Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Lesotho (2007) - Turks and Caicos Islands (2001)

Compare Lesotho (2007) z Turks and Caicos Islands (2001)

 Lesotho (2007)Turks and Caicos Islands (2001)
 LesothoTurks and Caicos Islands
Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka none (overseas territory of the UK)
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:
32.58% (male 2,996; female 2,908)

15-64 years:
63.51% (male 6,050; female 5,459)

65 years and over:
3.91% (male 316; female 393) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Airports 28 (2007) 8 (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:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

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


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 21 (2007)
total:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Area total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total:
430 sq km

land:
430 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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. The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory.
Birth rate 24.72 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 24.89 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $995.8 million


expenditures: $763.2 million (2006 est.)
revenues:
$47 million

expenditures:
$33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997-1998 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)
Cockburn Town (on Grand Turk)
Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 389 km
Constitution 2 April 1993 introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988
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:
none

conventional short form:
Turks and Caicos Islands
Currency - US dollar (USD)
Death rate 22.49 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 4.47 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $652 million (2006 est.) $NA
Dependency status - overseas territory of the UK
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
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $68.82 million (2005) $4.1 million (1997)
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 Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1996, accounting for more than half of the 87,000 visitors; tourist arrivals had risen to 93,000 by 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
Electricity - consumption 338.5 million kWh (2005) 4.6 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 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) 5 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

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:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Blue Hills 49 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 limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
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
-
Ethnic groups Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, black
Exchange rates maloti per US dollar - 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.541 (2002) the US dollar is used
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:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Mervyn JONES (since 27 January 2000)

head of government:
Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)

cabinet:
Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
Exports NA bbl/day $4.7 million (1993)
Exports - commodities manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000) lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports - partners US 81.9%, Belgium 15%, Canada 1.9% (2006) US, UK
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 blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
GDP - purchasing power parity - $128 million (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 18.2%


industry: 40.8%


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

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $7,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6.2% (2006 est.) 8.7% (1999 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Geography - note landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level 30 islands (eight inhabited)
Highways - total:
121 km

paved:
24 km

unpaved:
97 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 0.9%


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

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Imports NA bbl/day $46.6 million (1993)
Imports - commodities food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Imports - partners Hong Kong 33.4%, China 31.2%, Germany 7.7%, India 7.3% (2006) US, UK
Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate 15.5% (1999) NA%
Industries food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism tourism, offshore financial services
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.)
18.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6.1% (2006 est.) 4% (1995)
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 Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 14 (2000)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (2003) NA sq km
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
Labor force 838,000 (2000) 4,848 (1990 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.)
about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 10.87%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 89% (2005)
arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
98% (1993 est.)
Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa English (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 laws of England and Wales, with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
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
unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - PDM 52.2%, PNP 40.9%, independent 6.9%; seats by party - PDM 9, PNP 4
Life expectancy at birth total population: 39.97 years


male: 40.73 years


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

male:
71.37 years

female:
75.77 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 has ever attended school

total population:
98%

male:
99%

female:
98% (1970 est.)
Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas
Map references Africa Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims none (landlocked) exclusive fishing 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 defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army and Air Wing -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.6% (2006) -
National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966) Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Nationality noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)


adjective: Basotho
noun:
none

adjective:
none
Natural hazards periodic droughts frequent hurricanes
Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone spiny lobster, conch
Net migration rate -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 13.69 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] People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN]
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.)
18,122 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 49% (1999) NA%
Population growth rate 0.144% (2007 est.) 3.41% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Grand Turk, Providenciales
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 8,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
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:
1.11 male(s)/female

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

total population:
1.07 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:
fair cable and radiotelephone services

domestic:
NA

international:
2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 48,000 (2005) 3,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular 249,800 (2005) 0 (1994)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2000) 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997)
Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Total fertility rate 3.21 children born/woman (2007 est.) 3.22 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 45% (2002) 10% (1997 est.)
Waterways - none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.