Identity
- Official name
- Kingdom of Lesotho
- Status
- Sovereign country profile
- Demonym
- Mosotho
- Codes
- LS / LSO
Daily discoveryDid you know?
Lesotho is landlocked.
LSKingdom of LesothoSovereign country profile
Lesotho
Lesotho is in Southern Africa. This profile brings its status, flag, geography, people, languages, and latest available indicators into one clear visual story.
FlagLSO · 102 / 207
🇱🇸 The flag shown for Lesotho. Profile code: LS / LSO.
01Population2.4M
UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
02CapitalMaseru
Kingdom of Lesotho
03CurrencyLSL
Lesotho loti (LSL), South African rand (ZAR)
04Life expectancy58.6 years
UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
National anthemLesotho Fatse La Bontata RonaInstrumental audio · Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons · 0:43
Basic info
Expanded country facts
Core identity, people, geography, government, and practical reference data in one scan-friendly board.
People
- Population
- 2.4M · UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
- Median age
- 22.1 years · UN DESA 2026 medium projection
- Languages
- English, Sotho
- Largest cities
- Maseru
Place
- Region
- Africa
- Subregion
- Southern Africa
- Area
- 30,355 km²
- Coordinates
- 29.5° S, 28.5° E
Practical
- Currency
- Lesotho loti (LSL), South African rand (ZAR)
- Calling code
- +266
- Time zones
- Profile-specific value pending
- Emergency
- Emergency numbers vary; check official guidance
Government
- Type
- constitutional monarchy
- Head of state
- Letsie III of Lesotho
- Head of government
- Sam Matekane
- Constitution
- Comparable date pending
Geography
- Connections
- This profile has land borders and no coastline.
- Climate
- Temperate to subtropical zones
- Highest point
- Thabana Ntlenyana
- Driving side
- Left
Compare profiles
See Lesotho
in context.
Start with a neighbor or a similar regional profile, then adjust the matchup across the complete atlas.
At a glance
Meet
Lesotho.
Lesotho is a landlocked profile in Southern Africa. Its status is sovereign country profile.
RegionSouthern Africa
DemonymMosotho
Area30,355 km²
Calling code+266
Economy
The latest available indicators.
Economic values use the latest non-empty World Bank year from 2019–2026, shown below each figure.
GDP$2.6B2025 · current USD
GDP per person$1.1K2025 · current USD
GDP growth2.0%2025 annual growth
A deeper profile
People, systems
& everyday life.
Comparable facts are shown with clear dates and neutral framing. Gaps stay visible instead of being filled with guesses.
How people live
Urban 44.7%Rural 55.3%
World Bank · 2025- Median age
- 22.1 years
- Languages
- English, Sotho
- Capital / principal city
- Maseru
Ethnic and religious categories vary by national census and are not presented without a directly comparable, dated source.
Placed in context
Population0.1× atlas average
GDP#171 of 192
Population compares the 207 atlas profiles. GDP ranking includes profiles with a published World Bank value.
A concise timeline
Wikidata records the current state as dating from 1966. Earlier state forms, independence milestones, and later constitutional changes may use different dates, so this is a starting point rather than a complete national timeline.
- Government
- constitutional monarchy
- Head of state
- Letsie III of Lesotho
- Head of government
- Sam Matekane
- Current constitution
- Comparable date pending
Land and climate
- Climate
- Temperate to subtropical zones
- Geography
- Lesotho is in Southern Africa and has no coastline. Its listed area is 30,355 km².
- Highest point
- Thabana Ntlenyana
- Major rivers
- Profile-specific value pending
- Natural resources
- Profile-specific value pending
Practical essentials
- Driving side
- Left
- Calling code
- +266
- Time zones
- Profile-specific value pending
- Plug types
- Profile-specific value pending
- Tipping
- Local customs vary by setting
- Emergency numbers
- Emergency numbers vary; check official guidance
Remember Lesotho
- Maseru is the capital city.
- Lesotho covers 30,355 km².
- Lesotho is landlocked.
- It shares land borders with South Africa.
- Listed official languages include English, Sotho.
- Its international calling code is +266.
- The latest published population in this atlas is 2.4M (2025).
