Lesotho

Lesotho, formally theKingdom of Lesotho, formerly known asBasutoland, is alandlocked countryinSouthern Africa. As anenclaveofSouth Africa, with which it shares a 1,106 km (687 mi) border,it is the largest sovereign enclave in the world, and the only one outside of theItalian Peninsula. It is situated in theMaloti Mountainsand contains thehighest peak in Southern Africa.It has an area of over 30,000 km(11,600 sq mi) and has a population of about two million. Itscapitaland largest city isMaseru. The country is also known by the nicknameThe Mountain Kingdom/The Kingdom in the Sky.
TheSotho ethnic group(also known as Basotho), from which the country derives its name, composes 99.7% of the country's current population, making it one of the mostethnically homogeneousin the world. Their native language,Sesotho, is the official language along withEnglish. The nameLesothotranslates to "land of the Sesotho speakers".
Lesotho was formed in 1824 byKing Moshoeshoe I. Continuous encroachments by Dutch settlers made the King enter into an agreement with theBritish Empireto become aprotectoratein 1868 and, in 1884, acrown colony.It achieved independencein 1966, and was subsequently ruled by theBasotho National Party(BNP) for two decades. Its constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule.King Moshoeshoe IIwas exiled in 1990 but returned in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995. One year later, Moshoeshoe II died and his sonLetsie IIItook the throne, which he still holds.
Lesotho is considered alower middle income countrywith significant socioeconomic challenges. Almost half of its population is below the poverty line, and the country'sHIV/AIDS prevalence rate is the second-highest in the world. However, it also targets a high rate of universal primary education and hasone of the highest rates of literacyin Africa (81% as of 2021). Lesotho is a member of theUnited Nations, theNon-Aligned Movement, theCommonwealth of Nations, theAfrican Union, and theSouthern African Development Community. According to 2023V-Dem Democracy indices, Lesotho is ranked 64thelectoral democracy worldwideand 7thelectoral democracy in Africa.
Basutolandemerged as a singlepolityunder KingMoshoeshoe Iin 1822. Moshoeshoe, a son of Mokhachane, a minorchiefof the Bakoteli lineage, formed his ownclanand became a chief around 1804. Between 1820 and 1823, he and his followers settled at theButha-ButheMountain, joining with former adversaries in resistance against theLifaqaneassociated with the reign ofShakaZulu from 1818 to 1828.
Further evolution of the state emerged from conflicts betweenBritishandDutchcolonists leaving theCape Colonyfollowing its seizure from the French-allied Dutch by the British in 1795, and also from theOrange River Sovereigntyand subsequentOrange Free State. Missionaries Thomas Arbousset, Eugène Casalis and Constant Gosselin from theParis Evangelical Missionary Society, invited by Moshoeshoe I, were placed atMorija, developing Sesothoorthographyand printed works in theSesotho languagebetween 1837 and 1855. Casalis, acting as translator and providing advice on foreign affairs, helped set up diplomatic channels and acquire guns for use against the encroaching Europeans and theGriqua people.
Trekboersfrom Cape Colony arrived on the western borders of Basutoland and claimed rights to its land, the first of which being Jan de Winnaar who settled in the Matlakeng area in 1838. IncomingBoersattempted to colonise the land between the two rivers and north of theCaledon, claiming that it had been abandoned by the Sotho people. Moshoeshoe subsequently signed a treaty with the British Governor of the Cape Colony, SirGeorge Thomas Napier, that annexed the Orange River Sovereignty where Boers had settled. These outraged Boers were suppressed in a skirmish in 1848. In 1851, a British force was defeated by the Basotho army at the city of Kolonyama. After repelling another British attack in 1852, Moshoeshoe sent an appeal to the British commander that settled the dispute diplomatically, and then defeated the Batlokoa in 1853. In 1854, the British pulled out of the region, and in 1858, Moshoeshoe fought a series of wars with the Boers in what is known as theFree State–Basotho War. As a result, Moshoeshoe lost a portion of the western lowlands. The last war with the Boers ended in 1867 when Moshoeshoe appealed toQueen Victoriawho agreed to make Basutoland aBritish protectoratein 1868.
