Neonatal deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Neonatal deaths was 1,582 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1,582
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
87th
of 201 countries
All-time high
2,662
in 1976
All-time low
1,582
in 2024
Years of data
70
1955–2024
Neonatal deaths in Lesotho, 1955–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for neonatal deaths in Lesotho is 1,582, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 70 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and down 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal deaths in Lesotho peaked at 2,662 in 1976 and was at its lowest, 1,582, in 2024.
That places Lesotho 87th out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 70 years of available data.
Neonatal deaths in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 1,868 | — |
| 1956 | 1,895 | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 1,926 | +1.6% |
| 1958 | 1,965 | +2.0% |
| 1959 | 2,011 | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 2,064 | +2.6% |
| 1961 | 2,125 | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 2,189 | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 2,252 | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 2,317 | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 2,384 | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 2,440 | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 2,491 | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 2,519 | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 2,539 | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 2,555 | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 2,576 | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 2,596 | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 2,607 | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 2,638 | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 2,659 | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 2,662 | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 2,634 | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 2,588 | -1.7% |
| 1979 | 2,533 | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 2,474 | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 2,429 | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 2,402 | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 2,389 | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 2,386 | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 2,396 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 2,412 | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 2,511 | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 2,502 | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 2,484 | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 2,456 | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 2,434 | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 2,399 | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 2,337 | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 2,287 | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 2,263 | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 2,256 | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 2,236 | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 2,157 | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 2,102 | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 2,100 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 2,155 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 2,221 | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 2,228 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 2,186 | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 2,159 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 2,151 | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 2,204 | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 2,202 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 2,162 | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 2,128 | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 2,187 | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 2,171 | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 2,167 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 2,126 | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 2,095 | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 2,064 | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 2,000 | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 1,917 | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 1,837 | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 1,766 | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 1,702 | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 1,654 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 1,620 | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 1,582 | -2.3% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 1,582 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,153, 31% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 1,582 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,437, 12% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1,933 | 1,868 | 2,011 | 5 |
| 1960s | 2,332 | 2,064 | 2,539 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2,605 | 2,533 | 2,662 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,438 | 2,386 | 2,511 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,293 | 2,102 | 2,456 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,177 | 2,100 | 2,228 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,069 | 1,837 | 2,187 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,665 | 1,582 | 1,766 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 84 Saudi Arabia 1,603 compare
- 85 Kazakhstan 1,586 compare
- 86 Eritrea 1,584 compare
- 88 Azerbaijan 1,509 compare
- 89 Equatorial Guinea 1,490 compare
- 90 Palestine 1,294 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 neonatal deaths in Lesotho?
- Neonatal deaths in Lesotho was 1,582 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest neonatal deaths recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 2,662 in 1976.
- What is the lowest neonatal deaths recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,582 in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for neonatal deaths?
- Lesotho ranks 87th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is neonatal deaths rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Neonatal deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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