Butha-Buthe: population, jobs, schools, health, water and sanitation, poverty and crime

Butha-Buthe is a district of Lesotho, number 7 of 10 by population. The Lesotho Bureau of Statistics projects the population of Butha-Buthe district at 126,380 for 2026, 5.9% of Lesotho's 2.14 million; 4th smallest of the 10 districts. The projection starts from the 2016 census count of 118,242, a rise of 6.9% (Lesotho: 6.7% more). A new census was taken in April 2026; until its results are published, these are the official figures.

Population (BOS projection, medium variant)

126,380

2026

Unemployment rate (age 15+, computed from BOS LFS tables)

37.3%

2024

Population with at least basic drinking water

77.6%

2023-24

Primary pupils per teacher (registered schools)

30.3

2023

Secondary school net attendance ratio

59.2%

2023-24

Children under 5 stunted

31.5%

2023-24

Population in the poorest national wealth fifth

21.2%

2023-24

Children 0-17 multidimensionally poor

37.8%

2018

In depth

Economy, jobs and prices in Butha-Buthe: About 37% of the labour force in Butha-Buthe was unemployed in the 2024 Labour Force Survey (about 15,900 people out of a labour force of 42,482), 3rd highest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 30.1%). The district rate is worked out from the survey's district tables.
Health in Butha-Buthe: 31.5% of children under five in Butha-Buthe were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition) in 2023-24 and 2.3% were wasted; the stunting rate is 3rd lowest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 35.6%).
Education in Butha-Buthe: Registered primary schools in Butha-Buthe had 30.3 pupils per teacher in 2023 (18,822 pupils, 622 teachers), 5th lowest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 31.1).
Poverty and living standards in Butha-Buthe: 21.2% of people in Butha-Buthe lived in households in the poorest fifth nationally by household wealth (assets and housing) in 2023-24, and 15.0% in the richest fifth; 5th lowest of the 10 districts for the poorest fifth (Lesotho: 20% in each fifth by definition).

Is the population of Butha-Buthe growing?

The projections add 737 people to Butha-Buthe between 2025 and 2026, a change of +0.59% in a year (Lesotho: +0.57%); 3rd fastest-growing of the 7 districts projected to grow.

Source: Lesotho Bureau of Statistics · saved copy

How many children do women in Butha-Buthe have?

At the birth rates of the three years before the 2023-24 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey, a woman in Butha-Buthe would have 2.6 children in her lifetime (the total fertility rate), joint 5th highest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 2.5).

Source: Ministry of Health, Lesotho (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copy

How districts are governed in Lesotho

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.

Every tier of government in Lesotho

Other districts of Lesotho

Maseru 614,701
Leribe 385,322
Berea 275,004
Mafeteng 160,440
Mohale's Hoek 151,396
Thaba-Tseka 140,553
Quthing 104,804
Mokhotlong 102,791
Qacha's Nek 79,494

Up a level: Lesotho · government and power in Lesotho

Sources

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…)
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…)
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…)
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: 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: 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…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.