Capital

Lesotho

name: Maseru

geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: in the Sesotho language the name means "[place of] red sandstones"

Citizenship

Lesotho

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Legal system

Lesotho

mixed legal system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal

Suffrage

Lesotho

18 years of age; universal

Area

Lesotho

total: 30,355 sq km

land: 30,355 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Land use

Lesotho

agricultural land: 76.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 65.9% (2018 est.)

forest: 1.5% (2018 est.)

other: 22.4% (2018 est.)

Location

Lesotho

Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Age structure

Lesotho

0-14 years: 32.4% (male 360,327/female 355,863)

15-64 years: 62.21% (male 688,373/female 686,911)

65 years and over: 5.39% (2023 est.) (male 44,313/female 74,859)

Birth rate

Lesotho

23 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Lesotho

10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Lesotho

Sesotho (official) (southern Sotho), English (official), Phuthi, Xhosa, Zulu

Life expectancy at birth

Lesotho

total population: 59.9 years (2023 est.)

male: 57.9 years

female: 62 years

Major urban areas - population

Lesotho

202,000 MASERU (capital) (2018)

Median age

Lesotho

total: 23.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 23.2 years

female: 24.2 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Lesotho

20.9 years (2014 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Net migration rate

Lesotho

-4.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Lesotho

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

Population growth rate

Lesotho

0.76% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Lesotho

2.88 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Lesotho

urban population: 30.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Lesotho

8.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Lesotho

total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2017)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Lesotho

-6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Lesotho

8.52% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Lesotho

955,600 (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Lesotho

49.7% (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Lesotho

24.6% (2021 est.)

24.56% (2020 est.)

22.44% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Lesotho

33.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

36.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Lesotho

6.05% (2021 est.)

4.98% (2020 est.)

5.19% (2019 est.)

Exports

Lesotho

$1.08 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$902.123 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.093 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - partners

Lesotho

United States 29%, Belgium 26%, South Africa 25%, Switzerland 6% (2019)

Imports

Lesotho

$2.221 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.98 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.23 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - partners

Lesotho

South Africa 85%, China 5% (2019)

Airports

Lesotho

24 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Lesotho

total: 5,060 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.2 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Lesotho

total: 1.104 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 48% (2021 est.)

Roadways

Lesotho

total: 5,940 km (2011)

paved: 1,069 km (2011)

unpaved: 4,871 km (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

Lesotho

total subscriptions: 9,559 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

Lesotho

total subscriptions: 1,821,374 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 80 (2021 est.)

Disputes - international

Lesotho

Lesotho-South Africa: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration