Lesotho

Paramount chief MOSHOESHOE I consolidated what would become Basutoland in the early 19th century and made himself king in 1822. Continuing encroachments by Dutch settlers from the neighboring Orange Free State caused the king to enter into an 1868 agreement with the UK that made Basutoland first a British protectorate and, after 1884, a crown colony. After gaining independence in 1966, the country was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Basotho National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE II was exiled in 1990, returned to Lesotho in 1992, was reinstated in 1995, and was then succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule.

In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Batswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections in 2007 were hotly contested, and aggrieved parties disputed how seats were awarded. In 2012, competitive elections saw Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas THABANE form a coalition government -- the first in the country's history -- that ousted the 14-year incumbent, Pakalitha MOSISILI, who peacefully transferred power the following month. MOSISILI returned to power in snap elections in 2015 after the collapse of THABANE’s coalition government and an alleged attempted military coup. In 2017, THABANE returned to become prime minister but stepped down in 2020 after being implicated in his estranged wife’s murder. He was succeeded by Moseketsi MAJORO. In 2022, Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE was inaugurated as prime minister and head of a three-party coalition.

29 30 S, 28 30 E

periodic droughts

slightly smaller than Maryland

overgrazing; severe soil erosion; soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

0 km (landlocked)

Total: 1,106 km

Border countries (1): South Africa 1,106 km

Agricultural land: 74.8% (2022 est.)

Arable land: 8.8% (2022 est.)

Permanent crops: 0.1% (2022 est.)

Permanent pasture: 65.9% (2022 est.)

Forest: 1.1% (2022 est.)

Other: 24.1% (2022 est.)

none (landlocked)

water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone

landlocked, surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m (5,900 ft) above sea level

mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Africa

12 sq km (2013)

3.022 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Lowest point: Junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

Mean elevation: 2,161 m

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)

Orange river source (shared with South Africa and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km

Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Total : 30,355 sq km

Land: 30,355 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

0-14 years: 32% (male 358,137/female 353,618)

15-64 years: 62.7% (male 699,197/female 696,626)

65 years and over: 5.4% (2024 est.) (male 44,625/female 75,345)

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total population: 86.2% (2018 est.)

Male: 80.2% (2018 est.)

Female: 91.8% (2018 est.)

Noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

Adjective: Basotho

Total: 11 years (2017 est.)

Male: 11 years (2017 est.)

Female: 11 years (2017 est.)

Urban population: 30.4% of total population (2023)

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

Improved:

Urban: 93% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 65.9% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 74% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 7% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 34.1% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 26% of population (2022 est.)

202,000 MASERU (capital) (2018)

20.9 years (2014 est.)

Note: Data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Total dependency ratio: 59.6 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 51 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 8.6 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 11.6 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 93.6% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 62.4% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 71.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 6.4% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 37.6% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 28.3% of population (2022 est.)

Sotho 99.7%, other 0.3% (includes Kwena, Nguni (Hlubi and Phuthi), Zulu)

Protestant 47.8% (Pentecostal 23.1%, Lesotho Evangelical 17.3%, Anglican 7.4%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, other Christian 9.1%, non-Christian 1.4%, none 2.3% (2014 est.)

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

0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

10.2% of GDP (2021)

13.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Women married by age 15: 1% (2018)

Women married by age 18: 16.4% (2018)

Men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018)

1.4 (2024 est.)

53.7% (2023 est.)

Total: 24.2% (2024 est.)

Male: 17.7% (2024 est.)

Female: 36.2% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-4.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 23.9 years (2024 est.)

Male: 23.4 years

Female: 24.3 years

478 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

2.85 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 2,227,548 (2024 est.)

Male: 1,101,959

Female: 1,125,589

Total: 45.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 51 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 22.8% (2025 est.)

Male: 42.4% (2025 est.)

Female: 4.1% (2025 est.)

16.6% (2016)

10.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

22.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

10.5% (2018)

Total: 3.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 1.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 60.2 years (2024 est.)

Male: 58.1 years

Female: 62.3 years

6.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

10.4% national budget (2024 est.)

0.76% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 73,500 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.9% (2022 est.)

17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

1.148 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke: 175,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 973,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

8.117 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Thomas HINES (since August 2024)

Embassy: 254 Kingsway Avenue, Maseru

Mailing address: 2340 Maseru Place, Washington DC  20521-2340

Telephone: [266] 22312666

FAX: [266] 22310116

Email address and website:
USConsularMaseru@state.gov

https://ls.usembassy.gov/

10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Name: Maseru

Geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E

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

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

History: Previous 1959, 1967; latest adopted 2 April 1993 (effectively restoring the 1967 version)

Amendment process: Proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including fundamental rights and freedoms, sovereignty of the kingdom, the office of the king, and powers of Parliament, requires a majority vote by the National Assembly, approval by the Senate, approval in a referendum by a majority of qualified voters, and assent of the king; passage of amendments other than those specified provisions requires at least a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament

Chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996)

Head of government: Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE (28 October 2022)

Cabinet: Consists of the prime minister (appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State), the deputy prime minister, and 18 other ministers; the prime minister is the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the National Assembly

Election/appointment process: The monarchy is hereditary but has no executive or legislative powers under the constitution; under traditional law, the College of Chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, determine next in line of succession, or serve as regent in the event that a successor is not of mature age

