Map of Lesotho | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Paramount chief MOSHOESHOE I consolidated what would become Basutoland in the early 19th century and made himself king in 1822. Continuing encroachments by Dutch settlers from the neighboring Orange Free State caused the king to enter into an 1868 agreement with the UK that made Basutoland first a British protectorate and, after 1884, a crown colony. After gaining independence in 1966, the country was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Basotho National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE II was exiled in 1990, returned to Lesotho in 1992, was reinstated in 1995, and was then succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Batswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections in 2007 were hotly contested, and aggrieved parties disputed how seats were awarded. In 2012, competitive elections saw Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas THABANE form a coalition government -- the first in the country's history -- that ousted the 14-year incumbent, Pakalitha MOSISILI, who peacefully transferred power the following month. MOSISILI returned to power in snap elections in 2015 after the collapse of THABANE’s coalition government and an alleged attempted military coup. In 2017, THABANE returned to become prime minister but stepped down in 2020 after being implicated in his estranged wife’s murder. He was succeeded by Moseketsi MAJORO. In 2022, Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE was inaugurated as prime minister and head of a three-party coalition.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 30,355 km²
Land: 30,355 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries
Total: 1,106 km
Border countries (1): (1) South Africa 1,106 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

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

Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Elevation
Highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
Mean elevation: 2,161 m

Natural resources

Land use
Agricultural land: 77.8% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 65.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Other: 21.1% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 12 km² (2013)

Major rivers: Orange river source (shared with South Africa and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km
Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: periodic droughts

Geography
Note: landlocked, surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m (5,900 ft) above sea level


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Population
Total: 2,227,548 (2024 est.)
Male: 1,101,959
Female: 1,125,589
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, as shown in this population distribution map
Growth rate: 0.76% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

Languages: Sesotho (official), English (official), Phuthi, Xhosa, Zulu

Religions: Protestant 47.8% (Pentecostal 23.1%, Lesotho Evangelical 17.3%, Anglican 7.4%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, other Christian 9.1%, non-Christian 1.4%, none 2.3% (2014 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 32% (male 358,137/female 353,618)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 699,197/female 696,626)
65 years and over: 5.4% (2024 est.) (male 44,625/female 75,345)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 59.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 51 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.6 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 11.6 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 23.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 23.4 years
Female: 24.3 years

Population growth rate: 0.76% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 22.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 10.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

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, as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 30.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 202,000 MASERU (capital) (2018)

Environment

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 478 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 45.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 51 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 60.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 58.1 years
Female: 62.3 years

Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 7% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 34.1% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 26% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 6.4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 37.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 28.3% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12.5% (2024 est.)

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 16.2% (2024 est.); 16.5% (2023 est.); 16.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


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Country name

Government type

Capital
Name: Maseru
Geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name means '[place of] red sandstones' in the Sesotho language

Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: mixed system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; High Court and Court of Appeal review legislative acts

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch
Chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996)
Head of government: Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE (28 October 2022)
Cabinet: consists of the prime minister (appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State), the deputy prime minister, and 18 other ministers; the prime minister is the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the National Assembly
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary but has no executive or legislative powers under the constitution; under traditional law, the College of Chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, determine next in line of succession, or serve as regent in the event that a successor is not of mature age
Note: King LETSIE III previously occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament
Legislative structure: bicameral

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green; centered on the white stripe is a black mokorotlo, a traditional Basotho straw hat and national symbol

National symbols

National anthem
Title: 'Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona' (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)
Lyrics/music: Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR
History: adopted 1967; music derives from an 1823 Swiss songbook

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.8% (2024 est.); 1.8% (2023 est.); 2.4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 2.8% (2024 est.); 1.8% (2023 est.); 2.4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 92.9% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 35.6% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 28.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -1.1% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 42.9% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -98.6% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 6.5% (2024 est.)
Industry: 31% (2024 est.)
Services: 48% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

Industries: food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 884,200 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 16.2% (2024 est.); 16.5% (2023 est.); 16.7% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 16.2% (2024 est.); 16.5% (2023 est.); 16.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.13 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $1.256 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 30.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $983.027 million (2024 est.); $885.789 million (2023 est.); $1.07 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: diamonds, garments, wool, power equipment, bedding (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $2.083 billion (2024 est.); $2.077 billion (2023 est.); $2.247 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, fabric, trucks, garments, cotton fabric (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 104,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 833.009 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 453.992 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 102.88 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 50% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 83.6%
Access electrification - rural areas: 37.7%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 99.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 57,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 81,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.148 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 175,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 973,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 8.117 million Btu/person (2023 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 7,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 1.6 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 68 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 48% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 9,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1


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Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 34 (2025)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs