Topic: Photos of Lesotho

Topic: Introduction
Background: Paramount chief MOSHOESHOE I consolidated what would become Basutoland in the early 19th century and made himself king in 1822. Continuing encroachments by Dutch settlers from the neighboring Orange Free State caused the king to enter into an 1868 agreement with the UK by which Basutoland became a British protectorate, and after 1884, a crown colony. Upon independence in 1966, the country was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Basotho National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE II was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995 and subsequently succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Botswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections in 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties disputed how the electoral law was applied to award proportional seats in the Assembly. In 2012, competitive elections involving 18 parties saw Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas THABANE form a coalition government - the first in the country's history - that ousted the 14-year incumbent, Pakalitha MOSISILI, who peacefully transferred power the following month. MOSISILI returned to power in snap elections in February 2015 after the collapse of THABANE’s coalition government and an alleged attempted military coup. In June 2017, THABANE returned to become prime minister.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 30,355 sq km

land: 30,355 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 1,106 km

border countries (1): South Africa 1,106 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation: highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

mean elevation: 2,161 m
Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
Land use: agricultural land: 76.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 65.9% (2018 est.)

forest: 1.5% (2018 est.)

other: 22.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Orange river source (shared with South Africa and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Population distribution: relatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru, and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Geography - note: landlocked, an enclave of (completely surrounded by) South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level
Map description: Lesotho map showing major population centers of this landlocked country surrounded by South Africa.Lesotho map showing major population centers of this landlocked country surrounded by South Africa.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 2,193,970 (2022 est.)

note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality: noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%
Languages: Sesotho (official) (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Religions: Protestant 47.8% (Pentecostal 23.1%, Lesotho Evangelical 17.3%, Anglican 7.4%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, other Christian 9.1%, non-Christian 1.4%, none 2.3% (2014 est.)
Demographic profile: Lesotho faces great socioeconomic challenges. More than half of its population lives below the property line, and the country’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is the second highest in the world. In addition, Lesotho is a small, mountainous, landlocked country with little arable land, leaving its population vulnerable to food shortages and reliant on remittances. Lesotho’s persistently high infant, child, and maternal mortality rates have been increasing during the last decade, according to the last two Demographic and Health Surveys. Despite these significant shortcomings, Lesotho has made good progress in education; it is on-track to achieve universal primary education and has one of the highest adult literacy rates in Africa.Lesotho’s migration history is linked to its unique geography; it is surrounded by South Africa with which it shares linguistic and cultural traits. Lesotho at one time had more of its workforce employed outside its borders than any other country. Today remittances equal about 17% of its GDP. With few job options at home, a high rate of poverty, and higher wages available across the border, labor migration to South Africa replaced agriculture as the prevailing Basotho source of income decades ago. The majority of Basotho migrants were single men contracted to work as gold miners in South Africa. However, migration trends changed in the 1990s, and fewer men found mining jobs in South Africa because of declining gold prices, stricter immigration policies, and a preference for South African workers.Although men still dominate cross-border labor migration, more women are working in South Africa, mostly as domestics, because they are widows or their husbands are unemployed. Internal rural-urban flows have also become more frequent, with more women migrating within the country to take up jobs in the garment industry or moving to care for loved ones with HIV/AIDS. Lesotho’s small population of immigrants is increasingly composed of Taiwanese and Chinese migrants who are involved in the textile industry and small retail businesses.Lesotho faces great socioeconomic challenges. More than half of its population lives below the property line, and the country’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is the second highest in the world. In addition, Lesotho is a small, mountainous, landlocked country with little arable land, leaving its population vulnerable to food shortages and reliant on remittances. Lesotho’s persistently high infant, child, and maternal mortality rates have been increasing during the last decade, according to the last two Demographic and Health Surveys. Despite these significant shortcomings, Lesotho has made good progress in education; it is on-track to achieve universal primary education and has one of the highest adult literacy rates in Africa.Lesotho’s migration history is linked to its unique geography; it is surrounded by South Africa with which it shares linguistic and cultural traits. Lesotho at one time had more of its workforce employed outside its borders than any other country. Today remittances equal about 17% of its GDP. With few job options at home, a high rate of poverty, and higher wages available across the border, labor migration to South Africa replaced agriculture as the prevailing Basotho source of income decades ago. The majority of Basotho migrants were single men contracted to work as gold miners in South Africa. However, migration trends changed in the 1990s, and fewer men found mining jobs in South Africa because of declining gold prices, stricter immigration policies, and a preference for South African workers.Although men still dominate cross-border labor migration, more women are working in South Africa, mostly as domestics, because they are widows or their husbands are unemployed. Internal rural-urban flows have also become more frequent, with more women migrating within the country to take up jobs in the garment industry or moving to care for loved ones with HIV/AIDS. Lesotho’s small population of immigrants is increasingly composed of Taiwanese and Chinese migrants who are involved in the textile industry and small retail businesses.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.3% (male 309,991/female 306,321)

15-24 years: 19.26% (male 181,874/female 197,452)

25-54 years: 38.86% (male 373,323/female 391,901)

55-64 years: 4.98% (male 52,441/female 45,726)

