| Region | Southern Africa | |
| Population (000, 2021) | 2 159a | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2021) | 71.1a | |
| Capital city | Maseru | |
| Capital city pop. (000, 2021) | 201.9c | |
| UN membership date | 17-Oct-66 | |
| Surface area (km2) | 30 355b | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f) | 97.5a | |
| National currency | Loti (LSL) | |
| Exchange rate (per US$) | 14.6d |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic product (million current US$) | 2 269 | 2 372 | 2 460b |
| GDP growth rate (annual %, const. 2015 prices) | 6.7 | 2.7 | 1.5b |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | 1 137.1 | 1 152.1 | 1 157.5b |
| Economy: Agriculturee (% of Gross Value Added) | 5.3 | 4.2 | 5b |
| Economy: Industryf,g (% of Gross Value Added) | 34.3 | 37.7 | 34.8b |
| Economy: Services and other activityh (% of GVA) | 60.4 | 58.1 | 60.3b |
| Employment in agriculturei (% of employed) | 11.3 | 9.4 | 8.4d |
| Employment in industryi (% of employed) | 42.4 | 42.9 | 41.9d |
| Employment in servicesi (% employed) | 46.3 | 47.7 | 49.6d |
| Unemploymenti (% of labour force) | 26.8 | 24.4 | 22.8d |
| Labour force participation ratei (female/male pop. %) | 60.6 / 76.5 | 59.8 / 76.0 | 60.1 / 76.1d |
| CPI: Consumer Price Index (2010=100) | 100 | 127 | 164d |
| Agricultural production index (2014-2016=100) | 104 | 100 | 96b |
| International trade: exports (million current US$) | 503 | 604 | 2 250i,d |
| International trade: imports (million current US$) | 1 277 | 1 410 | 1 500i,d |
| International trade: balance (million current US$) | -773 | -806 | 750i,d |
| Balance of payments, current account (million US$) | -158 | -78 | -52d |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Population growth ratej (average annual %) | -~0.0 | 0.6 | 0.8d |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 24.8 | 26.9 | 28.6b |
| Urban population growth ratej (average annual %) | 3.1 | 2.9 | ... |
| Fertility rate, totalj (live births per woman) | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.2d |
| Life expectancy at birthj (females/males, years) | 45.8 / 40.6 | 51.3 / 45.2 | 56.8 / 50.4d |
| Population age distribution (0-14/60+ years old, %) | 34.9 / 7.0 | 33.4 / 7.2 | 32.1 / 7.6a |
| International migrant stockk,l (000/% of total pop.) | 6.4 / 0.3 | 9.2 / 0.4 | 12.1 / 0.6d |
| Refugees and others of concern to UNHCR (000) | ... | ~0.0 | 0.3d |
| Infant mortality ratej (per 1 000 live births) | 74.9 | 65.4 | 62.3d |
| Health: Current expenditurei (% of GDP) | 7.6 | 8.5 | 9.3c |
| Health: Physicians (per 1 000 pop.) | 0.1 | ... | ... |
| Education: Government expenditure (% of GDP) | 12.1m | ... | 7c |
| Education: Primary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 122.1 / 127.4 | 113.7 / 119.6 | 117.8 / 124.1n |
| Education: Secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 65.4 / 47.1 | 69.7 / 51.8 | 71.3 / 52.8n |
| Education: Upper secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 39.5 / 29.2 | 53.6 / 39.9 | 51.1 / 35.7n |
| Intentional homicide rate (per 100 000 pop.) | 38.3 | 43.6 | ... |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 24.2 | 26.7 | 23.3o |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Individuals using the Interneti (per 100 inhabitants) | 3.9 | 25 | 29.8n |
| Research & Development expenditure (% of GDP) | ~0.0p,q | 0.1r,s | ... |
| Threatened species (number) | 16 | 17 | 21 |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 1.1i | 1.1 | 1.1c |
| Energy production, primary (Petajoules) | 27 | 20i | 17i,c |
| Energy supply per capita (Gigajoules) | 26 | 22i | 22i,c |
| Tourist/visitor arrivals at national borders (000) | 426 | 1 082 | 1 142b |
| Important sites for terrestrial biodiversity protected (%) | 16.5 | 16.5 | 16.5d |
| Pop. using safely managed drinking water (urban/rural, %) | 59.1 / 4.9 | 68.5 / 6.9 | 77.7 / 8.9d |
| Pop. using safely managed sanitation (urban/rural %) | 28.4 / 28.6 | 34.0 / 40.0 | 39.4 / 51.0d |
| Net Official Development Assist. received (% of GNI) | 8.54 | 3.24 | 5b |
| Footnotes |
| a | Projected estimate (medium fertility variant). | |
| b | 2019 | |
| c | 2018 | |
| d | 2020 | |
| e | Excludes irrigation canals and landscaping care. | |
| f | Excludes publishing activities. | |
| g | Includes irrigation canals. | |
| h | Excludes repair of personal and household goods. | |
| i | Estimate. | |
| j | Data refers to a 5-year period preceding the reference year. | |
| k | Refers to foreign citizens. | |
| l | Including refugees. | |
| m | 2008 | |
| n | 2017 | |
| o | Data are as at 1 January of reporting year. | |
| p | Partial data. | |
| q | 2009 | |
| r | Excluding private non-profit. | |
| s | Excluding business enterprise. |