Note: King LETSIE III previously occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile

Description: Three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green; centered on the white stripe is a black mokorotlo, a traditional Basotho straw hat and national symbol

Meaning: Blue stands for rain, white for peace, and green for prosperity

History: The redesigned flag was introduced in 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

4 October 1966 (from the UK)

Highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament)

Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75

Subordinate courts: Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; military courts

Note: Both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues

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

Legislature name: Parliament

Legislative structure: Bicameral

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

All Basotho Convention or ABC 
Alliance of Democrats or AD 
Basotho Action Party or BAP 
Basotho National Party or BNP 
Democratic Congress or DC 
Democratic Party of Lesotho or DPL 
Lesotho People's Congress or LPC 
Movement of Economic Change or MEC 
National Independent Party or NIP 
Popular Front for Democracy of PFD
Reformed Congress of Lesotho or RCL 

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho

Conventional short form: Lesotho

Local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho

Local short form: Lesotho

Former: Basutoland

Etymology: The name comes from the Sotho people, whose name means "dark-skinned;" Le- is a singular noun prefix; the former name, Basutoland, uses the plural noun prefix, Ba-

Chief of mission: Ambassador Tumisang MOSOTHO (since 16 September 2022)

Chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533

FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815

Email address and website:
Lesothoembassy@verizon.net

https://www.gov.ls/

Title: "Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)

Lyrics/music: Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR

History: Adopted 1967; music derives from an 1823 Swiss songbook

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

mokorotio (Basotho hat)

Citizenship by birth: Yes

Citizenship by descent only: Yes

Dual citizenship recognized: No

Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Maloti-Drakensberg Park

blue, white, green, black

49.7% (2017 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 1.7% (2017 est.)

Highest 10%: 32.9% (2017 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

diamonds, garments, wool, power equipment, bedding (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

South Africa 31%, Belgium 26%, USA 20%, UAE 8%, India 8% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

milk, potatoes, maize, vegetables, fruits, sorghum, wheat, game meat, beans, wool (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $1.13 billion (2022 est.)

Expenditures: $1.256 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

refined petroleum, fabric, trucks, garments, cotton fabric (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

maloti (LSL) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
18.329 (2024 est.)
18.45 (2023 est.)
16.356 (2022 est.)
14.779 (2021 est.)
16.459 (2020 est.)

food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism

lower middle-income economy surrounded by South Africa; environmentally fragile and politically unstable; key infrastructure and renewable energy investments; dire poverty; urban job and income losses due to COVID-19; systemic corruption

$2.272 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 92.9% (2023 est.)

Government consumption: 35.6% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 28.3% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories: -1.1% (2023 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 42.9% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -98.6% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

South Africa 78%, China 10%, Taiwan 3%, Japan 1%, India 1% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

22% of GDP (2024 est.)
22.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
22.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

884,200 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$928.019 million (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

$1.008 billion (2024 est.)
$854.089 million (2023 est.)
$771.278 million (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

3% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

16.2% (2024 est.)
16.5% (2023 est.)
16.7% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

30.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$6.166 billion (2024 est.)
$6 billion (2023 est.)
$5.893 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

6.1% (2024 est.)
6.3% (2023 est.)
8.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$84.393 million (2024 est.)
-$151.577 million (2023 est.)
-$268.876 million (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$2,600 (2024 est.)
$2,600 (2023 est.)
$2,600 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$2.083 billion (2024 est.)
$2.077 billion (2023 est.)
$2.247 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$983.027 million (2024 est.)
$885.789 million (2023 est.)
$1.07 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

2.8% (2024 est.)
1.8% (2023 est.)
2.4% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

2.6% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 6.5% (2024 est.)

Industry: 31% (2024 est.)

Services: 48% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 50% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 83.6%

Electrification - rural areas: 37.7%

Production: 57,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption: 81,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Hydroelectricity: 99.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 104,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 833.009 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports: 453.992 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 102.88 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 48% (2023 est.)

.ls

1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations; most private broadcast media transmitters are connected to government radio signal towers; satellite TV subscription service available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters obtainable (2019)

Total subscriptions: 1.6 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 68 (2022 est.)

Total: 9,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions: 7,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

7P

34 (2025)

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service for both men and women (women can serve in combat arms); no conscription (2024)

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) (2025)

Note: The Lesotho Mounted Police Service is responsible for internal security and reports to the Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police

the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) is responsible for the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; the LDF is a small force that began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986; it was renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2025)

approximately 2,000 active Defense Forces (2025)

the LDF is lightly armed and has a small inventory of mostly older or second-hand equipment of European, South African, and US origin (2025)

Refugees: 610 (2024 est.)

Chamber name: National Assembly

Number of seats: 122 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Mixed system

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 10/7/2022

Parties elected and seats per party: Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) (56); Democratic Congress (DC) (29); All Basotho Convention (ABC) (8); Basotho Action Party (BAP) (6); Other (20)

Percentage of women in chamber: 25%

Expected date of next election: October 2027

Chamber name: Senate

Number of seats: 33 (11 appointed)

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 11/2/2022

Percentage of women in chamber: 21.2%

Expected date of next election: November 2027

44.9 (2017 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality