Official Name: Kingdom of Lesotho

Alternate Names: Lesotho

Former Names: Basutoland

Capital City: Maseru

Flag: The flag has three horizontal stripes of blue (on the top), white, and green. The color blue represents rain. The color white represents peace. The color green represents prosperity. In the center of the white stripe is a black Basotho hat which represents the indigenous people of Lesotho.

Date of Independence: October 4, 1966 from the United Kingdom

National Anthem: "Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)

Population: 1,924,886

Size/Area: 18861 square miles - slightly smaller than Maryland

Land Locked: Yes

Coastline: None

Bordering Countries: Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa

Administrative Divisions: Lesotho is divided into ten districts: Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka.

Major Cities: Maseru

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

Religions: Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%

Major Holidays: New Year's Day, Moshoeshoe Day (March 11), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Workers' Day (May 1), Ascension, Africa Day / Heroes' Day (May 25), King Letsie III's Birthday (July 17), Independence Day (October 4), Christmas Day, Boxing Day

Currency: Lesotho Loti

Currency Code: LSL

Highest Point: Thabana Ntlenyana at 11,423 feet

Lowest Point: Lesotho's lowest point is at the junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers and is 4593 feet above sea level.

Bordering Bodies of Water: None

Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Major Industries: Food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism

Major Agricultural Products: Corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock

Natural Resources: Water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone

Time Zone: UTC+2


Tribes of Africa eBook


This eBook is the most complete listing of African tribes available on the internet. The first section of this book is the tribes sorted alphabetically by country. The second section is the tribes sorted alphabetically by tribe name.