Lesotho: Statistical Overview

Capital: Maseru

Population

Total Population: 2,305,825

Natural Increase: 1.1%

Density: 75 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 29.9%

Ethnic Origins: The country consists mainly of Sotho, Zulu and Xhosa, with some ethnic minorities such as Afrikaners, Europeans, Asians and other ethnic groups.

Official Language: English

Other Languages Spoken: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English, Zulu, Xhosa, Phuthi

Business Language(s): English

Religion: Christian 80%, Indigenous beliefs 20%.

Literacy Rate: 82.2%

Local Time:

It is %T:%M %A In Maseru

Exchange Rate on :

National Currency: Lesotho Loti (LSL)

Country Overview

Area: 30,360 km²

Type of State: Constitutional democracy.

Type of Economy: Lower-middle-income economy.
A country totally landlocked in South Africa with which it maintains very close commercial and financial ties.

HDI*: 0.497/1

HDI (World Rank): 161/188

Note: (*) The HDI, Human Development Index, is an Indicator Which Synthesizes Several Data Such as Life Expectancy, Level of Education, Professional Careers, Access to Culture etc.

Telecommunication

Telephone Code:
To call from Lesotho, dial 00
To call Lesotho, dial +266

Internet Suffix: .ls

Telephone Lines: 1.9 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 4.6 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 20.56% of the Population

Foreign Trade in Figures

Foreign Trade Indicators	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Imports of Goods (million USD)	1,734	1,380	1,824	1,856	1,772
Exports of Goods (million USD)	919	845	935	894	794
Imports of Services (million USD)	447	384	408	445	402
Exports of Services (million USD)	29	13	22	18	16

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation, Latest data available.

See the latest updates in the Country Profile for Lesotho.

Any Comment About This Content? Report It to Us.