Statistics Lesotho 
Lesotho in the World
Lesotho - Introduction 1992
top of pageBackground: Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The country has been ruled by the military since 1970.
Land use: arable land: 10%; permanent crops: 0%; meadows and pastures 66%; forest and woodland 0%; other 24%
Lesotho - People 1992
top of pageEnvironment
Current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion; desertification
Current issues note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa; Highlands Water Project will control, store, and redirect water to South Africa
Lesotho - Government 1992
top of pageAdministrative divisions:
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe,
Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing,
Thaba-Tseka
Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing,
Thaba-Tseka
Legal system: 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
Suffrage: universal at age 21
National Assembly: dissolved following the military coup in January 1986; military has pledged elections will take place in June 1992
Executive branch:
monarch, chairman of the Military Council, Military
Council, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Council, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
none - the bicameral Parliament was dissolved following the military coup in January 1986; note - a National Constituent
Assembly convened in June 1990 to rewrite the constitution and debate issues of national importance, but it has no legislative authority
Assembly convened in June 1990 to rewrite the constitution and debate issues of national importance, but it has no legislative authority
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADCC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADCC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Tseliso THAMAE; Chancery at 2,511
Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008; telephone (202) 797-5,534
Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008; telephone (202) 797-5,534
US: Ambassador Leonard H.O. SPEARMAN, Sr.; Embassy at address NA, Maseru (mailing address is P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100 Lesotho); telephone 266 312-666; FAX (266) 310-116
Flag description: 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
Lesotho - Economy 1992
top of pageEconomy overview:
Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no important natural resources other than water. Its economy is based on agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from laborers employed in South Africa ($153 million in 1989). The great majority of households gain their livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor. Manufacturing depends largely on farm products to support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries; other industries include textile, clothing, and light engineering. Industry's share of GDP rose from 6% in 1982 to 15% in 1989.
Political and economic instability in South Africa raises uncertainty for
Lesotho's economy, especially with respect to migrant worker remittances - typically about 40% of GDP.
Political and economic instability in South Africa raises uncertainty for
Lesotho's economy, especially with respect to migrant worker remittances - typically about 40% of GDP.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $420 million, per capita $240; real growth rate 4.0% (1990 est.)
Agriculture products: accounts for 18% of GDP and employs 60-70% of all households; exceedingly primitive, mostly subsistence farming and livestock; principal crops are corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley
Labor force: 689,000 economically active; 86.2% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 60% of active male labor force works in South Africa
Organized labor: there are two trade union federations; the government favors formation of a single, umbrella trade union confederation
Exports: $59 million (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodoties: wool, mohair, wheat, cattle, peas, beans, corn, hides, skins, baskets
Partners: South Africa 53%, EC 30%, North and South America 13% (1989)
Imports: $604 million (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodoties: mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum
Partners: South Africa 95%, EC 2% (1989)
Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1 - 2.8809 (March 1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987; note - the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand
Lesotho - Energy 1992
top of pageLesotho - Communication 1992
top of pageLesotho - Military 1992
top of pageLesotho - Transportation 1992
top of pageAirports:
28 total, 28 usable; 3 with permanent surface runways; none
with runways over 3,659 m; 1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
with runways over 3,659 m; 1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Lesotho - Transnational issues 1992
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