- The listed currency code is LSL.
Connected places
Neighboring profiles
Continue exploring across each listed land border or connected geography.
This profile has land borders and no coastline.
Visual atlas
Lesotho in view
People & place
Country
essentials.
English, Sotho
Languages listed in the open country catalog for Lesotho.
1 listed connection
This profile has land borders and no coastline.
Lesotho loti (LSL), South African rand (ZAR)
The primary currency code and name used in the country catalog.
Identity card
Four essentials
LSTwo-letter country code
LSOThree-letter country code
MaseruCapital city
AfricaWorld region
Sources & notes
Numbers you can trace.
Statistics show their reference year because country data changes. Unavailable values are clearly marked instead of estimated.
- UN DESA World Population Prospects — population, age, sex balance, and longevity ↗
- World Bank — latest available economic indicators ↗
- World Bank — urban population share ↗
- Wikidata — government and current officeholders ↗
- National anthem audio source — Lesotho Fatse La Bontata Rona ↗
- Open country catalog — names, codes and geography ↗
- OpenStreetMap — map data ↗
Verified data & AI projection
Lesotho
Special Report.
Lesotho is profiled through long-run World Bank indicators covering the economy, population, health, work, technology, and environment. Southern Africa context, landlocked geography, demographic direction, and long-run development indicators.
Current demographic baselineUN DESA · 2026
Medium projection from World Population Prospects, 2024 Revision
Executive read
What the numbers suggest
- Population has moved up since 2000, giving the report a clear demographic baseline.
- Life expectancy is higher than in 2000, showing the direction of health and longevity conditions.
- Recent GDP growth averages 2.7% across the latest 5 available observations.
Human development pressure
2.7MPopulation base
64.3 yrsLife expectancy
1.92Fertility rate
79.6%Internet access
2035 scenarios are simple educational trend projections from recent historical observations. They are not official forecasts.
economy · NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG
HighGDP growth
20003.88%
20251.98%
2035 base0.30%
Low0.89%Base0.30%High-0.29%
recent average · % annual
people · SP.POP.GROW
HighPopulation growth
20000.03%
20251.10%
2035 base0.93%
Low0.99%Base0.93%High0.87%
linear trend · % annual
people · SP.POP.TOTL
HighPopulation
20002M
20252.4M
2035 base2.7M
Low2.5MBase2.7MHigh2.8M
compound trend · people
health · SP.DYN.LE00.IN
HighLife expectancy
200048.8 yrs
202457.8 yrs
2035 base64.3 yrs
Low62.1 yrsBase64.3 yrsHigh66.6 yrs
linear trend · years
people · SP.DYN.TFRT.IN
HighFertility rate
20003.60
20242.66
2035 base1.92
Low2.18Base1.92High1.66
linear trend · births per woman
people · SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
HighUrban population
200019.3%
202544.7%
2035 base54.9%
Low51.3%Base54.9%High58.4%
linear trend · % of total
economy · FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG
HighInflation
20006.13%
20254.27%
2035 base5.70%
Low5.20%Base5.70%High6.20%
recent average · % annual
work · SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
HighUnemployment
200016.2%
202516.3%
2035 base16.8%
Low16.6%Base16.8%High17.0%
recent average · % labor force
economy · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD
HighGDP per capita
2000$442.8
2025$1.1K
2035 base$1.1K
Low$1.1KBase$1.1KHigh$1K
compound trend · current US$
environment · EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5
HighCO2 per person
20000.18
20240.43
2035 base0.60
Low0.54Base0.60High0.66
linear trend · t CO2e/capita
technology · IT.NET.USER.ZS
HighInternet access
20000.21%
202451.8%
2035 base79.6%
Low69.8%Base79.6%High89.3%
linear trend · % of people
economy · NY.GDP.MKTP.CD
HighGDP
2000$887.3M
2025$2.6B
2035 base$2.8B
Low$2.7BBase$2.8BHigh$2.9B
compound trend · current US$
Educational projection, not an official forecast.Historical values are World Bank observations retrieved 2026-08-13. The 2026 demographic baseline is the official UN DESA medium projection from World Population Prospects 2024. The atlas's 2035 scenarios use simple trend math.