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Compare Lesotho (2003) - Tonga (2003)

Compare Lesotho (2003) z Tonga (2003)

 Lesotho (2003)Tonga (2003)
 LesothoTonga
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka 3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Age structure 0-14 years: 37.7% (male 353,554; female 349,092)


15-64 years: 56.8% (male 516,017; female 541,694)


65 years and over: 5.5% (male 41,735; female 59,867) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 21,085; female 20,265)


15-64 years: 57.6% (male 30,785; female 31,532)


65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,973; female 2,501) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Airports 28 (2002) 6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 24


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 20 (2002)
total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Area total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 748 sq km


land: 718 sq km


water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland four 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. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody South African military intervention. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002. The archipelago of "The Friendly Islands" was united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga acquired its independence in 1970 and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Birth rate 27.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 24.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $76 million


expenditures: $80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (FY 99/00 est.)
revenues: $39.9 million


expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9 million (FY 99/00 est.)
Capital Maseru Nuku'alofa
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 419 km
Constitution 2 April 1993 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho


conventional short form: Lesotho


former: Basutoland
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga


conventional short form: Tonga


former: Friendly Islands
Currency loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR) pa'anga (TOP)
Death rate 24.58 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $735 million (2002) $57.5 million (June 2001)
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
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Molelekeng E. RAPOLAKI


chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536


FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane T. T. TUPOU


chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022


telephone: [1] (917) 369-1136


FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024


consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor ODA $4.4 million -
Economic aid - recipient $41.5 million (2000) Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)
Economy - overview Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of government revenue, but the government has strengthened its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, also generating royalties for Lesotho. As the number of mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years, a small manufacturing base has developed based on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries and a rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. The economy is still primarily based on subsistence agriculture, especially livestock, although drought has decreased agricultural activity. The extreme inequality in the distribution of income remains a major drawback. Lesotho has signed an Interim Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF. Tonga has a small, open economy with a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed social services.
Electricity - consumption 40 million kWh (2001) 25.36 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 40 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001) 27.27 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - 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: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 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 results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
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, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Exchange rates maloti per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94 (2000), 6.11 (1999), 5.53 (1998) pa'anga per US dollar NA (2002), 2.12 (2001), 1.76 (2000), 1.6 (1999), 1.49 (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: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)


head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA (since NA February 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister Tevita TOPOU (since NA January 2001)


cabinet: Cabinet, appointed by the monarch, consists of 12 members


note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the Cabinet, and two governors


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000) squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners US 97.5%, Canada 0.9%, France 0.6% (2002) Japan 43.2%, US 41.2%, Greece 4% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 July - 30 June
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 bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
GDP purchasing power parity - $5.106 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $236 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 20%


industry: 46%


services: 34% (2001)
agriculture: 26%


industry: 12%


services: 62% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2002 est.) 3% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 20 00 S, 175 00 W
Geography - note landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
Highways total: 5,940 km


paved: 1,087 km


unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)
total: 680 km


paved: 184 km


unpaved: 496 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 0.9%


highest 10%: 43.4%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (2000) foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners Hong Kong 51.9%, China 25%, France 3.9% (2002) New Zealand 30.8%, Fiji 20.7%, US 14.2%, Australia 13.2%, China 6.1% (2002)
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999) 8.6% (FY 98/99)
Industries food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism tourism, fishing
Infant mortality rate total: 86.21 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 91.28 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 80.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
total: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10% (2002 est.) 8.4% (2001 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 10 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (consists of the Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court)
Labor force 838,000 33,908 (1996)
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 65% (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: 23.61%


permanent crops: 43.06%


other: 33.33% (1998 est.)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa Tongan, English
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 English 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
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)


elections: last held 7 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote - pro-democratic 70%; seats - pro-democratic 7, traditionalist 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 36.94 years


male: 36.76 years


female: 37.13 years (2003 est.)
total population: 68.88 years


male: 66.43 years


female: 71.44 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 84.8%


male: 74.5%


female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English


total population: 98.5%


male: 98.4%


female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references Africa Oceania
Maritime claims none (landlocked) continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 250,020 GRT/350,055 DWT


ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 44, chemical tanker 4, container 1, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 2, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 1, Australia 4, Austria 1, Bolivia 1, Cyprus 1, Djibouti 1, Egypt 2, Greece 4, Lebanon 2, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 2, Morocco 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Romania 3, Russia 1, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 3, Syria 5, Ukraine 1, UAE 16, US 4 (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 Tonga Defense Services (made up of three operational command components and two support elements, including the Royal Marines, Royal Guards, Maritime Force, a support/logistics group, and a training group), Police; note - a new air wing that will be subordinate to the Ministry of Defense is being developed
Military expenditures - dollar figure $34 million (1999) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 459,723 (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 250,560 (2003 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) Independence Day, 4 June (1970)
Nationality noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)


adjective: Basotho
noun: Tongan(s)


adjective: Tongan
Natural hazards periodic droughts cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals fish, fertile soil
Net migration rate -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 0 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; 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] there are no political parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Akilisi POHIVA, president]
Population 1,861,959


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 2003 est.)
108,141 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 49% (1999) NA%
Population growth rate 0.19% (2003 est.) 1.9% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors none Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001)
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% Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 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 (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 21 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: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (1996)
Telephones - main lines in use 22,200 (2000) 8,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular 21,600 (2000) 302 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) 2 (2001)
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Total fertility rate 3.52 children born/woman (2003 est.) 3 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 45% (2002) 13.3% (1996 est.)
Waterways none none
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