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Compare Niue (2003) - Lesotho (2003)

Compare Niue (2003) z Lesotho (2003)

 Niue (2003)Lesotho (2003)
 NiueLesotho
Administrative divisions none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 353,554; female 349,092)


15-64 years: 56.8% (male 516,017; female 541,694)


65 years and over: 5.5% (male 41,735; female 59,867) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 1 (2002) 28 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 24


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 20 (2002)
Area total: 260 sq km


land: 260 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Maryland
Background Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to about 2,100 in 2002), with substantial emigration to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest. Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody South African military intervention. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 27.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
revenues: $76 million


expenditures: $80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (FY 99/00 est.)
Capital Alofi Maseru
Climate tropical; modified by southeast trade winds temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 64 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act) 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Niue


former: Savage Island
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho


conventional short form: Lesotho


former: Basutoland
Currency New Zealand dollar (NZD) loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 24.58 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $418,000 (2002 est.) $735 million (2002)
Dependency status self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand) chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. LOFTIS


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 none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand) 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
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor - ODA $4.4 million
Economic aid - recipient $2.6 million from New Zealand (2002) $41.5 million (2000)
Economy - overview The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although Premier LAKATANI announced in February 2002 that Niue will shut down the offshore banking industry. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002 was about $2.6 million. 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, but the government has 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 and a rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. 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.
Electricity - consumption 2.79 million kWh (2001) 40 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 40 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Electricity - production 3 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m


highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture 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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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 Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans) Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.162 (2002), 2.3776 (2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8629 (1998) maloti per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94 (2000), 6.11 (1999), 5.53 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since NA May 2000)


head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)


cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers


elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2005)


election results: Young VIVIAN elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 70%, Hunukitama HUNUKI (AI) 30%
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) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
Exports - partners NZ mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2000) US 97.5%, Canada 0.9%, France 0.6% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 April - 31 March
Flag description yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross 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 - $7.6 million (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $5.106 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 55%
agriculture: 20%


industry: 46%


services: 34% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -0.3% (2000 est.) 4% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 19 02 S, 169 52 W 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography - note one of world's largest coral islands landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
Highways total: 234 km


paved: 86 km


unpaved: 148 km (2001)
total: 5,940 km


paved: 1,087 km


unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 0.9%


highest 10%: 43.4%
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (2000)
Imports - partners NZ mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2000) Hong Kong 51.9%, China 25%, France 3.9% (2002)
Independence on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 15.5% (1999)
Industries tourism, handicrafts, food processing food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate total: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
total: 86.21 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 91.28 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 80.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1% (1995) 10% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ACP, ESCAP (associate), FAO, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Labor force NA 838,000
Labor force - by occupation most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Land boundaries 0 km total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
Land use arable land: 19.23%


permanent crops: 7.69%


other: 73.08% (1998 est.)
arable land: 10.71%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 89.29% (1998 est.)
Languages Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system English common law


note: Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws
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 Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives)


elections: last held 21 March 2002 (next to be held in March 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 9, independents 11; note - all 20 seats were reelected
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 NA 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
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2003 est.)
total population: 36.94 years


male: 36.76 years


female: 37.13 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: 95%


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 84.8%


male: 74.5%


female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
Location Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Oceania Africa
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) -
Military - note defense is the responsibility of New Zealand 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 no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; including Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $34 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA%
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 459,723 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 250,560 (2003 est.)
National holiday Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840) Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun: Niuean(s)


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


adjective: Basotho
Natural hazards typhoons periodic droughts
Natural resources fish, arable land water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Net migration rate NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]; Alliance of Independents or AI [leader NA] 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; Pakalitha MOSISILI, leader] - the governing party; Lesotho People's Congress or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; 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 2,145 (July 2003 est.) 1,861,959


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 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 49% (1999)
Population growth rate 0.01% (2003 est.) 0.19% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors none; offshore anchorage only none
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Railways 0 km 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 Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 75%, Latter-Day Saints 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist) Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Sex ratio NA (2003 est.) at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island


international: NA
general assessment: rudimentary system


domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system; a cellular mobile telephone system is growing


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 376 (1991) 22,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1991) 21,600 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 1 (2000)
Terrain steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman (2003 est.) 3.52 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 45% (2002)
Waterways none none
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