(1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
74 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
60 years male, 63 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
4.7 children born/woman (1992)
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) and English (official); also Zulu and Xhosa
Literacy:
59% (male 44%, female 68%) age 15 and over can read and write (1966)
Labor force:
689,000 economically active; 86.2% of resident population engaged in
subsistence agriculture; roughly 60% of active male labor force works in
South Africa
Organized labor:
there are two trade union federations; the government favors formation of a
single, umbrella trade union confederation

:Lesotho Government

Long-form name:
Kingdom of Lesotho
Type:
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; formerly Basutoland)
Constitution:
4 October 1966, suspended January 1970
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of
legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Executive branch:
monarch, chairman of the Military Council, Military Council, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
none - the bicameral Parliament was dissolved following the military coup in
January 1986; note - a National Constituent Assembly convened in June 1990
to rewrite the constitution and debate issues of national importance, but it
has no legislative authority
Judicial branch:
High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
King LETSIE III (since 12 November 1990 following dismissal of his father,
exiled King MOSHOESHOE II, by Maj. Gen. LEKHANYA)
Head of Government:
Chairman of the Military Council Col. Elias Phisoana RAMAEMA (since 30 April
1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Basotho National Party (BNP), Evaristus SEKHONYANA; Basutoland Congress
Party