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Compare Lesotho (2002) - Bahrain (2002)

Compare Lesotho (2002) z Bahrain (2002)

 Lesotho (2002)Bahrain (2002)
 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% (male 433,229; female 427,926)


15-64 years: 56.3% (male 600,476; female 642,538)


65 years and over: 4.7% (male 43,691; female 60,094) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 29.2% (male 97,022; female 94,605)


15-64 years: 67.7% (male 261,919; female 182,727)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 10,230; female 9,894) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Airports 28 (2001) 4 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
total: 3


over 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 24


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 20 (2002)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 665 sq km


land: 665 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. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990. 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, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms, and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In local elections held in May 2002, Bahraini women were allowed to vote and run for office for the first time.
Birth rate 30.72 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 19.53 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $76 million


expenditures: $80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million
revenues: $1.8 billion


expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2002 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; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14 February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised 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: Kingdom of Bahrain


conventional short form: Bahrain


local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn


local short form: Al Bahrayn


former: Dilmun
Currency loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR) Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Death rate 16.81 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 3.95 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $715 million (2001 est.) $2.8 billion (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. LOFTIS


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 Ronald E. NEUMANN


embassy: Building #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 Dr. 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 Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid AL KHALIFA


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 none
Economic aid - recipient $123.7 million (1995) (1995) $48.4 million (1995) (1995)
Economy - overview Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's primary natural resource is water. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, livestock, remittances from miners employed in South Africa, and a rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. The number of 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 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. Lesotho has a marked inequality in income distribution and serious unemployment/underemployment problems that will not yield to short-run solutions. 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 refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.
Electricity - consumption 100 million kWh (2000) 5,361.45 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 100 million kWh


note: electricity supplied by South Africa (2000)
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 0 kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2000) 5.765 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
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; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater 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 - 11.58786 (January 2002), 8.60918 (2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997); 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: King 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 monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Exports $250 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) $5.5 billion (2001)
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners South African Customs Union 53.9%, North America 45.6% (1999) India 8.4%, US 3.9%, Saudi Arabia 3.4%, Japan 2.8%, South Korea 2.1% (2000)
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 - $5.3 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $8.4 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 18%


industry: 38%


services: 44% (2001)
agriculture: 1%


industry: 35%


services: 64% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,450 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $13,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.6% (2001 est.) 4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 26 00 N, 50 33 E
Geography - note landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level 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 (2002)
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: a paved causeway links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 1%


highest 10%: 43% (1986-87)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports $720 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) $4.5 billion (2001)
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners South African Customs Union 89.5%, Asia 7% (1999) Saudi Arabia 28.7%, US 12.5%, UK 6.6%, France 6%, Japan 4% (2000)
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, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Infant mortality rate 82.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 19.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6.9% (2001 est.) 1.5% (2001 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 10 sq km (1998 est.) 50 sq km (1998 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


note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.) (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: 10.71%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 89.29% (1998 est.)
arable land: 4.35%


permanent crops: 4.35%


other: 91.3% (1998 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 (120 seats, 80 by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 80 to 120 in the May 2002 election


elections: last held 25 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - LCD 54%, BNP 21%, LPC 7%, other 18%; seats by party - LCD 76, BNP 21, LPC 5, other 18
bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members elected by restricted vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next election to be held NA 2006)


election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10


note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14 February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25 December 2002
Life expectancy at birth total population: 47 years


male: 46.3 years


female: 47.8 years (2002 est.)
total population: 73.47 years


male: 71.05 years


female: 75.96 years (2002 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: 88.5%


male: 91.6%


female: 84.2% (2002 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: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 270,784 GRT/384,561 DWT


ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 4, container 2, includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Kuwait 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; including Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF) comprising Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force, Amiri Guards, National Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $34 million (1999) $526.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 6.7% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 526,332 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 222,572 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 283,203 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 121,955 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 15 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 5,926 (2002 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 (2002 est.) 1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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; Pakalitha MOSISILI, leader] - the governing party; Lesotho People's Congress or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; 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 but politically oriented nongovernment organizations are allowed
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 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 2,207,954


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 2002 est.)
656,397


note: includes 228,424 non-nationals (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 49% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.33% (2002 est.) 1.67% (2002 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 NA (2002) 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 (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.43 male(s)/female


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


total population: 1.29 male(s)/female (2002 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; a cellular mobile telephone system is growing


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 22,200 (2000) 152,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 21,600 (2000) 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 4.01 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.75 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 45% (2000 est.) 15% (1998 est.)
Waterways none none
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