COUNTRY PROFILE / LSO

LS

Lesotho

Compare Lesotho

Lesotho is a World Bank reporting economy in Sub-Saharan Africa . Its reported capital is Maseru. Explore its demographic, economic and social trends using 15 available indicators.

Sub-Saharan Africa Lower middle incomeLatest observations: 2022–2025

Latest country indicators

What changed?

A decade of change, measured from each indicator’s latest available year.

Population

+12.3%2015 → 2025

GDP per capita

-2.9%2015 → 2025

Internet adoption

+29.8 percentage points2014 → 2024

Life expectancy

+7 years2014 → 2024

Changes describe direction, not performance. Percentage-point differences apply to percentage indicators; currency changes use current US dollars.

THE LONG VIEW

Lesotho, through the years

Explore each indicator. Select a time range or open the underlying data table.

Demographics

Demographics / people

Population in Lesotho

2.4MLatest available · 2025
Lesotho

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Population changed by +12.3% between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Population·people· World Bank
YearLesotho
20252,363,325
20242,337,423
20232,311,472
20222,286,110
20212,261,542
20202,235,727
20192,209,405
20182,183,603
20172,157,110
20162,130,422
20152,104,611
20142,080,089
20132,056,504
20122,034,354
20112,014,009
20101,996,251
20091,980,883
20081,966,541
20071,953,268
20061,945,063
20051,953,076
20041,971,129
20031,985,059
20021,994,679
20012,000,853
20002,003,913
19992,003,234
19981,998,049
19971,988,130
19961,972,418
19951,951,437
19941,927,707
19931,901,793
19921,873,274
19911,842,379
19901,809,696
19891,775,436
19881,739,841
19871,703,390
19861,666,138
19851,624,379
19841,578,986
19831,534,413
19821,490,732
19811,448,069
19801,406,521
19791,366,169
19781,327,240
19771,289,967
19761,253,214
19751,213,643
19741,172,420
19731,132,697
19721,094,063
19711,056,246
19701,019,273
1969983,202
1968948,105
1967913,982
1966881,870
1965854,090
1964829,437
1963805,373
1962781,814
1961758,824
1960736,500

The total number of residents, based on the de facto definition of population and midyear estimates. Explore population across countries →

Demographics / %

Population growth in Lesotho

1.1%Latest available · 2025
Lesotho

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Population growth changed by -0.1 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Population growth·%· World Bank
YearLesotho
20251.1%
20241.12%
20231.1%
20221.08%
20211.15%
20201.18%
20191.17%
20181.22%
20171.24%
20161.22%
20151.17%
20141.14%
20131.08%
20121.01%
20110.89%
20100.77%
20090.73%
20080.68%
20070.42%
2006-0.41%
2005-0.92%
2004-0.7%
2003-0.48%
2002-0.31%
2001-0.15%
20000.03%
19990.26%
19980.5%
19970.79%
19961.07%
19951.22%
19941.35%
19931.51%
19921.66%
19911.79%
19901.91%
19892.03%
19882.12%
19872.21%
19862.54%
19852.83%
19842.86%
19832.89%
19822.9%
19812.91%
19802.91%
19792.89%
19782.85%
19772.89%
19763.21%
19753.46%
19743.45%
19733.47%
19723.52%
19713.56%
19703.6%
19693.63%
19683.67%
19673.58%
19663.2%
19652.93%
19642.94%
19632.97%
19622.98%
19612.99%

The annual exponential rate of growth in the midyear population, expressed as a percentage. Explore population growth across countries →

Demographics / %

Urban population in Lesotho

44.7%Latest available · 2025
Lesotho

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Urban population changed by +10.6 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Urban population·%· World Bank
YearLesotho
202544.67%
202443.68%
202342.68%
202241.67%
202140.66%
202039.63%
201938.6%
201837.57%
201736.53%
201635.51%
201534.09%
201432.64%
201331.24%
201229.9%
201128.62%
201027.4%
200926.26%
200825.2%
200724.22%
200623.33%
200522.53%
200421.8%
200321.12%
200220.49%
200119.9%
200019.33%
199918.77%
199818.22%
199717.66%
199617.09%
199516.47%
199415.78%
199315.04%
199214.29%
199113.56%
199012.88%
198912.29%
198811.8%
198711.46%
198611.3%
198511.28%
198411.26%
198311.25%
198211.25%
198111.24%
198011.24%
197911.23%
197811.22%
197711.21%
197611.2%
197511.13%
197410.94%
197310.62%
197210.22%
19719.75%
19709.22%
19698.68%
19688.12%
19677.59%
19667.1%
19656.62%
19646.07%
19635.47%
19624.86%
19614.24%
19603.66%

