Sub-Saharan Africa
Lesotho in numbers Lesotho is in Sub-Saharan Africa and is classed by the World Bank as lower middle income. Its capital is Maseru. Its population was 2.36 million in 2025, ranking 144 of 217 countries. GDP per person was US$1,089 in 2025.
Population 2.36 million 2025
GDP US$2.6 billion 2025
GDP per person US$1,089 2025
Life expectancy 57.8 2024
Area 30,360 2024
Urban share 44.7% 2025
People 2.36 million
2025 · +18% since 2000 · Rank 144 of 217
1.10%
2025 · 0.03% in 2000 · Rank 96 of 217
77.0
2024 · +17% since 2000 · Rank 129 of 216
44.7%
2025 · 19.3% in 2000 · Rank 162 of 217
34.1%
2025 · 39.6% in 2000 · Rank 54 of 217
3.9%
2025 · 4.5% in 2000 · Rank 169 of 217
2.66
2024 · -26% since 2000 · Rank 68 of 217
Health and living standards 57.8
2024 · +18% since 2000 · Rank 213 of 217
60.0
2024 · -45% since 2000 · Rank 21 of 196
US$123
2023 · +417% since 2000 · Rank 140 of 193
60.6%
2024 · 4.3% in 2000 · Rank 187 of 215
51.8%
2024 · 0.2% in 2000 · Rank 147 of 186
80.2%
2024 · 109.0% in 2000 · Rank 182 of 190
Economy US$2.6 billion
2025 · +190% since 2000 · Rank 184 of 210
US$1,089
2025 · +146% since 2000 · Rank 195 of 210
Int$3,184
2025 · +150% since 2000 · Rank 184 of 199
1.98%
2025 · 3.88% in 2000 · Rank 146 of 210
4.27%
2025 · 6.13% in 2000 · Rank 51 of 180
16.3%
2025 · 16.2% in 2000 · Rank 14 of 187
49.5%
2025 · 53.2% in 2007 · Rank 53 of 183
20.8%
2025 · 53.8% in 2000 · Rank 15 of 176
Land and environment 30,360
2024 · +0% since 2000 · Rank 138 of 216
1.1%
2024 · 1.1% in 2000 · Rank 196 of 214
0.43
2024 · +145% since 2000 · Rank 166 of 203
Elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, updated 8 October 2026. Each figure is the latest year available for Lesotho. Rankings compare countries with data from the same or recent years.