Mokhotlong: population, jobs, schools, health, water and sanitation, poverty and crime

Mokhotlong is a district of Lesotho, number 9 of 10 by population. The Lesotho Bureau of Statistics projects the population of Mokhotlong district at 102,791 for 2026, 4.8% of Lesotho's 2.14 million; 2nd smallest of the 10 districts. The projection starts from the 2016 census count of 100,442, a rise of 2.3% (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)

102,791

2026

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

44.6%

2024

Population with at least basic drinking water

76.8%

2023-24

Primary pupils per teacher (registered schools)

37.1

2023

Secondary school net attendance ratio

36.2%

2023-24

Children under 5 stunted

37.8%

2023-24

Population in the poorest national wealth fifth

56.8%

2023-24

Children 0-17 multidimensionally poor

63.8%

2018

In depth

Economy, jobs and prices in Mokhotlong: About 45% of the labour force in Mokhotlong was unemployed in the 2024 Labour Force Survey (about 20,300 people out of a labour force of 45,651), the highest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 30.1%). The district rate is worked out from the survey's district tables.
Health in Mokhotlong: 37.8% of children under five in Mokhotlong were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition) in 2023-24 and 4.3% were wasted; the stunting rate is 5th lowest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 35.6%).
Education in Mokhotlong: Registered primary schools in Mokhotlong had 37.1 pupils per teacher in 2023 (19,375 pupils, 522 teachers), the highest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 31.1).
Poverty and living standards in Mokhotlong: 56.8% of people in Mokhotlong lived in households in the poorest fifth nationally by household wealth (assets and housing) in 2023-24, and 4.2% in the richest fifth; 2nd highest of the 10 districts for the poorest fifth (Lesotho: 20% in each fifth by definition).

Is the population of Mokhotlong growing?

The projections add 147 people to Mokhotlong between 2025 and 2026, a change of +0.14% in a year (Lesotho: +0.57%); the slowest-growing of the 7 districts projected to grow.

Source: Lesotho Bureau of Statistics · saved copy

How many children do women in Mokhotlong have?

At the birth rates of the three years before the 2023-24 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey, a woman in Mokhotlong would have 3.0 children in her lifetime (the total fertility rate), joint 2nd 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
Butha-Buthe 126,380
Quthing 104,804
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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