HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in Lesotho

Lesotho: HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years was 22.3% in 2009. ▲ Rising

Latest (2009)
22.3%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
3rd
of 48 countries
All-time high
23.1%
in 2001
All-time low
0.6%
in 1990
Years of data
20
1990–2009

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

05101520251990199920091990: 0.6 %; low estimate1991: 1.3 %; low estimate1992: 2.7 %; low estimate1993: 5.1 %; low estimate1994: 8.5 %; low estimate1995: 12.5 %; low estimate1996: 16.5 %; low estimate1997: 19.5 %; low estimate1998: 21.3 %; low estimate1999: 22.6 %; low estimate2000: 23 %; low estimate2001: 23.1 %; low estimate2002: 23 %; low estimate2003: 22.8 %; low estimate2004: 22.5 %; low estimate2005: 22.4 %; low estimate2006: 22.2 %; low estimate2007: 22.1 %; low estimate2008: 22.2 %; low estimate2009: 22.3 %; low estimate

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

Analysis

Lesotho recorded 22.3% for hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in 2009.

That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years in Lesotho peaked at 23.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, 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 (%; low estimate) in Lesotho, 1990 to 2009.
Year %; low estimate Change
1990 0.6%
1991 1.3% +116.7%
1992 2.7% +107.7%
1993 5.1% +88.9%
1994 8.5% +66.7%
1995 12.5% +47.1%
1996 16.5% +32.0%
1997 19.5% +18.2%
1998 21.3% +9.2%
1999 22.6% +6.1%
2000 23.0% +1.8%
2001 23.1% +0.4%
2002 23.0% -0.4%
2003 22.8% -0.9%
2004 22.5% -1.3%
2005 22.4% -0.4%
2006 22.2% -0.9%
2007 22.1% -0.5%
2008 22.2% +0.5%
2009 22.3% +0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 11.1% 0.6% 22.6% 10
2000s 22.6% 22.1% 23.1% 10

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 1 Eswatini 24.9% compare
  2. 2 Botswana 23.8% compare
  3. 4 South Africa 17.2% compare
  4. 5 Zimbabwe 13.4% compare
  5. 6 Zambia 12.8% 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 22.3% 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 23.1% in 2001.
What is the lowest hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 0.6% 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 1.3%. 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 (%; low 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 08 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/hiv-prevalence-rate-adult-15-49-years-percent-low-estimate/lesotho/

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About this data

Indicator
HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years (%; low estimate)
Unit
%; low 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 low estimate.