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Photos of Lesotho

Thabana Ntlenyana -- or "beautiful little mountain" in the Sesotho language -- is the highest mountain in southern Africa at 3,482 m (11,424 ft).  It is also the highest peak in Maloti-Drakensberg Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The Park spans the border between Lesotho and South Africa and includes Sehlabathebe National Park (6,500 ha or 16,061 acres) in Lesotho and Khahlamba Drakensberg Park (242,813 ha or 600,000 acres) in South Africa. Maloti-Drakensberg Park is renowned for its spectacular natural landscape, varied wildlife, and rock paintings made by the San people over a 4,000-year period.

Introduction

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Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Geography

Area

comparison ranking: total 141

Area - comparative

Area comparison map:
Area comparison map

People and Society

Age structure

2023 population pyramid:
2023 population pyramid

Median age

comparison ranking: total 179

Population growth rate

comparison ranking: 116

Birth rate

comparison ranking: 50

Death rate

comparison ranking: 28

Net migration rate

comparison ranking: 199

Maternal mortality ratio

comparison ranking: 9

Infant mortality rate

comparison ranking: total 24

Total fertility rate

comparison ranking: 53

Tobacco use

comparison ranking: total 55

Education expenditures

comparison ranking: 11

Environment

Revenue from coal

comparison ranking: 96

Government

Economy

Real GDP growth rate

comparison ranking: 167

Real GDP per capita

comparison ranking: 203

Labor force

comparison ranking: 146

Unemployment rate

comparison ranking: 193

Public debt

comparison ranking: 203

Taxes and other revenues

comparison ranking: 20

Current account balance

comparison ranking: 96

Exports

comparison ranking: 184

Imports

comparison ranking: 177

Debt - external

comparison ranking: 83

Energy

Communications

Internet users

comparison ranking: total 148

Transportation

Airports

comparison ranking: 115

Roadways

comparison ranking: total 146

Military and Security

Military expenditures

comparison ranking: 88