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Compare Swaziland (2005) - Lesotho (2004)

Compare Swaziland (2005) z Lesotho (2004)

 Swaziland (2005)Lesotho (2004)
 SwazilandLesotho
Administrative divisions 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years: 40.6% (male 240,643/female 235,895)


15-64 years: 55.6% (male 327,661/female 325,400)


65 years and over: 3.8% (male 19,273/female 25,028) (2005 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 sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 18 (2004 est.) 28 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 17


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)
total: 25


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Area total: 17,363 sq km


land: 17,203 sq km


water: 160 sq km
total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than New Jersey slightly smaller than Maryland
Background Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection 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 27.72 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 26.91 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $494.6 million


expenditures: $552.7 million, including capital expenditures of $147 million (2004 est.)
revenues: $625.4 million


expenditures: $675.2 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (2003 est.)
Capital Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital Maseru
Climate varies from tropical to near temperate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution a constitution was due to be adopted in November 2003 but was delayed and scheduled for early 2005 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland


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


conventional short form: Lesotho


former: Basutoland
Currency - loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate 25.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 24.79 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $320 million (2002 est.) $735 million (2002)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Lewis LUCKE


embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane


mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane


telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445


FAX: [268] 404-5959
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 Mary Madzandza KANYA


chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002


FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254
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 $104 million (2001) $41.5 million (2000)
Economy - overview In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies more than 80% of the population. The manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain important foreign exchange earners. Mining has declined in importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives about nine-tenths of its imports and to which it sends nearly three-quarters of its exports. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2004 because of drought, and more than one-third of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS. 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 1.173 billion kWh (2002) 40 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 799 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002) 40 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Electricity - production 402 million kWh (2002) 0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m


highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m


highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion 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, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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 African 97%, European 3% Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates emalangeni per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000) maloti per US dollar - 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000), 6.1095 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)


head of government: Prime Minister Absolom Themba DLAMINI (since 14 November 2003)


cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by the monarch


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
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 NA (2001)
Exports - commodities soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
Exports - partners South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2% (2004) US 97.6%, Canada 1.5%, France 0.5% (2003)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 April - 31 March
Flag description three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally 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 - $5.583 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 16.1%


industry: 43.4%


services: 40.5% (2004 est.)
agriculture: 15.3%


industry: 43.3%


services: 41.4% (2003)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2004 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.5% (2004 est.) 4% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 26 30 S, 31 30 E 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography - note landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
Highways total: 3,107 km


paved: NA


unpaved: NA (2000)
total: 5,940 km


paved: 1,087 km


unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 1%


highest 10%: 50.2% (1995)
lowest 10%: 0.9%


highest 10%: 43.4%
Imports NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (2000)
Imports - partners South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9%, Singapore 0.3% (2004) Hong Kong 36.6%, Taiwan 36.2%, China 12%, Germany 9.9% (2003)
Independence 6 September 1968 (from UK) 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 3.7% (FY95/96) 15.5% (1999)
Industries mining (coal, raw asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile and apparel food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 69.27 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 72.51 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 65.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 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) 5.4% (2004 est.) 6.1% (2003 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO 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
Irrigated land 690 sq km (1998 est.) 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch High Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the monarch High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Labor force 383,200 (2000) 838,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation NA 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Land boundaries total: 535 km


border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
Land use arable land: 10.35%


permanent crops: 0.7%


other: 88.95% (2001)
arable land: 10.87%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 89% (2001)
Languages English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official) Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; 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 Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body, consists of the Senate (30 seats - 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats - 10 appointed by the monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)


elections: House of Assembly - last held 18 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008)


election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round
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: 33.22 years


male: 32.49 years


female: 33.98 years (2005 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: 81.6%


male: 82.6%


female: 80.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 84.8%


male: 74.5%


female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
Location Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
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 Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing), Royal Swaziland Police Force (RSPF) (2005) Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; with Army and Air Wing)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $40.5 million (2004) $32.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.4% (2004) 2.6% (2003)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 465,827 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 253,974 (2004 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 6 September (1968) Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun: Swazi(s)


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


adjective: Basotho
Natural hazards drought periodic droughts
Natural resources asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Political parties and leaders political parties are banned by the government - the following are considered political associations; Imbokodvo National Movement or INM [leader NA]; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president] 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 1,173,900


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 2005 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 40% (1995) 49% (1999)
Population growth rate 0.25% (2005 est.) 0.14% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors - none
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 2 plus 4 repeaters, shortwave 3 (2004) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Railways total: 301 km


narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
-
Religions Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and other 30% 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: 1.01 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female


total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 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 18 years of age 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system


domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay


international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic 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 46,200 (2003) 28,600 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 88,000 (2003) 92,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 5 plus 7 relay stations (2004) 1 (2000)
Terrain mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate 3.7 children born/woman (2005 est.) 3.44 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 34% (2000 est.) 45% (2002)
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