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Compare key data on Lesotho & Niue

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Definitions

  • Economy > Budget surplus > + or deficit > -: This entry records the difference between national government revenues and expenditures, expressed as a percent of GDP. A positive (+) number indicates that revenues exceeded expenditures (a budget surplus), while a negative (-) number indicates the reverse (a budget deficit). Normalizing the data, by dividing the budget balance by GDP, enables easy comparisons across countries and indicates whether a national government saves or borrows money. Countries with high budget deficits (relative to their GDPs) generally have more difficulty raising funds to finance expenditures, than those with lower deficits.
  • Economy > Unemployment rate: This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
  • Geography > Area > Comparative: The area of various small countries expressed in comparison to various areas within the United States of America.
  • Geography > Area > Land: Total land area in square kilometres
  • Geography > Climate: A brief description of typical weather regimes throughout the year.
  • Geography > Geographic coordinates: This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the purpose of finding the approximate geographic center of an entity and is based on the Gazetteer of Conventional Names, Third Edition, August 1988, US Board on Geographic Names and on other sources.
  • Geography > Land area > Square miles: Country land area.
  • Government > Government type: A description of the basic form of government (e.g., republic, constitutional monarchy, federal republic, parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship).
  • Government > Legal system: A brief description of the legal system's historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.
  • Government > Legislative branch: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Government > Suffrage: The age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted
  • People > Ethnic groups: This entry provides a rank ordering of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population.
  • People > Population: Population, total refers to the total population.
  • People > Population > Population growth, past and future: Population growth rate (percentage).
  • Religion > Religions: This entry includes a rank ordering of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population.
  • Geography > Area > Total: Total area in square kilometers
  • Government > Constitution: The dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments to a nation's constitution
  • Government > Judicial branch: The name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection process for members.
  • People > Birth rate: The average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.
  • People > Population growth: Percentage by which country's population either has increased or is estimated to increase. Countries with a decrease in population are signified by a negative percentage. Future estimates are from the UN Population Division.
  • Economy > Budget > Revenues: Revenues calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms
  • Economy > GDP > Per capita > PPP: This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.
  • Government > Political parties and leaders: Significant political organizations and their leaders.
  • Economy > Economy > Overview: This entry briefly describes the type of economy, including the degree of market orientation, the level of economic development, the most important natural resources, and the unique areas of specialization. It also characterizes major economic events and policy changes in the most recent 12 months and may include a statement about one or two key future macroeconomic trends.
  • Economy > Exports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  • Government > Executive branch > Cabinet: Cabinet includes the official name for any body of high-ranking advisers roughly comparable to a U.S. Cabinet. Also notes the method for selection of members.
  • Economy > GDP > Per capita: This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measure is difficult to compute, as a US dollar value has to be assigned to all goods and services in the country regardless of whether these goods and services have a direct equivalent in the United States (for example, the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result, PPP estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes different set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not formally participate in the World Bank's PPP project that calculates these measures, so the resulting GDP estimates for these countries may lack precision. For many developing countries, PPP-based GDP measures are multiples of the official exchange rate (OER) measure. The difference between the OER- and PPP-denominated GDP values for most of the weathly industrialized countries are generally much smaller. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • Agriculture > Rural population: Total population living in rural areas. Future estimates are from the UN Population Division.
  • Energy > Electricity > Consumption > Per capita: Total electricity consumed annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • People > Death rate: The average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining fertility results in an aging population.
  • Government > Political pressure groups and leaders: Organizations with leaders involved in politics, but not standing for legislative election.
  • Geography > Natural resources: A country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance.
  • Energy > Electricity > Consumption: Total electricity consumed annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
  • People > Population growth rate: The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries.
