Head of state: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi Prime minister: Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
Head of state: King Letsie III
Population
194,320
1,930,493
Life Expectancy
72.660 years
51.860 years
Capital City
Maseru
Largest city
Apia (population: 40,407)
Maseru (population: 118,355)
Human Development Index
0.76
0.496
GDP per capita
$2,000 US
Literacy Rate
99.7%
84.8%
Corruption Perception Index
4.4
3.2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
8.2%
25.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
45.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Independence date
4 October 1966 (from UK)
Religions
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Languages
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Exports
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
External Debt
$729,900,000 US
Exchange Rate
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Area
2,831 km sq
30,355 km sq
Coastline
403 km
0 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
