Photo: User:Kentstander derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.5 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 11 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Lesotho: Risk & Resilience
How exposed is a country to crisis, and how ready is it to cope?
Lesotho is placed 111th of 193 countries on risk & resilience in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: World Risk Index 1.41 (2025); INFORM Risk Index 4.2 (2025).
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Risk & Resilience
111th
of 193 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 1.41World Risk Index, 2025WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)
- 4.2INFORM Risk Index, 2025INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)
- 0.507Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN), 2024ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable)
- 44.03Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days, 2024Adults who could raise emergency funds within 30 days without great difficulty (% of population aged 15+)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Lesotho on risk & resilience — 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
World Risk Index
Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
1.41
WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)
Lower is better
Lesotho: 1.41. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.18 (Monaco) to 46.56 (Philippines); the world median is 4.17.
- World median
- 4.17
- Best in Southern Africa
- 1.25 Botswana
- Land neighbours
- South Africa 9.5
Key 2 of 4
INFORM Risk Index
European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee
2026 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (via the European Commission's reuse policy)
4.2
INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)
Lower is better
Lesotho: 4.2. Across the 191 countries in this edition, values run from 0.7 (Singapore) to 8.5 (South Sudan); the world median is 3.7.
- World median
- 3.7
- Best in Southern Africa
- 3.3 Botswana
- Land neighbours
- South Africa 5.1
Key 3 of 4
Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 Unported
0.507
ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable)
Lower is better
Ranked 142nd of 190 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame
Lesotho: 0.507. Across the 190 countries in this edition, values run from 0.263 (Norway) to 0.655 (Mauritania); the world median is 0.45.
- World median
- 0.45
- Best in Southern Africa
- 0.436 South Africa
- Land neighbours
- South Africa 0.436
Key 4 of 4
Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2021–2024 · Lesotho’s is from 2024 · CC BY 4.0
44.03
Adults who could raise emergency funds within 30 days without great difficulty (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
Lesotho: 44.03. Across the 142 countries at their latest reading, values run from 16.49 (South Sudan) to 93.69 (Sweden); the world median is 53.85.
- World median
- 53.85
- Best in Southern Africa
- 44.03 Lesotho
- Land neighbours
- South Africa 30.81
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.
World Risk Index
WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk) · lower is better
LesothoWorld median
Lesotho fell from 1.6 in 2000 to 1.41 in 2025; the world median went from 4.55 to 4.17.
Every year’s figures
Year Lesotho World median 2025 1.41 4.17 2024 1.41 4.17 2023 1.40 4.27 2022 1.29 4.08 2021 1.41 4.23 2020 1.04 4.12 2019 1.04 4.23 2018 1.35 4.14 2017 1.22 4.24 2016 1.22 4.23 2015 1.23 4.04 2014 1.35 4.07 2013 1.21 4.08 2012 1.22 4.07 2011 1.34 3.99 2010 1.28 3.86 2009 1.18 3.94 2008 1.18 4.11 2007 1.05 4.41 2006 1.04 4.51 2005 1.27 4.54 2004 1.28 4.42 2003 1.29 4.50 2002 1.63 4.65 2001 1.69 4.37 2000 1.60 4.55 INFORM Risk Index
INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk) · lower is better
LesothoWorld median
Lesotho was at 4.2 in both 2016 and 2025; the world median went from 3.6 to 3.7.
Every year’s figures
Year Lesotho World median 2025 4.2 3.7 2024 4.3 3.5 2023 4.3 3.6 2022 4.2 3.6 2021 4.4 3.6 2020 4.4 3.6 2019 4.4 3.6 2018 4.2 3.5 2017 4.1 3.5 2016 4.2 3.6 Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)
ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable) · lower is better
LesothoWorld median
Lesotho fell from 0.521 in 2000 to 0.507 in 2024; the world median went from 0.476 to 0.45.