65 years and over: 5.6% (2020 est.) (male 57,030/female 53,275)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 59.2

youth dependency ratio: 51.3

elderly dependency ratio: 7.9

potential support ratio: 12.7 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 24.7 years

male: 24.7 years

female: 24.7 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.76% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 23.15 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 11.05 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: relatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru, and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 29.9% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 202,000 MASERU (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.74 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.9 years (2014 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 544 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 48.44 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 54 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 42.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.57 years

male: 57.57 years

female: 61.64 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 64.9% (2018)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 95.7% of population

rural: 77.2% of population

total: 82.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 4.3% of population

rural: 22.8% of population

total: 17.4% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 11.3% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.47 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 93.6% of population

rural: 62.4% of population

total: 71.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 6.4% of population

rural: 37.6% of population

total: 28.6% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 21.1% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 280,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 4,700 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 16.6% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 24.3% (2020 est.)

male: 43.1% (2020 est.)

female: 5.4% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 10.5% (2018)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 1%

women married by age 18: 16.4%

men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018 est.)
Education expenditures: 7.4% of GDP (2020)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 79.4%

male: 70.1%

female: 88.3% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2017)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 35.5%

male: 31.2% NA

female: 41.5% (2019 est.) NA

Topic: Environment
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
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 27.78 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 2.51 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 2.56 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Land use: agricultural land: 76.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 65.9% (2018 est.)

forest: 1.5% (2018 est.)

other: 22.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 29.9% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 3.34% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to loss of income-generating activities -  the number of people facing "Crisis" levels of food insecurity between January and March 2022 is estimated at 338,000, reflecting the effects of a slow economic recovery that has impinged on households’ economic capacity to access food (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 73,457 tons (2006 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Orange river source (shared with South Africa and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 3.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 3.022 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form: Lesotho

local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho

local short form: Lesotho

former: Basutoland

etymology: the name translates as "Land of the Sesotho Speakers"
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital: name: Maseru

geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: in the Sesotho language the name means "[place of] red sandstones"
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence: 4 October 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution: history: previous 1959, 1967; latest adopted 2 April 1993 (effectively restoring the 1967 version)

amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including fundamental rights and freedoms, sovereignty of the kingdom, the office of the king, and powers of Parliament, requires a majority vote by the National Assembly, approval by the Senate, approval in a referendum by a majority of qualified voters, and assent of the king; passage of amendments other than those specified provisions requires at least a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament; amended several times, last in 2011
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
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile

head of government: Prime Minister Moeketsi MAJORO (since 20 May 2020); note - Prime Minister Thomas THABANE resigned on 19 May 2020

cabinet: consists of the prime minister, appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State, the deputy prime minister, and 26 other ministers

elections/appointments: 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, to determine next in line of succession, or to serve as regent in the event that a successor is not of mature age; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate (33 seats; 22 principal chiefs and 11 other senators nominated by the king with the advice of the Council of State, a 13-member body of key government and non-government officials; members serve 5-year terms)
National Assembly (120 seats; 80 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 40 elected through proportional representation; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: Senate - last nominated by the king 11 July 2017 (next NA)
National Assembly - last held on 3 June 2017 (next to be held in 2022)

election results: Senate - percent of votes by party - NA, seats by party - NA; composition - men 26, women 7, percent of women 21.2%
National Assembly - percent of votes by party - ABC 40.5%, DC 25.8%, LCD 9%, AD 7.3%, MEC 5.1%, BNP 4.1, PFD 2.3%, other 5.9%; seats by party - ABC 51, DC 30, LCD 11, AD 9, MEC 6, BNP 5, PFD 3, other 5; composition - men 95, women 27, percent of women 22.5%; note - total Parliament percent of women 22.9%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament); note - both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues

judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75

subordinate courts: Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; military courts
Political parties and leaders: All Basotho Convention or ABC [Moeketsi MAJORO]
Alliance of Democrats or AD [Monyane MOLELEKI]
Basotho Action Party or BAP [Ngosa MAHAO]
Basotho National Party or BNP [Thesele MASERIBANE]
Democratic Congress or DC [Mathibeli MOKHOTHU]
Democratic Party of Lesotho or DPL [Limpho TAU]
Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Mothetjoa METSING]
Movement of Economic Change or MEC [Selibe MOCHOBOROANE]
National Independent Party or NIP [Kimetso MATHABA]
Popular Front for Democracy of PFD [Lekhetho RAKUOANE]
Reformed Congress of Lesotho or RCL [Keketso RANTSO]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Masopha Phoofolo Moses KAO, Counselor (28 May 2021)

chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533

FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815

email address and website:
lesothoembassy@verizon.net

https://www.gov.ls/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Maria E. BREWER (since 10 March 2022)

embassy: 254 Kingsway Avenue, Maseru

mailing address: 2340 Maseru Place, Washington DC  20521-2340

telephone: [266] 22312666

FAX: [266] 22310116

email address and website:
USConsularMaseru@state.gov

https://ls.usembassy.gov/
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
National symbol(s): mokorotio (Basotho hat); national colors: blue, white, green, black
National anthem: name: "Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)

lyrics/music: Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR

note: adopted 1967; music derives from an 1823 Swiss songbook
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Maloti-Drakensberg Park

