Kingdom of Lesotho
Capital
Maseru
Region
Africa
Population
2,116,427
Area (km²)
30,355
Lesotho, a landlocked kingdom in southern Africa completely surrounded by South Africa, has a population of around 2.1 million and spans 30,355 km², with Maseru as its bustling capital. Often called the "Kingdom in the Sky" due to its mountainous terrain—the only country entirely above 1,000 meters elevation—it features stunning highlands and a rich Basotho cultural heritage. While GDP data isn't available here, the economy centers on agriculture, textiles, and water exports to neighboring regions.
Lesotho shows a significant urban population percentage at 42.678%, indicating a steady shift from rural to urban living. This trend can bring both opportunities for economic development and challenges related to infrastructure, housing, and service provision in urban centers.
Only 57.300% of Lesotho's population has access to electricity, which is relatively low for a country in the 21st century. This limited access can hinder economic development, educational opportunities, and overall quality of life, especially in rural areas, and is a key infrastructure challenge.
Lesotho's economy is characterized by a low GDP per capita of $916.28 and a high unemployment rate of 16.457%. These figures highlight significant economic challenges, indicating limited job opportunities and a low standard of living for a substantial portion of the population, despite a modest GDP growth of 1.827%.
Lesotho faces a significant challenge with one of the lowest life expectancies globally at just 57.38 years. This is particularly striking when considering its fertility rate of 2.69, which is not exceptionally high compared to other countries with similarly low life expectancies, suggesting other severe health or social factors are at play.
GDP (Current US$)
$2.12B
Year: 2023
GDP Per Capita
$916.28
GDP Growth (%)
1.83%
Inflation (%)
6.34%
Unemployment (%)
16.46%
Debt to GDP (%)
N/A%
Source: World Bank • Last updated: 12/24/2025
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