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Flag of Lesotho

Lesotho.

Capital: Maseru · Africa · Southern Africa

0stories
Population2.36 million2025 · World Bank
GDP, current US$$2.05 billion2023 · World Bank
GDP per person$8852023 · calculated
Area30,355 km²Landlocked
Inflation (consumer prices)6.1%2024 · World Bank
No stories from Lesotho yet. When our correspondents file from here, their reports will appear on this page. Report from Lesotho — join us →
Country profile

Lesotho at a glance

Official name
Kingdom of Lesotho
Capital
Maseru
Population
2.36 million (2025)
GDP, current US$
$2.05 billion (2023)
GDP per person
$885 (2023)
Area
30,355 km²
Languages
English, Sotho
Currency
Lesotho loti (LSL, L), South African rand (ZAR, R)
Time
UTC+02:00
Dialling code
+266
Internet domain
.ls
People
Mosotho
Land borders
South Africa
UN member
Yes
Landlocked
Yes
Official statistics

Lesotho in numbers

Data hub

Population

1960–2025 · World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL)

0500K1M1.5M2M2.5M1960198020002020LesothoLesotho 1960: 736.5KLesotho 1961: 758.8KLesotho 1962: 781.8KLesotho 1963: 805.4KLesotho 1964: 829.4KLesotho 1965: 854.1KLesotho 1966: 881.9KLesotho 1967: 914KLesotho 1968: 948.1KLesotho 1969: 983.2KLesotho 1970: 1MLesotho 1971: 1.1MLesotho 1972: 1.1MLesotho 1973: 1.1MLesotho 1974: 1.2MLesotho 1975: 1.2MLesotho 1976: 1.3MLesotho 1977: 1.3MLesotho 1978: 1.3MLesotho 1979: 1.4MLesotho 1980: 1.4MLesotho 1981: 1.4MLesotho 1982: 1.5MLesotho 1983: 1.5MLesotho 1984: 1.6MLesotho 1985: 1.6MLesotho 1986: 1.7MLesotho 1987: 1.7MLesotho 1988: 1.7MLesotho 1989: 1.8MLesotho 1990: 1.8MLesotho 1991: 1.8MLesotho 1992: 1.9MLesotho 1993: 1.9MLesotho 1994: 1.9MLesotho 1995: 2MLesotho 1996: 2MLesotho 1997: 2MLesotho 1998: 2MLesotho 1999: 2MLesotho 2000: 2MLesotho 2001: 2MLesotho 2002: 2MLesotho 2003: 2MLesotho 2004: 2MLesotho 2005: 2MLesotho 2006: 1.9MLesotho 2007: 2MLesotho 2008: 2MLesotho 2009: 2MLesotho 2010: 2MLesotho 2011: 2MLesotho 2012: 2MLesotho 2013: 2.1MLesotho 2014: 2.1MLesotho 2015: 2.1MLesotho 2016: 2.1MLesotho 2017: 2.2MLesotho 2018: 2.2MLesotho 2019: 2.2MLesotho 2020: 2.2MLesotho 2021: 2.3MLesotho 2022: 2.3MLesotho 2023: 2.3MLesotho 2024: 2.3MLesotho 2025: 2.4M01M2M3M1960198020002020LesothoLesotho 1960: 736.5KLesotho 1961: 758.8KLesotho 1962: 781.8KLesotho 1963: 805.4KLesotho 1964: 829.4KLesotho 1965: 854.1KLesotho 1966: 881.9KLesotho 1967: 914KLesotho 1968: 948.1KLesotho 1969: 983.2KLesotho 1970: 1MLesotho 1971: 1.1MLesotho 1972: 1.1MLesotho 1973: 1.1MLesotho 1974: 1.2MLesotho 1975: 1.2MLesotho 1976: 1.3MLesotho 1977: 1.3MLesotho 1978: 1.3MLesotho 1979: 1.4MLesotho 1980: 1.4MLesotho 1981: 1.4MLesotho 1982: 1.5MLesotho 1983: 1.5MLesotho 1984: 1.6MLesotho 1985: 1.6MLesotho 1986: 1.7MLesotho 1987: 1.7MLesotho 1988: 1.7MLesotho 1989: 1.8MLesotho 1990: 1.8MLesotho 1991: 1.8MLesotho 1992: 1.9MLesotho 1993: 1.9MLesotho 1994: 1.9MLesotho 1995: 2MLesotho 1996: 2MLesotho 1997: 2MLesotho 1998: 2MLesotho 1999: 2MLesotho 2000: 2MLesotho 2001: 2MLesotho 2002: 2MLesotho 2003: 2MLesotho 2004: 2MLesotho 2005: 2MLesotho 2006: 1.9MLesotho 2007: 2MLesotho 2008: 2MLesotho 2009: 2MLesotho 2010: 2MLesotho 2011: 2MLesotho 2012: 2MLesotho 2013: 2.1MLesotho 2014: 2.1MLesotho 2015: 2.1MLesotho 2016: 2.1MLesotho 2017: 2.2MLesotho 2018: 2.2MLesotho 2019: 2.2MLesotho 2020: 2.2MLesotho 2021: 2.3MLesotho 2022: 2.3MLesotho 2023: 2.3MLesotho 2024: 2.3MLesotho 2025: 2.4M