  • Geography > Area > Land > Per capita: Total land area in square kilometres Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Media > Telephones > Mobile cellular > Per capita: The total number of mobile cellular telephones in use. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Media > Internet > Internet users per thousand people: Internet users. Figures expressed per thousand people for the same year.
  • Agriculture > Agricultural growth: Index of agricultural production in 1996 - 98 (1989 - 91 = 100)
  • Economy > Inflation rate > Consumer prices: This entry furnishes the annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the previous year's consumer prices.
  • Language > Languages: A rank ordering of languages starting with the largest and sometimes includes the percent of total population speaking that language.
  • Transport > Road network length > Km: Length of road network in kilometers in European Union countries.
  • Economy > GDP > Composition, by sector of origin > Services: This entry is derived from Economy > GDP > Composition, by sector of origin, which shows where production takes place in an economy. The distribution gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other private economic activities that do not produce material goods.
  • Government > Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.
  • Education > Literacy > Total population: This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of our source. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons.
  • Education > College and university > Gender parity index: Country's gender parity index for college and university enrollment. For countries with a rating of over 1, more females are enrolled while countries with a rating under 1 have more males enrolled.
  • Religion > Religions > All: This entry includes a rank ordering of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population.
  • Energy > Oil > Consumption > Per capita: This entry is the total oil consumed in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • People > Population in 2015: (Thousands) Medium-variant projections.
  • Health > Births and maternity > Average age of mother at childbirth: Average age of mother at first childbirth.
  • Geography > Terrain: A brief description of the topography
  • Geography > Location: The country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water.
  • Labor > Labor force > By occupation: Component parts of the labor force by occupation.
  • Labor > Unemployment rate: The percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
  • Government > Executive branch > Head of government: Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government.
  • Geography > Coastline: The total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea.
  • Labor > Labor force: The total labor force figure
  • Environment > Current issues: This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
  • Energy > Oil > Consumption: This entry is the total oil consumed in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
  • Health > Life expectancy > Men: Life expectancy for men.
  • Media > Television > List of TV stations: List of TV stations.
  • Government > Executive branch > Chief of state: The name and title of any person or role roughly equivalent to a U.S. Chief of State. This means the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government
  • Economy > GDP > Purchasing power parity: This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measure is difficult to compute, as a US dollar value has to be assigned to all goods and services in the country regardless of whether these goods and services have a direct equivalent in the United States (for example, the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result, PPP estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes different set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not formally participate in the World Bank's PPP project that calculates these measures, so the resulting GDP estimates for these countries may lack precision. For many developing countries, PPP-based GDP measures are multiples of the official exchange rate (OER) measure. The difference between the OER- and PPP-denominated GDP values for most of the weathly industrialized countries are generally much smaller.
  • Government > Capital city > Name: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Government > Capital city > Geographic coordinates: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Government > International organization participation: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
  • Religion > Major religion(s): Country major religions.
  • Geography > Area > Water: Total water area in square kilometers
  • Transport > Airports: Total number of airports. Runways must be useable, but may be unpaved. May not have facilities for refuelling, maintenance, or air traffic control.
  • Geography > Area > Comparative to US places: This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).
  • Language > Major language(s): Country major languages.
  • Economy > Fiscal year: The beginning and ending months for a country's accounting period of 12 months, which often is the calendar year but which may begin in any month. All yearly references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY).
  • Background > Overview: A geopolitical overview of every sovereign country in the world, briefly examining their recent history and place on the global stage. The texts are taken from the BBC News website.
  • Economy > GDP > Composition by sector > Industry: The gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods produced by the industrial sector within a nation in a given year. GDP dollar estimates in the Factbook are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations. See the CIA World Factbook for more information.
  • People > Nationality > Noun: The noun which identifies citizens of the nation
