Lesotho

Code: LT | Region: Africa

Introduction

Background

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Paramount chief MOSHOESHOE I consolidated what would become Basutoland in the early 19th century and made himself king in 1822. Continuing encroachments by Dutch settlers from the neighboring Orange Free State caused the king to enter into an 1868 agreement with the UK that made Basutoland first a British protectorate and, after 1884, a crown colony. After gaining independence in 1966, the country was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Basotho National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE II was exiled in 1990, returned to Lesotho in 1992, was reinstated in 1995, and was then succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Batswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections in 2007 were hotly contested, and aggrieved parties disputed how seats were awarded. In 2012, competitive elections saw Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas THABANE form a coalition government -- the first in the country's history -- that ousted the 14-year incumbent, Pakalitha MOSISILI, who peacefully transferred power the following month. MOSISILI returned to power in snap elections in 2015 after the collapse of THABANE’s coalition government and an alleged attempted military coup. In 2017, THABANE returned to become prime minister but stepped down in 2020 after being implicated in his estranged wife’s murder. He was succeeded by Moseketsi MAJORO. In 2022, Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE was inaugurated as prime minister and head of a three-party coalition.

Geography

Location

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Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Geographic coordinates

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29 30 S, 28 30 E

Map references

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Africa

Area

total

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30,355 sq km

land

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30,355 sq km

water

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0 sq km

Area - comparative

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slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries

total

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1,106 km

border countries

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South Africa 1,106 km

Coastline

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0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

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none (landlocked)

Climate

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temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain

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mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Elevation

highest point

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Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

lowest point

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junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

mean elevation

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2,161 m

Natural resources

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water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone

Land use

agricultural land

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77.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 11.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 65.9% (2023 est.)

forest

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1.1% (2023 est.)

other

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21.1% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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12 sq km (2013)

Major rivers (by length in km)

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Orange river source (shared with South Africa and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

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Orange (941,351 sq km)

Population distribution

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relatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

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periodic droughts

Geography - note

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landlocked, surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m (5,900 ft) above sea level

People and Society

Population

total

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2,222,962 (2025 est.)

male

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1,099,314

female

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1,123,648

Nationality

noun

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Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

adjective

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Basotho

Ethnic groups

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Sotho 99.7%, other 0.3% (includes Kwena, Nguni (Hlubi and Phuthi), Zulu)

Languages

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Sesotho (official), English (official), Phuthi, Xhosa, Zulu

Religions

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Protestant 47.8% (Pentecostal 23.1%, Lesotho Evangelical 17.3%, Anglican 7.4%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, other Christian 9.1%, non-Christian 1.4%, none 2.3% (2014 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years

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32% (male 358,137/female 353,618)

15-64 years

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62.7% (male 699,197/female 696,626)

65 years and over

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5.4% (2024 est.) (male 44,625/female 75,345)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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56.8 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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48.2 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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8.6 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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11.6 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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24 years (2025 est.)

male

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23.4 years

female

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24.3 years

Population growth rate

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0.73% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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21.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

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10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

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-4.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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Urbanization

urban population

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30.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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202,000 MASERU (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.59 male(s)/female

total population

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0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

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20.9 years (2014 est.)

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note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio

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478 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

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52.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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51 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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40.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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60.2 years (2024 est.)

male

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58.1 years

female

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62.3 years

Total fertility rate

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2.49 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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1.23 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

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urban: 93% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 65.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 74% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 34.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 26% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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10.2% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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13.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

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0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

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urban: 93.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 62.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 71.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 6.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 37.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 28.3% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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16.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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3.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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1.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total

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22.8% (2025 est.)

male

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42.4% (2025 est.)

female

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4.1% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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12.5% (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

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46.9% (2021 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

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1% (2018)

women married by age 18

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16.4% (2018)

men married by age 18

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1.9% (2018)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

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6.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

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10.4% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy

total population

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90.4% (2024 est.)

male

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83.2% (2024 est.)

female

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96.6% (2024 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total

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11 years (2017 est.)

male

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11 years (2017 est.)

female

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11 years (2017 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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overgrazing; severe soil erosion; soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa

International environmental agreements

party to

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Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

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none of the selected agreements

Climate

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temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Land use

agricultural land

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77.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 11.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 65.9% (2023 est.)

forest

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1.1% (2023 est.)

other

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21.1% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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30.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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1.148 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

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175,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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973,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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73,500 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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11.9% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

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20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

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20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

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3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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3.022 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form

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Lesotho

local long form

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Kingdom of Lesotho

local short form

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Lesotho

former

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Basutoland

etymology

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the name comes from the Sotho people, whose name means "dark-skinned;" Le- is a singular noun prefix; the former name, Basutoland, uses the plural noun prefix, Ba-

Government type

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parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital

name

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Maseru

geographic coordinates

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29 19 S, 27 29 E

time difference

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UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology

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the name means "[place of] red sandstones" in the Sesotho language

Administrative divisions

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10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Legal system

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mixed system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; High Court and Court of Appeal review legislative acts

Constitution

history

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previous 1959, 1967; latest adopted 2 April 1993 (effectively restoring the 1967 version)

amendment process

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proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including fundamental rights and freedoms, sovereignty of the kingdom, the office of the king, and powers of Parliament, requires a majority vote by the National Assembly, approval by the Senate, approval in a referendum by a majority of qualified voters, and assent of the king; passage of amendments other than those specified provisions requires at least a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament

International law organization participation

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

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yes

citizenship by descent only

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yes

dual citizenship recognized

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residency requirement for naturalization