Every year’s figures
Year Lesotho World median 2024 0.50680 0.449649 2023 0.50753 0.449167 2022 0.50965 0.447422 2021 0.50721 0.447831 2020 0.50872 0.447902 2019 0.50897 0.447883 2018 0.51064 0.449652 2017 0.51276 0.450532 2016 0.51142 0.451843 2015 0.51119 0.451496 2014 0.51630 0.451502 2013 0.51964 0.454946 2012 0.52064 0.454269 2011 0.52369 0.458012 2010 0.51976 0.460715 2009 0.53042 0.464712 2008 0.52527 0.463801 2007 0.51738 0.466738 2006 0.51984 0.468701 2005 0.52474 0.470646 2004 0.51906 0.472029 2003 0.52047 0.471635 2002 0.52413 0.472031 2001 0.52706 0.476366 2000 0.52061 0.475585
03In context
Lesotho beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 193 countries on risk & resilience, never a place within the region.
Lesotho and the countries it borders
Standing among all 193; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | World Risk IndexWorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk) | INFORM Risk IndexINFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk) | Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable) | Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 DaysAdults who could raise emergency funds within 30 days without great difficulty (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesotho | 111th | 1.41 | 4.2 | 0.507 | 44.03 |
 South Africa | 152nd | 9.5 | 5.1 | 0.436 | 30.81 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 193.
Placed either side on risk & resilience
The countries immediately above and below Lesotho in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Lesotho is ahead of the world, and behind
20 more statistics filed under risk & resilience, 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 median4
Statistics on which Lesotho does better than the middle country measured.
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.
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.
Water StressFAO · 2023 · world median 102.5710No real change since 2013
Lesotho: 2.57 · world median 10 · Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.03 to 3,851; lower is better.
Position 138th of 177 · derived, 1st = worst.
Riverine Flood Risk (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 2.4031.3922.403No earlier reading
Lesotho: 1.392 · world median 2.403 · Riverine flood risk score (0–5). World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; lower is better.
Ranked 120th of 163 by WRI (1st = worst).
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Lesotho does worse than the middle country measured.
Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per CapitaFAO · 2022 · world median 2,5282,2882,528▼ Worsened since 2012
Lesotho: 2,288 · world median 2,528 · Renewable internal freshwater (cubic metres per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 445,023; higher is better.
Position 98th of 181 · derived.
Political Stability and Absence of ViolenceWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.171-0.0110.171▲ Improved since 2015
Lesotho: -0.011 · world median 0.171 · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.506 to 1.563; higher is better.
Position 122nd of 211 · derived.
Drought Risk (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 2.6232.8472.623No earlier reading
Lesotho: 2.847 · world median 2.623 · Drought risk score (0–5). World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.553 to 4.081; lower is better.
Ranked 57th of 138 by WRI (1st = worst).
Children's Climate Risk IndexUNICEF · 2020 · world median 55.45No earlier reading
Lesotho: 5.4 · world median 5 · Children's Climate Risk Index (0–10, higher is more risk). UNICEF, 2021 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 8.7; lower is better.
Ranked 61st of 163 by UNICEF (1st = worst).
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.
Baseline Water Stress (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 1.6632.951.663No earlier reading
Lesotho: 2.95 · world median 1.663 · Baseline water stress score (0–5). World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; lower is better.
ND-GAIN Country IndexNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 47.4438.3847.44▼ Worsened since 2014
Lesotho: 38.38 · world median 47.44 · ND-GAIN Index (0–100, where 100 is best placed to adapt). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.42 to 71.85; higher is better.
Ranked 151st of 190 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.2740.387▼ Worsened since 2014
Lesotho: 0.274 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.
Ranked 161st of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Adults Who Experienced a Natural Disaster or Severe WeatherWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 20.4642.4720.46No earlier reading
Lesotho: 42.47 · world median 20.46 · Adults who experienced a natural disaster or severe weather in the past three years (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.738 to 77.54; lower is better.
Position 15th of 98 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms Whose Assets Were Damaged by Extreme WeatherWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 9.48521.349.485No earlier reading
Lesotho: 21.34 · world median 9.485 · Firms whose physical assets were damaged by extreme weather (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 59.21; lower is better.
