Page last updated on February 08, 2019

Location:
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Geographic coordinates:
29 30 S, 28 30 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 30,355 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 30,355 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 142

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 1,106 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (1): South Africa 1106 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain:
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Elevation:
mean elevation: 2,161 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: 1,400 m lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers
3482 highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana

Natural resources:
water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone

Land use:
agricultural land: 76.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 10.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 65.9% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 1.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 22.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
relatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru, and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked, an enclave of (completely surrounded by) South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level