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Small, mountainous, and completely landlocked by South Africa, Lesotho depends on a narrow economic base of textile manufacturing, agriculture, remittances, and regional customs revenue. About three-fourths of the people live in rural areas and engage in animal herding and subsistence agriculture, although Lesotho produces less than 20% of the nation's demand for food. Agriculture is vulnerable to weather and climate variability.   Lesotho relies on South Africa for much of its economic activity; Lesotho imports 85% 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. Lesotho is a member of the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), and revenues from SACU accounted for roughly 26% of total GDP in 2016; however, SACU revenues are volatile and expected to decline over the next 5 years. Lesotho also gains royalties from the South African Government 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.   The government maintains a large presence in the economy - government consumption accounted for about 26% of GDP in 2017. The government remains Lesotho's largest employer; in 2016, the government wage bill rose to 23% of GDP – the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa. 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 accounted for nearly 35% of total exports in 2015. Lesotho managed steady GDP growth at an average of 4.5% from 2010 to 2014, dropping to about 2.5% in 2015-16, but poverty remains widespread around 57% of the total population.Small, mountainous, and completely landlocked by South Africa, Lesotho depends on a narrow economic base of textile manufacturing, agriculture, remittances, and regional customs revenue. About three-fourths of the people live in rural areas and engage in animal herding and subsistence agriculture, although Lesotho produces less than 20% of the nation's demand for food. Agriculture is vulnerable to weather and climate variability. Lesotho relies on South Africa for much of its economic activity; Lesotho imports 85% 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. Lesotho is a member of the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), and revenues from SACU accounted for roughly 26% of total GDP in 2016; however, SACU revenues are volatile and expected to decline over the next 5 years. Lesotho also gains royalties from the South African Government 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. The government maintains a large presence in the economy - government consumption accounted for about 26% of GDP in 2017. The government remains Lesotho's largest employer; in 2016, the government wage bill rose to 23% of GDP – the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa. 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 accounted for nearly 35% of total exports in 2015. Lesotho managed steady GDP growth at an average of 4.5% from 2010 to 2014, dropping to about 2.5% in 2015-16, but poverty remains widespread around 57% of the total population.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.88 billion (2020 est.)

$5.49 billion (2019 est.)

$5.51 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -1.6% (2017 est.)

3.1% (2016 est.)

2.5% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $2,300 (2020 est.)

$2,600 (2019 est.)

$2,600 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.462 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (2019 est.)

3.8% (2018 est.)

5.1% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2019)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 5.8% (2016 est.)

industry: 39.2% (2016 est.)

services: 54.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 69.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 26.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 31.4% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: -13.4% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 40.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -54.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, maize, vegetables, fruit, beef, game meat, mutton, beans, wool
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 12.5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 930,800 (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 86%

industry and services: 14% (2002 est.)

note: most of the resident population is engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Unemployment rate: 28.1% (2014 est.)

25% (2008 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 35.5%

male: 31.2% NA

female: 41.5% (2019 est.) NA
Population below poverty line: 49.7% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 44.9 (2017 est.)

56 (1986-87)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1%

highest 10%: 39.4% (2003)
Budget: revenues: 1.09 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 1.255 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 33.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

36.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 39.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance: -$102 million (2017 est.)

-$201 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $900 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.09 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.25 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 29%, Belgium 26%, South Africa 25%, Switzerland 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: diamonds, clothing and apparel, low-voltage protection equipment, wheat products, footwear (2019)
Imports: $1.96 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.2 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.39 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: South Africa 85%, China 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, poultry meats (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $657.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$925.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $868 million (2019 est.)

$834 million (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: maloti (LSL) per US dollar -

14.48 (2017 est.)

14.71 (2016 est.)

14.71 (2015 est.)

12.76 (2014 est.)

10.85 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 36% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 63% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 26% (2019)
Electricity - production: 510 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 847.3 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 373 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 80,400 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 100% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 5,118 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 11,574 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1,562,648 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 73 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: small market with few business incentives; fixed-line tele-density and mobile penetration remains below regional average; introduction of mobile broadband in the country and LTE technology; 5G testing among first in region; landlocked, Lesotho has access to several submarine cables on African coast through neighboring countries yet Internet is expensive; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from South Africa (2020)

domestic: fixed-line is less than 1 per 100 subscriptions; mobile-cellular service subscribership nearly 73 per 100 persons; rudimentary system consisting of a modest number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a small radiotelephone communication system (2020)

international: country code - 266; Internet accessibility has improved with several submarine fiber optic cables that land on African east and west coasts, but the country's land locked position makes access prices expensive; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations; government controls most private broadcast media; satellite TV subscription service available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters obtainable (2019)
Internet country code: .ls
Internet users: total: 921,168 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 43% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 5,060 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.24 (2020 est.) less than 1

Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7P
Airports: total: 24 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3

over 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 21

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 16 (2021)
Roadways: total: 5,940 km (2011)

paved: 1,069 km (2011)

unpaved: 4,871 km (2011)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing) (2021)

note - the Lesotho Mounted Police Service is responsible for internal security and reports to the Minister of Police and Public Safety
Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

