Constitution:
23 May 1926; amended a number of times, most recently in 1990 to include changes necessitated by the Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989
Legal system:
mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; the constitutional court reviews laws only after they have been passed; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education; excludes military personnel
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Michel SULAYMAN (since 25 May 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Najib MIQATI (since 25 January 2011)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly; note - the Cabinet resigned on 12 January 2010 following the resignation of over a third of the ministers (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 25 May 2008 (next to be held in 2014); the prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
election results: Michel SULAYMAN elected president; National Assembly vote - 118 for, 6 abstentions, 3 invalidated; 1 seat unfilled due to death of incumbent
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 June 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by group - March 8 Coalition 54.7%, March 14 Coalition 45.3%; seats by group - March 14 Coalition 71; March 8 Coalition 57
Judicial branch:
four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)
Political parties and leaders:
14 March Coalition: Democratic Left [Ilyas ATALLAH]; Democratic Renewal Movement [Nassib LAHUD]; Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad al-HARIRI]; Kataeb Party [Amine GEMAYEL]; Lebanese Forces [Samir JA'JA]; Tripoli Independent Bloc
8 March Coalition: Development and Resistance Bloc [Nabih BERRI, leader of Amal Movement]; Free Patriotic Movement [Michel AWN]; Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc [Mohammad RA'AD] (includes Hizballah [Hassan NASRALLAH]); Nasserite Popular Movement [Usama SAAD]; Popular Bloc [Elias SKAFF]; Syrian Ba'th Party [Sayez SHUKR]; Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Ali QANSO]; Tashnaq [Hovig MEKHITIRIAN]
Independent: Democratic Gathering Bloc [Walid JUNBLATT, leader ofProgressive Socialist Party]; Metn Bloc [Michel MURR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Maronite Church [Patriarch Nasrallah SFAYR]
other: note - most sects retain militias and a number of militant groups operate in Palestinian refugee camps
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU,ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA,UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine CHEDID
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maura CONNELLY
embassy: Awkar, Lebanon (Awkar facing the Municipality)
mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; from US: US Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place, Washington, DC 20521-6070
telephone: [961] (4) 542600, 543600
Flag description:
three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed for liberation, the white band denotes peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity
National anthem:
name: "Kulluna lil-watan" (All Of Us, For Our Country!)
lyrics/music: Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA
note: adopted 1927; the anthem was chosen following a nationwide competition
Economy ::Lebanon
Economy - overview:
Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. The government does not restrict foreign investment; however, the investment climate suffers from red tape, corruption, arbitrary licensing decisions, high taxes, tariffs, and fees, archaic legislation, and weak intellectual property rights. The Lebanese economy is service-oriented; main growth sectors include banking and tourism. The 1975-90 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. In the years since, Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily - mostly from domestic banks. In an attempt to reduce the ballooning national debt, the Rafiq HARIRI government in 2000 began an austerity program, reining in government expenditures, increasing revenue collection, and passing legislation to privatize state enterprises, but economic and financial reform initiatives stalled and public debt continued to grow despite receipt of more than $2 billion in bilateral assistance at the 2002 Paris II Donors Conference. The Israeli-Hizballah conflict in July-August 2006 caused an estimated $3.6 billion in infrastructure damage, and prompted international donors to pledge nearly $1 billion in recovery and reconstruction assistance. Donors met again in January 2007 at the Paris III Donor Conference and pledged more than $7.5 billion to Lebanon for development projects and budget support, conditioned on progress on Beirut's fiscal reform and privatization program. An 18-month political stalemate and sporadic sectarian and political violence hampered economic activity, particularly tourism, retail sales, and investment, until the new government was formed in July 2008. Political stability following the Doha Accord of May 2008 helped boost tourism and, together with a strong banking sector, enabled real GDP growth of 7% per year in 2009-10 despite a slowdown in the region.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$58.65 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $54.71 billion (2009 est.)
$51.18 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$39.15 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 6.9% (2009 est.)
9.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $13,300 (2009 est.)
