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Compare Moldova (2004) - Lesotho (2001)

Compare Moldova (2004) z Lesotho (2001)

 Moldova (2004)Lesotho (2001)
 MoldovaLesotho
Administrative divisions 32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)

counties: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni

municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau

autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia

territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years: 20.6% (male 466,485; female 449,645)


15-64 years: 69.1% (male 1,478,220; female 1,595,695)


65 years and over: 10.3% (male 169,026; female 287,384) (2004 est.)
0-14 years:
39.28% (male 430,147; female 424,994)

15-64 years:
56.03% (male 588,440; female 631,404)

65 years and over:
4.69% (male 43,033; female 59,044) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 24 (2003 est.) 29 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 6


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)
total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 18


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 11 (2003 est.)
total:
25

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
21 (2000 est.)
Area total: 33,843 sq km


land: 33,371 sq km


water: 472 sq km
total:
30,355 sq km

land:
30,355 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Maryland slightly smaller than Maryland
Background Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001. Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule.
Birth rate 14.81 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 31.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $474.8 million


expenditures: $443.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
revenues:
$76 million

expenditures:
$80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (FY99/00 est.)
Capital Chisinau Maseru
Climate moderate winters, warm summers temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Moldova


conventional short form: Moldova


local long form: Republica Moldova


local short form: none


former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form:
Lesotho

former:
Basutoland
Currency Moldovan leu (MDL) loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate 12.76 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $1.515 billion (2003) $720 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Heather M. HODGES


embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [373] (22) 408-300


FAX: [373] (22) 23-30-44
chief of mission:
Ambassador Katherine H. PETERSON

embassy:
254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)

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

telephone:
[266] 312666

FAX:
[266] 310116
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Mihail MANOLI


chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130


FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
chief of mission:
Ambassador Lebohang Kenneth MOLEKO

chancery:
2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536

FAX:
[1] (202) 234-6815
Disputes - international difficulties with the Transnistria region complicate controlling border crossing and customs regimes with Ukraine, despite concordance on 2003 delimitation and customs protocols and OSCE assistance none
Economic aid - recipient $100 million (2000) $123.7 million (1995)
Economy - overview Moldova remains the poorest country in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almost all of its energy supplies from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The government entered into agreements with the World Bank and the IMF to promote growth and reduce poverty. The economy returned to positive growth, of 2.1% in 2000, 6.1% in 2001, 7.2% in 2002, and 6.3% in 2003. Further reforms will come slowly because of strong political forces backing government controls. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's primary natural resource is water. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, livestock, and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. The number of such mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years. A small manufacturing base depends largely on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Agricultural products are exported primarily to South Africa. Proceeds from membership in a common customs union with South Africa form the majority of government revenue. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, generating royalties for Lesotho. The pace of substantial privatization has increased in recent years. In December 1999, the government embarked on a nine-month IMF staff-monitored program aimed at structural adjustment and stabilization of macroeconomic fundamentals. The government is in the process of applying for a three-year successor program with the IMF under its Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility.
Electricity - consumption 3.216 billion kWh (2001) 55 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 60 million kWh (2001) 55 million kWh

note:
electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production 3.394 billion kWh (2001) 0 kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
0%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Dniester River 2 m


highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
lowest point:
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

highest point:
Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods 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
Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Ethnic groups Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.)


note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates lei per US dollar - 13.9449 (2003), 13.5705 (2002), 12.8651 (2001), 12.4342 (2000), 10.5158 (1999) maloti per US dollar - 7.78307 (January 2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996); note - the Lesotho loti is at par with the South African rand which is also legal tender; maloti is the plural form of loti
Executive branch chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April 2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Vasile IOVV (since 29 January 2002)


cabinet: selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament


elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 4 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2005); note - presidential elections were scheduled for December 2000, but in July 2000, Parliament canceled direct, popular elections; Parliament's failure to choose a new president in December 2000 led to early parliamentary elections in February 2001; prime minister designated by the president, upon consultation with Parliament; note - within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 15 April 2001, cabinet received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001


election results: Vladimir VORONIN elected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 71, Dumitru BRAGHIS 15, Valerian CRISTEA 3; Vasile TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 75 of 101
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
Exports NA (2001) $175 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities foodstuffs, textiles, machinery manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (1998)
Exports - partners Russia 39%, Romania 11.4%, Italy 10.4%, Germany 7.1%, Ukraine 7.1%, Belarus 5.2%, US 4.3% (2003) South African Customs Union 65%, North America 34% (1998)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow 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
GDP purchasing power parity - $7.792 billion (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 21%


