Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
Head of state: King Letsie III
Population
287,733
1,930,493
Life Expectancy
74.520 years
51.860 years
Capital City
Bridgetown
Maseru
Largest city
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
Maseru (population: 118,355)
Human Development Index
0.889
0.496
GDP per capita
$23,700 US
$2,000 US
Literacy Rate
99.7%
84.8%
Corruption Perception Index
7
3.2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
13.7%
25.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
12.000%
45.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Independence date
30 November 1966 (from UK)
4 October 1966 (from UK)
Religions
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Languages
English
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Exports
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
External Debt
$668,000,000 $
$729,900,000 US
Exchange Rate
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
2.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Area
430 km sq
30,355 km sq
Coastline
97 km
0 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
