Lesotho
Africa · Southern Africa
Mountain kingdom encircled by South Africa: textiles, diamonds, and water exports.
At a Glance
📈Lesotho's Human Development Index
0.521
Low human development#166 of 191 countries worldwide, #31 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 13% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Lesotho
Lesotho is a small mountain kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa, known as the Kingdom in the Sky for its high altitude landscape of basalt plateaus, dramatic river gorges, and pony trekking routes through Basotho villages. The culture is centred on the Basotho people, known for their distinctive blankets and horseback traditions. It suits travellers who want a memorable mountain experience combined with cultural engagement, and it pairs well with a broader southern Africa itinerary.
- Entirely surrounded by South Africa — one of only three countries in the world encircled by another.
- Has the highest lowest point of any country — even its valleys are above 1,400 metres.
- Exports water to South Africa — a rare case of a poor country selling a resource to a rich neighbour.
Quick Facts
Capital
Maseru
Languages
English, Sotho
Currency
L LSL
Area
30,360 km²
Nomad Hub
GDP / Capita
$1K
PPP / Capita
$3K
Inflation
4.3%
Unemployment
16.3%
Innovation (GII)
14.9
GNI / Capita
$1K
Tax Revenue
35.4%
FDI Inflows
-0.2%
Education Spend
6.6%
Price Level Index
73rd pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.479 → 0.521 (+0.042)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Lesotho for real?
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💬Quick answers
What is Lesotho's Human Development Index?
Lesotho's Human Development Index is 0.521 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #166 of 191 countries.
Is Lesotho safe?
Lesotho scores 2.02 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #85 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
What is life expectancy in Lesotho?
Life expectancy at birth in Lesotho is 57.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #191 of 195 countries.