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Compare Lesotho (2006) - Luxembourg (2002)

Compare Lesotho (2006) z Luxembourg (2002)

 Lesotho (2006)Luxembourg (2002)
 LesothoLuxembourg
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Age structure 0-14 years: 36.8% (male 374,102/female 369,527)


15-64 years: 58.3% (male 572,957/female 606,846)


65 years and over: 4.9% (male 39,461/female 59,438) (2006 est.)
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 43,634; female 41,164)


15-64 years: 67% (male 151,364; female 149,156)


65 years and over: 14.1% (male 25,486; female 37,765) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products
Airports 28 (2006) 2 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2006)
total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 25


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 21 (2006)
total: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 2,586 sq km


land: 2,586 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Background Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled for the first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and reinstated in 1995. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 7 years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Botswanan military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002. Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union) and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Birth rate 24.75 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) 12.06 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $738.5 million


expenditures: $792.1 million; including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.)
revenues: $5.5 billion


expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $760 million $NA (2002 est.)
Capital name: Maseru


geographic coordinates: 29 28 S, 27 30 E


time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Luxembourg
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 2 April 1993 17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho


conventional short form: Lesotho


local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho


local short form: Lesotho


former: Basutoland
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg


conventional short form: Luxembourg


local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg


local short form: Luxembourg
Currency - euro (EUR); Luxembourg franc (LUF)


note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Death rate 28.71 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) 8.83 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $735 million (2002) $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador June Carter PERRY


embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)


mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho


telephone: [266] 22 312666


FAX: [266] 22 310116
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr.


embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City


mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)


telephone: [352] 46 01 23


FAX: [352] 46 14 01
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 Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURD


chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171


FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270


consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor ODA, $4.4 million ODA, $160 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient $41.5 million (2000) -
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. However, the government has recently 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, as well as a rapidly expanding apparel-assembly sector. The latter has grown significantly, mainly due to Lesotho qualifying for the trade benefits contained in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. 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 stable, high-income economy features solid growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initially dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financial sector, which now accounts for about 22% of GDP, has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned and have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and trans-border workers for 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg, like all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump, the country has maintained a fairly strong growth rate.
Electricity - consumption 363.5 million kWh (2003) 6.158 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2003) 735 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 38 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2003) 6.458 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 350 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2003) 467.7 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 58%


hydro: 26%


nuclear: 0%


other: 17% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m


highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m


highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 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 air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
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: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kososvo) and European (guest and resident workers)
Exchange rates maloti per US dollar - 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001) euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Luxembourg francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997)
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 depose the monarch, determine who is next in the line of succession, or who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age
chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)


head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Lydie POLFER (since 7 August 1999)


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


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popular elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies


note: government coalition - CSV and DP
Exports NA bbl/day $7.85 billion f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000) machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass
Exports - partners Hong Kong 43.6%, China 35.4%, Germany 8.4% (2005) EU 84.7% (Germany 24.6%, France 19.6%, Belgium 12.3%), US 3.5% (2001)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
GDP - purchasing power parity - $20 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 16.3%


industry: 44.3%


services: 39.4% (2005 est.)
agriculture: 1%


industry: 30%


services: 69% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $44,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1.2% (2005 est.) 2.3% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 49 45 N, 6 10 E
Geography - note landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world, it is the smallest of the European Union member states
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways - total: 5,166 km


paved: 5,166 km (including 118 km of expressways)


unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 0.9%


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


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA bbl/day $10.25 billion c.i.f. (2000)
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (2000) minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners US 84%, Belgium 12.8%, Canada 2.4% (2005) EU 86.7% (Belgium 34.3%, Germany 25.1%, France 12.8%), US 5.8% (2001)
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) 1839 (from the Netherlands)
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999) 2% (2002 est.)
Industries food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Infant mortality rate total: 87.24 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 92.04 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 82.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
4.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.7% (2005 est.) 1.6% (2002 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 ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 8 (2000)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (2003) 40 sq km (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are appointed for life by the monarch
Labor force 838,000 (2000) 262,300 (of whom 87,400 are foreign cross-border workers primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2000)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa


industry and services: 14%
services 90%, industry 8%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
total: 359 km


border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Land use arable land: 10.87%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 89% (2005)
arable land: 25%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 75% (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language), French (administrative language)
Legal system based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations based on civil law system; accepts 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 by 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 Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held by June 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 29.79%, DP 21.58%, LSAP 23.75%, ADR 10.36%, Green Party 9.09%, the Left 3.77%; seats by party - CSV 19, DP 15, LSAP 13, ADR 6, Green Party 5, the Left 2


note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister
Life expectancy at birth total population: 34.4 years


male: 35.55 years


female: 33.21 years (2006 est.)
total population: 77.48 years


male: 74.2 years


female: 80.97 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 84.8%


male: 74.5%


female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 100%


male: 100%


female: 100% (2000 est.)
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Western Europe, between France and Germany
Map references Africa Europe
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
Merchant marine - total: 60 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,487,752 GRT/2,123,579 DWT


ships by type: bulk 2, chemical tanker 13, container 8, liquefied gas 19, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 6


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 21, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 9, United States 3 (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): Army and Air Wing Army, Grand Ducal Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure $41.1 million (2005 est.) $147.8 million (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.1% (2005 est.) 0.8% (FY01/02)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 113,557 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 93,429 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 19 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 2,565 (2002 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
Nationality noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)


adjective: Basotho
noun: Luxembourger(s)


adjective: Luxembourg
Natural hazards periodic droughts NA
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Net migration rate -0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) 9.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines - petroleum products 48 km
Political parties and leaders Basotholand African Congress or BAC [Khauhelo RALITAPOLE]; Basotholand Congress Party or BCP [Ntsukunyane MPHANYA]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Kopanang Basotho Party or KPB [MOSALA]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Pakalitha MOSISILI] (the governing party); Lesotho Education Party or LEP [Thabo PITSO]; Lesotho People's Congress or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; Lesotho Workers Party of LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; National Independent Party or NIP [Anthony MANYELI]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Chief Peete Nkoebe PEETE]; Popular Front for Democracy or PFD [Lekhetho RAKUOANE]; Sefate Democratic Union or SDU [Bofihla NKUEBE]; Social Democratic Party of SDP [Masitise SELESO]; United Democratic Party or UDP [C.D. MOFELI]; United Party or UP [Makara SEKAUTU] Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Robert MEHLEN]; Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known also as Christian Social Party or PCS) [Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie POLFER]; Green Party [Abbes JACOBY and Felix BRAS]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Jean ASSELBORN]; Marxist and Reformed Communist Party DEI LENK (the Left) [no formal leadership]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists); LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL (center-left trade union)
Population 2,022,331


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 2006 est.)
448,569 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 49% (1999) NA%
Population growth rate -0.46% (2006 est.) 1.25% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors - Mertert
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios - 285,000 (1997)
Railways - total: 274 km


standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2001)
Religions Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% the greatest preponderance of the population is Roman Catholic with a very few Protestants, Jews, and Muslims


note: 1979 legislation forbids the collection of religious statistics
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female


total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment: rudimentary system


domestic: consists of a modest but growing number of 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: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables


domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable


international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Telephones - main lines in use 48,000 (2005) 314,700 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular 245,100 (2005) 215,741 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) 5 (1999)
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast
Total fertility rate 3.28 children born/woman (2006 est.) 1.7 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 45% (2002) 4.1% (2002 est.)
Waterways - 37 km (on the Moselle)
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