GeoRealityMatch
Scenic view of traditional huts in a dry, mountainous African landscape under a blue sky.Colorful market stalls in the South African countryside with scenic mountain views.

Lesotho

Africa · Southern Africa

High safetyMedium development

Incomes are low.

Safety

85th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.016lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#85 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,280national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 18% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 14% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.0K$4.0K$3,184 PPP$1,089Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $925 a person, $1,813 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2007, $861 a person, $1,932 at PPP, inflation 8%2008, $898 a person, $2,064 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2009, $879 a person, $2,036 at PPP, inflation -16.9%2010, $1,119 a person, $2,153 at PPP, inflation -2.4%2011, $1,281 a person, $2,279 at PPP, inflation 5%2012, $1,218 a person, $2,291 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2013, $1,151 a person, $2,538 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2014, $1,174 a person, $2,771 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2015, $1,121 a person, $3,035 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2016, $992 a person, $2,942 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2017, $1,069 a person, $2,619 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2018, $1,171 a person, $2,632 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2019, $1,082 a person, $2,568 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2020, $919 a person, $2,559 at PPP, inflation 5%2021, $1,067 a person, $2,545 at PPP, inflation 6%2022, $1,030 a person, $2,761 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2023, $921 a person, $2,880 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2024, $1,023 a person, $3,071 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2025, $1,089 a person, $3,184 at PPP, inflation 4.3%$0$2.0K$4.0KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $925 a person, $1,813 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2007, $861 a person, $1,932 at PPP, inflation 8%2008, $898 a person, $2,064 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2009, $879 a person, $2,036 at PPP, inflation -16.9%2010, $1,119 a person, $2,153 at PPP, inflation -2.4%2011, $1,281 a person, $2,279 at PPP, inflation 5%2012, $1,218 a person, $2,291 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2013, $1,151 a person, $2,538 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2014, $1,174 a person, $2,771 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2015, $1,121 a person, $3,035 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2016, $992 a person, $2,942 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2017, $1,069 a person, $2,619 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2018, $1,171 a person, $2,632 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2019, $1,082 a person, $2,568 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2020, $919 a person, $2,559 at PPP, inflation 5%2021, $1,067 a person, $2,545 at PPP, inflation 6%2022, $1,030 a person, $2,761 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2023, $921 a person, $2,880 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2024, $1,023 a person, $3,071 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2025, $1,089 a person, $3,184 at PPP, inflation 4.3%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
57.8years, at birthVery low
#191 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
55WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
17.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
16.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Colorful market stalls in the South African countryside with scenic mountain views.
How it changed

Lesotho's Human Development Index

0.550Medium human development

167th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 31st of 54 in Africa.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #165Tanzania0.555
  2. #166Haiti0.554
  3. #167Lesotho0.550
  4. #168Pakistan0.544
  5. #169Senegal0.530
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.483 in 1990 to 0.550 in 2023.

0.400.500.600.55019902000201020231990: 0.4831991: 0.4821992: 0.4811993: 0.4771994: 0.4781995: 0.4761996: 0.4731997: 0.4691998: 0.4691999: 0.4622000: 0.4622001: 0.4572002: 0.4552003: 0.4562004: 0.4542005: 0.4542006: 0.4512007: 0.4582008: 0.4632009: 0.4682010: 0.4782011: 0.4852012: 0.4962013: 0.5022014: 0.5092015: 0.5172016: 0.5262017: 0.5312018: 0.5382019: 0.5412020: 0.5372021: 0.5322022: 0.5472023: 0.5500.400.500.6019902000201020231990: 0.4831991: 0.4821992: 0.4811993: 0.4771994: 0.4781995: 0.4761996: 0.4731997: 0.4691998: 0.4691999: 0.4622000: 0.4622001: 0.4572002: 0.4552003: 0.4562004: 0.4542005: 0.4542006: 0.4512007: 0.4582008: 0.4632009: 0.4682010: 0.4782011: 0.4852012: 0.4962013: 0.5022014: 0.5092015: 0.5172016: 0.5262017: 0.5312018: 0.5382019: 0.5412020: 0.5372021: 0.5322022: 0.5472023: 0.550

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
57.8 years2024at birthUp 14.2 years from 43.6 years in 2005
Internet users
52%2024of people onlineUp 49 points from 3% in 2006
Urban population
45%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 21 points from 23% in 2006
Births per woman
2.662024births per womanDown 0.77 from 3.43 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
35%2022of energy usedDown 21 points from 55% in 2004
Access to electricity
61%2024of people with electricityUp 51 points from 10% in 2005
Infant mortality
562024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 23 from 79 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.4 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.2 t from 0.2 t in 2005
Forest area
1%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Mountain kingdom encircled by South Africa: textiles, diamonds, and water exports. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalMaseru
  • LanguagesEnglish, Sotho
  • CurrencyLesotho loti (LSL)
  • Area30,360 km²
  • Plug typeType M
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Lesotho's Human Development Index?

Lesotho's Human Development Index is 0.550 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #167 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Lesotho safe?

Lesotho scores 2.02 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #85 of 161 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.