Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities in Lesotho
Lesotho: Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities was 35.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities in Lesotho, 2010–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in Lesotho is 35.1%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in Lesotho peaked at 43.3% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 35.1%, in 2023.
That places Lesotho 26th out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 43.3% | — |
| 2011 | 43.1% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 42.9% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 42.6% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 42.0% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 42.0% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 41.8% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 41.8% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 35.5% | -15.1% |
| 2019 | 35.5% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 35.4% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 35.2% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 35.3% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 35.1% | -0.5% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 35.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.7%, 1.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 35.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35.6%, 99% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 41.1% | 35.5% | 43.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.2% | 35.1% | 35.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 23 South Africa 35.8% compare
- 24 Guinea-Bissau 35.6% compare
- 25 Afghanistan 35.3% compare
- 27 Burundi 34.9% compare
- 28 Democratic Republic of Congo 34.7% compare
- 29 Madagascar 34.5% compare
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 reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in Lesotho?
- Reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in Lesotho was 35.1% in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 43.3% in 2010.
- What is the lowest reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.1% in 2023.
- How does Lesotho rank for reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities?
- Lesotho ranks 26th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Percentage difference between the IHDI value and the HDI value.