lesothoIntro - The Kingdom of Lesotho: A Research Perspective

A MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY

Lesotho is a small, mountainous country located within the Republic of South Africa.
The landscape is dotted with hills, plateaus, and mountains, which are home to many natural minerals.
Lesotho also contains two of the oldest rock formations in the country:
the Qeme Plateau and the Berea Plateau, both of which originate from the Upper Triassic Period.

POPULATION

The total population of Lesotho is 1,947,701 people.

The capital city of Maseru is located along the northwestern border of Lesotho with a population of 267,000 Basotho.

Lesotho is a mostly rural location, though 27.3 percent of Lesotho's population is urbanized.

NATIONAL FLAG

The national flag of Lesotho is a symbol of many Basotho aspects.

Blue represents Rain
White represents Peace
Green represents Prosperity
The middle symbol, a black Basotho hat, represents the indigenous people of the land

HEALTH

Both rural and urban denizens of the country do not have access to sanitation facilities (69.7 percent).
Contraction of HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) in adults makes Lesotho the third leading country with a significant rate of adults (23.39 percent) contracting STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases).

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Almost all the Basotho population is of Sotho descent (99.7 percent), with the rest originating from Europe, Asia, and other countries.

Many Basotho speak English and Sesotho, while some speak Zulu and Xhosa.

Many Basotho are Christian (80 percent), with a minority of followers of indigenous religions (20 percent).

NATURAL RESOURCES AND FARMING

Farmers take advantage of many natural resources provided by the mountainous habitat.

Water is used for irrigation and canal transportation
Land is used for farming and grazing animals
Stones are used for construction
Diamonds, sand, and clay are sold as exports in the markets

EDUCATION

Many Basotho are literate (79.4 percent). The average number of years of education completed by both male and female students is 11 years.

The National University of Lesotho is one of the most renowned schools in the nation.