New HIV infections in Lesotho
Lesotho: New HIV infections was 3,174 infections in 2024. ◆ Volatile
New HIV infections in Lesotho, 1990–2024
Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in infections.
Analysis
The most recent figure for new hiv infections in Lesotho is 3,174 infections, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 15.6% on the previous year and down 79.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, new hiv infections in Lesotho peaked at 34,973 infections in 1995 and was at its lowest, 3,174 infections, in 2024.
Lesotho ranks 46th of 144 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
New HIV infections in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | infections | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8,392 infections | — |
| 1991 | 13,319 infections | +58.7% |
| 1992 | 19,563 infections | +46.9% |
| 1993 | 25,886 infections | +32.3% |
| 1994 | 31,756 infections | +22.7% |
| 1995 | 34,973 infections | +10.1% |
| 1996 | 34,880 infections | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 33,142 infections | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 30,651 infections | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 28,813 infections | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 27,338 infections | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 26,414 infections | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 25,779 infections | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 25,924 infections | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 25,547 infections | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 25,424 infections | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 25,393 infections | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 24,368 infections | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 23,808 infections | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 21,656 infections | -9.0% |
| 2010 | 19,217 infections | -11.3% |
| 2011 | 17,660 infections | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 16,968 infections | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 16,696 infections | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 15,303 infections | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 13,480 infections | -11.9% |
| 2016 | 10,971 infections | -18.6% |
| 2017 | 9,067 infections | -17.4% |
| 2018 | 7,390 infections | -18.5% |
| 2019 | 6,566 infections | -11.2% |
| 2020 | 5,829 infections | -11.2% |
| 2021 | 4,838 infections | -17.0% |
| 2022 | 3,937 infections | -18.6% |
| 2023 | 3,760 infections | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 3,174 infections | -15.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26,138 infections | 8,392 infections | 34,973 infections | 10 |
| 2000s | 25,165 infections | 21,656 infections | 27,338 infections | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,332 infections | 6,566 infections | 19,217 infections | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,308 infections | 3,174 infections | 5,829 infections | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
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)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate -2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0019 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is new hiv infections in Lesotho?
- New hiv infections in Lesotho was 3,174 infections in 2024, according to Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest new hiv infections recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 34,973 infections in 1995.
- What is the lowest new hiv infections recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,174 infections in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for new hiv infections?
- Lesotho ranks 46th out of 144 countries with data for 2024.
- Is new hiv infections rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of New HIV infections. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people newly infected with HIV in the last 12 months. This is the central estimate.