Macro-economic and social benchmarks
GDP
(current US$)
2021
GDP Per Capita
(current US$)
2021
GDP Growth
(annual %)
2021
Unemployment
(% of population)
2021
GNI per capita, Atlas method
(current USD)
2021
Capital
Maseru
Surface area
30,360 km²
Population 2021
2,281,454
Density 2021
75 inhabitants/km2
Political System
Constitutional monarchy
Head of state Since 7 February 1996
Letsie III
Focus: Association / Civil Society
The Constitution of Lesotho, 1993
https://www.gov.ls/download/lesotho-constitution/
(1) Every person shall be entitled to, and (except with his own consent) shall not be hindered in his enjoyment of freedom of peaceful assembly, without arms, that is to say, freedom to assemble with other persons.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision—
(a) in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;
(b) for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of other persons; or
(c) for the purpose of imposing restrictions upon public officers.
(3) A person shall not be permitted to rely in any judicial proceedings upon such a provision of law as is referred to in subsection (2) except to the extent to which he satisfies the court that that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof does not abridge the rights and freedoms guaranteed by subsection (1) to a greater extent than is necessary in a practical sense in a democratic society in the interests of any of the matters specified in subsection (2)(a) or for any of the purposes specified in subsection (2)(b) or (c).
(1) Every person shall be entitled to, and (except with his own consent) shall not be hindered in his enjoyment of freedom to associate freely with other persons for ideological, religious, political, economic, labour, social, cultural, recreational and similar purposes.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of any law to the extent that the law in question makes provision—
(a) in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;
(b) for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of other persons; or
(c) for the purpose of imposing restrictions upon public officers.
(3) A person shall not be permitted to rely in any judicial proceedings upon such a provision of law as is referred to in subsection (2) except to the extent to which he satisfies the court that that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof does not abridge the rights and freedoms guaranteed by subsection (1) to a greater extent than is necessary in a practical sense in a democratic society in the interests of any of the matters specified in subsection (2)(a) or for any of the purposes specified in subsection (2)(b) or (c).
– Public Meetings and Processions Act No. 14 of 2010
UN: accession 17/10/1966
ICESCR Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Signature: NO,
Ratification/Accession: Accession 09/09/1992
ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Signature: NO Ratification/Accession: Accession 09/09/1992
Convention on the Rights of the Child: Signature: 21/08/1990, Ratification/Accession: Ratification 10/03/1992
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families: Signature: 24/09/2004, Ratification/Accession: Ratification 16/09/2005
UNESCO: Member since 1967 – Conventions signed and/or ratified from 1982 to 2013
CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Signature: 17/07/1980, Ratification/Accession: Ratification 22/08/1995
Currency: Loti
African Union: 31 October 1966
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights: 10 February 1992
European Convention on Human Rights: NO
ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific countries): —-
SADC (Southern African Development Community): 1992
The country in the world through international indices
Population Growth
(annual %)
2021
Fertility Rate
(births per woman)
2020
Ratio of Poor Population to National Poverty Line
(% of population)
2017
Youth Literacy Rate
(% of young people aged 15-24)
2021
Net Enrollment Rate
(% population)
#
Internet Users
(% of population)
2020
Access to Electricity
(% of population)
2020
Intentional Homicides
(per 100,000 people)
2015
Happiness Index /10
2022
Press Freedom Index /10
2022
GINI Index /100
2017
Democracy Index /10
2020
Corruption Perceptions Index /100
Transparency International
2022
ITUC Global Rights Index /5
Systematic rights violations
#
HDI
2021
List of sources, reports and data