1.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $60 million)

2.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $65 million)

2.2% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $70 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 personnel (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the LDF has a small inventory of older equipment from a variety of countries; since 2010, it has received only small quantities of second hand equipment from France (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women can serve as commissioned officers (2021)
Military - note: Lesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Lesotho-South Africa: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration  Lesotho-South Africa: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration
Trafficking in persons: current situation: Lesotho is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking and for men subjected to forced labor; Basotho women and children are subjected to domestic servitude and children, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual exploitation within Lesotho and South Africa; some Basotho women willingly migrate to South Africa seeking work in domestic service only to be forced into prostitution; some Basotho men who voluntarily migrate to South Africa for work become victims of forced labor in agriculture and mining or are coerced into committing crimes

tier rating: Tier 3 — Lesotho does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore it was downgraded to Tier 3; positive steps included partnering with an NGO and an international organization in awareness-raising activities, participating in a regional data collection tool, and training 27 diplomats on trafficking in persons; however, authorities did not investigate, prosecute, or convict any traffickers or officials complicit in trafficking and did not investigate concerns of official complicity in trafficking crimes restricted law enforcement actions; fewer victims were identified and received no protective services; no standard operating procedures for victim identification or implementation of the national referral mechanism; the government did not finance  the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund or the Child and Gender Protection Unit; front-line responders to trafficking crimes are inadequately trained; penalties for human trafficking are not stringent enough to serve as a deterrent (2020)


Topic: Photos of Dhekelia

Topic: Introduction
Background: By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta
Geographic coordinates: 34 59 N, 33 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 131 sq km

note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves
Area - comparative: about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 108 km

border countries (1): Cyprus 108 km
Coastline: 27.5 km
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Geography - note: British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; several small Cypriot enclaves exist within the Sovereign Base Area (SBA); of the SBA land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land
Map description: Dhekelia map showing the UK Sovereign Base Area as well as the adjacent part of southeast Cyprus.Dhekelia map showing the UK Sovereign Base Area as well as the adjacent part of southeast Cyprus.

Topic: People and Society
Population: approximately 15,500 on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 9,700 Cypriots and 5,800 Service and UK-based contract personnel and dependents
Languages: English, Greek

major-language sample(s):
Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA

15-24 years: NA

25-54 years: NA

55-64 years: NA

65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA
Current Health Expenditure: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Dhekelia
Dependency status: a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital: name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia); located in Akrotiri

geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: "Episkopi" means "episcopal" in Greek and stems from the fact that the site previously served as the bishop's seat of an Orthodox diocese
Constitution: history: presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, serves as a basic legal document); amended 1966 (2021)
Legal system: laws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus; note - the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

head of government: Administrator Major General Robert J. THOMSON (since 25 September 2019); note - administrator reports to the British Ministry of Defense; the chief officer is responsible for the day-to-day running of the civil government of the Sovereign Bases

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defense
Judicial branch: highest courts: Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales)

judge selection and term of office: see entry for United Kingdom

subordinate courts: Resident Judges' Court; military courts
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description: the flag of the UK is used
National anthem: note: as a United Kingdom area of special sovereignty, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)note: as a United Kingdom area of special sovereignty, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Industries: none
Exchange rates: note: uses the euronote: uses the euro

Topic: Communications
Broadcast media: British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the Dhekelia Sovereign Base

Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense of Dhekelia (aka Eastern Sovereign Base Area) is the responsibility of the UK; includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway


Topic: Photos of Saint Lucia

Topic: Introduction
Background: The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries and burgeoning sugar industry, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814 and became part of the British Windward Islands colony. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. In the mid-20th century, Saint Lucia joined the West Indies Federation (1958–1962) and in 1967 became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States, with internal self-government. In 1979, Saint Lucia gained full independence.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 53 N, 60 58 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 616 sq km

land: 606 sq km

water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: three and a half times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 158 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with broad, fertile valleys
Elevation: highest point: Mount Gimie 948 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Land use: agricultural land: 17.4% (2018 est.)

arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 11.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 1% (2018 est.)

forest: 77% (2018 est.)

other: 5.6% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population is found on the periphery of the island, with a larger concentration in the north around the capital of Castries
Natural hazards: hurricanesvolcanism: Mount Gimie (948 m), also known as Qualibou, is a caldera on the west of the island; the iconic twin pyramidal peaks of Gros Piton (771 m) and Petit Piton (743 m) are lava dome remnants associated with the Soufriere volcano; there have been no historical magmatic eruptions, but a minor steam eruption in 1766 spread a thin layer of ash over a wide area; Saint Lucia is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the southhurricanesvolcanism: Mount Gimie (948 m), also known as Qualibou, is a caldera on the west of the island; the iconic twin pyramidal peaks of Gros Piton (771 m) and Petit Piton (743 m) are lava dome remnants associated with the Soufriere volcano; there have been no historical magmatic eruptions, but a minor steam eruption in 1766 spread a thin layer of ash over a wide area; Saint Lucia is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
Geography - note: the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean
Map description: Saint Lucia map showing major population centers on this island in the Caribbean Sea.Saint Lucia map showing major population centers on this island in the Caribbean Sea.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 167,122 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Saint Lucian(s)

adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups: Black/African descent 85.3%, mixed 10.9%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official), Saint Lucian Creole
Religions: Roman Catholic 61.5%, Protestant 25.5% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 10.4%, Pentecostal 8.9%, Baptist 2.2%, Anglican 1.6%, Church of God 1.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Evangelical 2.3% and Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), Rastafarian 1.9%, other 0.4%, none 5.9%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.24% (male 16,484/female 15,546)

