Lesotho — Capital, Flag and Country Facts
Explore Lesotho: capital Maseru, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.
Lesotho is in Africa. Its capital is Maseru.
- Population
- 2,180,000
- Area
- 30,355 km²
- Currency
- Lesotho Loti (LSL)
- Languages
- Sesotho, English
Climate
Temperate highland climate with cool to cold winters and warm summers; rainfall concentrated in summer months
Terrain
Mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains; the entire country lies above 1,000 meters elevation
Facts
Lesotho is the only country entirely above 1,000 meters elevation.
Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa, making it one of only three enclaved countries.
The country is known as the "Kingdom in the Sky" due to its high altitude.
History
1822: King Moshoeshoe I unites Basotho clans
1868: Becomes a British protectorate (Basutoland)
1966: Independence from Britain
1986: Military coup topples Chief Jonathan
1998: Political crisis leads to SADC military intervention
2022: Sam Matekane becomes Prime Minister