GDP, current US$

1960–2023 · World Bank (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD)

$0$500M$1B$1.5B$2B$2.5B$3B1960198020002020LesothoLesotho 1960: $34.6MLesotho 1961: $35.7MLesotho 1962: $41.9MLesotho 1963: $47MLesotho 1964: $51.9MLesotho 1965: $54.9MLesotho 1966: $56.7MLesotho 1967: $59.3MLesotho 1968: $61.4MLesotho 1969: $66MLesotho 1970: $68.7MLesotho 1971: $76.5MLesotho 1972: $80.9MLesotho 1973: $121.2MLesotho 1974: $150.9MLesotho 1975: $149.6MLesotho 1976: $147.7MLesotho 1977: $193.3MLesotho 1978: $266.6MLesotho 1979: $290.1MLesotho 1980: $431.5MLesotho 1981: $434.2MLesotho 1982: $348.7MLesotho 1983: $386.7MLesotho 1984: $333.2MLesotho 1985: $268.6MLesotho 1986: $318.9MLesotho 1987: $402.8MLesotho 1988: $470.4MLesotho 1989: $495.4MLesotho 1990: $596.4MLesotho 1991: $704.3MLesotho 1992: $831MLesotho 1993: $835.6MLesotho 1994: $878.3MLesotho 1995: $1BLesotho 1996: $946.1MLesotho 1997: $998MLesotho 1998: $928.5MLesotho 1999: $912.8MLesotho 2000: $887.3MLesotho 2001: $825.7MLesotho 2002: $775.8MLesotho 2003: $1.2BLesotho 2004: $1.5BLesotho 2005: $1.7BLesotho 2006: $1.8BLesotho 2007: $1.7BLesotho 2008: $1.8BLesotho 2009: $1.7BLesotho 2010: $2.2BLesotho 2011: $2.6BLesotho 2012: $2.5BLesotho 2013: $2.4BLesotho 2014: $2.4BLesotho 2015: $2.4BLesotho 2016: $2.1BLesotho 2017: $2.3BLesotho 2018: $2.6BLesotho 2019: $2.4BLesotho 2020: $2.1BLesotho 2021: $2.4BLesotho 2022: $2.3BLesotho 2023: $2B$0$1B$2B$3B1960198020002020LesothoLesotho 1960: $34.6MLesotho 1961: $35.7MLesotho 1962: $41.9MLesotho 1963: $47MLesotho 1964: $51.9MLesotho 1965: $54.9MLesotho 1966: $56.7MLesotho 1967: $59.3MLesotho 1968: $61.4MLesotho 1969: $66MLesotho 1970: $68.7MLesotho 1971: $76.5MLesotho 1972: $80.9MLesotho 1973: $121.2MLesotho 1974: $150.9MLesotho 1975: $149.6MLesotho 1976: $147.7MLesotho 1977: $193.3MLesotho 1978: $266.6MLesotho 1979: $290.1MLesotho 1980: $431.5MLesotho 1981: $434.2MLesotho 1982: $348.7MLesotho 1983: $386.7MLesotho 1984: $333.2MLesotho 1985: $268.6MLesotho 1986: $318.9MLesotho 1987: $402.8MLesotho 1988: $470.4MLesotho 1989: $495.4MLesotho 1990: $596.4MLesotho 1991: $704.3MLesotho 1992: $831MLesotho 1993: $835.6MLesotho 1994: $878.3MLesotho 1995: $1BLesotho 1996: $946.1MLesotho 1997: $998MLesotho 1998: $928.5MLesotho 1999: $912.8MLesotho 2000: $887.3MLesotho 2001: $825.7MLesotho 2002: $775.8MLesotho 2003: $1.2BLesotho 2004: $1.5BLesotho 2005: $1.7BLesotho 2006: $1.8BLesotho 2007: $1.7BLesotho 2008: $1.8BLesotho 2009: $1.7BLesotho 2010: $2.2BLesotho 2011: $2.6BLesotho 2012: $2.5BLesotho 2013: $2.4BLesotho 2014: $2.4BLesotho 2015: $2.4BLesotho 2016: $2.1BLesotho 2017: $2.3BLesotho 2018: $2.6BLesotho 2019: $2.4BLesotho 2020: $2.1BLesotho 2021: $2.4BLesotho 2022: $2.3BLesotho 2023: $2B

