Child deaths (aged 1-4 years) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Child deaths was 204 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Child deaths in Lesotho, 1957–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, child deaths in Lesotho stood at 204.
That represents a change of up 22.9% on the previous year and down 53.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child deaths in Lesotho peaked at 2,080 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 127, in 2022.
That places Lesotho 103rd out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child deaths in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 1,491 | — |
| 1958 | 1,459 | -2.1% |
| 1959 | 1,439 | -1.4% |
| 1960 | 1,425 | -1.0% |
| 1961 | 1,419 | -0.4% |
| 1962 | 1,420 | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 1,425 | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 1,427 | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 1,426 | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 1,415 | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 1,397 | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 1,372 | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 1,342 | -2.2% |
| 1970 | 1,306 | -2.7% |
| 1971 | 1,268 | -2.9% |
| 1972 | 1,230 | -3.0% |
| 1973 | 1,191 | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 1,151 | -3.4% |
| 1975 | 1,108 | -3.7% |
| 1976 | 1,064 | -4.0% |
| 1977 | 1,021 | -4.0% |
| 1978 | 978 | -4.2% |
| 1979 | 931 | -4.8% |
| 1980 | 881 | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 826 | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 770 | -6.8% |
| 1983 | 718 | -6.8% |
| 1984 | 672 | -6.4% |
| 1985 | 625 | -7.0% |
| 1986 | 588 | -5.9% |
| 1987 | 558 | -5.1% |
| 1988 | 538 | -3.6% |
| 1989 | 534 | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 549 | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 594 | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 679 | +14.3% |
| 1993 | 818 | +20.5% |
| 1994 | 1,005 | +22.9% |
| 1995 | 1,228 | +22.2% |
| 1996 | 1,454 | +18.4% |
| 1997 | 1,649 | +13.4% |
| 1998 | 1,800 | +9.2% |
| 1999 | 1,908 | +6.0% |
| 2000 | 1,985 | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 2,036 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 2,066 | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 2,078 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 2,080 | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 2,065 | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 2,020 | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 1,868 | -7.5% |
| 2008 | 1,569 | -16.0% |
| 2009 | 1,209 | -22.9% |
| 2010 | 979 | -19.0% |
| 2011 | 816 | -16.6% |
| 2012 | 602 | -26.2% |
| 2013 | 462 | -23.3% |
| 2014 | 439 | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 373 | -15.0% |
| 2016 | 194 | -48.0% |
| 2017 | 131 | -32.5% |
| 2018 | 220 | +67.9% |
| 2019 | 280 | +27.3% |
| 2020 | 249 | -11.1% |
| 2021 | 176 | -29.3% |
| 2022 | 127 | -27.8% |
| 2023 | 166 | +30.7% |
| 2024 | 204 | +22.9% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 204 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,280, 16% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 204 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,144, 3% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child deaths in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +67.9% | 131 | 220 |
| 2016 | -48.0% | 373 | 194 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1,463 | 1,439 | 1,491 | 3 |
| 1960s | 1,407 | 1,342 | 1,427 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,125 | 931 | 1,306 | 10 |
| 1980s | 671 | 534 | 881 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,168 | 549 | 1,908 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,898 | 1,209 | 2,080 | 10 |
| 2010s | 449.6 | 131 | 979 | 10 |
| 2020s | 184.4 | 127 | 249 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,227 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 382 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.8108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0548 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child deaths in Lesotho?
- Child deaths in Lesotho was 204 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child deaths recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 2,080 in 2004.
- What is the lowest child deaths recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 127 in 2022.
- How does Lesotho rank for child deaths?
- Lesotho ranks 103rd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child deaths rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Child deaths (aged 1-4 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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