Lesotho: housing

How fast are rents rising in Lesotho?

Rents paid by tenants in Lesotho were 0.1% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, according to the Consumer Price Index of the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics. The index for actual rentals for housing was 115.87, the same as in July.

Actual rents carry a weight of 1.86% of the CPI basket, while the imputed rent of owner-occupiers carries 7.58% and was unchanged over the year. Water and other services relating to the dwelling rose 5.6% and maintenance and repair 1.9%. The Bureau of Statistics does not publish a house price index.

Official sources: Bureau of Statistics: CPI report, August 2026 (ZIP with PDF)

What is Lesotho's urbanisation rate?

In 2025, the share of people living in urban areas in Lesotho was 44.7%, according to the UN Population Division. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 44.9%, and Lesotho placed 25th highest of 48. Worldwide: 140th of 193.

How common are informal settlements in Lesotho?

The latest figure from UN-Habitat, for 2022, is 25.6%. That is the lowest since at least 2006. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 48.7%; Lesotho is 46th highest of 48. Of 170 countries with 2022 data, 73rd highest.

What is the electricity access rate in Lesotho?

The World Bank puts the share of people with access to electricity in Lesotho at 60.6% in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 57.8%; Lesotho is 22nd highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 165th highest.

What is access to safe water in Lesotho?

31.3%: that is the share of people using safely managed drinking water in Lesotho for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 27.2%; Lesotho is 10th highest of 25. World rank, highest first: 110th of 134.

What is access to sanitation in Lesotho?

43.8%: that is the share of people using safely managed sanitation in Lesotho for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 5th highest of 29 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 23.6%. World rank, highest first: 87th of 134.

What share of homes in Lesotho cook with clean fuels?

In 2024, the share of people using clean cooking fuels in Lesotho was 58.0%, according to the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 7th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 13.0%. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 131st highest.