Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 56.34 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Infant mortality rate in Lesotho, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality rate in Lesotho is 56.34, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Lesotho peaked at 83.92 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 56.34, in 2024.
Lesotho ranks 10th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 74.8 | — |
| 2001 | 75.53 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 76.36 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 77.08 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 77.79 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 78.91 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 79.58 | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 79.01 | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 83.92 | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 77.57 | -7.6% |
| 2010 | 73.57 | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 70.91 | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 70.99 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 71.43 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 70.27 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 68.96 | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 68.22 | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 67.97 | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 65.22 | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 63.52 | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 62.14 | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 61.05 | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 59.87 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 58.43 | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 56.34 | -3.6% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 56.34 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 30.22, 1.9× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 56.34 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.96, 1.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 78.06 | 74.8 | 83.92 | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.11 | 63.52 | 73.57 | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.56 | 56.34 | 62.14 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 7 Guinea 59.82 compare
- 8 Central African Republic 58.83 compare
- 9 Democratic Republic of the Congo 56.42 compare
- 11 Chad 56.26 compare
- 12 Sierra Leone 54.6 compare
- 13 Afghanistan 48.31 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 infant mortality rate in Lesotho?
- Infant mortality rate in Lesotho was 56.34 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 83.92 in 2008.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.34 in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for infant mortality rate?
- Lesotho ranks 10th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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