Quick Data on Lesotho
Short Name | Lesotho |
Capital | Maseru |
Long Name | Kingdom of Lesotho |
Country Code | LT |
Continent | Africa |
Total Area | 30,355 sq km |
Population | 1,969,334 |
Language | Sesotho, English |
Nationality | Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) |
Geography of Lesotho
As a country in Africa, with coordinates at 29 30 S, 28 30 E, Lesotho neighbors South Africa 1106 km. The terrain in Lesotho is described as mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains, with an average elevation point of 2,161 m. The climate of Lesotho: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers.
Surface Total | 30,355 sq km |
Land Surface | 30,355 sq km |
Water Surface | 0 sq km |
Land Boundaries | 1,106 km |
Neighbor Countries | South Africa 1106 km |
Coastline | 0 km |
Lowest Elevation Point | junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m |
Highest Elevation Point | Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m |
Resources of Lesotho
The country enjoys many types of natural resources, with the main ones being water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone. The agricultural land occupies 76.10% of Lesotho, while the land covered with forests is estimated at 1.50%.
Percent of Total Land | Surface Sq km | Data | |
Agricultural Land | 76.10% | 23,100 sq km | 2011 est. |
Irrigated Land | 30 sq km | 2012 | |
Forest Land | 1.50% | 455 sq km | 2011 est. |
Other Land | 22.40% | 6,800 sq km | 2011 est. |
Population of Lesotho
The population of the country is estimated at 1,969,334 people, with the biggest urban area having 202,000 MASERU (capital) (2018). Known as Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural), the people from Lesotho come from diversified ethnic groups such as Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%. The official language is Sesotho, English. Religions: Protestant 47.8% (Pentecostal 23.1%, Lesotho Evangelical 17.3%, Anglican 7.4%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, other Christian 9.1%, non-Christian 1.4%, none 2.3% (2014 est.).
Population | 1,969,334 |
Nationality | Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) |
Official Language | Sesotho, English |
Other Languages | Sesotho (official) (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa |
Birth Rate | 23.2 births / 1000 population (2020 est.) |
Death Rate | 15.4 deaths / 1000 population (2020 est.) |
Urban Population | 29.00% of total population (2020) |
Physicians Density | 0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2010) |
Hospital Beds Density | n/a beds/1,000 population (n/a) |
Governing Type of Lesotho
Lesotho is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The legal system makes use of mixed legal system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal.
Governing Type | parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
Citizenship by Birth | yes |
Citizenship by Descent | yes |
Dual Citizenship | no |
Residency Requirement for Naturalization | 5 years |
Suffrage Vote | 18 years of age; universal |
Economy of Lesotho
From a population total of 1,969,334, the labor force is 930,800 (2017 est.). The main products in agriculture are: corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock. Among the main industries considerable for the economy are: food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism. Its exports cover manufactures (clothing, footwear), wool and mohair, food and live animals, electricity, water, diamonds. The main import products are: food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products.
Exports | $1.028 billion (2017 est.) |
Imports | $1.826 billion (2017 est.) |
Export Partners | South Africa 57%, US 33.5% (2017) |
Import Partners | South Africa 87.2% (2017) |
GDP / Capita | $3,300 (2017 est.) |
Electricity Production | 510 million kWh (2016 est.) |
Electrification Rate | population without electricity: 1 million (2017) |
Internet Users | 534,360 |
Internet Penetration Rate | 27.40% (July 2016 est.) |
For latest imports and exports data we recommend checking the website for the National Bank of Lesotho, statistics sectio