Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 28.49 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Neonatal mortality rate in Lesotho, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for neonatal mortality rate in Lesotho is 28.49, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in Lesotho peaked at 38.7 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 28.49, in 2024.
That places Lesotho 14th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 37.11 | — |
| 2001 | 37.53 | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 37.95 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 38.32 | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 38.58 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 38.7 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 38.64 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 38.32 | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 37.81 | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 37.2 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 36.57 | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 36.01 | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 35.56 | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 35.16 | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 34.65 | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 34.13 | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 33.51 | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 32.84 | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 32.09 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 31.43 | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 30.81 | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 30.22 | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 29.66 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 29.08 | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 28.49 | -2.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 28.49 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 19.6, 1.5× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 28.49 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.6, 1.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.02 | 37.11 | 38.7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.19 | 31.43 | 36.57 | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.65 | 28.49 | 30.81 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 11 Chad 30.39 compare
- 12 Central African Republic 29.93 compare
- 13 Guinea 29.8 compare
- 15 Sierra Leone 28.26 compare
- 16 Mali 27.99 compare
- 17 Côte d'Ivoire 27.4 compare
- 17 Cote d'Ivoire 27.4 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 mortality rate in Lesotho?
- Neonatal mortality rate in Lesotho was 28.49 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 38.7 in 2005.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.49 in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- Lesotho ranks 14th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. 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 Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).