Lesotho - Country facts
Location
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Background
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and reinstated in 1995. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Botswanan military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002.
Climate
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Population
1,867,035
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AI
Ethnic Groups
Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Religions
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Languages
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Map of Lesotho
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