15-24 years: 13.6% (male 11,475/female 11,165)

25-54 years: 42.83% (male 34,436/female 36,868)

55-64 years: 11.23% (male 8,624/female 10,075)

65 years and over: 13.1% (2020 est.) (male 9,894/female 11,920)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 39.4

youth dependency ratio: 25

elderly dependency ratio: 14.4

potential support ratio: 7 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 36.9 years

male: 35.7 years

female: 38 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.29% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 12.02 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 8.07 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found on the periphery of the island, with a larger concentration in the north around the capital of Castries
Urbanization: urban population: 19% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 22,000 CASTRIES (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 117 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 11.99 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 11.23 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 12.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.95 years

male: 76.21 years

female: 81.84 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 55.5% (2011/12)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.4% of population

rural: 98.5% of population

total: 98.7% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.6% of population

rural: 1.5% of population

total: 1.3% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 4.3% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.64 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 97.6% of population

rural: 92.9% of population

total: 93.8% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.4% of population

rural: 7.1% of population

total: 6.2% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.6% (2018 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2018) <1,000
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <100
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.7% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.8% (2012)
Education expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2020)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2020)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 37.2%

male: 39.6%

female: 34.3% (2019 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 21.22 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.41 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.27 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Land use: agricultural land: 17.4% (2018 est.)

arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 11.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 1% (2018 est.)

forest: 77% (2018 est.)

other: 5.6% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 19% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 77,616 tons (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 12.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 30.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 300 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Saint Lucia

etymology: named after Saint LUCY of Syracuse by French sailors who were shipwrecked on the island on 13 December 1502, the saint's feast day; Saint Lucia is the only country named specifically after a woman

note: pronounced saynt-looshuh
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital: name: Castries

geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 61 00 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: in 1785, the village of Carenage was renamed Castries, after Charles Eugene Gabriel de La Croix de Castries (1727-1801), who was then the French Minister of the Navy and Colonies
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Anse-la-Raye, Canaries, Castries, Choiseul, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Independence: 22 February 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution: history: previous 1958, 1960 (preindependence); latest presented 20 December 1978, effective 22 February 1979

amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Assembly membership in the final reading and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to various constitutional sections, such as those on fundamental rights and freedoms, government finances, the judiciary, and procedures for amending the constitution, require at least three-quarters majority vote by the House and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments approved by the House but rejected by the Senate require a majority of votes cast in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2008
Legal system: English common law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Lucia

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Acting Governor General Errol CHARLES (since 11 November 2021)

head of government: Prime Minister Philip J. PIERRE (since 28 July 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by governor general
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Houses of Parliament consists of:
Senate (11 seats; all members appointed by the governor general; 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 2 upon consultation with religious, economic, and social groups; members serve 5-year terms)
House of Assembly (18 seats; 17 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and the speaker, designated from outside the Parliament; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: Senate - last appointments on 17 August 2021 (next in 2026)
House of Assembly - last held on 26 July 2021 (next to be held in 2026)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 6, women 5, percent of women 45.5%
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 50.1%, UWP 42.9%, other o.3%, independent 6.6%; seats by party - SLP 13, UWP 2, independent 2; composition (including the speaker) - men 16, women 2, percent of women 11.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 24.1%
Judicial branch: highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states with 4 on Saint Lucia; Saint Lucia is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice

judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62

subordinate courts: magistrate's court
Political parties and leaders: Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Philip J. PIERRE]
United Workers Party or UWP [Allen CHASTANET]
International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth DARIUS-CLARKE (since 7 June 2022)

chancery: 1629 K Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006

telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792

FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723

email address and website:
embassydc@gosl.gov.lc

https://www.embassyofstlucia.org/

consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Flag description: cerulean blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border; the blue color represents the sky and sea, gold stands for sunshine and prosperity, and white and black the racial composition of the island (with the latter being dominant); the two major triangles invoke the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), cone-shaped volcanic plugs that are a symbol of the island
National symbol(s): twin pitons (volcanic peaks), Saint Lucia parrot; national colors: cerulean blue, gold, black, white
National anthem: name: "Sons and Daughters of St. Lucia"

lyrics/music: Charles JESSE/Leton Felix THOMAS

note: adopted 1967
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Pitons Management Area

