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Lesotho
Kingdom of Lesotho
Muso oa Lesotho
Political Status: Traditional monarchy, independent within the Commonwealth since October 4, 1966.
Area: 11, 720 sq. mi. (30, 355 sq. km.).
Population: 1, 880, 661 (2006C); 2, 085, 000 (1996C); 2, 642, 000 (2007E), excluding expatriate workers in South Africa (approximately 150, 000 in 1999), the 2006 figure would appear to reflect substantial underenumeration.
Major Urban Center (2005E): MASERU (185, 000).
Official Languages: English, Sesotho.
Monetary Unit: Loti (official rate November 1, 2010: 7.00 maloti = $1US). The loti is at par with the South African rand, although under a Tripartite Monetary Area agreement concluded between Lesotho, Swaziland, and South Africa on July 1, 1986, the rand has ceased to be legal tender in Lesotho.
Sovereign: King LETSIE III; became king upon the dethronement of his father, ...