In 1999, the population of Lesotho was estimated at approximately 2.1 million people. The economy of the country is based largely on agriculture, mining and manufacturing. Its main industries are food processing, apparel and textiles, construction and mining. Lesotho has a long history of strong foreign relations with other countries in Africa and beyond. In terms of politics, Lesotho has had a constitutional monarchy since 1966 with Letsie III as King since 1996. The National Assembly is responsible for legislative authority in Lesotho and is elected by universal suffrage every five years. See ethnicityology for Lesotho in the year of 2018.
Yearbook 1999
Lesotho. Visit Countryaah official website to get information about the capital city of Lesotho. The foreign soldiers, most South Africans, who defeated an army mutiny in Lesotho in September 1998 left the country in May. Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili then announced that the situation in the country was once again stable. In some media, however, a dark future was drawn for the country, which after the devastation in 1998 became even more dependent on South Africa. An imminent renegotiation of the Customs Union with South Africa was feared to deprive the country of large incomes, and the cuts in the South African mining industry could leave thousands of Lesothians unemployed. In January, Ntsu Mokhehle, Prime Minister 1993–98 passed away. In 1997, he was one of the founders of the current ruling party, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy. He turned 80.
- Also see Abbreviationfinder.org to see the acronym of LSO which stands for Lesotho and other definitions of this 3-letter abbreviation.
Country data
Area: 30,355 km2 (world rank: 138)
Population: 2,233,000
Population density: 74 per km2 (as of 2017, world rank: 142)
Capital: Maseru
Official languages: Sesotho, English
Gross domestic product: 2.6 billion US $; Real growth: 5.6%
Gross national product (GNP, per resident and year): 1280 US$
Currency: 1 Loti (M) = 100 Lisente
Embassy
Kurfürstenstr. 84, 10787 Berlin
Telephone 030 2575720,
Fax 030 25757222
E-Mail: info@lesothoembassy.de
Government
Head of State: Letsie III. (David Mohato Letsie Bereng Seeiso), Head of Government: Thomas “Tom” Thabane, Outside: Lesego Makgothi
National holiday: October 4th.
Administrative structure
10 districts
State and form of government
Constitution of 1993
Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Parliament: National Assembly with 120 members, election every 5 years; Senate (Senate) with 33 members (22 traditional leaders and 11 appointed by the king for 5 years)
Suffrage from 18 years.
Population of: Lesother, last census 2016 (preliminary): 2,007,201 population
99.7% Sotho (Basotho)
Cities (with population): (As of 2011) Maseru 178,345 inh., Teyateyaneng 61,578, Maputsoe 48,243, Mafeteng 30,602, Botha-Bothe 30,115, Mohale’s Hoek 25,308
Religions: 90% Christians; Muslims, indigenous religions (status: 2006)
Languages: Sesotho, English
Employed by economic sector: Agriculture. 10%, industry 41%, business 49% (2017)
Unemployment (in% of the labor force)
2017: 27.3%
Inflation rate (in%): 2017: 5.6%
Foreign trade: Import: 2.1 billion US $ (2017); Export: US $ 1.0 billion (2017)
