Region: Southern Africa

Capital: Maseru

Population: 1 865 040 (July 2004 est.)

Surface area: 30 355 square km

Currency: loti

GDP per capita: $3 000 (2003 est.)

Historic background:
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990. 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 South African military intervention. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002.

Economy – overview:
The economy is still primarily based on subsistence agriculture, especially livestock, although drought has decreased agricultural activity. The extreme inequality in the distribution of income remains a major drawback.

Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of government revenue, but the government has strengthened its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, also generating royalties for Lesotho. Lesotho has signed an Interim Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF.

United Nations Membership date: 17 October 1966

New York Mission:
Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the United Nations, 204 East 39th Street,
New York, N.Y. 10016 USA
Telephone: 212-661-1690, 1691, 1692
Fax: 212-682-4388