HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in Lesotho

Lesotho: HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years was 25.2% in 2009. ▲ Rising

Latest (2009)
25.2%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
3rd
of 48 countries
All-time high
26.1%
in 2000
All-time low
1.2%
in 1990
Years of data
20
1990–2009

HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in Lesotho, 1990–2009

05101520251990199920091990: 1.2 %; high estimate1991: 2.2 %; high estimate1992: 3.9 %; high estimate1993: 6.8 %; high estimate1994: 11.1 %; high estimate1995: 16.3 %; high estimate1996: 20.9 %; high estimate1997: 23.8 %; high estimate1998: 25.3 %; high estimate1999: 26 %; high estimate2000: 26.1 %; high estimate2001: 26.1 %; high estimate2002: 25.9 %; high estimate2003: 25.6 %; high estimate2004: 25.5 %; high estimate2005: 25.3 %; high estimate2006: 25.1 %; high estimate2007: 25.1 %; high estimate2008: 25.1 %; high estimate2009: 25.2 %; high estimate

Source: UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Measured in %; high estimate.

Analysis

In 2009, hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in Lesotho stood at 25.2%.

The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in Lesotho peaked at 26.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 1990.

Lesotho ranks 3rd of 48 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.

HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years (%; high estimate) in Lesotho, 1990 to 2009.
Year %; high estimate Change
1990 1.2%
1991 2.2% +83.3%
1992 3.9% +77.3%
1993 6.8% +74.4%
1994 11.1% +63.2%
1995 16.3% +46.8%
1996 20.9% +28.2%
1997 23.8% +13.9%
1998 25.3% +6.3%
1999 26.0% +2.8%
2000 26.1% +0.4%
2001 26.1% +0.0%
2002 25.9% -0.8%
2003 25.6% -1.2%
2004 25.5% -0.4%
2005 25.3% -0.8%
2006 25.1% -0.8%
2007 25.1% +0.0%
2008 25.1% +0.0%
2009 25.2% +0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 13.8% 1.2% 26.0% 10
2000s 25.5% 25.1% 26.1% 10

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 1 Eswatini 27.0% compare
  2. 2 Botswana 25.8% compare
  3. 4 South Africa 18.3% compare
  4. 5 Namibia 15.5% compare
  5. 6 Zimbabwe 15.4% compare

See the full ranking of 49 places →

More health data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in Lesotho?
Hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in Lesotho was 25.2% in 2009, according to UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.
What is the highest hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 26.1% in 2000.
What is the lowest hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 1990.
How does Lesotho rank for hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years?
Lesotho ranks 3rd out of 48 countries with data for 2009.
Is hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years rising or falling in Lesotho?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Lesotho data come from?
The figures come from UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, published as part of HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years (%; high estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/hiv-prevalence-rate-adult-15-49-years-percent-high-estimate/lesotho/

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About this data

Indicator
HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years (%; high estimate)
Unit
%; high estimate
Source
UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
49 places, 965 data points, 1990–2009
Last refreshed

Prevalence of HIV refers to the percentage of people ages 15-49 who are infected with HIV based on a high estimate.