World Atlas: Lesotho. On this page you can see the map, country flag and many detailed information about the people, history and economy of Lesotho.
Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Lesotho. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Lesotho. But let's start with the flag of Lesotho here:
Lesotho - Overview:
What you should know about Lesotho? Let's start with this: Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basutho National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King Moshoeshoe was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995 and subsequently succeeded by his son, King Letsie III, in 1996. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Batswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections in 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties disputed how the electoral law was applied to award proportional seats in the Assembly. In 2012, competitive elections involving 18 parties saw Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas Thabane form a coalition government - the first in the country's history - that ousted the 14-year incumbent, Pakalitha Mosisili, who peacefully transferred power the following month. Mosisili returned to power in snap elections in February 2015 after the collapse of Thabane’s coalition government and an alleged attempted military coup.
Geography of Lesotho
Where on the globe is Lesotho? The location of this country is Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa. Total area of Lesotho is 30,355 sq km, of which 30,355 sq km is land. So this is not a large country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains. The lowest point of Lesotho is junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m, the highest point Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m. And the climate is temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers.
Inhabitants of Lesotho
Let's take a look how many people live in Lesotho. The number is: 1,958,042. So not so many people live here. Who lives here? Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%. What are the languages in Lesotho? Sesotho (official) (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa. And the religions: Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%. How old are the people in average? 24.2 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 53 years. Where the people live in Lesotho? Here: relatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru, and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people. The major urban areas of Lesotho are: Maseru (capital) 267,000 (2014).
Government and Economy of Lesotho
The capital of Lesotho is Maseru and the government type parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Let's take a look at the administrative divisions - 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka. Regarding the economy of Lesotho, important industrial products are food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism. Important agricultural products are corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock. The most important export commodities are manufactures (clothing, footwear), wool and mohair, food and live animals, electricity, water, diamonds and the most important export partners are South Africa 56.5%, US 35.4% (2016). The most important import commodities are food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products and the most important import partners are South Africa 84.5% (2016). How rich is Lesotho and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $3,900 (2017 est.). This is a very low number. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 57% (2016 est.).