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. Tourism is Saint Lucia's main source of jobs and income - accounting for 65% of GDP - and the island's main source of foreign exchange earnings. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area. Crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for export, but St. Lucia's once solid banana industry has been devastated by strong competition.   Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external shocks, including volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. Furthermore, high public debt - 77% of GDP in 2012 - and high debt servicing obligations constrain the CHASTANET administration's ability to respond to adverse external shocks.   St. Lucia has experienced anemic growth since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008, largely because of a slowdown in tourism - airlines cut back on their routes to St. Lucia in 2012. Also, St. Lucia introduced a value added tax in 2012 of 15%, becoming the last country in the Eastern Caribbean to do so. In 2013, the government introduced a National Competitiveness and Productivity Council to address St. Lucia's high public wages and lack of productivity.The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. Tourism is Saint Lucia's main source of jobs and income - accounting for 65% of GDP - and the island's main source of foreign exchange earnings. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area. Crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for export, but St. Lucia's once solid banana industry has been devastated by strong competition. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external shocks, including volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. Furthermore, high public debt - 77% of GDP in 2012 - and high debt servicing obligations constrain the CHASTANET administration's ability to respond to adverse external shocks. St. Lucia has experienced anemic growth since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008, largely because of a slowdown in tourism - airlines cut back on their routes to St. Lucia in 2012. Also, St. Lucia introduced a value added tax in 2012 of 15%, becoming the last country in the Eastern Caribbean to do so. In 2013, the government introduced a National Competitiveness and Productivity Council to address St. Lucia's high public wages and lack of productivity.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.25 billion (2020 est.)

$2.82 billion (2019 est.)

$2.78 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 3% (2017 est.)

3.4% (2016 est.)

-0.9% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $12,300 (2020 est.)

$15,400 (2019 est.)

$15,300 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.686 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.1% (2017 est.)

-3.1% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.9% (2017 est.)

industry: 14.2% (2017 est.)

services: 82.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 66.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 11.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 62.7% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -56.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: bananas, coconuts, fruit, tropical fruit, plantains, roots/tubers, cassava, poultry, vegetables, mangoes/guavas
Industries: tourism; clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 79,700 (2012 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.7%

industry: 24.7%

services: 53.6% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (2003 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 37.2%

male: 39.6%

female: 34.3% (2019 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 51.2 (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 398.2 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 392.8 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 70.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

69.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance: $21 million (2017 est.)

-$31 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $1.22 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$188.2 million (2016 est.)
Exports - partners: United States 29%, Uruguay 16%, Barbados 8%, Trinidad and Tobago 5.5%, United Kingdom 6%, Dominica 6%, Guyana 5%, France 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, beer, jewelry, bananas, refined petroleum, rum (2019)
Imports: $1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$575.9 million (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: Colombia 46%, United States 30%, Trinidad and Tobago 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, poultry meats, natural gas (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $321.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$320.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $570.6 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$529 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

2.7 (2017 est.)

2.7 (2016 est.)

2.7 (2015 est.)

2.7 (2014 est.)

2.7 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99.5% (2018)

electrification - urban areas: 97.5% (2018)

electrification - rural areas: 99.9% (2018)
Electricity - production: 369 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 343.2 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 89,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 99% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 3,100 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 3,113 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 38,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 203,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: an adequate system that is automatically switched; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) and LTE markets; regulatory development; telecom sector contributes to the overall GDP; telecom sector is a growth area (2020)

domestic: fixed-line teledensity is 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 102 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 1-758; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to numerous Caribbean islands; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: 3 privately owned TV stations; 1 public TV station operating on a cable network; multi-channel cable TV service available; a mix of state-owned and privately owned broadcasters operate nearly 25 radio stations including repeater transmission stations (2019)
Internet country code: .lc
Internet users: total: 97,323 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 53% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 33,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J6
Airports: total: 2 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 1,210 km (2011)

paved: 847 km (2011)

unpaved: 363 km (2011)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Marine Unit) (2022)
Military - note: Saint Lucia has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2022)

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Saint Lucia-Venezuela: joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean SeaSaint Lucia-Venezuela: joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs: a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean


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.

Topic: Afghanistan-15.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Albania-2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Algeria-9.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: American Samoa-2.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Topic: Andorra-6.9% (of GDP) (2016)

Topic: Angola-6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Anguilla0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Antigua and Barbuda-2.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Argentina-6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Armenia-4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Aruba-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Australia-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Austria-0.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Azerbaijan-1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Bahamas, The-2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Bahrain-10.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Bangladesh-3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Barbados-4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Belarus2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Belgium-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Belize-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Benin-6.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Bermuda-2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Bhutan-3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Bolivia-7.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina2.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Botswana-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Brazil-1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: British Virgin Islands0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Brunei-17.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Bulgaria1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Burkina Faso-7.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Burma-3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Burundi-5.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Cabo Verde-3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Cambodia-1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Cameroon-3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Canada-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Cayman Islands4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Central African Republic-0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Chad-1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Chile-2.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: China-3.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Colombia-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Comoros-6.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the-0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the-7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Cook Islands3% (of GDP) (2010 est.)

Topic: Costa Rica-6.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire-4.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Croatia0.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Cuba-10.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Curacao-0.4% (of GDP) (2012 est.)

