LESOTHO – Country Information

Population:
Lesotho has a population of 1,969,334 as of 2020.

Size:
30,355 sq km / 11,720 sq mi (slightly smaller than Maryland)

Capital City:
The capital city is Maseru.

Ethnic Groups:
99.7% Sotho
0.3% Other

Religion:
50% Protestant
40% Roman Catholic
10% Other / Non-religious

Languages:
Sesotho (official)
English (official)
Zulu
Xhosa

Geography:
Lesotho is landlocked entirely by South Africa, and suffers from extreme amounts of erosion.

Economy:
The economy of Lesotho is based on agriculture, livestock, manufacturing, and mining.

Interesting Fact:
Lesotho is the only country in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters in altitude.

Important Facts:
The country of Lesotho was created by King Moshoeshoe in response to European settlement south of the country. They would fall under British rule until 1966 when they gained independence.