  • Health > Diseases > Cancer > Cancer death rate (per 100,000 population): The number of people that will die from cancer out of 100,000 people the same age. The number is not an accurate telling of the country's cancer rate, but rather how fatal cancer is in each country.
  • Media > Radio > List of radio stations: List of radio stations.
  • Geography > Elevation extremes > Highest point: Highest point above sea level
  • Agriculture > Agricultural growth per capita: Net per capita agricultural production, expressed in International Dollars. Net means after deduction of feed and seed. International Dollars are calculated using the Geary-Khamis formula, which is designed to neutralize irrelevant exchange rate movements (more information on http://faostat3.fao.org/faostat-gateway/go/to/mes/glossary/*/E)
  • Agriculture > Products: Major agricultural crops and products
  • People > Physicians density: This entry gives the number of medical doctors (physicians), including generalist and specialist medical practitioners, per 1,000 of the population. Medical doctors are defined as doctors that study, diagnose, treat, and prevent illness, disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans through the application of modern medicine. They also plan, supervise, and evaluate care and treatment plans by other health care providers. The World Health Organization estimates that fewer than 2.3 health workers (physicians, nurses, and midwives only) per 1,000 would be insufficient to achieve coverage of primary healthcare needs.
  • Military > Military branches: This entry lists the service branches subordinate to defense ministries or the equivalent (typically ground, naval, air, and marine forces).
  • Energy > Electricity > Installed generating capacity per thousand people: This entry is the total capacity of currently installed generators, expressed in kilowatts (kW), to produce electricity. A 10-kilowatt (kW) generator will produce 10 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, if it runs continuously for one hour. Figures expressed per thousand people for the same year.
  • Economy > Exports > Commodities: This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued exported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  • Religion > Seventh-day Adventist Membership: This entry lists Seventh-day Adventist membership worldwide as of 2004. Membership is defined as baptised and active.
  • Energy > Electricity > Production: The annual electricity generated expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
  • Government > Country name > Conventional long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • People > Cities > Urban population: Total population living in urban areas. The defition of an urban area differs for each country. Future estimates are from the UN Population Division.
  • Geography > Land use > Arable land: The percentage of used land that is arable. Arable land is land cultivated for crops that are replanted after each harvest like wheat, maize, and rice
  • Economy > Imports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  • People > Nationality > Adjective: This entry is derived from People > Nationality, which provides the identifying terms for citizens - noun and adjective.
  • Media > Radio broadcast stations: The total number of AM, FM, and shortwave broadcast stations.
  • Health > Deaths > Percent deaths registered: Civil registration coverage of deaths (%).
  • Government > Executive branch > Elections: Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election
  • Religion > Christian > Mormon > Congregations: Total Congregations.
  • Economy > Budget > Expenditures: Expenditures calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms
  • Energy > Crude oil > Production: This entry is the total amount of crude oil produced, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  • Economy > Budget > Revenues > Per capita: Revenues calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • Government > Leaders > Prime minister: Government > Leaders > Prime minister
  • Education > Child care (preschool) > Duration: Number of years students study at the pre-primary (preschool) level. It should be noted that not all countries require pre-primary education.
  • Health > Births and maternity > Infant mortality rate: How many infants, out of 1000, who will die before attaining one year of age.
  • Environment > Proportion of land area under protection: Terrestrial areas protected to total surface area, percentage.
  • Health > Life expectancy > Women: Life expectancy for women.
  • Economy > Exports > Main exports: Country main exports.
  • Geography > Natural hazards: Potential natural disasters.
  • Government > Flag description: A written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
  • Economy > Debt > External: Total public and private debt owed to non-residents repayable in foreign currency, goods, or services.
  • Media > Telephones > Main lines in use > Per capita: The total number of main telephone lines in use. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Language > Linguistic diversity index: LDI.
  • Economy > GDP > Composition by sector > Services: The gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final services produced within a nation in a given year. GDP dollar estimates in the Factbook are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations. See the CIA World Factbook for more information.
  • Energy > Electricity > Production > Per capita: The annual electricity generated expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
STAT Lesotho Niue HISTORY
Economy > Budget surplus > + or deficit > - 5% of GDP
Ranked 12th.
-12.6% of GDP
Ranked 1st.
Economy > Unemployment rate 25%
Ranked 6th. 2 times more than Niue
12%
Ranked 4th.
Geography > Area > Comparative slightly smaller than Maryland 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Geography > Area > Land 30,355 sq km
Ranked 136th. 117 times more than Niue
260 sq km
Ranked 205th.

