Local timeMaseru ·
Africa / Southern Africa · Card 027
Flag shown for Lesotho

Lesotho

Lesotho is a country in Southern Africa. Its capital is Maseru.

Find Lesotho

MaseruLesotho
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital
Maseru
Languages
English & Sotho
Currency
Lesotho loti (LSL)
Population
2.4 million2025 · World Bank
Area
30,355 km²11,720 square miles
Independence
1966from the UK

Lesotho in context

Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Maseru; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

01

Physical geography

Mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains.

02

Languages

Languages used in public life include English, Sotho.

03

Location

Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa.

Flag shown for Lesotho

Flag

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

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile

History & independence

King Moshoeshoe I consolidated the Basotho kingdom in the nineteenth century. Basutoland came under British protection in 1868 and became independent as the Kingdom of Lesotho on 4 October 1966.

  1. Basutoland comes under British protection

  2. Independence as Lesotho

  3. Constitutional government is restored

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile

Economy

Main activities

Clothing manufacturing, agriculture, remittances and water exports to South Africa are important. The economy is closely linked to its larger neighbor, which completely surrounds Lesotho.

Industry and production

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

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile

Population & economic trends

Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.

Population, 1970–2025

Millions of people
2.42025 · millions of people
0.001.53.01.019701.419801.819902.020002.020102.220202.42025

Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.

Sources: World Bank · Population

View data table
Population: source values and plotted units
Year People Millions of people
1970 1,019,273 1.019
1980 1,406,521 1.407
1990 1,809,696 1.810
2000 2,003,913 2.004
2010 1,996,251 1.996
2020 2,235,727 2.236
2025 2,363,325 2.363

Real GDP, 1990–2025

Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
2.42025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
0.001.53.019902000201020202025

Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.

Sources: World Bank · Real GDP

View data table
Real GDP: source values and plotted units
Year Constant 2015 US$ Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
1990 966,060,902 0.966
1991 1,033,362,572 1.033
1992 1,105,247,043 1.105
1993 1,144,038,630 1.144
1994 1,212,450,693 1.212
1995 1,252,351,696 1.252
1996 1,322,446,272 1.322
1997 1,371,424,437 1.371
1998 1,392,512,226 1.393
1999 1,399,140,933 1.399
2000 1,453,365,294 1.453
2001 1,505,128,088 1.505
2002 1,516,022,748 1.516
2003 1,585,150,007 1.585
2004 1,611,976,677 1.612
2005 1,667,849,759 1.668
2006 1,738,401,392 1.738
2007 1,811,204,149 1.811
2008 1,911,244,555 1.911
2009 1,887,282,177 1.887
2010 1,986,735,735 1.987
2011 2,078,451,680 2.078
2012 2,210,102,550 2.210
2013 2,249,719,203 2.250
2014 2,288,201,773 2.288
2015 2,359,686,725 2.360
2016 2,444,845,631 2.445
2017 2,368,122,099 2.368
2018 2,333,058,898 2.333
2019 2,299,976,266 2.300
2020 2,112,391,171 2.112
2021 2,160,272,945 2.160
2022 2,211,855,515 2.212
2023 2,249,331,686 2.249
2024 2,366,860,027 2.367
2025 2,413,784,466 2.414

Human development

The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.

HDI · 20230.550Medium human developmentRank 167 of 193 · 2025 report

Human Development Index over time

19900.483
20000.462
20100.478
20200.537
20230.550
57.4 yearsLife expectancy at birth
7.7 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+

The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.

Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025

Government

Parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Parliament has two chambers (a bicameral legislature). Government is formed through the parliamentary system.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile

Knowledge check

Three questions about Lesotho.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

Which city is identified as the capital of Lesotho?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.

MaseruLesotho