Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities was 67.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Lesotho, 2000–2024
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 the population using improved sanitation facilities in Lesotho stood at 67.2%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 40.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Lesotho peaked at 67.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 20.0%, in 2000.
Lesotho ranks 198th of 232 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 20.0% | — |
| 2001 | 22.0% | +10.2% |
| 2002 | 24.1% | +9.3% |
| 2003 | 26.1% | +8.5% |
| 2004 | 28.2% | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 30.2% | +7.2% |
| 2006 | 32.2% | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 34.2% | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 36.2% | +5.8% |
| 2009 | 38.2% | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 40.2% | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 42.2% | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 44.1% | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 46.1% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 48.0% | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 49.9% | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 51.9% | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 53.8% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 55.7% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 57.6% | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 59.6% | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 61.5% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 63.4% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 65.3% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 67.2% | +2.9% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 67.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 73.6%, 91% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 67.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 63.4%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.1% | 20.0% | 38.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.9% | 40.2% | 57.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.4% | 59.6% | 67.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More population data for Lesotho
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3315 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1905 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1905 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6353 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.5533 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Lesotho?
- Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Lesotho was 67.2% 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 the population using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 67.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of the population using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.0% in 2000.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of the population using improved sanitation facilities?
- Lesotho ranks 198th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 the population using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, regardless of whether they are shared with other households.