In 1869, the British signed a treaty atAliwal Northwith the Boers that defined the boundaries of Basutoland. This treaty reduced Moshoeshoe's kingdom to half its previous size by ceding the western territories. Then, the British transferred functions from Moshoeshoe's capital inThaba Bosiuto a police camp on the northwest border,Maseru, until eventually the administration of Basutoland was transferred to the Cape Colony in 1871. Moshoeshoe died on 11 March 1870, marking the beginning of the colonial era of Basutoland. In the Cape Colony period between 1871 and 1884, Basutoland was treated similarly to other territories that had been forcibly annexed, much to the humiliation of the Basotho, leading to theBasuto Gun Warin 1880–1881.In 1884, the territory became aCrown colonyby the name of Basutoland, with Maseru as its capital. It remained under direct rule by a governor, while effective internal power was wielded bytribal chiefs. In 1905, arailway linewas built to connect Maseru to the railway network of South Africa.
Basutoland gained its independence from the United Kingdom and became the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966.TheBasotho National Party(BNP) ruled from 1966 until January 1970. What later ensued was ade factogovernment led byLeabua Jonathan.
In January 1970, the ruling BNP lost thefirst post-independence general elections, with 23 seats to theBasotho Congress Party's (BCP) 36. Prime Minister Jonathan refused to cede power to BCP, instead declaring himself prime minister and imprisoning the BCP leadership. BCP began a rebellion and then received training inLibyafor itsLesotho Liberation Army(LLA) under the pretense of beingAzanian People's Liberation Armysoldiers of thePan Africanist Congress(PAC). Deprived of arms and supplies by theDavid Sibekofaction of PAC in 1978, the 178-strong LLA was rescued from theirTanzanianbase by the financial assistance of aMaoistPAC officer and launched aguerrilla war. A force was defeated in northern Lesotho, and later guerrillas launched more sporadic attacks. The campaign was compromised when BCP's leader,Ntsu Mokhehle, went toPretoria. In the 1980s, some Basotho who sympathised with the exiled BCP were threatened with death and attacked by the government of Leabua Jonathan. On 4 September 1981, the family of Benjamin Masilo was attacked. In the attack his 3-year-old grandson died. Four days later, Edgar Mahlomola Motuba, the editor of the newspaperLeselinyana la Lesotho, was abducted from his home, together with two friends, and murdered.
After Jonathan was sacked in a 1986 coup, the Transitional Military Council that came to power granted executive powers toKing Moshoeshoe II, who was until then aceremonial monarch. In 1987 the king was forced intoexileafter coming up with a 6-page memorandum on how he wanted the Lesotho's constitution to be, which would have given him more executive powers than the military government had originally agreed to. His son was installed asKing Letsie IIIin his place.
The chairman of themilitary junta, Major GeneralJustin Metsing Lekhanya, was ousted in 1991 and replaced by Major GeneralElias Phisoana Ramaemawho handed over power to a democratically elected government of BCP in 1993. Moshoeshoe II returned from exile in 1992 as an ordinary citizen. After the return to democratic government, King Letsie III tried unsuccessfully to persuade the BCP government to reinstate his father (Moshoeshoe II) ashead of state. In August 1994, Letsie III stageda military-backed coupthat deposed the BCP government, after the BCP government refused to reinstate his father, Moshoeshoe II, according to Lesotho's constitution. Member states of theSouthern African Development Community(SADC) engaged in negotiations to reinstate the BCP government. One of the conditions Letsie III put forward for this was that his father should be re-installed as head of state. After protracted negotiations, the BCP government was reinstated and Letsie III abdicated in favour of his father in 1995, and ascended the throne again when Moshoeshoe II died at the age of 57 in a supposed road accident when his car plunged off a mountain road on 15 January 1996. According to a government statement, Moshoeshoe had set out at 1 am to visit hiscattleat Matsieng and was returning toMaseruthrough theMaluti Mountainswhen his car left the road.
In 1997, the ruling BCP split over leadership disputes.Prime MinisterNtsu Mokhehleformed a new party, theLesotho Congress for Democracy(LCD), and was followed by a majority of members ofparliament, which enabled him to form a new government.Pakalitha Mosisilisucceeded Mokhehle as party leader and LCD won the general elections in 1998. Opposition protests "intensified", culminating in a demonstration outside the royalpalacein August 1998. While theBotswana Defence Forcetroops were welcomed, tensions withSouth African National Defence Forcetroops resulted in fighting. Incidences ofrioting"intensified" when South African troops hoisted a South African flag over the Royal Palace. By the time the SADC forces withdrew in May 1999, much of the capital ofMaseru"lay in ruins", and the southern provincial capital towns ofMafetengandMohale's Hoekhad lost over a third of their commercialreal estate.
