Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Perry Christie
Population
1,930,493
316,182
Life Expectancy
51.860 years
71.440 years
Capital City
Maseru
Nassau
Largest city
Maseru (population: 118,355)
Nassau (population: 227,940)
Human Development Index
0.496
NA
GDP per capita
$2,000 US
$31,400 US
Literacy Rate
84.8%
95.6%
Corruption Perception Index
3.2
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
25.8%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
45.000%
14.200%
Death Penalty
Legal
NA
Political System
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Independence date
4 October 1966 (from UK)
10 July 1973 (from UK)
Religions
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Exports
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables
External Debt
$729,900,000 $
$342,600,000 US
Exchange Rate
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2008 est.), 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
0.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Area
30,355 km sq
13,880 km sq
Coastline
0 km
3,542 km
Climate
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