The share of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by national statistical offices. Explore urban population across countries →

Demographics / births per woman

Fertility rate in Lesotho

2.7 birthsLatest available · 2024
Lesotho

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Fertility rate changed by -0.6 births per woman between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Fertility rate·births per woman· World Bank
YearLesotho
20242.66 births
20232.69 births
20222.72 births
20212.77 births
20202.85 births
20192.92 births
20183.02 births
20173.11 births
20163.18 births
20153.22 births
20143.24 births
20133.28 births
20123.3 births
20113.34 births
20103.25 births
20093.31 births
20083.39 births
20073.44 births
20063.41 births
20053.43 births
20043.51 births
20033.62 births
20023.68 births
20013.63 births
20003.61 births
19993.67 births
19983.82 births
19973.98 births
19964.06 births
19954.13 births
19944.21 births
19934.37 births
19924.54 births
19914.68 births
19904.81 births
19894.96 births
19885.1 births
19875.22 births
19865.32 births
19855.4 births
19845.48 births
19835.56 births
19825.63 births
19815.69 births
19805.75 births
19795.79 births
19785.82 births
19775.85 births
19765.87 births
19755.83 births
19745.75 births
19735.69 births
19725.69 births
19715.7 births
19705.7 births
19695.7 births
19685.73 births
19675.75 births
19665.76 births
19655.77 births
19645.77 births
19635.78 births
19625.79 births
19615.79 births
19605.78 births

The number of children a woman would have if she experienced current age-specific fertility rates throughout her childbearing years. Explore fertility rate across countries →

Economy

Economy / USD

GDP in Lesotho

$2.6BLatest available · 2025
Lesotho

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GDP changed by +9.1% between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
GDP·USD· World Bank
YearLesotho
2025$2,573,572,920.05
2024$2,391,282,547.8
2023$2,129,871,529.53
2022$2,354,980,960.03
2021$2,412,130,056.56
2020$2,053,699,864
2019$2,390,702,295.83
2018$2,556,247,292
2017$2,306,741,672.29
2016$2,114,426,452.2
2015$2,359,686,724.54
2014$2,441,063,054.06
2013$2,367,112,931.64
2012$2,477,702,216.27
2011$2,579,409,619.97
2010$2,234,754,241.92
2009$1,740,894,964.81
2008$1,766,902,709.2
2007$1,682,131,784.51
2006$1,800,092,563.75
2005$1,682,343,527.49
2004$1,511,236,655.52
2003$1,157,825,434.79
2002$775,777,238.56
2001$825,706,961.24
2000$887,291,687.92
1999$912,773,681.05
1998$928,460,893.11
1997$998,004,258.72
1996$946,112,492.84
1995$1,001,894,000.28
1994$878,250,945.28
1993$835,582,062.48
1992$831,029,861.7
1991$704,325,366.72
1990$596,410,263.74
1989$495,409,232.63
1988$470,395,800.6
1987$402,768,324.48
1986$318,858,422.99
1985$268,629,925.85
1984$333,163,670.28
1983$386,699,308.86
1982$348,741,683.67
1981$434,188,034.19
1980$431,542,536.66
1979$290,134,592.52
1978$266,570,066.64
1977$193,315,048.33
1976$147,660,036.92
1975$149,558,895.91
1974$150,851,316.53
1973$121,188,715.76
1972$80,913,200.43
1971$76,480,285
1970$68,739,972.5
1969$65,967,973.61
1968$61,445,975.42
1967$59,261,976.3
1966$56,699,977.32
1965$54,879,978.05
1964$51,939,979.22
1963$47,039,981.18
1962$41,859,983.26
1961$35,699,985.72
1960$34,579,986.17

Gross domestic product measures the value of goods and services produced in an economy, in current US dollars. Explore gdp across countries →

Economy / USD

GDP per capita in Lesotho

$1.1KLatest available · 2025
Lesotho

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GDP per capita changed by -2.9% between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
GDP per capita·USD· World Bank
YearLesotho
2025$1,088.96
2024$1,023.04
2023$921.44
2022$1,030.13
2021$1,066.59
2020$918.58
2019$1,082.06
2018$1,170.66
2017$1,069.37
2016$992.49
2015$1,121.2
2014$1,173.54
2013$1,151.04
2012$1,217.93
2011$1,280.73
2010$1,119.48
2009$878.85
2008$898.48
2007$861.19
2006$925.47
2005$861.38
2004$766.69
2003$583.27
2002$388.92
2001$412.68
2000$442.78
1999$455.65
1998$464.68
1997$501.98
1996$479.67
1995$513.41
1994$455.59
1993$439.37
1992$443.62
1991$382.29
1990$329.56
1989$279.04
1988$270.37
1987$236.45
1986$191.38
1985$165.37
1984$211
1983$252.02
1982$233.94
1981$299.84
1980$306.82
1979$212.37
1978$200.85
1977$149.86
1976$117.83
1975$123.23
1974$128.67
1973$106.99
1972$73.96
1971$72.41
1970$67.44
1969$67.1
1968$64.81
1967$64.84
1966$64.3
1965$64.26
1964$62.62
1963$58.41
1962$53.54
1961$47.05
1960$46.95