$12,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 15.9%
services: 79% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.481 million country comparison to the world: 132 note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
28% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
30.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Public debt:
150.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 154.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 1.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 35 12% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.57% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 9.96% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.692 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 104 $3.21 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$92.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $82.07 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$62.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $56.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$12.89 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 67 $9.641 billion (31 December 2008)
$10.86 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats
Industries:
banking, tourism, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating
Industrial production growth rate:
2.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Electricity - production:
10.41 billion kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - consumption:
9.793 billion kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 88
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.114 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - consumption:
90,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009) country comparison to the world: 186
Oil - imports:
86,750 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Current account balance:
-$6.972 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 -$7.555 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$5.187 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $4.716 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
jewelry, base metals, chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit and vegetables, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 22%, UAE 10%, Iraq 8%, Saudi Arabia 7% (2009)
Imports:
$17.97 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $15.9 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
US 11%, France 10%, China 9%, Italy 8%, Germany 8%, Turkey 4%,Ukraine 4.55%, Turkey 4.5% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$41.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $39.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$34.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $31.89 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2010), 1,507.5 (2009), 1,507.5 (2008), 1,507.5 (2007), 1,507.5 (2006)
Communications ::Lebanon
Telephones - main lines in use:
750,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 88
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.526 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 138
Telephone system:
general assessment: repair of the telecommunications system, severely damaged during the civil war, now complete
domestic: two mobile-cellular networks provide good service; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 55 per 100 persons
international: country code - 961; submarine cable links to Cyprus, Egypt, and Syria; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean); coaxial cable to Syria (2009)
Broadcast media:
7 TV stations in operation, 1 of which is state-owned; more than 30 radio stations, 1 of which is state-owned; satellite and cable TV services are available; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible through partner stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.lb
Internet hosts:
51,451 (2010) country comparison to the world: 87
Internet users:
1 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 101
Transportation ::Lebanon
Airports:
7 (2010) country comparison to the world: 169
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 43 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 401 km country comparison to the world: 118 standard gauge: 319 km 1.435 m
narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050 m
note: rail system unusable because of the damage done during fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 (2008)
Roadways:
total: 6,970 km (includes 170 km of expressways) (2005) country comparison to the world: 148
Merchant marine:
total: 29 country comparison to the world: 85 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 12, carrier 11, refrigerated cargo 1, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Syria 3)
registered in other countries: 40 (Barbados 2, Cambodia 6, Comoros 3, Egypt 1, Georgia 1, Honduras 2, Liberia 1, Malta 7, Moldova 1, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Syria 2, Togo 6, unknown 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Beirut, Tripoli
Military ::Lebanon
Military branches:
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army ((Al Jaysh al Lubnaniya) includesNavy (Al Quwwat al Bahiriyya al Lubnaniya), Air Force (Al Quwwat alJawwiya al Lubnaniya)) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,075,503
females age 16-49: 1,112,139 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 917,404
females age 16-49: 940,238 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 37,856
female: 36,072 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Transnational Issues ::Lebanon
Disputes - international:
lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms area in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been in place since 1978
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 405,425 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)); 50,000-60,000 (Iraq)
IDPs: 17,000 (1975-90 civil war, Israeli invasions); 200,000(July-August 2006 war) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in 2002 despite continued significant cannabis consumption; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to European markets and for Middle Eastern consumption; money laundering of drug proceeds fuels concern that extremists are benefiting from drug trafficking
page last updated on January 25, 2011
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@Lesotho (Africa)
Introduction ::Lesotho
Background:
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled for the first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995. 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 Botswana 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 of February 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties continue to dispute how the electoral law was applied to award proportional seats in the Assembly.
Geography ::Lesotho
Location:
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 30,355 sq km country comparison to the world: 141 land: 30,355 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 909 km
border countries: South Africa 909 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources:
water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
Land use:
arable land: 10.87%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 89% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
5.2 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.05 cu km/yr (40%/40%/20%)
per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level
People ::Lesotho
Population:
1,919,552 country comparison to the world: 146 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.8% (male 373,159/female 368,271)
15-64 years: 60.2% (male 629,346/female 654,054)
65 years and over: 5% (male 42,074/female 63,915) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.6 years
male: 22.6 years
female: 22.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.277% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Birth rate:
27.17 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Death rate:
15.71 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Net migration rate:
-8.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 211
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
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: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 56.42 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 40 male: 60.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.67 years country comparison to the world: 212 male: 50.58 years
female: 50.76 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
23.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 3
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
270,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 26
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
18,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Nationality:
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups:
Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Religions:
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Languages:
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.8%
male: 74.5%
female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
12.4% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 3
Government ::Lesotho
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
local short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland
Government type:
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Maseru
geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence:
4 October 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution:
2 April 1993
