Lesotho is the only sovereign country in the world surrounded by another country. Even though relations with surrounding South Africa have improved since South African majority rule was established in 1994, resource-poor Lesotho still depends upon South Africa for all industrial goods. In exchange, more than 100,000 men (out of a total population of 1.7 million) work in South Africa’s gold mines. The massive exodus of Lesotho’s males for work in South Africa means that most households are run by women. Lesotho is classified by the United Nations as one of the world’s “least developed countries.”
The Lesotho Evangelical Church, founded in 1833, is the largest Protestant Church in the country. The Christian Council of Lesotho is the ecumenical voice of Lesotho’s churches, and involves both the Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations. The Christian Health Association of Lesotho coordinates work among the country’s nine church-funded hospitals and clinics.
Pray for: St. Catherine’s High School of the Anglican Diocese of Maseru as it plans to offer computer courses to visually impaired Basotho students.
The Lesotho Evangelical Church’s efforts to provide solar water heaters and solar cookers to ministers serving in remote high-mountain areas where electricity is not available.
Population (2014 est) – 1,942,008
Area – 18,860mi
Capital – Maseru
Ethnic Background
- Sotho – 99.7%
- Europeans, Asians, Other – 0.3%,
Exports – manufactures (clothing, footwear), wool and mohair, food and live animals, electricity, water, diamonds
Imports – food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products
Life Expectancy (2014 est) – M 52, F 53
Infant Mortality (2014 est) – 50.48 deaths/1,000 live births
Adult Illiteracy Rate – 10.4%