Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities was 20.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Lesotho, 2008–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Lesotho stood at 20.9%. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.2% on the previous year and up 1,117.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Lesotho peaked at 20.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2008.
That places Lesotho 102nd out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 0.4% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.0% | 13.1% | 20.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 99 Cote d'Ivoire 22.0% compare
- 100 South Sudan 21.9% compare
- 101 Niger 21.5% compare
- 103 Guinea 20.6% compare
- 104 Guinea-Bissau 19.8% compare
- 105 Democratic Republic of Congo 19.4% compare
More population data for Lesotho
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 190,191 people (2100)
- Population density 107.36 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.66 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 419 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.66 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.66 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.3% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 2.69 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Lesotho?
- Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Lesotho was 20.9% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 20.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2008.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities?
- Lesotho ranks 102nd out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,117.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people with access to a handwashing facility with soap and water available at home.