Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)
Languages
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); note - less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages
Exports
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
External Debt
$729,900,000 $
$397,500,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
reals (BRL) per US dollar - 1.8644 (2008 est.), 1.85 (2007 est.), 2.1761 (2006), 2.4344 (2005), 2.9251 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
1.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
15
Location
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Area
30,355 km sq
8,514,877 km sq
Coastline
0 km
7,491 km
Climate
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
