Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Lesotho
Lesotho: Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths was 80,532 children in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Lesotho, 1990–2024
Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 80,532 children for children orphaned due to aids deaths in 2024.
The figure is down 5.8% on the previous year and down 34.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children orphaned due to aids deaths in Lesotho peaked at 130,434 children in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1,073 children, in 1990.
That places Lesotho 27th out of 139 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,073 children | — |
| 1991 | 1,853 children | +72.7% |
| 1992 | 3,141 children | +69.5% |
| 1993 | 5,208 children | +65.8% |
| 1994 | 8,375 children | +60.8% |
| 1995 | 12,973 children | +54.9% |
| 1996 | 19,268 children | +48.5% |
| 1997 | 27,395 children | +42.2% |
| 1998 | 37,299 children | +36.2% |
| 1999 | 48,756 children | +30.7% |
| 2000 | 60,755 children | +24.6% |
| 2001 | 73,020 children | +20.2% |
| 2002 | 85,242 children | +16.7% |
| 2003 | 96,893 children | +13.7% |
| 2004 | 107,532 children | +11.0% |
| 2005 | 116,865 children | +8.7% |
| 2006 | 124,096 children | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 129,464 children | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 130,434 children | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 129,297 children | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 127,341 children | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 125,096 children | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 124,897 children | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 124,644 children | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 123,797 children | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 122,598 children | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 120,577 children | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 118,022 children | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 114,698 children | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 109,802 children | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 105,348 children | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 98,176 children | -6.8% |
| 2022 | 91,229 children | -7.1% |
| 2023 | 85,455 children | -6.3% |
| 2024 | 80,532 children | -5.8% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 80,532 children is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38,246 children, 2.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 80,532 children is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 83,352 children, 97% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16,534 children | 1,073 children | 48,756 children | 10 |
| 2000s | 105,360 children | 60,755 children | 130,434 children | 10 |
| 2010s | 121,147 children | 109,802 children | 127,341 children | 10 |
| 2020s | 92,148 children | 80,532 children | 105,348 children | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More reference data data for Lesotho
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5388 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0101 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0549 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children orphaned due to aids deaths in Lesotho?
- Children orphaned due to aids deaths in Lesotho was 80,532 children in 2024, according to Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest children orphaned due to aids deaths recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 130,434 children in 2008.
- What is the lowest children orphaned due to aids deaths recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,073 children in 1990.
- How does Lesotho rank for children orphaned due to aids deaths?
- Lesotho ranks 27th out of 139 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children orphaned due to aids deaths rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children, aged 17 and under, who have been orphaned by the death of one or both parents from AIDS at any point in their lives. This is the central estimate.