Lesotho

Lesotho (pronounced /lɨˈsuːtuː/ ( listen) lə-SOE-toe), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave — entirely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. Its size is just over 30,000 km² with an estimated population of almost 1,800,000. Its capital is Maseru. It is the southernmost landlocked country in the world. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name Lesotho translates roughly into "the land of the people who speak Sesotho".[2] About 40% of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.

Capital(and largest city)
Maseru 29°18′S 27°28′E / 29.3°S 27.467°E / -29.3; 27.467
Official languages
Sesotho, English
Demonym
Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
Government
Parliamentary system and Constitutional monarchy
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King
Letsie III
-
Prime Minister
Pakalitha Mosisili
Independence
-
from the United Kingdom
October 4, 1966
Area
-
Total
30,355 km2 (140th)12,727 sq mi
-
Water (%)
negligible
Population
-
July 2005 estimate
1,795,0001 (146th)
-
2004 census
2,031,348
-
Density
59/km2 (138th)153/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$3.192 billion[1]
-
Per capita
$1,302[1]
GDP (nominal)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$1.620 billion[1]
-
Per capita
$661[1]
Gini (1995)
63.2 (high)
HDI (2007)
▲ 0.549 (medium) (138th)
Currency
Loti (LSL)
Time zone
(UTC+2)
Drives on the
left
Internet TLD
.ls
Calling code
266