Districts of Lesotho: population and official figures
Lesotho is divided into 10 districts. The largest by population is Maseru with 614,701 people (28.7% of the total); the smallest is Qacha's Nek with 79,494. Population figures are Lesotho Bureau of Statistics projections for 2026 from the 2016 census; the April 2026 census results are not yet published. Each district page adds jobs from the 2024 Labour Force Survey, schools from the 2023 Education Statistics Report, reported crime from the 2022 Crime Statistics Report, child poverty from the 2021 child poverty report, and health, water, sanitation and household wealth from the 2023-24 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey.
Who governs Lesotho's districts?
District councils (10): Made up of representatives sent from the community councils plus two chiefs; chairperson elected indirectly. District planning and coordination of community councils.
How local power works in Lesotho · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 10 districts, largest first
| # | District | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maseru | 614,701 | 2026 | +1.6% |
| 2 | Leribe | 385,322 | 2026 | +1.2% |
| 3 | Berea | 275,004 | 2026 | +0.4% |
| 4 | Mafeteng | 160,440 | 2026 | -1.3% |
| 5 | Mohale's Hoek | 151,396 | 2026 | -1.1% |
| 6 | Thaba-Tseka | 140,553 | 2026 | +0.3% |
| 7 | Butha-Buthe | 126,380 | 2026 | +0.6% |
| 8 | Quthing | 104,804 | 2026 | -1.2% |
| 9 | Mokhotlong | 102,791 | 2026 | +0.1% |
| 10 | Qacha's Nek | 79,494 | 2026 | +0.6% |
More on Lesotho: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Lesotho Bureau of Statistics: Lesotho Population Projections Report 2016-2036 (Table 3.1 national projections; Table 5.7 summary district projections, medium variant), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 65e2dd00bbde…)
- Lesotho Bureau of Statistics: 2024 Labour Force Survey Report (Tables 3.7, 4.2, 4.22 and 7.5 by district), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b444d334073b…)
- Lesotho Bureau of Statistics: Education Statistics Report 2023 (Tables 3.3, 3.11, 3.24, 4.5 and 4.14 by district), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 10d028910582…)
- Lesotho Bureau of Statistics (from Lesotho Mounted Police Service records): Crime Statistics Report 2022 (Tables 2.1 and 2.2: reported serious crime by policing district), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9397635f29e4…)
- Lesotho Bureau of Statistics: Lesotho 2021 Multidimensional Child Poverty Report Highlights (Figure 2: child poverty rate by district), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c1ee162b8f9…)
- Ministry of Health, Lesotho (with ICF, The DHS Program): Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey 2023-24, Final Report (district rows of Tables 2.6, 2.13, 3.3.1, 3.9.1, 5.2, 5.12, 7.3.2, 9.2, 9.7, 10.4, 11.1, 12.5.1, 14.2, 14.7 and 19.1), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d7fd2a0a8ae0…)
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