Gross domestic product divided by the midyear population, expressed in current US dollars. Explore gdp per capita across countries →

Economy / %

GDP growth in Lesotho

2%Latest available · 2025
Lesotho

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GDP growth changed by -1.1 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
GDP growth·%· World Bank
YearLesotho
20251.98%
20245.23%
20231.69%
20222.39%
20212.27%
2020-8.16%
2019-1.42%
2018-1.48%
2017-3.14%
20163.61%
20153.12%
20141.71%
20131.79%
20126.33%
20114.62%
20105.27%
2009-1.25%
20085.52%
20074.19%
20064.23%
20053.47%
20041.69%
20034.56%
20020.72%
20013.56%
20003.88%
19990.48%
19981.54%
19973.7%
19965.6%
19953.29%
19945.98%
19933.51%
19926.96%
19916.97%
19906.05%
19895.8%
19888.6%
19870.73%
19864.68%
19852.61%
19845.53%
19831.99%
19824.46%
19810.69%
1980-2.74%
19792.89%
197818.32%
197721.81%
197611.05%
1975-13.51%
197410.98%
197326.4%
1972-0.2%
19715.11%
19702.18%
19691.55%
1968-0.37%
196710.91%
1966-0.41%
19652.15%
19648.25%
196310.62%
196215.33%
19611.86%

Annual percentage growth of GDP at market prices based on constant local currency. Explore gdp growth across countries →

Economy / %

Inflation in Lesotho

4.3%Latest available · 2025
Lesotho

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Inflation changed by +1.1 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Inflation·%· World Bank
YearLesotho
20254.27%
20246.11%
20236.34%
20228.27%
20216.05%
20204.98%
20195.19%
20184.75%
20174.45%
20166.6%
20153.22%
20145.37%
20134.87%
20126.05%
20115.04%
2010-2.41%
2009-16.86%
200810.72%
20078.01%
20066.07%
20053.44%
20045.02%
20036.63%
200233.81%
2001-9.62%
20006.13%
19969.33%
19959.27%
19948.21%
199313.14%
199217.21%
199117.68%
199011.63%
198914.73%
198811.46%
198711.75%
198618%
198513.32%
198410.98%
198317.49%
198212.14%
198112.41%
198016.27%
197916%
197813.48%
197716.69%
197611.41%
197514.21%
197413.42%

The annual percentage change in the cost of a basket of goods and services for the average consumer. Explore inflation across countries →

Economy / %

Unemployment in Lesotho

16.3%Latest available · 2025
Lesotho

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Unemployment changed by +0.1 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Unemployment·%· World Bank
YearLesotho
202516.32%
202416.34%
202316.35%
202216.62%
202118.21%
202018.39%
201916.88%
201816.61%
201716.38%
201616.14%
201516.22%
201416.07%
201315.93%
201215.76%
201116.12%
201016.07%
200916.12%
200815.85%
200715.94%
200616.05%
200516.03%
200416.15%
200316.06%
200216.08%
200116.08%
200016.17%
199916.17%
199815.91%
199715.82%
199615.71%
199515.8%
199415.62%
199315.57%
199215.45%
199115.5%

The share of the labor force without work but available for and seeking employment, using modeled ILO estimates. Explore unemployment across countries →

Health

Health / years

Life expectancy in Lesotho

57.8 yearsLatest available · 2024
Lesotho

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Life expectancy changed by +7 years between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Life expectancy·years· World Bank
YearLesotho
202457.8 years
202357.38 years
202256.81 years
202154.21 years
202055.13 years
201955.25 years
201854.64 years
201753.87 years
201652.91 years
201551.83 years
201450.79 years
201349.55 years
201248.24 years
201146.93 years
201046.05 years
200945.06 years
200844.3 years
200743.66 years
200643.18 years
200543.61 years
200444.04 years
200344.92 years
200245.95 years
200147.15 years
200048.78 years
199950.39 years
199852.03 years
199753.73 years
199655.14 years
199556.37 years
199457.29 years
199358.06 years
199258.64 years
199159.06 years
199059.32 years
198959.51 years
198859.57 years
198759.56 years
198659.35 years
198559.21 years
198458.96 years
198358.5 years
198257.98 years
198157.31 years
198056.53 years
197955.84 years
197855.17 years
197754.53 years
197653.93 years
197553.45 years
197452.94 years
197352.62 years
197252.26 years
197151.85 years
197051.5 years
196951.12 years
196850.79 years
196750.51 years
196650.38 years
196550.33 years
196450.31 years
196350.26 years
196250.31 years
196150.28 years
196050.17 years