Topic: Cyprus1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Czechia1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Denmark1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Djibouti-9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Dominica-5.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Dominican Republic-3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Ecuador-4.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Egypt-8.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: El Salvador-2.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Equatorial Guinea-3.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Eritrea-9.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Estonia-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Eswatini-8.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Ethiopia-3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: European Union-3% (of GDP) (2014)

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)-4% (of GDP) (FY09/10)

Topic: Faroe Islands-1.7% (of GDP) (2014 est.)

Topic: Fiji-4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Finland-0.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: France-2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: French Polynesia1.2% (of GDP) (2012)

Topic: Gabon-1.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Gambia, The-2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Georgia-3.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Germany1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Ghana-6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Gibraltar1.1% (of GDP) (2008 est.)

Topic: Greece0.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Greenland5.6% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Topic: Grenada3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Guam-1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Topic: Guatemala-1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Guernsey1.2% (of GDP) (2005)

Topic: Guinea-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau-1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Guyana-4.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Haiti-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA

Topic: Honduras-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Hong Kong5.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Hungary-2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

note: Hungary has been under the EU Excessive Deficit Procedure since it joined the EU in 2004; in March 2012, the EU elevated its Excessive Deficit Procedure against Hungary and proposed freezing 30% of the country's Cohesion Funds because 2011 deficit reductions were not achieved in a sustainable manner; in June 2012, the EU lifted the freeze, recognizing that steps had been taken to reduce the deficit; the Hungarian deficit increased above 3% both in 2013 and in 2014 due to sluggish growth and the government's fiscal tightening

Topic: Iceland1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: India-3.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Indonesia-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Iran-2.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Iraq-4.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Ireland-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Isle of Man0.3% (of GDP) (FY05/06 est.)

Topic: Israel-2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Italy-2.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Jamaica0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Japan-3.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Jersey-0.4% (of GDP) (2005)

Topic: Jordan-5.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Kazakhstan-1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Kenya-6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Kiribati-64.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Korea, North-0.4% (of GDP) (2007 est.)

Topic: Korea, South1.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Kosovo-2.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Kuwait-10% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Kyrgyzstan-3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Laos-5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Latvia-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Lebanon-6.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Lesotho-6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Liberia-4.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Libya-25.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Liechtenstein1.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.)

Topic: Lithuania0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Luxembourg1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Macau10% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Madagascar-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Malawi-3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Malaysia-3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Maldives-10.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Topic: Mali-2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Malta3.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Marshall Islands1.3% (of GDP) (2013 est.)

Topic: Mauritania-0.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Mauritius-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Mexico-1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of6.6% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)

Topic: Moldova-0.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Monaco-1% (of GDP) (2011 est.)

Topic: Mongolia-6.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Montenegro-5.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Morocco-3.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Mozambique-5.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Namibia-5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Nauru-9.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Nepal-0.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Netherlands1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: New Caledonia0% (of GDP) (2015 est.)

Topic: New Zealand1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Nicaragua-2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Niger-5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Nigeria-1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Niue-12.6% (of GDP) (FY04/05)

Topic: North Macedonia-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Northern Mariana Islands3.7% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Topic: Norway4.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Oman-13.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Pakistan-5.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Palau8.8% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Topic: Panama-1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Papua New Guinea-4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Paraguay-1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Peru-3.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Philippines-2.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Poland-1.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Portugal-3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Puerto Rico-0.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Qatar-5.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Romania-2.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Russia-1.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Rwanda-4.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis1.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Saint Lucia0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon3.8% (of GDP) (1996 est.)

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines-0.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Samoa-4.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: San Marino-2.9% (of GDP) (2011 est.)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe-2.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Saudi Arabia-8.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Senegal-3.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Serbia0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Seychelles-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Sierra Leone-7.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Singapore-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Slovakia-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Slovenia0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Solomon Islands-2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Somalia-0.1% (of GDP) (2014 est.)

Topic: South Africa-4.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: South Sudan-1.3% (of GDP) (FY2017/18 est.)

Topic: Spain-3.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Sri Lanka-5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Sudan-10.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Suriname-7.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: SvalbardNA

Topic: Sweden1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Switzerland1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Syria-8.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Taiwan-0.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Tajikistan-1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Tanzania-1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Thailand-3.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Timor-Leste-75.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Togo-3.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Tonga0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago-8.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Tunisia-5.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)-1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Turkmenistan-2.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Tuvalu25.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)

Topic: Uganda-4.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Ukraine-1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: United Arab Emirates-0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: United Kingdom-1.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: United States-3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Uruguay-3.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Uzbekistan0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Vanuatu-0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Venezuela-46.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Vietnam-6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Virgin Islands-0.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Topic: Wallis and Futuna-0.8% (of GDP) (2015 est.) NA

Topic: West Bank0.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: World-3% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Topic: Yemen-5.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Zambia-7.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Topic: Zimbabwe-9.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)


This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total numbers. Rates above two children indicate populations growing in size and whose median age is declining. Higher rates may also indicate difficulties for families, in some situations, to feed and educate their children and for women to enter the labor force. Rates below two children indicate populations decreasing in size and growing older. Global fertility rates are in general decline and this trend is most pronounced in industrialized countries, especially Western Europe, where populations are projected to decline dramatically over the next 50 years.

