Lesotho facts for kids

Kingdom of Lesotho
Quick facts for kids Kingdom of Lesotho ; Muso oa Lesotho
	Flag Coat of arms
	Motto: "Khotso, Pula, Nala" (Sesotho); "Peace, Rain, Prosperity"
	Anthem: Lesotho Fatse La Bontata Rona; Lesotho, land of our Fathers
	Location of Lesotho (dark blue) – in Africa (light blue & dark grey); – in the African Union (light blue)
Capital; and largest city	Maseru
Official languages	English; Sesotho
Demonym(s)	Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
Government	Unitary parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy
• King	Letsie III
• Prime Minister	Pakalitha Mosisili
Independence
• from the United Kingdom	October 4, 1966
Area
• Total	30,355 km2 (11,720 sq mi) (140th)
• Water (%)	negligible
Population
• 2009 estimate	2,067,000 (144th)
• 2004 census	2,031,348
• Density	68.1/km2 (176.4/sq mi) (138th)
GDP (PPP)	2011 estimate
• Total	$3.444 billion
• Per capita	$1,666
GDP (nominal)	2010 estimate
• Total	$2.127 billion
• Per capita	$1,029
Gini (1995)	63.2; very high
HDI (2010)	0.427; low · 141st
Currency	Lesotho loti (LSL)
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+266
ISO 3166 code	LS
Internet TLD	.ls
	1 Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

Lesotho is a small country in southern Africa. Its population is about 1,800,000. The capital of Lesotho is called Maseru.

Geography

Lesotho has no coast on the sea nor on a lake. This type of country is called landlocked, meaning it is surrounded by land. All of Lesotho's trade must either be flown in by aeroplane, or brought in by land. Lesotho position is unusual: it is completely surrounded by the country of South Africa and has no borders with any other country. This type of country is called an enclave. Enclave countries are very rare, but Lesotho is one (there are only two other countries like this, San Marino and the Vatican City). This makes Lesotho's relationship with South Africa very important to them both.

Lesotho has many mountains and is one of the most mountainous countries in the world. All of Lesotho is at least 1,400 m above sea level. People sometimes travel there to ski in winter. The many mountains in Lesotho mean that it rains there a lot. Lesotho uses some of its water to generate electricity and sells some of the water to South Africa.

Location of Lesotho

History

Lesotho became a country in 1818, but it was then called Basutoland. A man called Moshoeshoe brought several of the groups of people in the area together and formed a new country with him as its king. This new country came under attack from its enemies and in 1868 Moshoeshoe asked Queen Victoria of Great Britain for help. Great Britain said it would help if Lesotho became part of the British Empire.

Lesotho eventually gained its independence on 4 October 1966. Now it is a member of the British Commonwealth. King Letsie III is the ruler of Lesotho.

Cities

Cities in Lesotho
Rang	City	Population			District
Rang	City	Census 1986	Census 1996	Estimate 2005	District
1.	Maseru	98,017	137,837	218,355	Maseru
2.	Teyateyaneng	24,336	48,869	75,115	Berea
3.	Mafeteng	12,598	20,804	57,059	Mafeteng
4.	Hlotse	8,021	23,122	47,675	Leribe
5.	Mohale's Hoek	7,899	17,871	40,514	Mohale's Hoek
6.	Maputsoe	8,267	27,951	32,117	Leribe
7.	Qacha's Nek	4,589	4,797	25,573	Qacha's Nek
8.	Quthing	4,471	9,858	24,130	Quthing
9.	Peka	N.A.	N.A.	17,161	Leribe
10.	Butha-Buthe	7,509	12,611	16,330	Butha-Buthe
11.	Roma	5,817	N.A.	11,612	Maseru
12.	Mokhotlong	2,257	4,275	8,809	Mokhotlong
13.	Thaba-Tseka	2,127	4,449	5,423	Thaba-Tseka