Photo: User:Kentstander derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.5 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Lesotho: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Lesotho is placed 194th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 57.37 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 59.96 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
194th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 57.37Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 59.96Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 35.57Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 24.3Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Lesotho on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
57.37
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Lesotho: 57.37. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Southern Africa
- 69.16 Botswana
- Land neighbours
- South Africa 66.14
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
59.96
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Lesotho: 59.96. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Southern Africa
- 33.31 Botswana
- Land neighbours
- South Africa 35.06
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Lesotho’s is from 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
35.57
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Lesotho: 35.57. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Southern Africa
- 20.03 Eswatini
- Land neighbours
- South Africa 21.33
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
24.3
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Lesotho: 24.3. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Southern Africa
- 8.4 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- South Africa 8.4
02Over time
Which way Lesotho is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
LesothoWorld median
Lesotho rose from 48.78 in 2000 to 57.37 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Lesotho World median 2023 57.37 74.630 2022 56.81 74.313 2021 54.21 72.433 2020 55.13 73.063 2019 55.25 74.196 2018 54.64 74.081 2017 53.87 74.029 2016 52.91 74.013 2015 51.83 73.783 2014 50.79 73.330 2013 49.55 73.386 2012 48.24 73.210 2011 46.93 73.003 2010 46.04 72.827 2009 45.06 72.426 2008 44.30 72.264 2007 43.66 72.113 2006 43.18 72.027 2005 43.61 71.876 2004 44.04 71.477 2003 44.92 71.409 2002 45.95 71.173 2001 47.15 70.926 2000 48.78 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
LesothoWorld median
Lesotho fell from 108.3 in 2000 to 59.96 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Lesotho World median 2024 60.0 14.5 2023 61.3 15.2 2022 62.0 14.7 2021 64.0 15.1 2020 66.3 15.3 2019 68.1 15.7 2018 68.8 16.3 2017 70.1 16.8 2016 71.4 17.5 2015 75.1 17.9 2014 77.6 18.3 2013 79.3 18.7 2012 81.4 18.8 2011 85.2 19.0 2010 90.9 19.2 2009 99.1 20.8 2008 111.6 20.7 2007 111.9 21.8 2006 114.7 22.8 2005 114.6 24.0 2004 113.9 25.9 2003 113.2 26.9 2002 112.1 28.0 2001 110.3 29.1 2000 108.3 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
LesothoWorld median
Lesotho fell from 27 in 2018 to 24.3 in 2024; the world median went from 4.2 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Lesotho World median 2024 24.3 4.9 2023 24.7 4.7 2022 25.3 5.4 2021 25.8 5.7 2020 26.4 5.6 2019 26.8 5.0 2018 27.0 4.2 2017 — 4.0 2016 — 3.4 2015 — 3.4
03In context
Lesotho beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Lesotho and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Africa | =148th | 66.14 | 35.06 | 21.33 | 8.4 |
| Lesotho | 194th | 57.37 | 59.96 | 35.57 | 24.3 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Lesotho in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Lesotho is ahead of the world, and behind
48 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Lesotho does better than the middle country measured.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7460.7440.74No earlier reading
Lesotho: 60.74 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 21st of 136 · derived.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4803.48▲ Improved since 2015
Lesotho: 0 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.258371.25▲ Improved since 2013
Lesotho: 83 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 196 · derived.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.12.23.1▲ Improved since 2020
Lesotho: 2.2 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 65th of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5461.6423.546No earlier reading
Lesotho: 1.642 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 131st of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9567.1452.95No earlier reading
Lesotho: 67.14 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 31st of 136 · derived.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8181.981No earlier reading
Lesotho: 81.9 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 75th of 153 · derived.
Behind the world median30
Statistics on which Lesotho does worse than the middle country measured.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.981.582.9No earlier reading
Lesotho: 81.5 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 60th of 109 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 918891▲ Improved since 2015
Lesotho: 88 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.1060.039▼ Worsened since 2018
Lesotho: 0.106 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 44th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.57.5115.5No real change since 2014
Lesotho: 7.511 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 62nd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.758.867.7No earlier reading
Lesotho: 58.8 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 82nd of 127 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.991.496.9No earlier reading
Lesotho: 91.4 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Global Report on Food CrisesFSIN · 2024 · world median 222722▲ Improved since 2016
Lesotho: 27 · world median 22 · In IPC Phase 3+ (% of analysed population). Food Security Information Network (FSIN), 2025 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3 to 56; lower is better.
