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Compare Lesotho (2004) - Holy See (Vatican City) (2005)

Compare Lesotho (2004) z Holy See (Vatican City) (2005)

 Lesotho (2004)Holy See (Vatican City) (2005)
 LesothoHoly See (Vatican City)
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka none
Age structure 0-14 years: 37.3% (male 350,288; female 345,815)


15-64 years: 57.2% (male 521,434; female 545,183)


65 years and over: 5.5% (male 41,903; female 60,417) (2004 est.)
-
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock -
Airports 28 (2003 est.) none (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
-
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 25


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
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Area total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 0.44 sq km


land: 0.44 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in 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. Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, international development, the Middle East, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Birth rate 26.91 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) -
Budget revenues: $625.4 million


expenditures: $675.2 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (2003 est.)
revenues: $245.2 million


expenditures: $260.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2002)
Capital Maseru Vatican City
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 2 April 1993 new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929)
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho


conventional short form: Lesotho


former: Basutoland
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)


conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)


local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)


local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Currency loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR) -
Death rate 24.79 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) -
Debt - external $735 million (2002) -
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 (vacant)


embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome


mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624


telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428


FAX: [39] (06) 575-8346
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: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO


chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121


FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor ODA $4.4 million -
Economic aid - recipient $41.5 million (2000) none
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. This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world (known as Peter's Pence); by the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by the sale of publications. Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Electricity - consumption 40 million kWh (2001) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh
Electricity - imports 40 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001) NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Electricity - production 0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001) NA kWh
Elevation extremes lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m


highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m


highest point: unnamed location 75 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 NA
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, Italians, Swiss, other
Exchange rates maloti per US dollar - 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000), 6.1095 (1999) euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
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: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)


head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 1 December 1990)


cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope


elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope


election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI
Exports NA (2001) 0 kWh
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000) -
Exports - partners US 97.6%, Canada 1.5%, France 0.5% (2003) -
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 two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
GDP purchasing power parity - $5.583 billion (2003 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 15.3%


industry: 43.3%


services: 41.4% (2003)
-
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2003 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2003 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 41 54 N, 12 27 E
Geography - note landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level urban; landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
Highways total: 5,940 km


paved: 1,087 km


unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)
none; all city streets
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 kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (2000) -
Imports - partners Hong Kong 36.6%, Taiwan 36.2%, China 12%, Germany 9.9% (2003) -
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) 11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999) -
Industries food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Infant mortality rate total: 85.22 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90.19 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 80.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
-
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6.1% (2003 est.) -
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer), WTO (observer)
Irrigated land 10 sq km (1998 est.) 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See


note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pius XII on 1 May 1946
Labor force 838,000 (2000) 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 essentially services with a small amount of industry; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican
Land boundaries total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
total: 3.2 km


border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Land use arable land: 10.87%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 89% (2001)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (urban area) (2001)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
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 Code of Canon Law and revisions to it
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 Pontifical Commission
Life expectancy at birth total population: 36.81 years


male: 36.81 years


female: 36.81 years (2004 est.)
-
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 84.8%


male: 74.5%


female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
definition: NA


total population: 100%


male: 100%


female: 100%
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Map references Africa Europe
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
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 defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
Military branches Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; with Army and Air Wing) Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $32.5 million (2003) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.6% (2003) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 465,827 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 253,974 (2004 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)
Nationality noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)


adjective: Basotho
noun: none


adjective: none
Natural hazards periodic droughts NA
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals none
Net migration rate -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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] none
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
Population 1,865,040


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 2004 est.)
921 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line 49% (1999) NA%
Population growth rate 0.14% (2004 est.) 0.01% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors none -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)
Religions Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% Roman Catholic
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
-
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
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: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: automatic exchange


domestic: tied into Italian system


international: country code - 39; uses Italian system
Telephones - main lines in use 28,600 (2002) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 92,000 (2002) NA
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) 1 (1996)
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains low hill
Total fertility rate 3.44 children born/woman (2004 est.) -
Unemployment rate 45% (2002) -
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