Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
9,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations; most private broadcast media transmitters are connected to government radio signal towers; satellite TV subscription service available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters obtainable (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.ls
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
51.80% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
7,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
70 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
1.64 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, potatoes, maize, vegetables, fruits, sorghum, wheat, game meat, beans, wool (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$1.256 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$1.13 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$254.7 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$205.5 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$135.3 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$222.1 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$207.9 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$143.8 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$178.3 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$121.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$196.1 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$268.876 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$151.577 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$84.393 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$1.809 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$928.019 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
18.3287 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
maloti (LSL) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
9.6551 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
10.8527 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
12.7589 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
14.7096 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
13.3238 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
13.2339 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
14.4484 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
16.4591 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
14.7787 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
16.3559 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
18.4502 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
18.3287 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
diamonds, garments, wool, power equipment, bedding (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$1.231 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$931.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$1.012 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$968.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$1.095 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$1.274 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$1.105 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$912.8 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$1.113 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$1.07 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$885.789 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$983.027 million (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
42.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
35.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
92.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-98.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
28.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-1.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
6.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
31% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
48% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,001 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.272 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$7.015 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
44.9 (2017 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
32.9% (2017 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.7% (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fabric, trucks, garments, cotton fabric (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$2.413 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$2.049 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$1.914 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$2.281 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$2.418 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$2.255 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$1.985 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$2.244 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$2.247 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$2.077 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$2.083 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
2.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
3.22% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
6.60% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
4.45% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
4.75% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
5.19% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
4.98% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
6.05% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.27% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
6.34% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
6.11% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
884,200 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
49.70% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
33.21% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
33.02% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
42.06% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
37.37% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
32.84% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
32.17% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
2.99% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$5.764 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$6.387 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$6.268 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$5.649 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$5.675 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$5.721 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$5.755 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$5.893 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$6 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$6.166 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
3.12% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.61% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
-3.14% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
-1.48% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
-1.42% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-8.16% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
2.27% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
2.39% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.83% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.85% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$2,771 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$3,035 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$2,942 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$2,619 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$2,568 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$2,559 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$2,545 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$2,761 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$2,881 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$462.9 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$406.2 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$347.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$449.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$474.5 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
22.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
22.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
22% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$997.4 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$925.2 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$657.7 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$728.5 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$774.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$730.3 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$798.2 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$771.278 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$854.089 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$1.008 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
30.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
16.88% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
18.39% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
18.21% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
16.62% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
16.35% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
16.34% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
36.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
17.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
24.2% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
81,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
57,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
37.7%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
50% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
83.6%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
99.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
833.009 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
453.992 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
104,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
102.88 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
8.117 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
175,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
973,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
1.148 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Environment: Environmental issues
overgrazing; severe soil erosion; soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
77.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 65.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
1.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
21.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
3.022 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
30.4% of total population (2023)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
73,500 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
11.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maryland
Geography: Area: land
30,355 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
2,161 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked, surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m (5,900 ft) above sea level
Geography: Irrigated land
12 sq km (2013)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
South Africa 1,106 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,106 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
77.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 65.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
1.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
21.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Orange (941,351 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
periodic droughts
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Government: Administrative divisions
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Government: Capital: etymology
the name means "[place of] red sandstones" in the Sesotho language
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
29 19 S, 27 29 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including fundamental rights and freedoms, sovereignty of the kingdom, the office of the king, and powers of Parliament, requires a majority vote by the National Assembly, approval by the Senate, approval in a referendum by a majority of qualified voters, and assent of the king; passage of amendments other than those specified provisions requires at least a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1959, 1967; latest adopted 2 April 1993 (effectively restoring the 1967 version)
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Lesotho
Government: Country name: etymology
the name comes from the Sotho people, whose name means "dark-skinned;" Le - is a singular noun prefix; the former name, Basutoland, uses the plural noun prefix, Ba -
Government: Country name: former
Basutoland
Government: Country name: local long form
Kingdom of Lesotho
Government: Country name: local short form
Lesotho
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Thomas HINES (since August 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
USConsularMaseru@state.gov https://ls.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
254 Kingsway Avenue, Maseru
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[266] 22310116
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2340 Maseru Place, Washington DC 20521-2340
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[266] 22312666
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Tumisang MOSOTHO (since 16 September 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
lesothoembassy@verizon.net https://www.gov.ls/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 234-6815
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 797-5533
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996)
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE (28 October 2022)
Government: 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 meaning: blue stands for rain, white for peace, and green for prosperity history: the redesigned flag was introduced in 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; military courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; High Court and Court of Appeal review legislative acts
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
National Assembly
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
October 2027
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
11/2/2022
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
122 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) (56); Democratic Congress (DC) (29); All Basotho Convention (ABC) (8); Basotho Action Party (BAP) (6); Other (20)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
25%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
November 2027
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
10/7/2022
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
33 (11 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
21.2%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1967; music derives from an 1823 Swiss songbook
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR
Government: National color(s)
blue, white, green, black
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Maloti-Drakensberg Park
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (mixed)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Government: National symbol(s)
mokorotio (Basotho hat)
Government: Political parties
All Basotho Convention or ABC Alliance of Democrats or AD Basotho Action Party or BAP Basotho National Party or BNP Democratic Congress or DC Democratic Party of Lesotho or DPL Lesotho People's Congress or LPC Movement of Economic Change or MEC National Independent Party or NIP Popular Front for Democracy of PFD Reformed Congress of Lesotho or RCL
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) is responsible for the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; the LDF is a small force that began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986; it was renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 2,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the LDF is lightly armed and has a small inventory of mostly older or secondhand equipment of European, South African, and US origin (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.87% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.96% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
2.27% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
2.00% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.88% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.88% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.54% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.47% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.63% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.57% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
20-30 years of age for voluntary military service for both men and women (2026)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
32% (male 358,137/female 353,618)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
62.7% (male 699,197/female 696,626)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
5.4% (2024 est.) (male 44,625/female 75,345)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
3.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
21.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
1.9% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
1% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
16.4% (2018)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
12.5% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
12.61% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
46.9% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
8.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
11.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
56.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
48.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 65.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 74% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 93% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 34.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 26% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
6.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
10.4% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
6.62% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Sotho 99.7%, other 0.3% (includes Kwena, Nguni (Hlubi and Phuthi), Zulu)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.23 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
10.2% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
13.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
17.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
40.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
51 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
56.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
60.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
55.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
96.6% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
83.2% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
90.45% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
202,000 MASERU (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
478 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
24.3 years
People and Society: Median age: male
23.4 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.9 years (2014 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Basotho
People and Society: Net migration rate
-4.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
16.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
2,337,423 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.73% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,123,648
People and Society: Population: male
1,099,314
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 62.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 71.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 93.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 37.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 28.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 6.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
11 years (2017 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
11 years (2017 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
11 years (2017 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.59 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
4.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
42.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
22.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.66 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
30.4% of total population (2023)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
610 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
34 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
7P
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.