Position 14th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Burned AreaGWIS · 2025 · world median 13,82433,12213,824No real change since 2015
Lesotho: 33,122 · world median 13,824 · Burned area (hectares). European Commission Joint Research Centre — Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50,562,035.
Asylum-Seekers by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,8362021,836Moved since 2015
Lesotho: 202 · world median 1,836 · Asylum-seekers awaiting a decision, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 3,718,945.
Refugee Population by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 12,26947812,269Moved since 2015
Lesotho: 478 · world median 12,269 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate hosted, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,655,191.
Refugees by Country of OriginUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,272271,272Moved since 2015
Lesotho: 27 · world median 1,272 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate from this country, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5,224,131.
Population Living Below 5 m ElevationCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · 2015 · world median 2.95402.954No real change since 1990
Lesotho: 0 · world median 2.954 · Population living below 5 m elevation (% of total population). Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University, 2015 edition, data for 2015.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 78.48.
Temperature Change on LandFAO · 2025 · world median 1.4740.7831.474Moved since 2015
Lesotho: 0.783 · world median 1.474 · Change in mean land-surface temperature against the country's own 1951–1980 average, °C. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.34 to 3.294.
No current reading for Lesotho
Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCR, Per Capita Food Supply Variability, Stateless Persons by Country of Residence and World Risk Poll Resilience Index. 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
Risk & Resilience among Lesotho’s 14 topics
Risk & Resilience is Lesotho’s 5th 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 risk & resilience
The three countries placed highest of 193, and the leaders Lesotho can most readily be measured against.
1
LiechtensteinWestern Europe
1st of 193 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Guido Radig,Inkey · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
2
LuxembourgWestern Europe
2nd of 193 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 193 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Seychelles=27th3/4 keysHighest in Southern Africa
Botswana98th4/4 keysThis page
Lesotho111th4/4 keys
Positions out of 193 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.
07Questions
Lesotho on risk & resilience: 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 risk & resilience?
Lesotho is placed 111th of 193 countries on Risk & Resilience in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (World Risk Index, INFORM Risk Index, Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN) and Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest World Risk Index figure for Lesotho?
1.41 in 2025 (worldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)), according to Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum. The world median in the same edition was 4.17.
What is the latest INFORM Risk Index figure for Lesotho?
4.2 in 2025 (iNFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)), according to European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. The world median in the same edition was 3.7.
How does Lesotho compare with South Africa on risk & resilience?
South Africa is placed 152nd of 193, and Lesotho 111th. World Risk Index: South Africa 9.5, Lesotho 1.41; INFORM Risk Index: South Africa 5.1, Lesotho 4.2; Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN): South Africa 0.436, Lesotho 0.507; Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days: South Africa 30.81, Lesotho 44.03.
How have Lesotho’s risk & resilience figures changed?
World Risk Index fell from 1.6 in 2000 to 1.41 in 2025; INFORM Risk Index was 4.2 in both 2016 and 2025; Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN) fell from 0.521 in 2000 to 0.507 in 2024.
Which risk & resilience statistics are missing for Lesotho?
No current reading is published for Lesotho on Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCR, Per Capita Food Supply Variability, Stateless Persons by Country of Residence and World Risk Poll Resilience Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This topic does not forecast when a disaster will strike, and it does not measure financial or economic risk. Water stress is measured under Environment & Sustainability. Displacement caused by disasters and the severity of crises already under way are published here as context.
How the Risk & Resilience 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 risk & resilience method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- World Risk Index — Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum, CC BY 4.0
- INFORM Risk Index — European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, CC BY 4.0 (via the European Commission's reuse policy)
- Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN) — Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, CC BY 3.0 Unported
- Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 20 statistics on this page come from 11 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
- Liechtenstein — Guido Radig,Inkey, CC BY 3.0
- Luxembourg — Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Lesotho: Risk & Resilience — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/lesotho/risk