An Interim Political Authority (IPA), charged with reviewing the electoral structure in the country, was created in December 1998. IPA devised a proportional electoral system to ensure that the opposition would be represented in theNational Assembly. The new system retained the existing 80 elected Assembly seats, and added 40 seats to be filled on a proportional basis.Electionswere held under this new system in May 2002, and LCD won, gaining 54% of the vote. There are irregularities and threats of violence from Major General Lekhanya. Nine opposition parties hold all 40 of the proportional seats, with BNP having the largest share (21). LCD has 79 of the 80constituency-based seats.While its elected members participate in the National Assembly, BNP has launched legal challenges to the elections, including a recount.
On 30 August 2014, an alleged abortive military "coup" took place, forcing then Prime MinisterThomas Thabaneto flee to South Africa for three days.On 19 May 2020, Thomas Thabane formally stepped down as prime minister of Lesotho following months of pressure after he was named as a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife.Moeketsi Majoro, the economist and former Minister of Development Planning, was elected as Thabane's successor.
On 13 May 2020, according to the health ministry, Lesotho became the last African nation to report aCOVID-19 case.
On 28 October 2022,Sam Matekanewas sworn in as Lesotho's new Prime Minister after forming a new coalition government. HisRevolution for Prosperity(RFP) party, formed earlier same year, won the 7 Octoberelections.
The Lesotho Government is a parliamentaryconstitutional monarchy. The Prime Minister,Sam Matekane, is thehead of governmentand hasexecutive authority. TheKing of Lesotho,Letsie III, is thehead of stateand serves a "largely ceremonial function"; he no longer possesses any executive authority and is prohibited from actively participating in political initiatives.
The Revolution for Prosperity leads acoalition governmentin theNational Assembly, the lower house of parliament. The upper house of parliament, theSenate, is composed of 22 principal chiefs whose membership is hereditary, and 11 appointees of the king, acting on the advice of the prime minister. The constitution provides for an independent judicial system, made up of the High Court, the Court of Appeal, Magistrate's Courts, and traditional courts that exist predominantly in rural areas. All but one of the Justices on the Court of Appeal are South African jurists. There is no trial by jury; rather, judges make rulings alone or, in the case of criminal trials, with two other judges as observers. The constitution protects somecivil liberties, includingfreedom of speech,freedom of association,freedom of the press,freedom of peaceful assembly, andfreedom of religion. Lesotho was ranked 12th out of 48 sub-Saharan African countries in the 2008Ibrahim Index of African Governance.
In 2010, thePeople's Charter Movementcalled for the practical annexation of the country by South Africa due to theHIV epidemic. Nearly a quarter of the population tests positive forHIV.The country has faced economic collapse, a weaker currency, and travel documents restricting movement. AnAfrican Unionreport called for economic integration of Lesotho with South Africa and stopped short of suggesting annexation. In May 2010, the Charter Movement delivered a petition to the South AfricanHigh Commissionrequesting integration. South Africa's home affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa rejected the idea that Lesotho should be treated as a special case.
At the peak of the AIDS epidemic, over 30,000 Lesotho residents signed a petition for the country to be annexed to prevent life expectancy from falling to 34 years old.Scholars of comparative politics, like inJeffrey Herbst's "War and the State of Africa", argue that the lack of border disputes for countries like Lesotho andEswatinihas kept the countries weak politically.This weakness stems from the remnants of colonialism in the government, influenced by English andRoman-Dutch common law.As a result, the government was not made to serve the Basotho people but rather to be exploitative.
After prime ministerTom Thabaneresigned due to impeachment threats and a warrant of arrest for the murder of his wife in 2020, the South African finance minister suggested a confederation between Lesotho, Eswatini, and South Africa as a solution.His successor,Moeketsi Majoro, held office from 2020 to 2022 until he similarly resignedafter a vote of "no-confidence" in Parliament for misconduct with the military and improperly handlingCOVID-19.While prime ministerSam Matekaneis working with theSouth African Development Community(SADC) towards legal reform, his administration still shows signs of corruption, as 40,000 garment workers protested for better conditions and faced excessive force that killed two protestors.
Lesotho is a member of some regional economic organisations, including theSouthern African Development Community(SADC)and theSouthern African Customs Union(SACU).It is active in the United Nations (UN), theAfrican Union(AU), theNon-Aligned Movement(NAM), theCommonwealth, and other international organisations.