Inflation (consumer prices)

1980–2024 · World Bank (FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG)

-20%-10%0%10%20%30%40%19801990200020102020LesothoLesotho 1980: 16.3%Lesotho 1981: 12.4%Lesotho 1982: 12.1%Lesotho 1983: 17.5%Lesotho 1984: 11%Lesotho 1985: 13.3%Lesotho 1986: 18%Lesotho 1987: 11.8%Lesotho 1988: 11.5%Lesotho 1989: 14.7%Lesotho 1990: 11.6%Lesotho 1991: 17.7%Lesotho 1992: 17.2%Lesotho 1993: 13.1%Lesotho 1994: 8.21%Lesotho 1995: 9.27%Lesotho 1996: 9.33%Lesotho 2000: 6.13%Lesotho 2001: -9.62%Lesotho 2002: 33.8%Lesotho 2003: 6.63%Lesotho 2004: 5.02%Lesotho 2005: 3.44%Lesotho 2006: 6.07%Lesotho 2007: 8.01%Lesotho 2008: 10.7%Lesotho 2009: -16.9%Lesotho 2010: -2.41%Lesotho 2011: 5.04%Lesotho 2012: 6.05%Lesotho 2013: 4.87%Lesotho 2014: 5.37%Lesotho 2015: 3.22%Lesotho 2016: 6.6%Lesotho 2017: 4.45%Lesotho 2018: 4.75%Lesotho 2019: 5.19%Lesotho 2020: 4.98%Lesotho 2021: 6.05%Lesotho 2022: 8.27%Lesotho 2023: 6.34%Lesotho 2024: 6.11%-20%0%20%40%198020002020LesothoLesotho 1980: 16.3%Lesotho 1981: 12.4%Lesotho 1982: 12.1%Lesotho 1983: 17.5%Lesotho 1984: 11%Lesotho 1985: 13.3%Lesotho 1986: 18%Lesotho 1987: 11.8%Lesotho 1988: 11.5%Lesotho 1989: 14.7%Lesotho 1990: 11.6%Lesotho 1991: 17.7%Lesotho 1992: 17.2%Lesotho 1993: 13.1%Lesotho 1994: 8.21%Lesotho 1995: 9.27%Lesotho 1996: 9.33%Lesotho 2000: 6.13%Lesotho 2001: -9.62%Lesotho 2002: 33.8%Lesotho 2003: 6.63%Lesotho 2004: 5.02%Lesotho 2005: 3.44%Lesotho 2006: 6.07%Lesotho 2007: 8.01%Lesotho 2008: 10.7%Lesotho 2009: -16.9%Lesotho 2010: -2.41%Lesotho 2011: 5.04%Lesotho 2012: 6.05%Lesotho 2013: 4.87%Lesotho 2014: 5.37%Lesotho 2015: 3.22%Lesotho 2016: 6.6%Lesotho 2017: 4.45%Lesotho 2018: 4.75%Lesotho 2019: 5.19%Lesotho 2020: 4.98%Lesotho 2021: 6.05%Lesotho 2022: 8.27%Lesotho 2023: 6.34%Lesotho 2024: 6.11%

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