Geography > Climate temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Geography > Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E 19 02 S, 169 52 W
Geography > Land area > Square miles 11,720 square miles
Ranked 61st. 117 times more than Niue
100 square miles
Ranked 90th.
Government > Government type parliamentary constitutional monarchy self-governing parliamentary democracy
Government > Legal system mixed legal system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal English common law
Government > Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate unicameral Legislative Assembly
Government > Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
People > Ethnic groups Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%, Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3%
People > Population 1.94 million
Ranked 148th. 1575 times more than Niue
1,229
Ranked 231st.

People > Population > Population growth, past and future -0.01
Ranked 75th.
-0.202
Ranked 129th. 20 times more than Lesotho

Religion > Religions Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints 8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9%
Geography > Area > Total 30,355 sq km
Ranked 143th. 117 times more than Niue
260 sq km
Ranked 212th.

Government > Constitution previous 1959, 1967; latest adopted 2 April 1993 (effectively restoring the 1967 version); amended 2001 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Government > Judicial branch High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
People > Birth rate 26.31 births/1,000 population
Ranked 51st.
-9 births/1,000 population
Ranked 224th.
People > Population growth -0.01%
Ranked 75th.
-0.202%
Ranked 129th. 20 times more than Lesotho

Economy > Budget > Revenues $1.66 billion
Ranked 148th. 110 times more than Niue
$15.07 million
Ranked 217th.

Economy > GDP > Per capita > PPP $2,100.00
Ranked 150th.
$5,800.00
Ranked 3rd. 3 times more than Lesotho

Government > Political parties and leaders All Basotho Convention or ABC [Motsoahae Thomas THABANE]<br />Basotho Batho Democratic Party or BBDP [Geremane RAMATHEBANE]<br />Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Thulo MAHLAKENG]<br />Basotho Democratic National Party or BDNP [Thabang NYEOE]<br />Basotho National Party or BNP [Thesele 'MASERIBANE]<br />Democratic Congress or DC [Pakalitha MOSISILI]<br />Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Mothetjoa METSING]<br />Lesotho Peoples Congress or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]<br />Lesotho Workers Party or LWP [Macaefa BILLY]<br />Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]<br />National Independent Party or NIP [Kimetso MATHABA]<br /> Alliance of Independents or AI<br />Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
Economy > Economy > Overview Small, mountainous, and completely landlocked by South Africa, Lesotho is a least developed country in which about three-fourths of the people live in rural areas and engage in subsistence agriculture. Lesotho produces less than 20% of the nation's demand for food. Rain-fed agriculture is vulnerable to weather and climate variability; an estimated 725,500 people will require food assistance in 2012/13. The distribution of income in Lesotho remains inequitable. Lesotho relies on South Africa for much of its economic activity. Lesotho imports 90% of the goods it consumes from South Africa, including most agricultural inputs. Households depend heavily on remittances from family members working in South Africa, in mines, on farms and as domestic workers, though mining employment has declined substantially since the 1990s. Government revenue depends heavily on transfers from South Africa. Customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union accounted for 44% of government revenue in 2012. The South African Government also pays royalties for water transferred to South Africa from a dam and reservoir system in Lesotho. However, the government continues to strengthen its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties and other transfers. Access to credit remains a problem for the private sector. The government maintains a large presence in the economy - public expenditures accounted for 55% of GDP in 2010 and the government remains Lesotho's largest employer. Lesotho's largest private employer is the textile and garment industry - approximately 36,000 Basotho, mainly women, work in factories producing garments for export to South Africa and the US. Diamond mining in Lesotho has grown in recent years and may contribute 8.5% to GDP by 2015, according to current forecasts. Lesotho's $362.5 million Millennium Challenge Account Compact, which focused on strengthening the healthcare system, developing the private sector, and providing access to improved water supplies and sanitation facilities, will end in September 2013. Despite the 2008/09 global economic crisis, the economy has recovered strongly with growth averaging nearly 5% per year since 2010. The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and financial services, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in FY08/09 was US$5.7 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon in January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.
Economy > Exports $972.40 million
Ranked 150th. 4828 times more than Niue
$201,400.00
Ranked 13th.
Government > Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers
Economy > GDP > Per capita $1,524.64 per capita
Ranked 97th.
$4,666.67 per capita
Ranked 17th. 3 times more than Lesotho
Agriculture > Rural population 51,287
Ranked 41st.
51,471
Ranked 40th. About the same as Lesotho

