🌍 Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Area & Boundaries
Total Area
30,355 km²
Land Area
30,355 km²
Water Area
N/A km²
World Rank by Area
#null
Land Boundaries
1,106 km
Coastline
N/A km
Bordering Countries
South Africa 1 (N/A km)
106 km (N/A km)
Terrain & Climate
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Elevation
Highest Point
: N/Am
Lowest Point
: nullm
Mean Elevation
2,161m
Natural Resources
water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
👥 Demographics
Population Overview
Total Population (2024)
2,227,548
World Rank
#null
Growth Rate
0.76%
Urbanization
null%
Age & Life Expectancy
Median Age
23.9 years
Life Expectancy
null years
Birth Rate
22.9 per 1,000
Death Rate
10.8 per 1,000
Major Urban Areas
Languages
- Sesotho (official) (Official)
- English (official) (Official)
- Phuthi
- Xhosa
- Zulu
Education
Literacy Rate: null% (Male: 83.2%, Female: 96.6%)
💼 Economy
lower middle-income economy surrounded by South Africa; environmentally fragile and politically unstable; key infrastructure and renewable energy investments; dire poverty; urban job and income losses due to COVID-19; systemic corruption
GDP & Economic Indicators
GDP (PPP)
$6.17 billion
GDP (Official Rate)
$2.27 billion
GDP per Capita (PPP)
$2,600
World GDP Rank
#null
GDP Growth Rate
2.8%
Unemployment Rate
null%
Inflation Rate
6.1%
Public Debt (% of GDP)
null%
GDP Composition by Sector
Agriculture
6.5%
Industry
31%
Services
48%
Major Industries
food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism
Trade
Exports
N/A
Imports
N/A
Foreign Exchange Reserves
N/A
Currency
(null)
🏛️ Government
Government Type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
Chief of State:
Head of Government:
Legislative Branch
National Holiday
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
📈 Social Indicators
Physicians
0.24 per 1,000
Health Expenditure
10.2% of GDP
Education Expenditure
6.6% of GDP
🎨 Cultural Heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
1
Notable Sites