Lesotho has maintained ties with the United Kingdom (Wales in particular), Germany, the United States, and otherWestern states. It broke relations withChinaand re-established relations withTaiwanin 1990, and later restored ties with China. It recognises theState of Palestine.From 2014 up until 2018, it recognised theRepublic of Kosovo.
It was a public opponent ofapartheidin South Africa and granted a number of South African refugees political asylum during the apartheid era.In 2019, it signed theUN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
TheLesotho Defence Force(LDF) is charged with the maintenance of internal security and the defence of Lesotho. Its chief officer is designatedCommander.
TheLesotho Mounted Police Service(LMPS) is charged with the maintenance of law and order. Its chief officer is designatedCommissioner. LMPS provides uniformed policing, criminal detection, and traffic policing. There are specialist units dealing with high-tech crime, immigration, wildlife, and terrorism. The force has existed, with changes of name, continuously since 1872.
TheLesotho National Security Service(LNSS) is charged with the protection of national security. Established in modern form by the National Security Services Act of 1998, its chief officer is designatedDirector General, and appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister.LNSS is an intelligence service, part of the Ministry of Defence and National Security, and reporting directly to the Government.
The Constitution of Lesotho came into force after the publication of the Commencement Order. Constitutionally, legislation refers to laws that have been passed by both houses of parliament and have been assented to by the king (Section 78(1)). Subordinate legislation refers to laws passed by other bodies to which parliament has, by virtue of Section 70(2) of the Constitution, validly delegated such legislative powers. These include government publications, ministerial orders, ministerial regulations, and municipalby-laws.
While Lesotho shares withSouth Africa,Botswana,Eswatini,Namibia, andZimbabwea mixed general legal system which resulted from the interaction between the Roman-Dutchcivil lawand theEnglish common law. Its general law operates independently. Lesotho applies thecommon law, which refers to unwritten law or law from non-statutory sources, and excludescustomary law. Decisions from South African courts are only persuasive, and courts refer to them in formulating their decisions. Decisions from some jurisdictions can be cited for their persuasive value. Magistrates' court decisions do not become precedent since these are lower courts. They are bound by the decisions of the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal, the final appellate forum on all matters, has supervisory and review jurisdiction over all the courts of Lesotho.
Lesotho has a dual legal system consisting of customary and general laws operating side by side. Customary law is made up of the customs of the Basotho, written and codified in the Laws of Lerotholi. The general law consists ofRoman Dutch lawimported from the Cape and the Lesotho statutes. The codification of customary law came about after a council was appointed in 1903 to advise the British Resident Commissioner on which laws would be best for governing theBasotho. Until this time, the Basotho customs and laws were passed down from generation to generation throughoral tradition. The council was given the task of codifying them, and they came up with the Laws of Lerotholi which are then applied by customary courts (local courts). The written works of certain authors have persuasive value in the courts of Lesotho. These include the writings of the "old authorities as well as contemporary writers from similar jurisdictions".
For administrative purposes, Lesotho is divided into10 districts, each headed by a district administrator. Each district has a capital known as acamptown.
The districts are subdivided into 80constituencies, which consist of 129 localcommunity councils.
Lesotho covers 30,355 km(11,720 sq mi). It is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 metres (3,281 ft) in elevation. Its lowest point of 1,400 metres (4,593 ft) is thus thehighest lowest point of any country in the world. Over 80% of the country lies above 1,800 metres (5,906 ft). Lesotho is the southernmost landlocked country in the world. It is the largest of the world'sthree independent states completely surrounded by the territory of another country, withVatican CityandSan Marinobeing the other two. It is the only such state outside the Italian peninsula andEurope, as well as the only one that is not amicrostate.
Lesotho lies between latitudes28°and31°S, and longitudes27°and30°E. About 12% of Lesotho is arable land which is vulnerable tosoil erosion; it is estimated that 40 million tons of soil are lost each year due to erosion.
Because of its elevation, Lesotho remains cooler throughout the year than other regions at the same latitude. Most of the rain falls as summerthunderstorms.Maseruand surrounding lowlands may reach 30 °C (86 °F) in summer. The temperature in the lowlands can get down to −7 °C (19 °F) and the highlands to −18 °C (0 °F) at times. Snow is more common in the highlands between May and September; the higher peaks may experience snowfalls year-round. Rainfall in Lesotho is variable regarding both when and where precipitation occurs. Annual precipitation can vary from 500 mm annually in one area to 1200 mm in another because of elevation.The summer season that stretches from October to April sees the most rainfall, and from December to February, the majority of the country receives over 100 mm of rain a month.The least monthly rainfall in Lesotho occurs in June when most regions receive less than 15 mm a month.
