Lesotho Economy - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

GDP.· $300 million (1983)

Natural resources: some diamonds and other minerals, water, agricultural and grazing land

Agriculture: exceedingly primitive, mostly subsistence farming and livestock, principal crops are corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley

Major industries: none

Electric power: 1,660 kW capacity (1985); 1 million kWh produced (1985), 0.7 kWh per capita

Exports, labor to South Africa (deferred remittances $94 million est in 1983 ); $29 million (f.o.b., 1984), wool mohair, wheat, cattle, peas, beans, corn, hides, skins, tourism, diamonds

Imports: $476 million (f.o.b., 1984); mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum, oil. and lubricants

Major trade partner: South Africa; member of Southern African Customs Union

Budget: (FA 84/85) revenues, $160 million; current expenditures, $130 million; development (capital) expenditures, $50 million

Monetary conversion rate: the Lesotho maloti exchanges at par with the South African rand; 2.3 maloti=US$l (29 January 1986)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

NOTE: The information regarding Lesotho on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Lesotho 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Lesotho 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.