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Compare Lesotho (2007) - Paraguay (2001)

Compare Lesotho (2007) z Paraguay (2001)

 Lesotho (2007)Paraguay (2001)
 LesothoParaguay
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka 17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and one capital city; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion (city), Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
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:
38.9% (male 1,133,306; female 1,097,360)

15-64 years:
56.39% (male 1,622,743; female 1,610,659)

65 years and over:
4.71% (male 124,321; female 145,750) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (yucca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Airports 28 (2007) 915 (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:
11

over 3,047 m:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
4

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:
904

1,524 to 2,437 m:
29

914 to 1,523 m:
340

under 914 m:
535 (2000 est.)
Area total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total:
406,750 sq km

land:
397,300 sq km

water:
9,450 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly smaller than California
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. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then.
Birth rate 24.72 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 30.88 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $995.8 million


expenditures: $763.2 million (2006 est.)
revenues:
$1.3 billion

expenditures:
$2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (1999 est.)
Capital name: Maseru


geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E


time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Asuncion
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 2 April 1993 promulgated 20 June 1992
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 Paraguay

conventional short form:
Paraguay

local long form:
Republica del Paraguay

local short form:
Paraguay
Currency - guarani (PYG)
Death rate 22.49 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 4.75 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $652 million (2006 est.) $3 billion (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 David N. GREENLEE

embassy:
1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion

mailing address:
Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001

telephone:
[595] (21) 213-715

FAX:
[595] (21) 213-728
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 Leila RACHID

chancery:
2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962

FAX:
[1] (202) 234-4508

consulate(s) general:
Detroit (honorary), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (honorary)
Disputes - international none -
Economic aid - recipient $68.82 million (2005) $NA
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. Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population derives their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3% annually in 1995-97, but GDP declined slightly in 1998 and 1999. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantial internal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure. Growth rebounded slightly in 2000.
Electricity - consumption 338.5 million kWh (2005) 1.915 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 46.03 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 13 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2005) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 350 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2005) 51.554 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
0.07%

hydro:
99.79%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0.15% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m


highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
lowest point:
junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m

highest point:
Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 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 (an estimated 2 million hectares of forest land were lost from 1958-85); water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents
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:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Nuclear Test Ban
Ethnic groups Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%
Exchange rates maloti per US dollar - 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.541 (2002) guarani per US dollar - 3,570.0 (January 2001), 3,486.4 (2000), 3,119.1 (1999), 2,726.5 (1998), 2,177.9 (1997), 2,056.8 (1996); note - since early 1998, the exchange rate has operated as a managed float; prior to that, the exchange rate was determined freely in the market
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 Luis GONZALEZ MACCHI (since 28 March 1999); vice president Julio Cesar FRANCO (since NA August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Luis GONZALEZ MACCHI (since 28 March 1999); vice president Julio Cesar FRANCO (since NA August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Council of Ministers nominated by the president

elections:
president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003)

election results:
Raul CUBAS Grau elected president; percent of vote - 55.3%; resigned 28 March 1999

note:
President Luis GONZALEZ MACCHI, formerly president of the Chamber of Senators, constitutionally succeeded President Raul CUBAS Grau, who resigned after being impeached soon after the assassination of Vice President Luis Maria ARGANA; the successor to ARGANA was decided in an election held in August 2000
Exports NA bbl/day $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000) electricity, soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils
Exports - partners US 81.9%, Belgium 15%, Canada 1.9% (2006) Brazil, Argentina, EU
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 blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
GDP - purchasing power parity - $26.2 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 18.2%


industry: 40.8%


services: 41% (2006 est.)
agriculture:
28%

industry:
21%

services:
51% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $4,750 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6.2% (2006 est.) 1% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 23 00 S, 58 00 W
Geography - note landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil
Highways - total:
25,901 km

paved:
3,067 km

unpaved:
22,834 km (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 0.9%


highest 10%: 43.4% (2002 est.)
lowest 10%:
0.7%

highest 10%:
46.6% (1995)
Illicit drugs - illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in South America; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Southern Cone markets and Europe
Imports NA bbl/day $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery
Imports - partners Hong Kong 33.4%, China 31.2%, Germany 7.7%, India 7.3% (2006) Brazil, US, Argentina, Uruguay, EU, Hong Kong
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) 14 May 1811 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999) 0% (2000 est.)
Industries food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products
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.)
29.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6.1% (2006 est.) 8% (2000 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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 4 (2000)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (2003) 670 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 of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura)
Labor force 838,000 (2000) 2 million (2000 est.)
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 45%
Land boundaries total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
total:
3,920 km

border countries:
Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Land use arable land: 10.87%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 89% (2005)
arable land:
6%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
55%

forests and woodland:
32%

other:
7% (1993 est.)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
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 Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
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 Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
Chamber of Senators - last held 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003); Chamber of Deputies - last held 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003)

election results:
Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 25, PLRA 13, PEN 7; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 45, PLRA 26, PEN 9
Life expectancy at birth total population: 39.97 years


male: 40.73 years


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

male:
71.44 years

female:
76.52 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:
92.1%

male:
93.5%

female:
90.6% (1995 est.)
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Map references Africa South America
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
Merchant marine - total:
20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 31,066 GRT/35,441 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 2 (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 Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $125 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.6% (2006) 1.4% (FY98)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
1,388,436 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
1,001,516 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 17 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
58,359 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) Independence Day, 14 May (1811)
Nationality noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)


adjective: Basotho
noun:
Paraguayan(s)

adjective:
Paraguayan
Natural hazards periodic droughts local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Net migration rate -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) -0.09 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] Authentic Radical Liberal Party or PLRA [Miguel Abdon SAGUIER]; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Adalina GUITERREZ DE GALEANO]; Febrerista Revolutionary Party or PRF [Carlos Maria LJUBETIC]; National Encounter or PEN [Euclides ACEVEDO]; National Republican Association - Colorado Party [acting president Bader RACHID LICHI]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT
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.)
5,734,139 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 49% (1999) 36% (2000 est.)
Population growth rate 0.144% (2007 est.) 2.6% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)
Radios - 925,000 (1997)
Railways - total:
971 km

standard gauge:
441 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:
60 km 1.000-m gauge

note:
there are 470 km of various gauges that are privately owned
Religions Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant
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:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
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:
meager telephone service; principal switching center is Asuncion

domestic:
fair microwave radio relay network

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 48,000 (2005) 290,475 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular 249,800 (2005) 510,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) 4 (2001)
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Total fertility rate 3.21 children born/woman (2007 est.) 4.11 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 45% (2002) 16% (2000 est.)
Waterways - 3,100 km
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