Periodicdroughtshave an effect on Lesotho's majority rural population as some people living outside of urban areas rely onsubsistence farmingor small scale agriculture as their primary source of income.Droughts in Lesotho are exacerbated by some agricultural practices.The World Factbooklists periodic droughts under the 'Natural Hazard' section of Lesotho's section of the publication.
In 2007, Lesotho experienced a drought and was advised by theUnited Nationsto declare a state of emergency to get aid from international organizations.TheFamine Early Warning Systems Networkreported that the rainy season of 2018/2019 not only started a month later than normal but also recorded below-average amounts of rain.Data from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation Station (CHIRP) shows rainfall in Lesotho between October 2018 and February 2019 ranged from 55% to 80% below normal rates.
In March 2019, the Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Committee conducted a report that initially predicted that 487,857 people in the country need humanitarian assistance because of the effects of drought.
There are a variety of different ways drought in Lesotho has led to the need for humanitarian assistance. Some hygiene practices that result from "a lack of clean water" can cause cases oftyphoidanddiarrhea. Lack of available water indirectly leads to an "increased risk" for women and girls who collect water for household consumption as they must spend more time and travel longer distances while running the risk of being physically or sexually assaulted.Drought in Lesotho leads to both migration to more urban areas and immigration to South Africa for new opportunities and to escape food insecurity.The report found that between July 2019 and June 2020 640,000 people in Lesotho are expected to be affected by food insecurity as a result of "unproductive harvests as well as the corresponding rise in food prices because of the drought".
There are known to be339 bird speciesin Lesotho, including 10 globally threatened species and two introduced species,17 reptile species, including geckos, snakes and lizards, and60 mammal speciesendemic to Lesotho, including the endangeredwhite-tailed rat.
Lesotho's flora isalpine, due to mountainous terrain. TheKatse Botanical Gardenshouses a collection ofmedicinal plantsand has a seed bank of plants from theMalibamat'so Riverarea.Three terrestrial ecoregions lie within Lesotho's boundaries:Drakensberg alti-montane grasslands and woodlands,Drakensberg montane grasslands, andHighveld grasslands.
The economy of Lesotho is based on agriculture, livestock, manufacturing and mining, and depends on inflows of workers'remittancesand receipts from theSouthern African Customs Union(SACU).The majority of households subsist on farming. The formal sector employment consists mainly of female workers in the apparel sector, male migrant labour, primarily miners in South Africa for 3 to 9 months, and employment by the Government of Lesotho (GOL). The western lowlands form the main agricultural zone. Almost 50% of the population earn income through informal crop cultivation oranimal husbandrywith nearly two-thirds of the country's income coming from the agricultural sector. The percentage of the population living below USDPurchasing Power Parity(PPP) US$1.25/day fell from 48% to 44% between 1995 and 2003.
Lesotho has taken advantage of theAfrican Growth and Opportunity Act(AGOA) to become the largest exporter of garments to the US from sub-Saharan Africa.
US brands and retailers sourcing from Lesotho include Foot Locker, Gap, Gloria Vanderbilt, JCPenney, Levi Strauss, Lululemon Athletica, Saks, Sears, Timberland and Wal-Mart.In mid-2004, its employment reached over 50,000, mostly female, marking the first time that manufacturing sector workers outnumbered government employees. In 2008 it exported goods worth 487 million dollars mainly to the US.
Since 2004, employment in the sector has dwindled to about 45,000 in mid-2011 due to international competition in the garment sector. It was the largest formal sector employer in Lesotho in 2011.In 2007, the average earnings of an employee in the textile sector were US$103 per month, and the official minimum wage for a general textile worker was US$93 per month. The average gross national income per capita in 2008 was US$83 per month.The sector initiated a program to fight HIV/AIDS calledApparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight AIDS(ALAFA). It is an industry-wide program providing disease prevention and treatment for workers.
