Lesotho29.48° S, 28.25° E
No coast at all — every one of its 1,106 km of border is shared with another country.
coastline 0 km · 185th/229 · land borders 1,106 km · 120th/230
CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · ranks computed across the countries in this atlas that carry the value
geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area
Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.
Lesotho takes its name from the Sotho people, whose name means "dark-skinned." "Le-" is a singular noun prefix, while the former name Basutoland uses the plural noun prefix "Ba-."
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
An enclave of South Africa, Lesotho lies in Southern Africa. South Africa surrounds the landlocked country. Its terrain is mostly highland, with plateaus, hills, and mountains.
Lesotho's natural resources include water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, and building stone. Thabana Ntlenyana is the country's highest point. The junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers is its lowest point.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
A temperate climate brings cool to cold, dry winters and hot, wet summers. Periodic droughts occur as a natural hazard.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
The government is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Its legal system combines English common law and Roman-Dutch law, while the High Court and Court of Appeal review legislative acts. The current constitution was adopted 2 April 1993, effectively restoring the 1967 version. Lesotho gained independence from the UK on 4 October 1966. Its national holiday is Independence Day, 4 October (1966).
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Three horizontal stripes—blue at the top, white, and green—make up the flag, with a black mokorotlo centered on the white stripe. The mokorotlo is a traditional Basotho straw hat and national symbol; blue stands for rain, white for peace, and green for prosperity. The redesigned flag was introduced in 2006 to celebrate independence. The national symbol is mokorotio (Basotho hat).
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
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