Lesotho
Country in Africa
In brief
Population: 2.4M (2025). World rank 144 of 216; in Africa, 45 of 54. Area: 30,355 km². World rank 142 of 249; in Africa, 44 of 59. Life expectancy: 57.8 years (2024). World rank 212 of 216 (1 = best); in Africa, 50 of 54. From 2015 to 2025: population 2.1M → 2.4M, GDP $2.4B → $2.6B, and GDP per person $1,121 → $1,089. Worse than all its neighbours (South Africa): life expectancy and GDP per person.
State
- Official name
- Kingdom of Lesotho
- Local name
- Lesotho
- Capital
- Maseru
- Region
- Africa
- Form of government
- Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- UN member
- Yes
Key figures
Practical information
- Languages
- English, Southern Sotho
- Currency
- Lesotho Loti (LSL), South African Rand (ZAR)
- Time zones
- UTC+2
- Calling code
- +266
- Emergency numbers
- 112, 114, 115
- Driving side
- Left
- Plug types
- D
- Mains voltage
- 220 V