Water anddiamondsare some of Lesotho's natural resources.Water is used through the 21-year, multibillion-dollarLesotho Highlands Water Project(LHWP), under the authority of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority. The project commenced in 1986.LHWP is designed to capture, store, and transfer water from theOrange Riversystem toSouth Africa's Free Stateand greaterJohannesburgarea. Completion of the first phase of the project has made Lesotho "almost completely self-sufficient" in the production of electricity and generated approximately US$70 million in 2010 from the sale of electricity and water to South Africa.
Diamonds are produced at the Letšeng, Mothae, Liqhobong, and Kao mines, which combined are estimated to produce 240,000 carats of diamonds in 2014, worth US$300 million. The Letšeng mine is estimated to produce diamonds with an average value of US$2172 per carat, making it the world's richest mine on an average price per carat basis.The sector underwent a setback in 2008 as the result of the world recession and rebounded in 2010 and 2011. The export of diamonds reached US$230 million in 2010–2011.The Letšeng-la-Terae Kimberlite Pipes – the Main Pipe and the Satellite Pipe – were discovered on the 14th December 1957 by graduate geologist Peter H. Nixon while working in the area as part of colonel Jack Scott’s early prospecting expeditions. Nixon went on to become an academic, publishing two very influential books on mantle petrology. Peter Nixon was a visionary who brought the scientific community’s attention to the growing evidence of orogenically-emplaced mantle rocks from the diamond stability field, co-authoring numerous key publications that provided the first strong evidence for this process. He retired as Professor Emeritus of Mantle Geology from Leeds University, UK. His academic career is honoured in the naming of the mineral ‘Nixonite’ after him.
Keith Whitelock was engaged on a different exploration team when Letšeng was discovered by Nixon in 1957, but he did go on to become Letšeng’s general manager before De Beers closed it in 1982. He subsequently obtained the lease for Letšeng-la-Terae and developed the mine. He is therefore rightly recognised as a key player in establishing Lesotho’s diamond mining industry. Nixon and Whitelock were great friends and collaborators over many years.
Lesotho has progressed in moving from a predominantly subsistence-oriented economy to a lower middle-income economy through exporting natural resources and manufacturing goods. The exporting sectors have brought "higher and more secure" incomes to a portion of the population.The global economic crisis caused Lesotho to suffer a loss of textile exports and jobs due to the economic slowdown in the United States, one of their export destinations. Reduced diamond mining and exports, including a drop in the price of diamonds and a drop in SACU revenues due to the economic slowdown in the South African economy contributed to the crisis. A reduction in worker remittances due to the "weakening" of the South African economy, contraction of the mining sector, and related job losses in South Africa contributed to Lesotho's GDP growth slowing to 0.9% in 2009.
The official currency is theloti(plural: maloti) which can be used interchangeably with theSouth African rand. The loti is at par with the rand. Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, and South Africa form a common currency and exchange control area known as theCommon Monetary Area(CMA).
Lesotho has a population of approximately 2,281,454.The population distribution of Lesotho is 25% urban and 75% rural. It is estimated that the annual increase in urban population is 3.5%.60.2% of the population is between 15 and 64 years of age.
Lesotho's ethno-linguistic structure consists mostly of theBasotho, aBantu-speakingpeople: an estimated 99.7% of the people identify as Basotho. In this regard, Lesotho is part of a minority of African countries that arenation stateswith a single dominant cultural ethnic group and language; the majority of African nations' borders were drawn bycolonial powersand do not correspond to ethnic boundaries or pre-colonial polities.Basotho subgroups include the Bafokeng, Batloung, Baphuthi, Bakuena, Bataung, Batšoeneng, andMatebele. About 1% of the population consists of Europeans, Asians, andXhosa.
In December 2011, the population of Lesotho is estimated to be more than 95%Christian.Among these estimations,Catholicsrepresent 49.4% of the population,served by the province of the MetropolitanArchbishop of Maseruand his three suffragans (the bishops ofLeribe,Mohale's HoekandQacha's Nek), who form the nationalepiscopal conference.Protestantsaccount for 18.2% of the population,Pentecostals15.4%,Anglicans5.3%, and other Christians an additional 1.8%.Non-Christian religions represent 9.6% of the population, and those ofno religion0.2%.
