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Compare Oman (2002) - Lesotho (2001)

Compare Oman (2002) z Lesotho (2001)

 Oman (2002)Lesotho (2001)
 OmanLesotho
Administrative divisions 6 regions (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah) and 2 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*; note - the US Embassy in Oman reports that Masqat is a governorate, but this has not been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN) 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years: 41.9% (male 579,065; female 556,923)


15-64 years: 55.7% (male 914,494; female 597,948)


65 years and over: 2.4% (male 34,555; female 30,477) (2002 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 dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 143 (2001) 29 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 6


over 3,047 m: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 133


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 55


914 to 1,523 m: 37


under 914 m: 32 (2002)
total:
25

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
21 (2000 est.)
Area total: 212,460 sq km


land: 212,460 sq km


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

land:
30,355 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Kansas slightly smaller than Maryland
Background In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. 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 37.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 31.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $9.2 billion


expenditures: $6.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues:
$76 million

expenditures:
$80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (FY99/00 est.)
Capital Muscat Maseru
Climate dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 2,092 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman


conventional short form: Oman


local long form: Saltanat Uman


local short form: Uman


former: Muscat and Oman
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form:
Lesotho

former:
Basutoland
Currency Omani rial (OMR) loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate 4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $5.3 billion (2000 est.) $720 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III


embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat


mailing address: international: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat


telephone: [968] 698989, extension 203


FAX: [968] 699771
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 Mohamed Ali AL KHUSAIBY


chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988


FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
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 Oman signed a boundary treaty with the UAE in 1999, but the completed boundary is not expected until the end of 2002; undefined segments of the Oman-UAE boundary remain with Ra's al-Khaymah and Ash Shariqah (Sharjah) emirates, including the Musandam Peninsula, where an administrative boundary substitutes for an international boundary none
Economic aid - recipient $76.4 million (1995) (1995) $123.7 million (1995)
Economy - overview Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000 due largely to the upturn in oil prices. The government is moving ahead with privatization of its utilities, the development of a body of commercial law to facilitate foreign investment, and increased budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in November 2000. GDP growth improved in 2001 despite the global slowdown. 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 7.533 billion kWh (2000) 55 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 55 million kWh

note:
electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production 8.1 billion kWh (2000) 0 kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel:
0%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m


highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
lowest point:
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

highest point:
Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources 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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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 Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986) 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: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
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 $10.9 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) $175 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (1998)
Exports - partners Japan 21%, Thailand 18%, China 16%, South Korea 12%, UAE 12%, US 3% (2001) South African Customs Union 65%, North America 34% (1998)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band 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 - $21.5 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3%


industry: 40%


services: 57% (1999 est.)
agriculture:
18%

industry:
38%

services:
44% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $8,200 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 7.4% (2001 est.) 2.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 21 00 N, 57 00 E 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography - note strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
Heliports 1 (2002) -
Highways total: 32,800 km


paved: 9,840 km (including 550 km of expressways)


unpaved: 22,960 km (1996)
total:
4,955 km

paved:
887 km

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


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

highest 10%:
43.4% (1986-87)
Imports $5.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) $700 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995)
Imports - partners UAE 23% (largely reexports), Japan 16%, UK 13%, Italy 7%, Germany 5%, US 5% (2001) South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 7% (1998)
Independence 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 15.5% (1999 est.)
Industries crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate 21.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 82.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1% (2001 est.) 6% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO 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) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 620 sq km (1998 est.) 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court


note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has non-Islamic judges as well as traditional Islamic judges
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Labor force 920,000 700,000 economically active
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Land boundaries total: 1,374 km


border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
total:
909 km

border countries:
South Africa 909 km
Land use arable land: 0.08%


permanent crops: 0.22%


other: 99.7% (1998 est.)
arable land:
11%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
66%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
23% (1993 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 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 bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis al-Dawla (48 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by limited suffrage for three-year term, however, the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers)


elections: last held NA September 2000 (next to be held NA September 2003)


election results: NA; note - two women were elected for the first time to the Majlis al-Shura, about 100,000 people voted
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: 72.31 years


male: 70.15 years


female: 74.57 years (2002 est.)
total population:
48.84 years

male:
47.97 years

female:
49.74 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: approaching 80%


male: NA%


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

total population:
83%

male:
72%

female:
93% (1999 est.)
Location Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Middle East Africa
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 24 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,291 GRT/9,457 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1


note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Singapore 1 (2002 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 Royal Omani Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Royal Omani Police Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $2,424.4 million (FY01) $34 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 12.2% (FY01) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 780,292 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
515,464 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 434,026 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
277,369 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 14 years of age (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 26,470 (2002 est.) -
National holiday Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940) Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun: Omani(s)


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

adjective:
Basotho
Natural hazards summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts periodic droughts
Natural resources petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Net migration rate 0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km -
Political parties and leaders none 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 none NA
Population 2,713,462


note: includes 527,078 non-nationals (July 2002 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 NA% 49.2% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 3.41% (2002 est.) 1.49% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut none
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 1.4 million (1997) 104,000 (1997)
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 Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu 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: 1.53 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female


total population: 1.29 male(s)/female (2002 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 in Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to approximately 175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to vote in elections for the Majlis ash-Shura 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: modern system consisting of open wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable


domestic: open wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
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 201,000 (1997) 20,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 59,822 (1997) 1,262 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999) 1 (2000)
Terrain central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate 5.99 children born/woman (2002 est.) 4.08 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 45% (2000 est.)
Waterways none none
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