Life expectancy in Lesotho: 57.8 years in 2024, ranking 213th of 217 countries. In 2010 it was 46.0 years.
Data last updated · Period: 2010–2024
Understanding the chart
The line chart above tracks life expectancy in Lesotho for each year from 2010 to 2024, 15 data points in all. Each dot is one year; the first and last years and the highest point are labelled with their values, and the vertical scale is in years. All values in this period were above zero. The data table below the chart lists every value, and you can download the data, embed the chart or share it from the buttons above. The figures cover 2010–2024 and come from World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
Key insights
- Between 2010 and 2024, Lesotho's life expectancy rose from 46.0 years to 57.8 years, a change of 25.5% (about 1.6% a year on average).
- The highest value in this period was 57.8 years in 2024; the lowest was 46.0 years in 2010.
- Recently, the figure has risen in each of the last two years (2023: 57.4 years; 2024: 57.8 years).
- That is 21% lower than the world figure of 73.5 years.
- Lesotho has the 213th-highest value of 217 countries with recent data.
- In Southern Africa, Lesotho has the 5th-highest value of 5 countries with recent data; the highest is Botswana (69.3 years), and the typical (median) value is 66.3 years.
Analysis
Averaged over periods, the figure was 48.3 years in 2010 to 2014, 53.7 years in 2015 to 2019 and 56.3 years in 2020 onwards. The value went up in 12 of the 14 year-to-year steps and down in 2. The biggest one-year rise came in 2022 (+2.6 years, or 4.8%). The biggest one-year fall came in 2021 (−0.9 years, or 1.7%). Across the period the values varied by about 7% around their average (52.8 years), a fairly steady path.
Lesotho and its neighbours
Life expectancy at birth (years) among 5 countries in Southern Africa with recent data, ranked from highest to lowest.
| Rank in region | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Botswana | 69.3 years | 2024 |
| 2 | Namibia | 67.5 years | 2024 |
| 3 | South Africa | 66.3 years | 2024 |
| 4 | Eswatini | 64.3 years | 2024 |
| 5 | Lesotho | 57.8 years | 2024 |
Lesotho on related measures
- Population: 2.4 million (2025, 144th-highest of 217 countries)
- Population growth (annual %): 1.10% (2025, 96th-highest of 217 countries)
- Urban population (% of total): 44.7% (2025, 162nd-highest of 217 countries)
- Population density (people per sq. km): 76.1 (2023, 129th-highest of 216 countries)
- Population aged 0 to 14 (% of total): 34.1% (2025, 54th-highest of 217 countries)
Global position: Lesotho's figure is higher than 2% of the 217 countries with data for this measure.
What it means
For businesses and investors, the figure is most useful alongside related measures for the same country, such as growth, inflation, population and incomes, and compared with similar countries. Compared with its neighbours in Southern Africa, where the typical value is 66.3 years, Lesotho is 13% lower than the regional median.
About this statistic
How many years a newborn would be expected to live if current death rates stayed the same. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators.
For the full definition, caveats and every country ranked, see Life expectancy at birth (years) by country, 2024.
Questions and answers
What is the life expectancy in Lesotho?
57.8 years (Life expectancy, 2024 · 213th of 217). Life expectancy in Lesotho: 57.8 years in 2024, ranking 213th of 217 countries. In 2010 it was 46.0 years.
How has life expectancy in Lesotho changed since 2010?
Between 2010 and 2024, Lesotho's life expectancy rose from 46.0 years to 57.8 years, a change of 25.5% (about 1.6% a year on average). The highest value in this period was 57.8 years in 2024; the lowest was 46.0 years in 2010.
How this page was made
Generated by Advanton from World Bank, World Development Indicators (2010–2024), data updated 8 November 2026: chart, ranks, comparisons and text are computed from the published figures; no figures are changed. About the data.
Data
| Year | Life expectancy at birth (years) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 46.0 years |
| 2011 | 46.9 years |
| 2012 | 48.2 years |
| 2013 | 49.5 years |
| 2014 | 50.8 years |
| 2015 | 51.8 years |
| 2016 | 52.9 years |
| 2017 | 53.9 years |
| 2018 | 54.6 years |
| 2019 | 55.2 years |
| 2020 | 55.1 years |
| 2021 | 54.2 years |
| 2022 | 56.8 years |
| 2023 | 57.4 years |
| 2024 | 57.8 years |
Source and notes
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Period: 2010–2024. Coverage: Lesotho.
How many years a newborn would be expected to live if current death rates stayed the same. A broad indicator of health and living standards.
Cite this statistic
Please also credit the original source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).Related statistics
- Life expectancy at birth (years) by country, 2024
- Life expectancy in Botswana, 2010–2024
- Life expectancy in Namibia, 2010–2024
- Life expectancy in Eswatini, 2010–2024
- Life expectancy in South Africa, 2010–2024
- GDP of Lesotho, 2010–2025
- Economic growth (GDP growth) in Lesotho, 2010–2025
- GDP per person in Lesotho, 2010–2025
- GDP per person, adjusted for prices (PPP, international $) in Lesotho, 2010–2024
All Lesotho data: economy, people, jobs and digital in one place
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