Position 15th of 44 · derived, 1st = worst.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.535.541.5No earlier reading
Lesotho: 35.5 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 88th of 127 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 908090▼ Worsened since 2015
Lesotho: 80 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.2631.2921.26No earlier reading
Lesotho: 31.29 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 27th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2114.4510.21No real change since 2010
Lesotho: 14.45 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 37th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8588.2312.858No real change since 2014
Lesotho: 8.231 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 40th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.53065.5▼ Worsened since 2022
Lesotho: 30 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4670.6427.46No real change since 2013
Lesotho: 70.64 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 39th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.5340.351No real change since 2013
Lesotho: 0.534 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 144th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.40.564▲ Improved since 2010
Lesotho: 0.4 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 144th of 172 · derived.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.550.762No real change since 2013
Lesotho: 0.55 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 167th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.961.620.9▼ Worsened since 2018
Lesotho: 61.6 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 18th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5714.9937.57No earlier reading
Lesotho: 14.99 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 102nd of 115 · derived.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6931.13102.69▲ Improved since 2013
Lesotho: 31.13 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.477.426.4▼ Worsened since 2017
Lesotho: 77.4 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 12th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 416641▲ Improved since 2012
Lesotho: 66 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16322.678.163No real change since 2013
Lesotho: 22.67 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 15th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13428.498.134No real change since 2014
Lesotho: 28.49 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 14th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3912.8616.39▲ Improved since 2013
Lesotho: 12.86 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 209th of 222 · derived.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.65478.0246.65▲ Improved since 2013
Lesotho: 478.02 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 11th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2656.3412.26No real change since 2014
Lesotho: 56.34 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 10th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8315.684.83No real change since 2013
Lesotho: 15.6 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4561.214.45No real change since 2013
Lesotho: 61.2 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 3rd of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7415.44133.7No real change since 2013
Lesotho: 415.44 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 1st of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.875.875.8No earlier reading
Lesotho: 75.8 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 45th of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end10
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8949.9838.89Moved since 2015
Lesotho: 49.98 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 2nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.555.474.55Moved since 2017
Lesotho: 5.47 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.448.735.4Moved since 2013
Lesotho: 48.7 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2549.641.25Moved since 2013
Lesotho: 49.6 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.733.441.73Moved since 2014
Lesotho: 3.44 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 66th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6523.520.65No earlier reading
Lesotho: 23.5 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.884.5136.88No earlier reading
Lesotho: 4.513 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 13813No earlier reading
Lesotho: 8 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8318.7957.83No real change since 2013
Lesotho: 18.79 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.171.9216.17Moved since 2013
Lesotho: 1.92 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
No current reading for Lesotho
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2018), Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric Consumption, Dietary Energy Supply, Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) and Prevalence of Undernourishment. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Lesotho’s 14 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Lesotho’s 14th best-placed topic of 14. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 22nd of 1862/4 keys
- Peace & Security57th of 1774/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 62nd of 1834/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 73rd of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience111th of 1934/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 115th of 1944/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 132nd of 1763/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 140th of 1824/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge154th of 1984/4 keys
- Digital & Technology158th of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 158th of 1843/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital178th of 1963/3 keys
- Poverty & Inequality151st of 1593/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing194th of 2004/4 keys
No standing on Mobility & Trade, Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Lesotho can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Africa
Cabo Verde80th4/4 keysHighest in Southern Africa
South Africa=148th4/4 keysThis page
Lesotho194th4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Lesotho and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Lesotho on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Lesotho rank on health & wellbeing?
Lesotho is placed 194th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Lesotho?
57.37 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Lesotho?
59.96 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Lesotho compare with South Africa on health & wellbeing?
South Africa is placed joint 148th of 200, and Lesotho 194th. Life Expectancy at Birth: South Africa 66.14, Lesotho 57.37; Under-Five Mortality Rate: South Africa 35.06, Lesotho 59.96; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: South Africa 21.33, Lesotho 35.57; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: South Africa 8.4, Lesotho 24.3.
How have Lesotho’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 48.78 in 2000 to 57.37 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 108.3 in 2000 to 59.96 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity fell from 27 in 2018 to 24.3 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Lesotho?
No current reading is published for Lesotho on Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric Consumption, Dietary Energy Supply, Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) and Prevalence of Undernourishment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 48 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Lesotho’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Lesotho (banner) — User:Kentstander derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.5
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Lesotho: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/lesotho/health