According to estimates, 85% of women and 68% of men over the age of 15 are literate.As such, Lesotho holds "one of the highest literacy rates in Africa",in part because Lesotho invests over 12% of its GDP in education.Female literacy (84.93%) exceeds male literacy (67.75%) by 17.18%. According to a study by the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality in 2000, 37% of grade 6 pupils in Lesotho (average age 14 years) are at or above reading level 4, "Reading for Meaning."A pupil at this level of literacy can read ahead or backwards through parts of text to link and interpret information. While education is not compulsory, the Government of Lesotho is incrementally implementing a program for free primary education.In a 2009 report, adult literacy is as high as 82%.
According to theInternational Telecommunication Union, 3.4% of the population use the internet. A service fromEconet Telecom Lesothoexpanded the country's access to email through entry-level, low-end mobile phones and consequently improved access to educational information. TheAfrican Library Projectworks to establish school and village libraries in partnership withUS Peace Corps Lesothoand theButha-Buthe Districtof Education.
The country is among the "Low Human Development" countries (rank 160 of 187 on theHuman Development Indexas classified byUNDP), with 52 years of life expectancy for men and women, estimated in 2009.Life expectancy at birth in Lesotho in 2016 was 51 years for men and 55 for women. Infant mortality is about 8.3%.
As of 2018, Lesotho's adultH.I.V./A.I.D.S. prevalence rateof 23.6% was the second-highest in the world, afterEswatini.In 2021, Lesotho had a 22.8%H.I.V.prevalence rate among people between 15 and 49 years of age.The country has the highest incidence oftuberculosisin the world.
According to the 2006 census of Lesotho, around 4% of the population is thought to have some sort of disability. There are concerns regarding the reliability of the methodologies used and the real figure is thought to be closer to the global estimate of 15%. According to a survey conducted by the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled in conjunction with SINTEF,people with disability in Lesotho face social and cultural barriers which prevent them from accessing education, health-care and employment on an equal basis with others. On 2 December 2008, Lesotho became the 42nd country in the world to sign the U.N.Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
According toWorld Health Organizationdata, Lesotho has had the world's highest rate of suicide per capita since 2008.
According to the U.N., Lesotho has the highest rape rate of any country (91.6 per 100,000 people reported rape in 2008).International data fromUNODCfound the incidence of rape recorded in 2008 by the police to be the highest in Lesotho out of any country in the study.A study in Lesotho found that 61% of women reported having experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives, of whom 22% reported being physically forced to have sexual intercourse.In the 2009D.H.S. survey, 15.7% of men said that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife if she refuses to have sex with him, while 16% said a husband is justified in using force to have sex.In another study, researchers concluded that "Given the high prevalence of HIV in Lesotho, programs should address women's right to control their sexuality."TheMarried Persons Equality Act 2006gives equal rights to wives regarding their husbands, abolishing the husband'smarital power.TheWorld Economic Forum's 2020 Gender Gap Report ranks Lesotho 88th worldwide forgender parity, while neighboring South Africa ranks 17th.
Thecuisine of Lesothoincludes African traditions and British influences.The national dish of Lesotho is Motoho, a fermentedsorghumporridge. Some staple foods includepap, or 'mealies', acornmealporridge covered with a sauce consisting of vegetables.Teaand locally brewedbeerare choices for beverages. Lesotho is famed for its fermented ginger beer. Sishenyama is regularly sold independently throughout Lesotho with side-dishes such as cabbage, pap and baked bean salad.
The national dress revolves around theBasotho blanket, a covering made originally of wool. Most of the Basotho blanket is now made out ofacrylic fibres. The main manufacturer of the Basotho blanket is Aranda, which has a factory over the border in South Africa.
British influence in Lesotho is visible through the remnants oftrading poststhat were operated from the 18th century into the 20th century.These are in the villages of Roma, Ramabantana, Ha Matala, Malealea and Semonkong. In the past, these lodges were employed in the sale of fuel, grains, mealie meals and animals. Examples ofSan rock artcan be found in the mountains throughout Basutoland. There are examples in the village of Ha Matela.
TheMorija Arts & Cultural Festivalis held annually in the town ofMorijawhere missionaries arrived in 1833.
TheBasotho ponywas historically ridden into battle and in the modern day used for transport and agriculture.
Ryan Coogler, director of the 2018 filmBlack Panther, stated that his depiction ofWakandawas inspired by Lesotho.Basotho blankets "became more known" as a result of the film.In November 2020, the filmThis Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrectionbecame the first Lesotho film to be submitted for theAcademy Award for Best International Feature Film.
29°36′S28°18′E﻿ / ﻿29.6°S 28.3°E﻿ /-29.6; 28.3