Leribe: population, jobs, schools, health, water and sanitation, poverty and crime
Leribe is a district of Lesotho, number 2 of 10 by population. The Lesotho Bureau of Statistics projects the population of Leribe district at 385,322 for 2026, 18.0% of Lesotho's 2.14 million; 2nd largest of the 10 districts. The projection starts from the 2016 census count of 337,521, a rise of 14.2% (Lesotho: 6.7% more). A new census was taken in April 2026; until its results are published, these are the official figures.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Leribe: About 27% of the labour force in Leribe was unemployed in the 2024 Labour Force Survey (about 31,700 people out of a labour force of 118,403), 4th lowest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 30.1%). The district rate is worked out from the survey's district tables.
- Health in Leribe: 25.5% of children under five in Leribe were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition) in 2023-24 and 1.4% were wasted; the stunting rate is the lowest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 35.6%).
- Education in Leribe: Registered primary schools in Leribe had 31.8 pupils per teacher in 2023 (51,490 pupils, 1,621 teachers), 4th highest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 31.1).
- Poverty and living standards in Leribe: 9.2% of people in Leribe lived in households in the poorest fifth nationally by household wealth (assets and housing) in 2023-24, and 18.5% in the richest fifth; 2nd lowest of the 10 districts for the poorest fifth (Lesotho: 20% in each fifth by definition).
Is the population of Leribe growing?
The projections add 4,686 people to Leribe between 2025 and 2026, a change of +1.23% in a year (Lesotho: +0.57%); 2nd fastest-growing of the 7 districts projected to grow.
Source: Lesotho Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many children do women in Leribe have?
At the birth rates of the three years before the 2023-24 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey, a woman in Leribe would have 2.3 children in her lifetime (the total fertility rate), 2nd lowest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 2.5).
Source: Ministry of Health, Lesotho (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow 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
- Berea 275,004
- Mafeteng 160,440
- Mohale's Hoek 151,396
- Thaba-Tseka 140,553
- Butha-Buthe 126,380
- 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…)
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