Lesotho is
a landlocked country in Africa that is completely surrounded by its only
neighbouring country, South Africa. The former Basutoland gained its
independence from the United Kingdom and became the Kingdom of Lesotho on the 4th
of October 1966. A democratically elected government regained power in 1993.
Lesotho is home to the Basotho.
Geography
Lesotho is
the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1000 metres in
elevation. Its lowest point of 1400 metres is thus the highest in the world.
Over 80% of the country lies above 1800 metres. The climate is average and winters
in Lesotho can be cold and dry while summers can get very warm. The relief is
mostly highlands with plateaus and mountains, with as highest point the Thabana
Ntlenyana at 3482 metres. Lesotho has a border of 909 km and lies entirely
within South Africa. This makes Lesotho one of only three countries that are
completely surrounded by one other country (the other two are San Marino and
the Vatican City, both in Italy)
Poverty
According to the Development Program of the United Nations, 68,0% of the population of Lesotho live below the international poverty line of US $1.25 a day.
HIV and Aids
Lesotho is severely afflicted by HIV/Aids. According to recent estimates, the prevalence is about 23,6%. This means that of every 1000 people in Lesotho, on average 230 are infected, and it puts Lesotho on third place worldwide! In urban areas, about 50% of women under 40 have HIV.
In 2001, life expectancy was estimated at 48 years for men and at 56 for women. Recent statistics fortunately show a slight increase in life expectancy. According to CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) the average life expectancy has increased to 51 years for both men and women. (Source: the CIA World Factbook).