Energy > Electricity > Consumption > Per capita 243.22 kWh per capita
Ranked 115th.
1,869.97 kWh per capita
Ranked 63th. 8 times more than Lesotho

People > Death rate 15.02 deaths/1,000 population
Ranked 3rd.
-9 deaths/1,000 population
Ranked 224th.
Government > Political pressure groups and leaders Media Institute of Southern Africa, Lesotho chapter [Tsebo MATÅ ASA] (pushes for media freedom) NA
Geography > Natural resources water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone fish, arable land
Energy > Electricity > Consumption 307 million kWh
Ranked 127th. 110 times more than Niue
2.79 million kWh
Ranked 166th.

People > Population growth rate 0.34%
Ranked 162nd.
-0.03%
Ranked 198th.

Geography > Area > Land > Per capita 14.26 sq km per 1,000 people
Ranked 102nd.
180.06 sq km per 1,000 people
Ranked 15th. 13 times more than Lesotho

Media > Telephones > Mobile cellular > Per capita 214.56 per 1,000 people
Ranked 129th.
278.29 per 1,000 people
Ranked 26th. 30% more than Lesotho
Media > Internet > Internet users per thousand people 45.76
Ranked 183th.
822.62
Ranked 24th. 18 times more than Lesotho
Agriculture > Agricultural growth 88
Ranked 182nd.
105
Ranked 116th. 19% more than Lesotho

Media > Internet users 76,800
Ranked 162nd. 70 times more than Niue
1,100
Ranked 204th.
Economy > Inflation rate > Consumer prices 6.1%
Ranked 59th. 53% more than Niue
4%
Ranked 2nd.

Language > Languages Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Transport > Road network length > Km
Economy > GDP > Composition, by sector of origin > Services 58%
Ranked 102nd. 17% more than Niue
49.5%
Ranked 2nd.
Government > Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka none
Education > Literacy > Total population 84.8%
Ranked 98th.
95%
Ranked 9th. 12% more than Lesotho

Education > College and university > Gender parity index 1.25
Ranked 50th.
0.0
Ranked 131st.

Religion > Religions > All Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints 8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)
Energy > Oil > Consumption > Per capita 0.783 bbl/day per 1,000 peopl
Ranked 150th.
9.23 bbl/day per 1,000 peopl
Ranked 87th. 12 times more than Lesotho

People > Population in 2015 1,744 thousand
Ranked 144th. 872 times more than Niue
2 thousand
Ranked 221st.
Health > Births and maternity > Average age of mother at childbirth 27.9
Ranked 19th.
29
Ranked 13th. 4% more than Lesotho

Geography > Terrain mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Geography > Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Labor > Labor force > By occupation 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Labor > Unemployment rate 45%
Ranked 4th. 4 times more than Niue
12%
Ranked 16th.
Government > Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas THABANE (since 8 June 2012) Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
Geography > Coastline 0.0
Ranked 216th.
64 km
Ranked 174th.

Labor > Labor force 854,600
Ranked 129th. 1289 times more than Niue
663
Ranked 52nd.
Environment > Current issues population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
Energy > Oil > Consumption 2,000 bbl/day
Ranked 173th. 100 times more than Niue
20 bbl/day
Ranked 170th.