The years a newborn would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at birth remained the same throughout life. Explore life expectancy across countries →

Health / %

Health expenditure in Lesotho

12.6%Latest available · 2023
Lesotho

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Health expenditure changed by +1.6 percentage points between 2013 and 2023.

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Health expenditure·%· World Bank
YearLesotho
202312.61%
202212.9%
202110.66%
202010.41%
201921.92%
201811.13%
201710.53%
20169.2%
20159.25%
20149.99%
201310.98%
20129.99%
20118.99%
20107.4%
20098.95%
20087.67%
20077.22%
20065.41%
20054.67%
20045.25%
20035.34%
20025.86%
20016.59%
20005.16%

Current health expenditure as a share of GDP, including public and private spending on healthcare goods and services. Explore health expenditure across countries →

Technology

Technology / %

Internet adoption in Lesotho

51.8%Latest available · 2024
Lesotho

Interactive chart loading…

Internet adoption changed by +29.8 percentage points between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Internet adoption·%· World Bank
YearLesotho
202451.8%
202348.99%
202248.07%
202145.06%
202043.66%
201942.3%
201840.8%
201739%
201632.45%
201525%
201422%
201315%
201210%
20117%
20103.86%
20093.72%
20083.58%
20073.45%
20062.98%
20052.58%
20042.18%
20031.53%
20021.08%
20010.26%
20000.21%
19990.05%
19980.01%
19970.01%
19960%
19900%

The percentage of individuals who have used the Internet from any location in the last three months. Explore internet adoption across countries →

Environment

Environment / %

Renewable energy in Lesotho

34.9%Latest available · 2022
Lesotho

Interactive chart loading…

Renewable energy changed by -5.9 percentage points between 2012 and 2022.

View data table
Renewable energy·%· World Bank
YearLesotho
202234.9%
202133.6%
202043.2%
201941.6%
201842.5%
201741.5%
201645.1%
201546%
201443.2%
201346.1%
201240.8%
201142.3%
201053%
200954%
200855%
200755.3%
200655.5%
200555.3%
200455.4%
200355.9%
200256.2%
200156.5%
200056.7%
199956.9%
199850.6%
199750.6%
199650.8%
199550.8%
199450.8%
199351%
199251.4%
199152%
199052%

Renewable energy consumption as a share of total final energy consumption. Explore renewable energy across countries →

Environment / %

Access to electricity in Lesotho

60.6%Latest available · 2024
Lesotho

Interactive chart loading…

Access to electricity changed by +32.8 percentage points between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Access to electricity·%· World Bank
YearLesotho
202460.6%
202357.3%
202250%
202150.4%
202047.5%
201944.6%
201847%
201733.7%
201635.1%
201531.8%
201427.8%
201326.9%
201220.6%
201122.5%
201017%
200917%
200816%
200713.9%
20069.7%
20059.6%
20046.8%
20035.4%
20023.4%
20011.3%
20004.3%

The percentage of the population with access to electricity, based on household surveys and other sources. Explore access to electricity across countries →

Trade

Trade / %

Trade in Lesotho

154%Latest available · 2025
Lesotho

Interactive chart loading…

Trade changed by +24.3 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Trade·%· World Bank
YearLesotho
2025153.98%
2024152.47%
2023140.72%
2022142.37%
2021139.19%
2020141.1%
2019140.52%
2018144.43%
2017146.37%
2016136.32%
2015129.72%
2014126.29%
2013133.37%
2012150.21%
2011149.8%
2010150.1%
2009158.89%
2008161.13%
2007165.05%
1981136.3%
1980131.09%
1979145.72%
1978107.85%
1977124.33%
1976156.54%
1975118.44%
197490.73%
197382.05%
197285.21%
197167.64%
197061.1%
196965.15%
196867.21%
196768.75%
196667.41%
196568.88%
196464.96%
196365.77%
196262.21%
196158.04%
196050.2%

The sum of exports and imports of goods and services, measured as a share of gross domestic product. Explore trade across countries →

Source: World Bank · World Development IndicatorsRetrieved 2026-09-23

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