Part 423

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project will control, store, and redirect water to South Africa natural hazards: periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geographic note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa

People ------

Population: 1,970,781 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 404,733; female 402,813) 15-64 years: 54% (male 519,493; female 553,618) 65 years and over: 5% (male 37,237; female 52,887) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.9% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 32.7 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 13.74 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 81.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.08 years male: 50.08 years female: 54.14 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.32 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality: noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) adjective: Basotho

Ethnic divisions: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800

Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs

Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 71.3% male: 81.1% female: 62.3%

Government ----------

Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland

Data code: LT

Type of government: modified constitutional monarchy

Capital: Maseru

Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Constitution: 2 April 1993