industry: 27%


services: 52% (2003)
agriculture:
18%

industry:
38%

services:
44% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6.3% (2003 est.) 2.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 47 00 N, 29 00 E 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography - note landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
Highways total: 12,657 km


paved: 11,012 km


unpaved: 1,645 km (1999)
total:
4,955 km

paved:
887 km

unpaved:
4,068 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 2.2%


highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)
lowest 10%:
0.9%

highest 10%:
43.4% (1986-87)
Illicit drugs limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity -
Imports NA (2001) $700 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities mineral products and fuel 32%, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles (2000) food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995)
Imports - partners Ukraine 22%, Russia 13%, Germany 9.7%, Italy 8.3%, Romania 7% (2003) South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 7% (1998)
Independence 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 17% (2003 est.) 15.5% (1999 est.)
Industries food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 41 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 43.96 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 37.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
82.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 11.6% (2003 est.) 6% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 3,070 sq km (1998 est.) 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature) High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Labor force 1.383 million (2003) 700,000 economically active
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998) 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Land boundaries total: 1,389 km


border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
total:
909 km

border countries:
South Africa 909 km
Land use arable land: 55.3%


permanent crops: 10.79%


other: 33.91% (2001)
arable land:
11%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
66%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
23% (1993 est.)
Languages Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect) Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents 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
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 50.1%, Braghis Alliance (now Our Moldova Alliance) 13.4%, PPCD 8.2%, other parties 28.3%; seats by party - PCRM 71, Braghis Alliance (now Our Moldova Alliance) 19, PPCD 11
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (80 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 65 to 80 in the May 1998 election; on 28 February 2001, the Senate approved expansion of the Assembly by a further 50 seats in the next election, which may be held as early as January 2002

elections:
last held 23 May 1998 (next to be held NA March 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - LCD 60.7%, BNP 24.5%, other 14.8%; seats by party - LCD 79, BNP 1

note:
results contested; opposition parties claimed the election was fraudulent and staged a coup; Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces intervened in September 1998 and restored order; the Interim Political Authority (IPA) was set up in December 1998 to create a new electoral system and conduct new elections.
Life expectancy at birth total population: 65.03 years


male: 60.88 years


female: 69.39 years (2004 est.)
total population:
48.84 years

male:
47.97 years

female:
49.74 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.1%


male: 99.6%


female: 98.7% (2003 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
83%

male:
72%

female:
93% (1999 est.)
Location Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Europe Africa
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,636 GRT/1,088 DWT


by type: cargo 1


foreign-owned: 2 Russia 1


registered in other countries: 4
-
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 National Army: Ground Forces, Air Force Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $9.5 million (FY03) $34 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.4% (FY02) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,186,818 (2004 est.) males age 15-49:
515,464 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 942,071 (2004 est.) males age 15-49:
277,369 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 44,466 (2004 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 27 August (1991) Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun: Moldovan(s)


adjective: Moldovan
noun:
Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

adjective:
Basotho
Natural hazards landslides (57 cases in 1998) periodic droughts
Natural resources lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Net migration rate -0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines gas 606 km (2004) -
Political parties and leaders Democratic Modova Bloc [Serafim URECHEANU] includes: Democratic Party [Dumitru DIACOV], Our Moldova Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS, Serafim URECHEANU], Social Liberal Party [Oleg SEREBRIAN]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Popular Christian Democratic Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA] 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; Dr. Pakalitha MOSISILI, leader] - the governing party; 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]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 4,446,455 (July 2004 est.) 2,177,062

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 80% (2001 est.) 49.2% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 0.18% (2004 est.) 1.49% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none none
Radio broadcast stations AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios - 104,000 (1997)
Railways total: 1,138 km


broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge


standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
total:
2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in the statistics of South Africa

narrow gauge:
2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Religions Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000) Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female


total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some effort to modernize is under way


domestic: new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile cellular telephone service being introduced


international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik
general assessment:
rudimentary system

domestic:
consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 706,900 (2002) 20,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 338,200 (2002) 1,262 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995) 1 (2000)
Terrain rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate 1.78 children born/woman (2004 est.) 4.08 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002 est.) 45% (2000 est.)
Waterways 424 km (2004) none
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