Child mortality rate (aged 1-4 years) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Child mortality rate was 3.84 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.84
Change on year
up 25.1%
World rank
59th
of 200 countries
All-time high
86.55
in 1952
All-time low
2.28
in 2017
Years of data
73
1952–2024
Child mortality rate in Lesotho, 1952–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 3.84 for child mortality rate in 2024.
The figure is up 25.1% on the previous year and down 51.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Lesotho peaked at 86.55 in 1952 and was at its lowest, 2.28, in 2017.
That places Lesotho 59th 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 mortality rate in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 86.55 | — |
| 1953 | 80.93 | -6.5% |
| 1954 | 75.79 | -6.4% |
| 1955 | 70.87 | -6.5% |
| 1956 | 66.28 | -6.5% |
| 1957 | 62.43 | -5.8% |
| 1958 | 59.19 | -5.2% |
| 1959 | 56.6 | -4.4% |
| 1960 | 54.45 | -3.8% |
| 1961 | 52.75 | -3.1% |
| 1962 | 51.43 | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 50.32 | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 49.26 | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 48.13 | -2.3% |
| 1966 | 46.72 | -2.9% |
| 1967 | 45.13 | -3.4% |
| 1968 | 43.31 | -4.0% |
| 1969 | 41.33 | -4.6% |
| 1970 | 39.3 | -4.9% |
| 1971 | 37.21 | -5.3% |
| 1972 | 35.22 | -5.4% |
| 1973 | 33.2 | -5.7% |
| 1974 | 31.14 | -6.2% |
| 1975 | 29.04 | -6.7% |
| 1976 | 26.85 | -7.6% |
| 1977 | 24.72 | -7.9% |
| 1978 | 22.67 | -8.3% |
| 1979 | 20.7 | -8.7% |
| 1980 | 18.87 | -8.8% |
| 1981 | 17.13 | -9.2% |
| 1982 | 15.51 | -9.5% |
| 1983 | 14.1 | -9.1% |
| 1984 | 12.89 | -8.5% |
| 1985 | 11.74 | -9.0% |
| 1986 | 10.83 | -7.8% |
| 1987 | 10.07 | -7.0% |
| 1988 | 9.5 | -5.7% |
| 1989 | 9.22 | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 9.33 | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 9.98 | +7.0% |
| 1992 | 11.43 | +14.5% |
| 1993 | 13.89 | +21.6% |
| 1994 | 17.26 | +24.3% |
| 1995 | 21.39 | +23.9% |
| 1996 | 25.7 | +20.1% |
| 1997 | 29.5 | +14.8% |
| 1998 | 32.39 | +9.8% |
| 1999 | 34.5 | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 36.2 | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 37.63 | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 38.68 | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 39.17 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 39.12 | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 38.78 | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 38.12 | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 35.66 | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 30.23 | -15.2% |
| 2009 | 23.31 | -22.9% |
| 2010 | 18.68 | -19.9% |
| 2011 | 15.37 | -17.7% |
| 2012 | 11.16 | -27.4% |
| 2013 | 8.44 | -24.4% |
| 2014 | 7.88 | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 6.6 | -16.2% |
| 2016 | 3.4 | -48.5% |
| 2017 | 2.28 | -32.8% |
| 2018 | 3.85 | +68.6% |
| 2019 | 4.91 | +27.4% |
| 2020 | 4.4 | -10.3% |
| 2021 | 3.15 | -28.4% |
| 2022 | 2.31 | -26.6% |
| 2023 | 3.07 | +32.5% |
| 2024 | 3.84 | +25.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 3.84 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.43, 87% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 3.84 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.74, 28% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality rate 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 | +68.6% | 2.28 | 3.85 |
| 2016 | -48.5% | 6.6 | 3.4 |
| 2023 | +32.5% | 2.31 | 3.07 |
| 2019 | +27.4% | 3.85 | 4.91 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 69.83 | 56.6 | 86.55 | 8 |
| 1960s | 48.28 | 41.33 | 54.45 | 10 |
| 1970s | 30 | 20.7 | 39.3 | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.99 | 9.22 | 18.87 | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.54 | 9.33 | 34.5 | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.69 | 23.31 | 39.17 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.26 | 2.28 | 18.68 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.35 | 2.31 | 4.4 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 56 Myanmar 4.27 compare
- 57 Marshall Islands 4.16 compare
- 58 Comoros 4.1 compare
- 60 Solomon Islands 3.7 compare
- 61 Bhutan 3.53 compare
- 62 North Korea 3.39 compare
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 mortality rate in Lesotho?
- Child mortality rate in Lesotho was 3.84 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 86.55 in 1952.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.28 in 2017.
- How does Lesotho rank for child mortality rate?
- Lesotho ranks 59th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.3%. 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 mortality rate (aged 1-4 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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