
48.84 years

male:
47.97 years

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

male:
43.49 years

female:
48.42 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:
35.9%

male:
49.9%

female:
21.9% (1995 est.)
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims none (landlocked) exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - none (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) Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $34 million (1999) $56 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 1.4% (FY96)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
515,464 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
1,764,912 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
277,369 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
891,166 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
Nationality noun:
Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

adjective:
Basotho
noun:
Guinean(s)

adjective:
Guinean
Natural hazards periodic droughts hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish
Net migration rate -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

note:
as a result of civil war in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to almost half a million Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees
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] Democratic Party of Guinea or PDG-AST [Marcel CROS]; Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; National Union for Progress or UNP [Paul Louis FABER]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana CONTE] - the governing party; Party for Renewal and Progress or PRP [Siradiou DIALLO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union for the New Republic or UNR [Mamadou Boye BA]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]
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.)
7,613,870 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 49.2% (1999 est.) 40% (1994 est.)
Population growth rate 1.49% (2001 est.) 1.96% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios 104,000 (1997) 357,000 (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)
total:
1,086 km

standard gauge:
279 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:
807 km 1.000-m gauge (includes 662 km in common carrier service from Kankan to Conakry)
Religions Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
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:
0.99 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.96 male(s)/female (2001 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:
poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system

domestic:
microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 20,000 (1997) 20,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,262 (1996) 2,868 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) 6 (1997)
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Total fertility rate 4.08 children born/woman (2001 est.) 5.39 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 45% (2000 est.) NA%
Waterways none 1,295 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft)
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