Let's look at how the world has changed over the past 30 years by comparing the world atlases published in 1992, 2001, 2010, 2019.
We compare Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, North America, South America, Arctic Ocean, Antarctica by country and region.
Title III Africa - Lesotho
The Kingdom of Lesotho.
【Area】 30,344 square kilometers.
【Population】 2.14 million (2021). The vast majority of the population belongs to the Basuto and Zulu ethnic groups of the Bantu language family. English and Sesut are spoken. About 90% of the inhabitants are Protestant and Catholic, while the rest are primitive and Islamic.
Maseru, 1500 meters above sea level. The population is about 331,000 (2016). The annual maximum temperature is 33 °C, and the minimum temperature is -3 °C.
【Important Holidays】 Moshushu Day: March 11, Hero Day: May 25, King's Birthday: July 17, Independence Day: October 4.
【Geography】 In the landlocked countries of southern Africa, 75% of the eastern part of the country is mountainous, and the highest altitude is 3482 meters. The western 25% of the Panhandle is a lowland with a gentler terrain, with a minimum elevation of 1388 meters. The main mountain ranges are The Malotti And Drakens, and the main rivers are the Orange and Callidon Rivers. Surrounded by South Africa. It has a continental subtropical climate. May to September is the dry season, October to April is the rainy season, the maximum temperature is 33 °C, the lowest -7 °C.
【History】Before independence, it was called Basutoland. At the beginning of the 19th century, basuta chief Moshushu I unified the various ethnic groups and established a kingdom. In 1868, the British officially declared Basutoland its "protectorate" and in 1871 incorporated it into the British Cape Colony in South Africa. Independence was declared on 4 October 1966, the Kingdom of Lesotho was established as a constitutional monarchy, with Moshushu II as king and Jonathan, leader of the Basotho Nationalist Party, as Prime Minister. The first general election after independence was held in 1970, and the Basutoland Congress Party won. In 1986, the commander of the armed forces, Major General Lehaniyah, staged a military coup d'état to take over power and ban political party activities. In November 1990, the junta deposed Moshushu II and made his eldest son, Leziye, king. In March 1993, the junta "returned the government to the people" and held the second general election in Lay, which was won by the Basutoland Congress, and its chairman, Mohle, became prime minister. In January 1995, Moshushu II was reinstated. In January 1996, Moshushu II was killed in a car accident. In February, Lezier ascended the throne again. In May 1998, the third general election was held, in which the Democratic Congress Party (LCD) of Lesotho won by an absolute margin, with its chairman, Pakalitha Mosisili, as Prime Minister. In May 2002 and February 2007, General Elections were successfully held in Lesotho on a mixed electoral model, with the Democratic Congress Party of Lesotho winning consecutive general elections and Mosisili becoming Prime Minister.
【Administrative Divisions】There are 10 administrative districts in Lesotho, divided into 80 constituencies and 129 communities.
The 10 administrative districts are Maseru District, Leribe District, Berea District, Mafeten District, Mohareshoek District, Guting District, Taba-Ceca District, Buta-Butai District, Mohotron District and Gachasnek District.
Lesotho had a population of 1.7 million in 1990 and a GDP per capita of $350.
Lesotho had a population of 2.03 million in 2000 and a GDP per capita of $436.
Lesotho had a population of 2 million in 2010 and a GDP per capita of $1,119.
Lesotho has a population of 2.14 million in 2020 and a GDP per capita of $875.
With poor natural resources and a weak economic foundation, it is one of the least developed countries in the world declared by the United Nations. The economy is dominated by agriculture and animal husbandry and garment processing and export, and grain cannot be self-sufficient. Remittances are one of the main sources of national income. The Lai government has actively implemented the "2020 National Economic Development Vision Plan", improved the investment environment, worked hard to expand employment, developed agriculture and infrastructure construction, and developed the economy, and the diamond mining industry has become a new economic growth point. In recent years, due to the downturn in the world economy, the reduction of the southern African Customs Union's tax share, and the political instability in Lai, Lai's ability to attract foreign investment has declined, and its economic development has been slow. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2019, Lae Competitiveness ranks 130th. In June 2016, Lesotho and other SADC countries signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union in Botswana. In September 2018, international rating agency Fitch adjusted its economic growth forecast to negative. According to the World Bank's 2018 Ease of Doing Business Report, Rai ranks 10th among African countries and 104th in the world. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the Lai economy.
【Industry】 Mainly manufacturing and food processing, the production of garments, tanning, food, beverages, building materials, furniture, electronics and so on. The Plateau Water Conservancy Project in Les began in 1991 and is one of the largest in Africa, jointly financed by Lesotho and South Africa. The first phase of the project has now been completed, and Lesotho generates significant revenue each year through water deliveries to South Africa and can address its own electricity needs. Since 2000, with the opening of tariff-free and quota-free markets in Europe and the United States to Lai, the export processing industry with relatively high added value such as textiles, clothing and shoes has developed rapidly, and the garment industry has become the first pillar industry of the Lai national economy. Lai has become the largest garment exporter to the United States in sub-Saharan Africa and the 8th largest trading partner of the United States in Africa, earning about $500 million in foreign exchange for garments exported to the United States every year. Since 2008, affected by the international financial crisis, the Lai garment processing industry has faced difficulties, exports have declined, and many factories have stopped production or closed. In 2015, the output value of Lai's garment exports to the United States was 300 million US dollars, and exports to the United States accounted for 80% of the total output value of Lai garment exports. In April 2016, the United States stated that Lesotho would continue to enjoy the benefits of the Growth and Opportunity in Africa in 2016, but would continue to observe the implementation of the recommendations of the SADC Commission of Inquiry. With the expiration of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act in 2025, the sustainable development of the textile and apparel industry is facing great uncertainty.
【Mining】 Mainly diamond mining, there are also a small amount of coal, square lead, quartz, agate and uranium reserves, but it has no commercial mining value. Since 2006, Lai has discovered a number of extra-large high-grade original diamonds such as the "Lesotho Promise". In 2011, Laixin mined 550 carats of diamonds for $16.5 million. In July 2015, the relevant departments of the Lai government held the first mining dialogue with mining companies, and Prime Minister Mosisili encouraged investors to increase their investment in the mining sector. In July 2016, Totanjana, minister of mines at Lae, said that 96% of Lai's current mining income comes from diamonds, and there are 405 proven diamond mines. In September, two diamond companies, Leliqiaobang and Kao, completed the expansion of the mine site, of which the Kao Mine reached 19.8 acres, the fourth largest mine in Southern Africa, with a total production capacity of 12.4 million carats.
【Agriculture and Animal Husbandry】 The agricultural population accounts for 80% of the national population, and the agricultural labor force accounts for 50% of the total national labor force. Due to soil erosion, arable land has been decreasing year by year, and the existing arable land area is 180,000 hectares, accounting for about 10% of the national area. The food self-sufficiency rate is about 30 per cent. Animal husbandry occupies an important position, 66% of the country's land is available for grazing, mainly sheep farming, is a famous Mohair production area in Africa. Since 2015, Lai has suffered from drought for many years. At least 700,000 people faced food shortages in 2019, and in October, the Laeyre government declared a drought emergency for the country.