11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by Soviet Union)
Religions
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)
Languages
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)
Exports
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs 5% (2001)
External Debt
$729,900,000 $
$31,030,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.3251 (2008 est.), 2.5362 (2007), 2.7498 (2006), 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
0.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
5
Location
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Area
30,355 km sq
65,300 km sq
Coastline
0 km
90 km
Climate
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
