Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
Paramount chief MOSHOESHOE I consolidated what would become Basutoland in the early 19th century and made himself king in 1822. Continuing encroachments by Dutch settlers from the neighboring Orange Free State caused the king to enter into an 1868 agreement with the UK that made Basutoland first a British protectorate and, after 1884, a crown colony. After gaining independence in 1966, the country was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Basotho National Party ruled the country during its first two decades.
- Capital
- Maseru
- Government
- parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Population
- 2,222,962
- Area
- 30,355 sq km
- Location
- Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
- Climate
- temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
- Natural resources
- water; agricultural and grazing land; diamonds; sand; clay; building stone
- Languages
- Sesotho (official); English (official); Phuthi; Xhosa…
- Religions
- Protestant 47.8% (Pentecostal 23.1%; Lesotho Evangelical 17.3%; Anglican 7.4%); Roman Catholic 39.3%…
- Independence
- 4 October 1966 (from the UK)
- Administrative divisions
- 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
- Currency
- maloti (LSL)
- Export partners
- South Africa 31%; Belgium 26%; USA 20%; UAE 8%…
- Import partners
- South Africa 78%; China 10%; Taiwan 3%; Japan 1%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain