Country
Lesotho Fiji
Leader
Population
1,930,493 890,057
Life Expectancy
51.860 years 71.590 years
Capital City
Maseru Suva (on Viti Levu)
Largest city
Maseru (population: 118,355) Suva (population: 77,366)
Human Development Index
0.496 0.743 GDP per capita $2,000 US $4,700 US
Literacy Rate
84.8% 93.7%
Corruption Perception Index
3.2 NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
25.8% 0% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 45.000% 7.600%
Death Penalty
Legal Abolished except for special circumstances
Political System
parliamentary constitutional monarchy republic
Independence date
4 October 1966 (from UK) 10 October 1970 (from UK) Religions Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% Christian 53% (Methodist 34.5%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Assembly of God 3.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.6%, other 4.9%), Hindu 34% (Sanatan 25%, Arya Samaj 1.2%, other 7.8%), Muslim 7% (Sunni 4.2%. other 2.8%), other or unspecified 5.6%, none 0.3% (1996 census) Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani Exports manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000) sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil External Debt $729,900,000 $ $258,700,000 US Exchange Rate maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004) Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003) Military Budget as percentage of GDP 2.600% 1.900% Beijing Olympics Medal Count Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Area 30,355 km sq 18,274 km sq Coastline 0 km 1,129 km Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