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarchy is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution that 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 depose the monarch, determine who is next in the line of succession, or who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age
Legislative branch:
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 popular vote and 40 by proportional vote; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LCD 61, NIP 21, ABC 17, LWP 10, ACP 4, BNP 3, other 4
Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Congress Parties or ACP (including the Lesotho People'sCongress or LCP [Kelebone MAOPE], the Basotholand African Congressor BAC [Khauhelo RALITAPOLE], and a faction of the Basotho CongressParty or BCP [Ntsukunyane MPHANYA]); All Basotho Convention or ABC[Thomas THABANE]; Basotho Batho Democratic Party or BBDP; BasothoCongress Party or BCP; Basotho Democratic National Party or BDNP[Thabang NYEOE]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. JustinMetsing LEKHANYA]; Basotholand African National Congress or BANC;Christian Democratic Party or CDP [Enerst RAMOKOENA]; LesothoCongress for Democracy or LCD [Pakalitha MOSISILI] (the governingparty); Lesotho Workers Party or LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; NationalIndependent Party or NIP [Anthony MANYELI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Media Institute of Southern Africa, Lesotho chapter [ThabangMATJAMA] (pushes for media freedom)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David Mohlomi RANTEKOA
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert NOLAN
embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone: [266] 22 312666
Flag description:
three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence
National anthem:
name: "Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)
lyrics/music: Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR
note: adopted 1967; the anthem's music derives from an 1823 Swiss songbook
Economy ::Lesotho
Economy - overview:
Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances from miners employed in South Africa, customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), and export revenue for the majority of government revenue. However, the government has recently strengthened its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 permitted the sale of water to South Africa and generated royalties for Lesotho. Lesotho produces about 90% of its own electrical power needs. 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, as well as an apparel-assembly sector. Despite Lesotho's market-based economy being heavily tied to its neighbor South Africa, the US is an important trade partner because of the export sector's heavy dependence on apparel exports. Exports have grown significantly because of the trade benefits contained in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. 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. In July 2007, Lesotho signed a Millennium Challenge Account Compact with the US worth $362.5 million. Economic growth dropped in 2009, due mainly to the effects of the global economic crisis as demand for the country's exports declined and SACU revenue fell precipitously when South Africa - the primary contributor to the SACU revenue pool - went into recession, but growth returned to 3.5% in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.31 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 $3.198 billion (2009 est.)
$3.148 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.799 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 1.6% (2009 est.)
3.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 $1,700 (2009 est.)
$1,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.1%
industry: 34.6%
services: 58.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
854,600 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
industry and services: 14% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
45% (2002) country comparison to the world: 189
Population below poverty line:
49% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 39.4% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
63.2 (1995) country comparison to the world: 3 56 (1986-87)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 7.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10.66% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 24 14.05% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 16.19% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$653.3 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 149 $509.5 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.057 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $876 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$177.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176 $147.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Industries:
food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Electricity - production:
502 million kWh country comparison to the world: 159 note: electricity supplied by South Africa (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
516.9 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
50 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - imports:
1,553 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Current account balance:
-$125 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $194 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$985 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $821 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals
Exports - partners:
US 58.9%, Belgium 37%, Madagascar 1.2% (2008)
Imports:
$1.766 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $1.572 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
China 26.3%, Taiwan 20.1%, Hong Kong 16.4%, South Korea 14.1%, India 9.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$893 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 $988 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$647 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $671 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.9 (2010), 8.4737 (2009), 7.75 (2008), 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006)
Communications ::Lesotho
Telephones - main lines in use:
40,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 168
Telephones - mobile cellular:
661,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary system consisting of a modest number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a small radiotelephone communication system; mobile-cellular telephone system is expanding
domestic: privatized in 2001, Telecom Lesotho was tasked with providing an additional 50,000 fixed-line connections within five years, a target not met; mobile-cellular service dominates the market and is expanding with a subscribership exceeding 30 per 100 persons in 2009; rural services are scant
international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations; government controls most private broadcast media; satellite TV subscription service is available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are obtainable (2008)
Internet country code:
.ls
Internet hosts:
632 (2010) country comparison to the world: 175
Internet users:
76,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 167
Transportation ::Lesotho
Airports:
26 (2010) country comparison to the world: 128
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 18 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 7,091 km country comparison to the world: 147 paved: 1,404 km
unpaved: 5,687 km (2003)
Military ::Lesotho
Military branches:
Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women serve as commissioned officers (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 469,509
females age 16-49: 505,707 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 267,825
females age 16-49: 273,348 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 19,435
female: 20,400 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 56
Military - note:
Lesotho's declared policy is maintenance of its independent sovereignty and preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; restructuring of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and Ministry of Defense and Public Service over the past five years has focused on subordinating the defense apparatus to civilian control and restoring the LDF's cohesion; the restructuring has considerably improved capabilities and professionalism, but the LDF is disproportionately large for a small, poor country; the government has outlined a reduction to a planned 1,500-man strength, but these plans have met with vociferous resistance from the political opposition and from inside the LDF (2008)
Transnational Issues ::Lesotho
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
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@Liberia (Africa)
Introduction ::Liberia
Background:
Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendents of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's regime that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE himself was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who faces war crimes charges in The Hague related to his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF to power. The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) maintains a strong presence throughout the country, but the security situation is still fragile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country continues.
Geography ::Liberia
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 111,369 sq km country comparison to the world: 103 land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,049 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
Coastline:
579 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain: