republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime
Independence date
4 October 1966 (from UK)
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Religions
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
External Debt
$729,900,000 $
$7,074,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar - 46.5281 (2008 est.), 50.0085 (2007), 51.689 (2006), 50 (2005), 48.5 (2004) note: data for 2004-06 are the public sector rate; data for 2002-03 are the parallel market rate in 'Amman and Beirut; the official rate for repaying loans was 11.25 Syrian pounds per US dollars during 2004-06,
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
5.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Area
30,355 km sq
185,180 km sq
Coastline
0 km
193 km
Climate
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