Health > Life expectancy > Men 50 years
Ranked 81st.
67 years
Ranked 75th. 34% more than Lesotho
Media > Television > List of TV stations <p>Lesotho Television - national, state-run</p> <p>Television Niue - operated by Niue Broadcasting Corporation</p>
Government > Executive branch > Chief of state King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996) Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Mark BLUMSKY (since September 2011)
Economy > GDP > Purchasing power parity $4.04 billion
Ranked 162nd. 404 times more than Niue
$10.01 million
Ranked 6th.

Government > Capital city > Name Maseru Alofi
Government > Capital city > Geographic coordinates 29 19 S, 27 29 E 19 01 S, 169 55 W
Government > International organization participation ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Religion > Major religion(s) Christianity Christianity
Geography > Area > Water 0.0
Ranked 185th.
0.0
Ranked 192nd.

Media > Broadcast media 1 m 1 m
Transport > Airports 24
Ranked 130th. 24 times more than Niue
1
Ranked 219th.

Geography > Area > Comparative to US places slightly smaller than Maryland 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Language > Major language(s) Sesotho, English Niuean, English
Economy > Fiscal year 1 1
Background > Overview <p>The Kingdom of Lesotho is made up mostly of highlands where many of the villages can be reached only on horseback, by foot or light aircraft.</p> <p>During the winter shepherds wearing only boots and wrap-around blankets have to contend with snow.</p> <p>While much of the tiny country, with spectacular canyons and thatched huts, remains untouched by modern machines, developers have laid down roads to reach its mineral and water resources.</p><br> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13728324">Full Article</a> <p>The residents of the Pacific island of Niue are far outnumbered by their compatriots who have migrated to New Zealand.</p> <p>Home to fewer than 2,000 islanders, the self-governing coral atoll is trying to encourage some of the 20,000 overseas Niueans - many of them New Zealand-born - to return. </p> <p>Niue operates in free association with New Zealand, its main source of aid and its biggest trading partner. New Zealand is obliged under the island&#039;s constitution to provide &quot;necessary economic and administrative assistance&quot;. All Niueans are New Zealand citizens and can take up residency there.</p><br> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-16536890">Full Article</a>
Economy > GDP > Composition by sector > Industry 34.6%
Ranked 52nd. 29% more than Niue
26.9%
Ranked 106th.

People > Nationality > Noun Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) Niuean(s)
Health > Diseases > Cancer > Cancer death rate (per 100,000 population) 101
Ranked 155th. 44% more than Niue
70
Ranked 179th.
Media > Radio > List of radio stations <p>Radio Lesotho - national, state-run</p> </p>MoAfrika FM - private, Maseru-based</p> </p>People&#039;s Choice FM - private</p> <br> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13728327">Full Article</a> <p>Radio Sunshine - operated by Niue Broadcasting Corporation</p>
Geography > Elevation extremes > Highest point Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m unnamed elevation near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Agriculture > Agricultural growth per capita 83 Int. $
Ranked 178th.
135 Int. $
Ranked 10th. 63% more than Lesotho

Agriculture > Products corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava, sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
People > Physicians density 0.05 physicians/1,000 population
Ranked 6th.
6 physicians/1,000 population
Ranked 2nd. 120 times more than Lesotho

Military > Military branches Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing) no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
Energy > Electricity > Installed generating capacity per thousand people 37.83 kW
Ranked 157th.
738.55 kW
Ranked 80th. 20 times more than Lesotho
Economy > Exports > Commodities manufactures (clothing, footwear), wool and mohair, food and live animals, electricity, water, diamonds canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Religion > Seventh-day Adventist Membership 5,141
Ranked 98th. 321 times more than Niue
16
Ranked 202nd.
Energy > Electricity > Production 200 million kWh
Ranked 131st. 67 times more than Niue
3 million kWh
Ranked 161st.

Government > Country name > Conventional long form Kingdom of Lesotho none
People > Cities > Urban population 48,713
Ranked 183th. About the same as Niue
48,529
Ranked 184th.

