Lesotho, a high-altitude, landlocked kingdom encircled by South Africa, is crisscrossed by a network of rivers and mountain ranges including the 3,482m-high peak of Thabana Ntlenyana. On the Thaba Bosiu plateau, near Lesotho's capital, Maseru, are ruins dating from the 19th-century reign of King Moshoeshoe I. Thaba Bosiu overlooks iconic Mount Qiloane, an enduring symbol of the nation’s Basotho people.

Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa

Ethnic Groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%

Belief Systems: Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%

Demographics:

Population: 2.26 million people (World Rank: 143rd) (2014 estimate)
Population Density: 193 people/mi^2 (People per Square Mile) (World Rank: 134th) (2014 estimate)
Population Growth: 1.05 %/yr (World Rank: 123rd) (2013 estimate)
Life Expectancy: 49.4 years (World Rank: 227th) (2013 estimate)
Median Age: 20.1 years (World Rank: 153rd) (2010 estimate)

Sites for More Information:

Map of Lesotho
Worldatlas.com

Current News About Lesotho
AllAfrica.com

Lesotho - Facts and Information 1
United Nations Economic Commision for Africa

Lesotho - Facts and Information 2
Encyclopedia.com

Traveling to Lesotho
Africaguide.com

Government Related:

Lesotho Embassy
in Washington D.C

Lesotho Government Web Sites
by Gunnar Anzinger

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