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Compare Lesotho (2007) - Namibia (2001)

Compare Lesotho (2007) z Namibia (2001)

 Lesotho (2007)Namibia (2001)
 LesothoNamibia
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Age structure 0-14 years: 35.7% (male 382,308/female 377,303)


15-64 years: 59.3% (male 613,979/female 645,818)


65 years and over: 5% (male 42,621/female 63,233) (2007 est.)
0-14 years:
42.74% (male 389,028; female 379,229)

15-64 years:
53.54% (male 480,075; female 482,375)

65 years and over:
3.72% (male 29,109; female 37,861) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish
Airports 28 (2007) 131 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total:
21

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
13

914 to 1,523 m:
4 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 25


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 21 (2007)
total:
110

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
21

914 to 1,523 m:
69

under 914 m:
18 (2000 est.)
Area total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total:
825,418 sq km

land:
825,418 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly more than half the size of Alaska
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. South Africa occupied the German colony of Sud-West Afrika during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Independence came in 1990.
Birth rate 24.72 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 34.71 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $995.8 million


expenditures: $763.2 million (2006 est.)
revenues:
$883 million

expenditures:
$950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)
Capital name: Maseru


geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E


time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Windhoek
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 1,572 km
Constitution 2 April 1993 ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
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:
Republic of Namibia

conventional short form:
Namibia

former:
German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Currency - Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate 22.49 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 20.9 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $652 million (2006 est.) $217 million (2000 est.)
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 Jeffrey A. BADER

embassy:
Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek

mailing address:
use embassy street address

telephone:
[264] (61) 221601

FAX:
[264] (61) 229792
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 Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU

chancery:
1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:
[1] (202) 986-0540

FAX:
[1] (202) 986-0443
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $68.82 million (2005) $127 million (1998)
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 and also generates royalties for Lesotho. Lesotho produces about 90% of its own electrical power needs. 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. The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. Half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food. Although per capita GDP is four times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorer countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of large-scale unemployment, the great inequality of income distribution, and the large amount of wealth going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa. GDP growth in 2000 was led by gains in the diamond and fish sectors. Agreement has been reached on the privatization of several more enterprises in coming years, which should stimulate long-run foreign investment. Growth in 2001 could be 5.5% provided the world economy remains stable.
Electricity - consumption 338.5 million kWh (2005) 1.948 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 56 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 13 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2005) 890 million kWh

note:
supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production 350 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2005) 1.198 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
2%

hydro:
98%

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:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Konigstein 2,606 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 very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
party to:
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, 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%, black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%

note:
about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Exchange rates maloti per US dollar - 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.541 (2002) Namibian dollars per US dollar - 7.78307 (January 2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (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, that 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:
President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote - Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA 77%
Exports NA bbl/day $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000) diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Exports - partners US 81.9%, Belgium 15%, Canada 1.9% (2006) UK 43%, South Africa 26%, Spain 14%, France 8%, Japan (1998 est.)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 April - 31 March
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 a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left section and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders
GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.6 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 18.2%


industry: 40.8%


services: 41% (2006 est.)
agriculture:
12%

industry:
25%

services:
63% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6.2% (2006 est.) 4% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 22 00 S, 17 00 E
Geography - note landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level -
Highways - total:
63,258 km

paved:
5,250 km

unpaved:
58,008 km (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 0.9%


highest 10%: 43.4% (2002 est.)
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports NA bbl/day $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners Hong Kong 33.4%, China 31.2%, Germany 7.7%, India 7.3% (2006) South Africa 81%, US 4%, Germany 2% (1997 est.)
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999) NA
Industries food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Infant mortality rate total: 79.85 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 84.4 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 75.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
71.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6.1% (2006 est.) 9.1% (2000)
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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (2003) 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional court Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Labor force 838,000 (2000) 500,000
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% (2002 est.)
agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
total:
3,824 km

border countries:
Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km
Land use arable land: 10.87%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 89% (2005)
arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
46%

forests and woodland:
22%

other:
31% (1993 est.)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
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 Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
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 popular vote and 40 by proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)


elections: last held 17 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LCD 61, NIP 21, ABC 17, LWP 10, ACP 4, BNP 3, other 4
bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
National Council - elections for regional councils, to determine members of the National Council, held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly - last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held by December 2004)

election results:
National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SWAPO 21, DTA 4, UDF 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%, other 1%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1,

note:
the National Council is primarily an advisory body
Life expectancy at birth total population: 39.97 years


male: 40.73 years


female: 39.18 years (2007 est.)
total population:
40.62 years

male:
42.48 years

female:
38.71 years (2001 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:
38%

male:
45%

female:
31% (1960 est.)
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims none (landlocked) contiguous zone:
24 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - none (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): Army and Air Wing National Defense Force (Army), Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $104.4 million (2001)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.6% (2006) 2.6% (FY97/98)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
427,067 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
255,016 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Nationality noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)


adjective: Basotho
noun:
Namibian(s)

adjective:
Namibian
Natural hazards periodic droughts prolonged periods of drought
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fish

note:
suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Net migration rate -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders Alliance of Congress Parties or ACP; All Basotho Convention or ABC [Thomas THABANE]; Basotholand African Congress or BAC [Khauhelo RALITAPOLE]; Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Ntsukunyane MPHANYA]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justin Metsing LEKHANYA]; Kopanang Basotho Party or KPB [Pheelo MOSALA]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD (the governing party) [Pakalitha MOSISILI]; Lesotho Education Party or LEP [Thabo PITSO]; Lesotho Workers Party or LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; National Independent Party or NIP [Anthony MANYELI]; New Lesotho Freedom Party or NLFP [Manapo MAJARA]; Popular Front for Democracy or PFD [Lekhetho RAKUOANE]; Sefate Democratic Union or SDU [Bofihla NKUEBE]; Social Democratic Party of SDP [Masitise SELESO] Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 2,125,262


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 2007 est.)
1,797,677

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 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 49% (1999) NA%
Population growth rate 0.144% (2007 est.) 1.38% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 2, FM 34, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios - 232,000 (1997)
Railways - total:
2,382 km

narrow gauge:
2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track (1995)
Religions Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.013 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.951 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.674 male(s)/female


total population: 0.956 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: rudimentary system consisting of a modest but growing number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a small radiotelephone communication system; mobile-cellular telephone system is expanding


domestic: privatized in 2001, Telecom Lesotho tasked with providing an additional 50,000 fixed-line connections within five years, a target not met; mobile-cellular service is expanding with a subscribership approaching 15 per 100 persons; rural services are scant


international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment:
good system; about 6 telephones for each 100 persons

domestic:
good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire; 100% digital

international:
fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to Africa ONE and South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cables through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat
Telephones - main lines in use 48,000 (2005) 100,848 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 249,800 (2005) NA
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) 8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Total fertility rate 3.21 children born/woman (2007 est.) 4.83 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 45% (2002) 30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997 est.)
Waterways - none
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