Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment-current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography-note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
@Lesotho:People
Population: 2,089,829 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 420,526; female 419,059) 15-64 years: 55% (male 558,068; female 596,598) 65 years and over: 5% (male 39,782; female 55,796) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 31.84 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.76 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)