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PEOPLE

Language
English and Sesotho are the official languages, but Zulu and Xhosa are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	2.1 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	2.0 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	2.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	2.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	2.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	1.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	1.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	1.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	1.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
2.5 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
The country is dominated by the Basotho people (85 percent), with a Zulu minority (15 percent). There are small communities of Asian and European origin.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Mainly Christianity, but traditional African religions are also practised.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	19.2 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	18.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	18.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	18.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	18.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	18.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	18.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	17.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1965
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2007)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	40.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	39.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	39.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	39.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	40.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	39.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +2

Climate description
Temperate, summer is the rainy season. The hottest period is December to February; moderate possibility of snow in the highlands from May to September

Currency
Maloti

Telephone dialling code
(+) 266

Driving (left/right)
Left

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	42.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	35.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	36.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	35.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	38.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	45.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	42.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	34.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	24.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	33.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	35.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	45.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	42.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	36.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	37.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	39.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	41.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	45.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	68 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	102 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	102 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	61 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	63 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	64 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	91 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	92 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	84 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	132 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	132 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	82 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	84 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	87 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	132 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	133 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	55 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	60 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	60 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	60 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	60 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	60 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	960 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	550 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	138	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	149	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	149	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	145	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	137	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	132	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	20 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	20 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	20 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	18 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	18 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	18 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	16 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	16 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	15 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	13 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	12 percent	FAO 2006
2000-2002average	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001average	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000average	26 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	78 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	79 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	76 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	78 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	36 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	37 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	37 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	49 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	82.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	81.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	81.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	83.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	83.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	73.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	73.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	73.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	73.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	72.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	90.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	90.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	90.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	93.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	93.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	19 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	15 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	284 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	224 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	178 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	125 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	99 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	64 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	71 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	36 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	35 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	34 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	29 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	17 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	92 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	84 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	79 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	70 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	Not ranked
2003	Not ranked
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	36.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	36.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	36.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	36.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	43.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	1030 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	980 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	840 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	660 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	540 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	490 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	550 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	600 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	1.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	1.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	0.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	0.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	7.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	2.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	4.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	2.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	2.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	1.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	2.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	6.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	4.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	3.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	4.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	5.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	8.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	7.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	4.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)

latest available year	0.5	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003	0.5	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)

latest available year	48.3	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003	48.3	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	5 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	5 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	7 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	7 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	23.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	23.3 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	23.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	23.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	23.7 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	637 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	638 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	639 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	643 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	635 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	613 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	576 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	553 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	8	UNHCR
2007	7	UNHCR
2006	9	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	6	UNHCR
2004	7	UNHCR
2003	No data available
2002	No data available
2001	No data available
2000	No data available

Number of refugees residing here
No data available

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	13.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	9.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	10.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	10.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	10.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	5.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	4.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	5.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	4.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	5.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003