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Lesotho: key facts and figures
Lesotho has 2.3 million people, 5 official languages, the Lesotho loti and 10 public holidays a year. It ranks 190th of 192 countries for life expectancy.
2.3 millionpeople
ZARcurrency
Southern Sothoofficial language
+266calling code
Leftdriving side
Every figure shows how Lesotho differs
Population and Demographics
how many people live there, and how that is changing
2.3 millionPopulation
- Annual change+1.12%
- Fertility rate2.7 per woman#66
- Aged 65 and over3.86%#145
Economy
the size of the economy and how fast it is growing
$1,089Output per person
- Total economy$2.6 billion#170
- Real growth+2%#133
Human Development
health, schooling and income combined into one index
0.550Human Development Index
- Adjusted for inequality0.357#142
- Life expectancy57.4 years#190
- Mean schooling7.7 years#128
Currency
what money is used and its official code
Lesotho lotiCurrency
- ISO 4217 codeZAR
- SymbolZAR
- CapitalMaseru
Languages
which languages hold official status
5 official languagesOfficial languages
- Text directionLeft to right
Practical Country Info
plugs, voltage, driving side and dialling
Type MPlug types
- Mains voltage220 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Calling code+266
- Time zoneAfrica/Maseru
Public Holidays
official days off through the year
10Public holidays in 2026
- Jan 1New Year's Day
- Mar 11Moshoeshoe's Day
- Apr 3Good Friday
Digital Adoption
how many people are online and how digital the state is
52%Internet use
- E-government index0.412#157
- Global rank#157
- E-government groupMiddle
Geography and Environment
terrain, climate and physical setting
LandlockedPhysical setting
- Highest pointHigh plateau and Maloti mountains
- ClimateThe climate is temperate highland, with cold winters, occasional snow at higher elevations and most precipitation falling during the warmer summer season.
Education
how the school system is structured
80.2%Primary gross enrolment
- Youth literacy96.5%
- Adult literacy90.7%
- Education spending6.6% of GDP
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About this profile
Every figure on this page is a summary of a fuller page, and each links to it. Sources, data years and methodology notes sit on those pages rather than here. Where a subject carries no published figure for Lesotho, it is left off this profile rather than shown as empty.