Lesotho flag
Southern Africa · Africa

Lesotho

Lesotho
Capital
Maseru
Population
2.2M
Area
30,355 km²
Language
Sesotho / English

Lesotho is a country in Southern Africa, Africa. Its capital is Maseru, with a population of approximately 2.2M and a total area of 30,355 km². The official languages are Sesotho / English and the currency is the Lesotho Loti (LSL).

📊 Quick Facts about Lesotho

👥
Population
2.2M
total residents
📐
Total Area
30,355 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
72/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$2.6B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$1,182
per person
💱
Currency
Lesotho Loti (LSL)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
Sesotho / English
official
🌊
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC+2
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1966
established
🕐
Local Time in Maseru

Lesotho covers an area of 30,355 km² with a population density of 72/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $2.6B ($1,182 per capita) and gained independence in 1966. It is a landlocked country with no coastline.

Did You Know?

Lesotho is the highest country in the world, its lowest point at 1,400m above sea level is higher than the highest point of 83 other countries. It is completely surrounded by South Africa, making it one of only three enclave nations on Earth.

See all 14+ facts about Lesotho

✈️ Travel Information for Lesotho

📅
Best Time to Visit
May–September
Highland alpine, cold winters, mild summers
💸
Cost of Travel
Budget
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa-free for most Western nationalities
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full Lesotho travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 Lesotho on the Map

Street-level photo from Maseru
📍 Maseru · 1/1
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 Lesotho World Rankings

1st
Altitude
Highest country in the world, lowest point is 1,400m above sea level
1st
Enclave
One of only 3 countries completely surrounded by one other country
1st
Skiing
Only ski resort in southern Africa, Afriski Mountain Resort
1st
Water
Exports water to South Africa via the Lesotho Highlands Water Project

🏛 Must-See Places in Lesotho

🗺️ Countries Bordering Lesotho

South Africa
South Africa
Pretoria / Cape Town / Bloemfontein

⚖️ Compare Lesotho with another country

See how Lesotho stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

LesothovsSouth Africa
Lesotho vs South Africa
LesothovsZimbabwe
Lesotho vs Zimbabwe
LesothovsAngola
Lesotho vs Angola
LesothovsBotswana
Lesotho vs Botswana
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Lesotho

What is the capital of Lesotho?

The capital of Lesotho is Maseru.

What continent is Lesotho in?

Lesotho is located in Africa, in the Southern Africa region.

What currency does Lesotho use?

Lesotho uses the Lesotho Loti (LSL). The international calling code is +266.

What is the GDP of Lesotho?

Lesotho has a GDP of $2.6B, with a GDP per capita of $1,182.

🌍 Explore More Countries in Southern Africa

South Africa
South Africa
Pretoria / Cape Town / Bloemfontein
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Harare
Angola
Angola
Luanda
Botswana
Botswana
Gaborone

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