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Compare Lesotho (2002) - Kuwait (2001)

Compare Lesotho (2002) z Kuwait (2001)

 Lesotho (2002)Kuwait (2001)
 LesothoKuwait
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
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:
28.76% (male 299,080; female 288,125)

15-64 years:
68.82% (male 897,839; female 507,527)

65 years and over:
2.42% (male 31,843; female 17,547) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock practically no crops; fish
Airports 28 (2001) 8 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
total:
4

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 24


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 20 (2002)
total:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Area total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total:
17,820 sq km

land:
17,820 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly smaller than New Jersey
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. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that completely liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait has spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.
Birth rate 30.72 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 21.91 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $76 million


expenditures: $80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million
revenues:
$11.5 billion

expenditures:
$17.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY01/02)
Capital Maseru Kuwait
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 499 km
Constitution 2 April 1993 approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho


conventional short form: Lesotho


former: Basutoland
conventional long form:
State of Kuwait

conventional short form:
Kuwait

local long form:
Dawlat al Kuwayt

local short form:
Al Kuwayt
Currency loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR) Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)
Death rate 16.81 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 2.45 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $715 million (2001 est.) $6.9 billion (2000 est.)
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 James A. LAROCCO

embassy:
Bayan, near the Bayan palace, Kuwait City

mailing address:
P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait Unit 69000, APO AE 09880-9000

telephone:
[965] 539-5307

FAX:
[965] 538-0282
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 (vacant)

chancery:
2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 966-0702

FAX:
[1] (202) 966-0517
Disputes - international none in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands
Economic aid - recipient $123.7 million (1995) (1995) $27.6 million (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. Kuwait is a small, relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 75% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Higher oil prices put the FY99/00 budget into a $2 billion surplus. The FY00/01 budget covers only nine months because of a change in the fiscal year. The budget for FY01/02, which begins 1 April, contains higher expenditures for salaries, construction, and other general categories. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.
Electricity - consumption 100 million kWh (2000) 29.357 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 100 million kWh


note: electricity supplied by South Africa (2000)
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 0 kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2000) 31.567 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - 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:
unnamed location 306 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 limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
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:
Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:
Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping
Ethnic groups Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
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 Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.3057 (January 2001), 0.3067 (2000), 0.3044 (1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033 (1997), 0.2994 (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:
Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31 December 1977)

head of government:
Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978); First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamud Al Sabah (since NA) and MUHAMMAD KHALID al-Hamed Al Sabah (since NA)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Exports $250 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) $23.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners South African Customs Union 53.9%, North America 45.6% (1999) Japan 23%, US 12%, Singapore 8%, Netherlands 7% (1999)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 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 three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $5.3 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $29.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 18%


industry: 38%


services: 44% (2001)
agriculture:
0%

industry:
55%

services:
45% (1996)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,450 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.6% (2001 est.) 6% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Geography - note landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Heliports - 3 (2000 est.)
Highways total: 4,955 km


paved: 887 km


unpaved: 4,068 km (1996)
total:
4,450 km

paved:
3,590 km

unpaved:
860 km (1999 est.)
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.) $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners South African Customs Union 89.5%, Asia 7% (1999) US 15%, Japan 10%, UK 7%, Germany 7% (1999)
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) 19 June 1961 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999 est.) 1% (1997 est.)
Industries food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, construction materials
Infant mortality rate 82.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6.9% (2001 est.) 3% (2000)
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, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 3 (2000)
Irrigated land 10 sq km (1998 est.) 20 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 Court of Appeal
Labor force 700,000 economically active 1.3 million (1998 est.)

note:
68% 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 agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
total:
464 km

border countries:
Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Land use arable land: 10.71%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 89.29% (1998 est.)
arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
8%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
92% (1993 est.)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa Arabic (official), English widely spoken
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 civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; 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 (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
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 3 July 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)

election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 50; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly
Life expectancy at birth total population: 47 years


male: 46.3 years


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

male:
75.42 years

female:
77.15 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:
78.6%

male:
82.2%

female:
74.9% (1995 est.)
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Map references Africa Middle East
Maritime claims none (landlocked) territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - total:
45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,461,072 GRT/3,966,645 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 6, container 6, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 20 (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; including Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $34 million (1999) $1.9 billion (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 8.7% (FY00/01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 526,332 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
780,559 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 283,203 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
466,521 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
18,309 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) National Day, 25 February (1950)
Nationality noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)


adjective: Basotho
noun:
Kuwaiti(s)

adjective:
Kuwaiti
Natural hazards periodic droughts sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April; they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Net migration rate -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 14.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 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] none; formation of political parties is illegal
Political pressure groups and leaders NA several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists
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.)
2,041,961

note:
includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 49% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.33% (2002 est.) 3.38% (2001 est.)

note:
this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates
Ports and harbors none Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios NA (2002) 1.175 million (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% Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
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:
1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.51 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21

note:
only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time
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:
the quality of service is excellent

domestic:
new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, open wire, and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones

international:
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 2 Arabsat
Telephones - main lines in use 22,200 (2000) 412,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 21,600 (2000) 210,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) 13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Total fertility rate 4.01 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3.2 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 45% (2000 est.) 1.8% (official 1996 est.)
Waterways none none
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