Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto 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 of February 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties disputed how the electoral law was applied to award proportional seats in the Assembly. In May 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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 30,355 sq km
country comparison to the world: 142
land: 30,355 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 909 km
border countries: South Africa 909 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 10.14%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 89.72% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26.37 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.02 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 0.04 cu km/yr (46%/46%/9%)
per capita: 21.79 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Sesotho (official) (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,936,181 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
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
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 33.1% (male 322,189/female 319,618)
15-24 years: 20.2% (male 185,931/female 205,643)
25-54 years: 36.3% (male 344,120/female 359,370)
55-64 years: 4.9% (male 50,781/female 44,399)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 52,241/female 51,889) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 68.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 61.2 %
elderly dependency ratio: 7.1 %
potential support ratio: 14.1 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 23.4 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 23.4 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.34% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26.31 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.02 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-7.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 27.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.57% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
MASERU (capital) 220,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21.2
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
620 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 12
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 51.93 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 38
male: 55.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 52.3 years
country comparison to the world: 212
male: 52.2 years
female: 52.39 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.83 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
47% (2009/10)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.8% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 8
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2003)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2006)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
290,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13.5% (2010)
country comparison to the world: 56
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 1
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.6%
male: 83.3%
female: 95.6% (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2006)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 103,020
percentage: 23 % (2000 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 34.4%
country comparison to the world: 19
male: 29%
female: 41.9% (2008)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
local short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4 October 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
previous 1959, 1967; latest adopted 2 April 1993 (effectively restoring the 1967 version); amended 2001 (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mixed legal system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 Motsoahae Thomas THABANE (since 8 June 2012)
cabinet: Cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party, or coalition of parties, 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 26 May 2012 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DC 48, ABC 30, LCD 26, BNP 5, PFD 3, NIP 2, other 6
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament); note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75
subordinate courts: Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; Courts Martial
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
All Basotho Convention or ABC [Motsoahae Thomas THABANE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Media Institute of Southern Africa, Lesotho chapter [Tsebo MATÅ ASA] (pushes for media freedom)
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Eliachim Molapi SEBATANE (since 2 November 2011)
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Carl B. FOX
embassy: 254 Kingsway Road, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone: [266] 22 312666
FAX: [266] 22 310116
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Basotho hat
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Small, mountainous, and completely landlocked by South Africa, Lesotho is a least developed country in which about three-fourths of the people live in rural areas and engage in subsistence agriculture. Lesotho produces less than 20% of the nation's demand for food. Rain-fed agriculture is vulnerable to weather and climate variability; an estimated 725,500 people will require food assistance in 2012/13. The distribution of income in Lesotho remains inequitable. Lesotho relies on South Africa for much of its economic activity. Lesotho imports 90% of the goods it consumes from South Africa, including most agricultural inputs. Households depend heavily on remittances from family members working in South Africa, in mines, on farms and as domestic workers, though mining employment has declined substantially since the 1990s. Government revenue depends heavily on transfers from South Africa. Customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union accounted for 44% of government revenue in 2012. The South African Government also pays royalties for water transferred to South Africa from a dam and reservoir system in Lesotho. However, the government continues to strengthen its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties and other transfers. Access to credit remains a problem for the private sector. The government maintains a large presence in the economy - public expenditures accounted for 55% of GDP in 2010 and the government remains Lesotho's largest employer. Lesotho's largest private employer is the textile and garment industry - approximately 36,000 Basotho, mainly women, work in factories producing garments for export to South Africa and the US. Diamond mining in Lesotho has grown in recent years and may contribute 8.5% to GDP by 2015, according to current forecasts. Lesotho's $362.5 million Millennium Challenge Account Compact, which focused on strengthening the healthcare system, developing the private sector, and providing access to improved water supplies and sanitation facilities, will end in September 2013. Despite the 2008/09 global economic crisis, the economy has recovered strongly with growth averaging nearly 5% per year since 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$4.041 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.428 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2,100 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 90.8%
government consumption: 38.1%
investment in fixed capital: 31.8%
investment in inventories: 0.8%
exports of goods and services: 46.5%
imports of goods and services: -108.1%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 34.6%
services: 58% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
855,600 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 86%
industry and services: 14%
note: most of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
49% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 39.4% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
63.2 (1995)
country comparison to the world: 1
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $1.658 billion
expenditures: $1.536 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
68.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.36% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.12% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$408.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$897 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$75,280 (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-587.4 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$972.4 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
manufactures (clothing, footwear), wool and mohair, food and live animals, electricity, water, diamonds
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.239 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$749.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$779.8 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$398 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
maloti (LSL) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
200 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
307 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
247 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
76,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 154
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,777 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,711 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 161
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
445,600 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
43,100 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 168
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.312 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 153
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 roughly 65 per 100 persons in 2011; rural services are scant
international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations; government controls most private broadcast media; satellite TV subscription service available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters obtainable (2008)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.ls
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11,030 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 131
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
76,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 132
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m:
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 5,940 km
country comparison to the world: 150
paved: 1,069 km
unpaved: 4,871 km (2011)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing) (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women serve as commissioned officers (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 472,456
females age 16-49: 508,953 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 270,184
females age 16-49: 275,734 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 19,110
female: 20,037 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.94% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 110
Military - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration