Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 45.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation 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
Lesotho recorded 45.0% for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 22.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Lesotho peaked at 45.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 25.7%, in 2000.
Lesotho ranks 166th of 186 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 urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 25.7% | — |
| 2001 | 26.5% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 27.2% | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 28.0% | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 28.8% | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 29.6% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 30.3% | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 31.1% | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 31.9% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 32.7% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 33.5% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 34.3% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 35.1% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 36.0% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 36.8% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 37.6% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 38.4% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 39.2% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 40.0% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 40.9% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 41.7% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 42.5% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 43.4% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 44.2% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 45.0% | +1.9% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 45.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 69% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 45.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 93% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.2% | 25.7% | 32.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.2% | 33.5% | 40.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.4% | 41.7% | 45.0% | 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 urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Lesotho?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Lesotho was 45.0% 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 urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 45.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.7% in 2000.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Lesotho ranks 166th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.5%. 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 urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.