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5 years

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996)

head of government

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Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE (28 October 2022)

cabinet

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consists of the prime minister (appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State), the deputy prime minister, and 18 other ministers; the prime minister is the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the National Assembly

election/appointment process

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the monarchy is hereditary but has no executive or legislative powers under the constitution; under traditional law, the College of Chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, determine next in line of succession, or serve as regent in the event that a successor is not of mature age

note

note: King LETSIE III previously occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile

Legislative branch

legislature name

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Parliament

legislative structure

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bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

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National Assembly

number of seats

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122 (all directly elected)

electoral system

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mixed system

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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5 years

most recent election date

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11/2/2022

parties elected and seats per party

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Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) (56); Democratic Congress (DC) (29); All Basotho Convention (ABC) (8); Basotho Action Party (BAP) (6); Other (20)

percentage of women in chamber

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25%

expected date of next election

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October 2027

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

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Senate

number of seats

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33 (11 appointed)

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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5 years

most recent election date

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10/7/2022

percentage of women in chamber

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21.2%

expected date of next election

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November 2027

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament)

judge selection and term of office

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Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75

subordinate courts

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Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; military courts

note

note: both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues

Political parties

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All Basotho Convention or ABC Alliance of Democrats or AD Basotho Action Party or BAP Basotho National Party or BNP Democratic Congress or DC Democratic Party of Lesotho or DPL Lesotho People's Congress or LPC Movement of Economic Change or MEC National Independent Party or NIP Popular Front for Democracy of PFD Reformed Congress of Lesotho or RCL

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Tumisang MOSOTHO (since 16 September 2022)

chancery

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2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

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[1] (202) 797-5533

FAX

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[1] (202) 234-6815

email address and website

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lesothoembassy@verizon.net https://www.gov.ls/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Thomas HINES (since August 2024)

embassy

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254 Kingsway Avenue, Maseru

mailing address

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2340 Maseru Place, Washington DC  20521-2340

telephone

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[266] 22312666

FAX

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[266] 22310116

email address and website

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USConsularMaseru@state.gov https://ls.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

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4 October 1966 (from the UK)

National holiday

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Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Flag

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description: 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 meaning: blue stands for rain, white for peace, and green for prosperity history: the redesigned flag was introduced in 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

National symbol(s)

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mokorotio (Basotho hat)

National color(s)

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blue, white, green, black

National anthem(s)

title

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"Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)

lyrics/music

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Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR

history

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adopted 1967; music derives from an 1823 Swiss songbook

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

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1 (mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales

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Maloti-Drakensberg Park

Economy

Economic overview

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lower middle-income economy surrounded by South Africa; environmentally fragile and politically unstable; key infrastructure and renewable energy investments; dire poverty; urban job and income losses due to COVID-19; systemic corruption

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

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$6.166 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

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$6 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

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$5.893 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

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2.8% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

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1.8% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

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2.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

text

$2,600 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

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$2,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

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$2,600 (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

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$2.272 billion (2024 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

text

6.1% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

text

6.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

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8.3% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

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6.5% (2024 est.)

industry

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31% (2024 est.)

services

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48% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

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92.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption

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35.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

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28.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

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-1.1% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services

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42.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

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-98.6% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

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milk, potatoes, maize, vegetables, fruits, sorghum, wheat, game meat, beans, wool (2023)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

text

2.6% (2024 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

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884,200 (2024 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

text

16.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

text

16.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

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16.7% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

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24.2% (2024 est.)

male

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17.7% (2024 est.)

female

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36.2% (2024 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

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49.7% (2017 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

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44.9 (2017 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

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1.7% (2017 est.)

highest 10%

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32.9% (2017 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

Remittances 2024

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22% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances 2023

text

22.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

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22.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues

text

$1.13 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures

text

$1.256 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

Public debt 2020

text

3% of GDP (2020 est.)

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

text

30.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024

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$84.393 million (2024 est.)

Current account balance 2023

text

-$151.577 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

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-$268.876 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

Exports 2024

text

$983.027 million (2024 est.)

Exports 2023

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$885.789 million (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

text

$1.07 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

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South Africa 31%, Belgium 26%, USA 20%, UAE 8%, India 8% (2023)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

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diamonds, garments, wool, power equipment, bedding (2023)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2024

text

$2.083 billion (2024 est.)

Imports 2023

text

$2.077 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

text

$2.247 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

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South Africa 78%, China 10%, Taiwan 3%, Japan 1%, India 1% (2023)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

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refined petroleum, fabric, trucks, garments, cotton fabric (2023)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

text

$1.008 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

text

$854.089 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

text

$771.278 million (2022 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

text

$928.019 million (2023 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

text

maloti (LSL) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

18.329 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

18.45 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

16.356 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

14.779 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

16.459 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

50% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

text

83.6%

electrification - rural areas

text

37.7%

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

104,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

833.009 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

text

453.992 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

102.88 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

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0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

text

99.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

production

text

57,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption

text

81,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

text

1 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

text

24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

text

7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

text

8.117 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

7,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

(2023 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

text

1.64 million (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

70 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

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1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations; most private broadcast media transmitters are connected to government radio signal towers; satellite TV subscription service available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters obtainable (2019)

Internet country code

text

.ls

Internet users

percent of population

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48% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

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9,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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(2023 est.) less than 1

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

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Airports

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34 (2025)

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) (2025)

note

note: the Lesotho Mounted Police Service is responsible for internal security and reports to the Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024

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1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

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1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

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1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

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1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

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1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

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approximately 2,000 active Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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the LDF is lightly armed and has a small inventory of mostly older or secondhand equipment of European, South African, and US origin (2025)

Military service age and obligation

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20-30 years of age for voluntary military service for both men and women (2026)

Military - note

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the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) is responsible for the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; the LDF is a small force that began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986; it was renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2025)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

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610 (2024 est.)