Aid, poverty & equality · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income
Lesotho: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 41.9% (2017), 16th of 151 in the world and 16th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $4.20/day is 56.8% (2017), 23rd of 151 in the world and 23rd of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $8.30/day is 83.8% (2017), 28th of 151 in the world and 26th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Women in parliament
LesothoSub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
Net ODA received
Lesotho
13 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Lesotho in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 41.9%2017 | 16/151 | 16/44 | 74.9%2002 | · | · | −33.0 ppsince 2002 | 45.0% | 12.4% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 56.8%2017 | 23/151 | 23/44 | 85.2%2002 | · | · | −28.4 ppsince 2002 | 63.2% | 26.9% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 83.8%2017 | 28/151 | 26/44 | 95.9%2002 | · | · | −12.1 ppsince 2002 | 88.6% | 76.8% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 49.7%2017 | 20/145 | 17/45 | 56.6%2002 | · | · | −6.9 ppsince 2002 | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 44.92017 | 16/151 | 9/44 | 51.22002 | · | · | −12%since 2002 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 32.9%2017 | 26/151 | 14/44 | 38.2%2002 | · | · | −5.3 ppsince 2002 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 4.6%2017 | 140/151 | 38/44 | 3.3%2002 | · | · | +1.3 ppsince 2002 | — | — | — | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 61.6%2024 | 21/155 | 18/38 | · | · | 52.3% | — | — | 41.8% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 61.6%2024 | 88/145 | 12/36 | · | 18.5%2011 | 63.6%2022 | +43.1 ppsince 2011 | 55.1% | 70.4% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 25.0%2025 | 101/190 | 22/46 | 3.8% | 24.2% | 23.3% | ±0.0 ppsince 2015 | 27.0% | 23.6% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $172m2023 | 98/145 | 38/48 | $37.2m | $218m | $172m | −46%since 2013 | $64.8bn | $59.2bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 6.6%2023 | 35/139 | 17/47 | 3.3% | 7.6% | 7.0% | −5.2 ppsince 2013 | 3.1% | 0.9% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $74.52023 | 65/145 | 22/48 | $18.5 | $109 | $76.9 | −52%since 2013 | $51.5 | $20.6 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−33.0 pp41.9% in 2017
- Poverty, $4.20/day−28.4 pp56.8% in 2017
- Poverty, $8.30/day−12.1 pp83.8% in 2017
- National poverty rate−6.9 pp49.7% in 2017
Worse than ten years ago
No rated indicator got worse over the decade.
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Lesotho and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Lesotho. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Lesotho | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 41.9%2017 | 17.4%2022 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 56.8%2017 | 30.2%2022 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 83.8%2017 | 59.6%2022 |
| National poverty rate | 49.7%2017 | 37.9%2022 |
| Gini index | 44.92017 | 54.12022 |
| Top 10% income share | 32.9%2017 | 42.1%2022 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 4.6%2017 | 3.7%2022 |
| Food insecurity | 61.6%2024 | 20.9%2024 |
| Account ownership | 61.6%2024 | 81.1%2024 |