1,600, Asians 800
Religions:
Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
Languages:
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1966)
total population:
59%
male:
44%
female:
68%
Labor force:
689,000 economically active
by occupation:
86.2% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture;
roughly 60% of active male labor force works in South Africa

@Lesotho, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form:
Lesotho
former:
Basutoland
Digraph:
LT
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Maseru
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 UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution:
2 April 1993
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of
legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
King LETSIE III (since 12 November 1990)
head of government:
Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993 )
cabinet:
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consisting of the Assembly or lower house whose
members are chosen by popular election and the Senate or upper house
whose members consist of the 22 principal chiefs and 10 other members
appointed by the ruling party; election held in March 1993 (first
since 1971); all 65 seats in the Assembly were won by the BCP
Judicial branch:
High Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Basotho National Party (BNP), Evaristus SEKHONYANA; Basutholand
Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE; National Independent Party (NIP),
A. C. MANYELI; Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), Vincent MALEBO; United
Democratic Party, Charles MOFELI; Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL),
Jacob M. KENA
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Teboho KITLELI
chancery:
2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington,