Medical doctors per 1,000 people in Lesotho
Lesotho: Medical doctors per 1,000 people was 0.235 per 1,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.235 per 1,000 people
World rank
160th
of 194 countries
All-time high
0.457 per 1,000 people
in 2018
All-time low
0.032 per 1,000 people
in 1970
Years of data
12
1960–2022
Medical doctors per 1,000 people in Lesotho, 1960–2022
Source: World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for medical doctors per 1,000 people in Lesotho is 0.235 per 1,000 people, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 240.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, medical doctors per 1,000 people in Lesotho peaked at 0.457 per 1,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.032 per 1,000 people, in 1970.
Lesotho ranks 160th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Medical doctors per 1,000 people in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.042 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1965 | 0.048 per 1,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1970 | 0.032 per 1,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1975 | 0.032 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.071 per 1,000 people | +121.9% |
| 1990 | 0.043 per 1,000 people | -39.4% |
| 1993 | 0.05 per 1,000 people | +16.3% |
| 1995 | 0.054 per 1,000 people | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 0.045 per 1,000 people | -16.7% |
| 2010 | 0.069 per 1,000 people | +53.3% |
| 2018 | 0.457 per 1,000 people | +562.3% |
| 2022 | 0.235 per 1,000 people | -48.6% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 0.235 per 1,000 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.3555 per 1,000 people, 66% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 0.235 per 1,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.188 per 1,000 people, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.045 per 1,000 people | 0.042 per 1,000 people | 0.048 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.032 per 1,000 people | 0.032 per 1,000 people | 0.032 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.071 per 1,000 people | 0.071 per 1,000 people | 0.071 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.049 per 1,000 people | 0.043 per 1,000 people | 0.054 per 1,000 people | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.045 per 1,000 people | 0.045 per 1,000 people | 0.045 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.263 per 1,000 people | 0.069 per 1,000 people | 0.457 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.235 per 1,000 people | 0.235 per 1,000 people | 0.235 per 1,000 people | 1 |
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)
- 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 medical doctors per 1,000 people in Lesotho?
- Medical doctors per 1,000 people in Lesotho was 0.235 per 1,000 people in 2022, according to World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest medical doctors per 1,000 people recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 0.457 per 1,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest medical doctors per 1,000 people recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.032 per 1,000 people in 1970.
- How does Lesotho rank for medical doctors per 1,000 people?
- Lesotho ranks 160th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is medical doctors per 1,000 people rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 240.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Medical doctors per 1,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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