Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
Jah-Jah.pl / Index countries / Seychelles (2002) - Lesotho (2004) / Compare countries
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Seychelles (2002) - Lesotho (2004)

Compare Seychelles (2002) z Lesotho (2004)

 Seychelles (2002)Lesotho (2004)
 SeychellesLesotho
Administrative divisions 23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years: 27.8% (male 11,238; female 11,002)


15-64 years: 66% (male 25,763; female 27,086)


65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,667; female 3,342) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 37.3% (male 350,288; female 345,815)


15-64 years: 57.2% (male 521,434; female 545,183)


65 years and over: 5.5% (male 41,903; female 60,417) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 14 (2001) 28 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 7


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 4 (2002)
total: 25


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Area total: 455 sq km


land: 455 sq km


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


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Maryland
Background A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. 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 17.27 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 26.91 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $249 million


expenditures: $262 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) (1998 est.)
revenues: $625.4 million


expenditures: $675.2 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (2003 est.)
Capital Victoria Maseru
Climate tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 491 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 18 June 1993 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles


conventional short form: Seychelles
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho


conventional short form: Lesotho


former: Basutoland
Currency Seychelles rupee (SCR) loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate 6.57 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 24.79 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $240 million (1999 est.) $735 million (2002)
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles 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 chief of mission: Ambassador Claude Sylvestre MOREL


chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017


telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785


FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
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 claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory) none
Economic aid - donor - ODA $4.4 million
Economic aid - recipient $16.4 million (1995) (1995) $41.5 million (2000)
Economy - overview Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit, including the containment of social welfare costs, and further privatization of public enterprises. Growth slowed in 1998-2001, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors. Also, tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. The black market value of the Seychelles rupee is half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency the tourist sector should remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar. 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 148.8 million kWh (2000) 40 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 40 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Electricity - production 160 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m


highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater 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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.7458 (January 2002), 5.8575 (2001), 5.7138 (2000), 5.3426 (1999), 5.2622 (1998), 5.0263 (1997) maloti per US dollar - 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000), 6.1095 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)


election results: France Albert RENE reelected president; percent of vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 44.95%, Philippe BOULLE 0.86%; note - the first time that presidential elections have been held separately from legislative elections
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 $182.6 million f.o.b. (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities canned tuna, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports) manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
Exports - partners UK 48.1%, Italy 23.1%, France 14.8%, Netherlands 2.7% (1999) US 97.6%, Canada 1.5%, France 0.5% (2003)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side 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 - $605 million (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $5.583 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3%


industry: 26%


services: 71% (1999) (1999)
agriculture: 15.3%


industry: 43.3%


services: 41.4% (2003)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1.5% (2001 est.) 4% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 4 35 S, 55 40 E 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography - note 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
Highways total: 280 km


paved: 176 km


unpaved: 104 km (1997)
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 $360.2 million f.o.b. (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (2000)
Imports - partners Italy 13.3%, South Africa 10.7%, France 9.9%, UK 8.0%, Singapore 7.7% (1999) Hong Kong 36.6%, Taiwan 36.2%, China 12%, Germany 9.9% (2003)
Independence 29 June 1976 (from UK) 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 15.5% (1999)
Industries fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate 16.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 85.22 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90.19 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 80.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6.1% (2001 est.) 6.1% (2003 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) 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, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Labor force 30,900 (1996) (1996) 838,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation industry 19%, services 71%, agriculture 10% (1989) (1989) 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: 2.22%


permanent crops: 13.33%


other: 84.45% (1998 est.)
arable land: 10.87%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 89% (2001)
Languages English (official), French (official), Creole Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law 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 National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25 elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next held by 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%, DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11


note: the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to the percentage that each party won of the total vote
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: 70.97 years


male: 65.48 years


female: 76.63 years (2002 est.)
total population: 36.81 years


male: 36.81 years


female: 36.81 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 58%


male: 56%


female: 60% (1971 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 84.8%


male: 74.5%


female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
Location Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,086 GRT/10,192 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: South Africa 2 (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 Army, Coast Guard (includes Air Wing), Presidential Protection Unit (includes Presidential Guard), Police Force (includes Police Mobile Unit, a special weapons and tactics unit capable of assisting the Army in maintaining internal stability) Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; with Army and Air Wing)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $11 million (FY01) $32.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.8% (FY01) 2.6% (2003)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 23,210 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 465,827 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 11,554 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 253,974 (2004 est.)
National holiday Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993) Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)


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


adjective: Basotho
Natural hazards lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible periodic droughts
Natural resources fish, copra, cinnamon trees water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Net migration rate -5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM]; Seychelles National Party or SNP (formerly the United Opposition or UO) [Wavel RAMKALAWAN]; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE] - the governing party 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 Roman Catholic Church; trade unions NA
Population 80,098 (July 2002 est.) 1,865,040


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 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 49% (1999)
Population growth rate 0.47% (2002 est.) 0.14% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Victoria none
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 42,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km (2003) -
Religions Roman Catholic 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other 4.1% Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female


total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 17 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: effective system


domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago


international: direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
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: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 19,635 (1997) 28,600 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 16,316 (1999) 92,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997) 1 (2000)
Terrain Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate 1.81 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3.44 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 45% (2002)
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.