Topic: Afghanistan4.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Albania1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Algeria2.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: American Samoa2.21 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Andorra1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Angola5.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Anguilla1.72 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Antigua and Barbuda1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Argentina2.18 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Armenia1.65 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Aruba1.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Australia1.73 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Austria1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Azerbaijan1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bahamas, The1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bahrain1.67 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bangladesh2.09 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Barbados1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Belarus1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Belgium1.77 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Belize2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Benin5.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bermuda1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bhutan1.79 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bolivia2.33 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina1.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Botswana2.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Brazil1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: British Virgin Islands1.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Brunei1.74 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Bulgaria1.5 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Burkina Faso4.27 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Burma2.02 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Burundi5.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cabo Verde2.13 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cambodia2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cameroon4.55 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Canada1.57 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cayman Islands1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Central African Republic4.04 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Chad5.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Chile1.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: China1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Christmas IslandNA

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islands(2021 est.) NA

Topic: Colombia1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Comoros2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the5.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the4.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cook Islands2.07 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Costa Rica1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire3.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Croatia1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cuba1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Curacao1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Cyprus1.48 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Czechia1.49 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Denmark1.77 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Djibouti2.15 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Dominica2.02 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Dominican Republic2.21 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Ecuador2.04 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Egypt2.88 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: El Salvador2.05 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Equatorial Guinea4.26 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Eritrea3.58 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Estonia1.61 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Eswatini2.44 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Ethiopia3.99 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: European Union(2021 est.) 1.62 children born/woman

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA

Topic: Faroe Islands2.29 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Fiji2.26 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Finland1.74 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: France2.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: French Polynesia1.81 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Gabon3.31 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Gambia, The3.79 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Gaza Strip3.44 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Georgia1.75 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Germany1.57 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Ghana3.66 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Gibraltar1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Greece1.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Greenland1.91 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Grenada1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guam2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guatemala2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guernsey1.58 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guinea4.85 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau4.69 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Guyana2.06 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Haiti2.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Honduras2.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Hong Kong1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Hungary1.48 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Iceland1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: India2.1 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Indonesia2.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Iran1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Iraq3.25 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Ireland1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Isle of Man1.89 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Israel2.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Italy1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Jamaica2.06 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Japan1.38 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Jersey1.66 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Jordan2.96 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kazakhstan2.11 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kenya3.29 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kiribati2.2 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Korea, North1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Korea, South1.1 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kosovo1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kuwait2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Kyrgyzstan2.5 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Laos2.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Latvia1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Lebanon1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Lesotho2.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Liberia4.79 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Libya3.09 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Liechtenstein1.69 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Lithuania1.61 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Luxembourg1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Macau1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Madagascar3.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Malawi3.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Malaysia1.75 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Maldives1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Mali5.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Malta1.5 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Marshall Islands2.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Mauritania3.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Mauritius1.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Mexico1.68 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Moldova1.59 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Monaco1.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Mongolia1.91 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Montenegro1.81 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Montserrat1.32 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Morocco2.29 children born/woman (2022 est.)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Topic: Mozambique4.81 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Namibia2.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Nauru2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Nepal1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Netherlands1.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: New Caledonia1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: New Zealand1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Nicaragua1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Niger6.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Nigeria4.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Niue(2021 est.) NA

Topic: Norfolk IslandNA

Topic: North Macedonia1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Northern Mariana Islands2.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Norway1.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Oman2.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Pakistan3.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Palau1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Panama2.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Papua New Guinea3.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Paraguay1.89 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Peru2.2 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Philippines2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA

Topic: Poland1.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Portugal1.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Puerto Rico1.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Qatar1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Romania1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Russia1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Rwanda3.33 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Barthelemy1.64 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis1.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Lucia1.72 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Martin1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon1.59 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1.75 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Samoa2.42 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: San Marino1.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe3.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Saudi Arabia1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Senegal4.27 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Serbia1.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Seychelles1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Sierra Leone3.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Singapore1.16 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Sint Maarten1.99 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Slovakia1.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Slovenia1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Solomon Islands2.87 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Somalia5.31 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: South Africa2.18 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: South Sudan5.32 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Spain1.27 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Sri Lanka1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Sudan4.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Suriname1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Svalbard(2021 est.) NA

Topic: Sweden1.67 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Switzerland1.58 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Syria2.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Taiwan1.08 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Tajikistan2.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Tanzania4.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Thailand1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Timor-Leste4.21 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Togo4.23 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Tokelau(2021 est.) NA

Topic: Tonga2.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Tunisia2 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Turkey1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Turkmenistan2.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Tuvalu2.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Uganda5.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Ukraine1.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: United Arab Emirates1.64 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: United Kingdom1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: United States1.84 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Uruguay1.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Uzbekistan1.73 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Vanuatu2.66 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Venezuela2.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Vietnam2.05 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Virgin Islands2 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Wallis and Futuna1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: West Bank2.96 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: World2.42 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Topic: Yemen3.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Zambia4.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Topic: Zimbabwe3.89 children born/woman (2022 est.)