Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10%
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Languages
French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Exports
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
External Debt
$715,400,000 US
Exchange Rate
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
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Area
2,344,858 km sq
30,355 km sq
Coastline
37 km
0 km
Climate
tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season (April to October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October)
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
