Kingdom of Lesotho
Capital: Maseru
Population: 2,311,472
Currency: Lesotho loti (LSL), pegged to the South African rand (ZAR)
Lesotho is a landlocked country entirely surrounded by South Africa, located in the Southern African region. It is the only country in the world that is entirely situated above 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) in altitude, earning it the nickname “The Kingdom in the Sky”. Its capital and largest city is Maseru, located on the western border with South Africa. Lesotho has a mountainous terrain with rugged landscapes, including the Drakensberg Mountains. The country’s economy is based on agriculture, mining (especially diamonds), and remittances from workers in neighboring South Africa. Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, and its King serves as the ceremonial head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government. It is a member of the United Nations, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Commonwealth of Nations.
Growth Rate
1.123
%
Fertility Rate
2.694
children born/woman
Crude Death Rate
10.648
per 1,000 people
Life Expectancy
57.4
years
Total Population in Lesotho
This graph illustrates the total population of a country over time, while also depicting the sex ratio, which indicates the number of males per 100 females in the population.
Population Density
Population Growth Rate (%)
The population growth rate shows how fast a population is increasing or decreasing annually, influenced by birth rates, death rates, and migration in Lesotho.
Life Expectancy (Years)
Life expectancy indicates the average number of years a person is expected to live.
Median Age (Years)
Median age represents the midpoint of a population’s age distribution, helping to assess whether a population is young, aging, or balanced.
Infant Mortality
Infant mortality rate measures the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Net migration in 2023 (per 1000 people)
-5.922
(-1.134)
Net migration represents the difference between the number of people moving into a country and those leaving.
Fertility Rate
Fertility rate represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime
Births vs Deaths
This graph compares the number of births and deaths each year.
Crude Death Rate
Crude death rate measures the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population per year.
Source
Data is sourced from The World Bank, the United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision), and other collated datasets, including national statistical offices, Eurostat (Demographic Statistics), and the United Nations Statistics Division (Population and Vital Statistics Report, various years).
Note: The information in the KPI is from 2023; any data beyond this year is an estimate from the United Nations.