Geography > Land use > Arable land 10.14%
Ranked 102nd. 3 times more than Niue
3.85%
Ranked 159th.

Economy > Imports $2.24 billion
Ranked 149th. 248 times more than Niue
$9.04 million
Ranked 15th.
People > Nationality > Adjective Basotho Niuean
Media > Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Health > Deaths > Percent deaths registered <25 >75
Government > Executive branch > Elections according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party, or coalition of parties, in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarchy is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution that came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, determine who is next in the line of succession, or who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age the monarchy is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held on 16 May 2011 (next to be held in 2014)
Religion > Christian > Mormon > Congregations 2
Ranked 124th. The same as Niue
2
Ranked 126th.
Economy > Budget > Expenditures $1.54 billion
Ranked 148th. 94 times more than Niue
$16.33 million
Ranked 2nd.

Energy > Crude oil > Production 0.0
Ranked 170th.
0.0
Ranked 175th.

Economy > Budget > Revenues > Per capita $446.06 per capita
Ranked 57th.
$6,957.52 per capita
Ranked 35th. 16 times more than Lesotho
Government > Leaders > Prime minister Motsoahae Thomas Thabane Toke Talagi
Education > Child care (preschool) > Duration 3
Ranked 63th. 3 times more than Niue
1
Ranked 198th.

Health > Births and maternity > Infant mortality rate 74.2
Ranked 11th. 4 times more than Niue
21.2
Ranked 79th.

Environment > Proportion of land area under protection 0.506%
Ranked 207th.
9.08%
Ranked 136th. 18 times more than Lesotho

Health > Life expectancy > Women 48 years
Ranked 88th.
76 years
Ranked 63th. 58% more than Lesotho
Economy > Exports > Main exports Water, diamonds, clothing, wool, mohair, food, livestock Root crops, coconuts, honey
Geography > Natural hazards periodic droughts typhoons
Government > Flag description three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each arm of the bold red cross; the larger star stands for Niue, the smaller stars recall the Southern Cross constellation on the New Zealand flag and symbolize links with that country; yellow represents the bright sunshine of Niue and the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand
Economy > Debt > External $779.80 million
Ranked 154th. 1866 times more than Niue
$418,000.00
Ranked 6th.

Media > Telephones > Main lines in use > Per capita 29.68 per 1,000 people
Ranked 115th.
839.05 per 1,000 people
Ranked 1st. 28 times more than Lesotho
Education > Girls to boys ratio > Primary level enrolment 1
Ranked 29th.
1.19
Ranked 2nd. 19% more than Lesotho

Language > Linguistic diversity index 0.26
Ranked 129th. 4 times more than Niue
0.071
Ranked 164th.
Economy > GDP > Composition by sector > Services 58.7%
Ranked 93th. 19% more than Niue
49.5%
Ranked 5th.

Energy > Electricity > Production > Per capita 236.21 kWh per capita
Ranked 138th.
2,010.72 kWh per capita
Ranked 84th. 9 times more than Lesotho

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; British Broadcasting Corporation 2014; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Population Division; United Nations Population Division. Source tables; CIA World Factbook 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; United Nations Population Division. Source tables; Wikipedia: List of countries by number of Internet users (Calculated using penetration rate and population data from "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012" , Population data, International Programs, U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013). Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2001; Internet World Stats, June 30, 2010; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; CIA World Factbook, 22 August 2006; Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision and World Urbanization Prospects: http://esa.un.org/unpp; United Nations Population Division. Source tables; World Health Organization. Source tables; http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?d=FAO&f=itemCode%3a2051, Agriculture (PIN) +; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 25 March 2010.; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; adventiststatistics.org 2004 Annual Report 31 December 2004; United Nations Population Division. Source tables; World Health Organization. Source tables; Wikipedia: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France (Membership Statistics); UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Source tables; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; Source: UNESCO UIS Data | UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Wikipedia: Linguistic diversity index (Rankings by country) (UNESCO World Report – Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue)

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