Children living with HIV in Lesotho
Lesotho: Children living with HIV was 6,100 0-14 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6,100 0-14
Change on year
down 15.3%
World rank
29th
of 88 countries
All-time high
25,000 0-14
in 2006
All-time low
1,000 0-14
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Children living with HIV in Lesotho, 1990–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in 0-14.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 6,100 0-14 for children living with hiv in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.3% on the previous year and down 67.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children living with hiv in Lesotho peaked at 25,000 0-14 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 1,000 0-14, in 1990.
That places Lesotho 29th out of 88 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.
Children living with HIV in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | 0-14 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,000 0-14 | — |
| 1991 | 1,700 0-14 | +70.0% |
| 1992 | 2,600 0-14 | +52.9% |
| 1993 | 3,900 0-14 | +50.0% |
| 1994 | 5,500 0-14 | +41.0% |
| 1995 | 7,300 0-14 | +32.7% |
| 1996 | 9,300 0-14 | +27.4% |
| 1997 | 11,000 0-14 | +18.3% |
| 1998 | 13,000 0-14 | +18.2% |
| 1999 | 15,000 0-14 | +15.4% |
| 2000 | 17,000 0-14 | +13.3% |
| 2001 | 19,000 0-14 | +11.8% |
| 2002 | 20,000 0-14 | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 22,000 0-14 | +10.0% |
| 2004 | 23,000 0-14 | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 24,000 0-14 | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 25,000 0-14 | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 25,000 0-14 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 25,000 0-14 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 25,000 0-14 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 24,000 0-14 | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 22,000 0-14 | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 21,000 0-14 | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 20,000 0-14 | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 19,000 0-14 | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 17,000 0-14 | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 16,000 0-14 | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 15,000 0-14 | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 14,000 0-14 | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 12,000 0-14 | -14.3% |
| 2020 | 11,000 0-14 | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 9,500 0-14 | -13.6% |
| 2022 | 8,400 0-14 | -11.6% |
| 2023 | 7,200 0-14 | -14.3% |
| 2024 | 6,100 0-14 | -15.3% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 6,100 0-14 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,600 0-14, 1.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 6,100 0-14 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8,050 0-14, 76% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7,030 0-14 | 1,000 0-14 | 15,000 0-14 | 10 |
| 2000s | 22,500 0-14 | 17,000 0-14 | 25,000 0-14 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,000 0-14 | 12,000 0-14 | 24,000 0-14 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,440 0-14 | 6,100 0-14 | 11,000 0-14 | 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 children living with hiv in Lesotho?
- Children living with hiv in Lesotho was 6,100 0-14 in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest children living with hiv recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 25,000 0-14 in 2006.
- What is the lowest children living with hiv recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 0-14 in 1990.
- How does Lesotho rank for children living with hiv?
- Lesotho ranks 29th out of 88 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children living with hiv rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Children living with HIV. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children aged 0-14 infected with HIV.