Lesotho

Africa · Southern Africa · capital Maseru

About Lesotho

The capital of Lesotho is Maseru. Maseru is the seat of national government for Lesotho, a country in Southern Africa.

Lesotho has a population of about 2.3 million people, the 147th largest population in the world. Population figures come from World Bank estimates.

Lesotho covers 30,355 square kilometers (11,720 square miles), making Lesotho the 142nd largest country in the world by area.

Lesotho borders exactly one country: South Africa. No other nation shares a land frontier with Lesotho.

Life expectancy at birth in Lesotho is 57.4 years, the 214th highest of any country in the world.

Lesotho is in Africa, in the Southern Africa region. Lesotho is one of 58 countries and territories in Africa.

Data updated April 1, 2026

Statistics and world rankings for Lesotho
Populationtotal people	2.3Mpeople	147th
Land Areatotal km²	30.4Kkm²	142nd
GDP per PersonUSD per person	$916.28	196th
Total GDPUSD · whole economy	$2.1B	186th
Life Expectancyyears, at birth	57.4years	214th
Urban Population% living in cities	42.7%	166th
Internet Users% of people online	48.0%	147th
Fertility Ratechildren per woman	2.69births/woman	71st
Tourist Arrivalsvisitors per year	1.1Marrivals/year	91st
Forest Cover% of land forested	1.1%	193rd
Unemployment Rate% of labor force	16.3%	14th
Military Spending% of GDP	1.6%of GDP	72nd
Renewable Energy% of energy use	34.9%	69th
Inflation Rateannual CPI change	6.3%	79th
Beer Consumptionliters per year	no data
Coffee Consumptionkg per year	no data
Wine Consumptionliters per year	no data
Education Spending% of GDP	7.3%of GDP	12th
Health Spending% of GDP	12.6%of GDP	8th
Arable Land% of land arable	11.8%	87th
Foreign Direct InvestmentUSD inflow/year	-$25.6M	180th

ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 LS · alpha-3 LSO · Southern Africa