Suicide rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Suicide rate was 40.68 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
40.68 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 10.7%
World rank
1st
of 194 countries
All-time high
45.56 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2020
All-time low
16.14 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2001
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate in Lesotho, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for suicide rate in Lesotho is 40.68 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 10.7% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate in Lesotho peaked at 45.56 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 16.14 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2001.
Lesotho ranks 1st of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.61 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 16.14 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 17.4 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 19.65 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.0% |
| 2004 | 20.83 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 22.41 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 24.13 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.7% |
| 2007 | 27.91 deaths per 100,000 people | +15.7% |
| 2008 | 21.26 deaths per 100,000 people | -23.8% |
| 2009 | 20.71 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 35.42 deaths per 100,000 people | +71.1% |
| 2011 | 37.36 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 29.33 deaths per 100,000 people | -21.5% |
| 2013 | 33 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.5% |
| 2014 | 39.12 deaths per 100,000 people | +18.6% |
| 2015 | 40.58 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 39.69 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 38.48 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 40.01 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 40.67 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 45.56 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 40.68 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 40.68 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.8 deaths per 100,000 people, 4.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 40.68 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.73 deaths per 100,000 people, 3.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.8 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.14 deaths per 100,000 people | 27.91 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.37 deaths per 100,000 people | 29.33 deaths per 100,000 people | 40.67 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.12 deaths per 100,000 people | 40.68 deaths per 100,000 people | 45.56 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
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 suicide rate in Lesotho?
- Suicide rate in Lesotho was 40.68 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest suicide rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 45.56 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest suicide rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.14 deaths per 100,000 people in 2001.
- How does Lesotho rank for suicide rate?
- Lesotho ranks 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Suicide rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of age-standardized deaths from self-harm in both sexes, per 100,000 people.