Thaba-Tseka: population, jobs, schools, health, water and sanitation, poverty and crime

Thaba-Tseka is a district of Lesotho, number 6 of 10 by population. The Lesotho Bureau of Statistics projects the population of Thaba-Tseka district at 140,553 for 2026, 6.6% of Lesotho's 2.14 million; 5th smallest of the 10 districts. The projection starts from the 2016 census count of 135,347, a rise of 3.8% (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)

140,553

2026

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

38.0%

2024

Population with at least basic drinking water

55.6%

2023-24

Primary pupils per teacher (registered schools)

35.9

2023

Secondary school net attendance ratio

21.8%

2023-24

Children under 5 stunted

46.3%

2023-24

Population in the poorest national wealth fifth

68.5%

2023-24

Children 0-17 multidimensionally poor

65.4%

2018

In depth

Economy, jobs and prices in Thaba-Tseka: About 38% of the labour force in Thaba-Tseka was unemployed in the 2024 Labour Force Survey (about 14,000 people out of a labour force of 36,734), 2nd highest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 30.1%). The district rate is worked out from the survey's district tables.
Health in Thaba-Tseka: 46.3% of children under five in Thaba-Tseka were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition) in 2023-24 and 1.9% were wasted; the stunting rate is 2nd highest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 35.6%).
Education in Thaba-Tseka: Registered primary schools in Thaba-Tseka had 35.9 pupils per teacher in 2023 (25,434 pupils, 709 teachers), 2nd highest of the 10 districts (Lesotho: 31.1).
Poverty and living standards in Thaba-Tseka: 68.5% of people in Thaba-Tseka lived in households in the poorest fifth nationally by household wealth (assets and housing) in 2023-24, and 1.8% in the richest fifth; the highest of the 10 districts for the poorest fifth (Lesotho: 20% in each fifth by definition).

Is the population of Thaba-Tseka growing?

The projections add 412 people to Thaba-Tseka between 2025 and 2026, a change of +0.29% in a year (Lesotho: +0.57%); 2nd slowest-growing of the 7 districts projected to grow.

Source: Lesotho Bureau of Statistics · saved copy

How many children do women in Thaba-Tseka have?

At the birth rates of the three years before the 2023-24 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey, a woman in Thaba-Tseka would have 3.6 children in her lifetime (the total fertility rate), the 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
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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