Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita was 35.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Lesotho, 1992–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 35.6% for share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in 2024.
That represents a change of up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Lesotho peaked at 44.7% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 33.4%, in 2014.
That places Lesotho 13th out of 97 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 39.2% | — |
| 1993 | 37.5% | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 44.7% | +19.2% |
| 2009 | 39.3% | -12.1% |
| 2014 | 33.4% | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 34.6% | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 35.6% | +2.9% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 35.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.7%, 1.6× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 35.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.4% | 37.5% | 39.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 42.0% | 39.3% | 44.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 34.0% | 33.4% | 34.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 35.6% | 35.6% | 35.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More economy & growth data for Lesotho
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 0 BoP, current US$ (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0 BoP, current US$ per person (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -5.77 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 54.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -2.44 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4215 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 431.19 includes gold, current US$ per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Lesotho?
- Share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Lesotho was 35.6% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 44.7% in 2004.
- What is the lowest share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.4% in 2014.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita?
- Lesotho ranks 13th out of 97 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The share of children who are stunted – significantly shorter than the average for their age. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.