Lesotho 🇱🇸 is a fascinating landlocked country located in Southern Africa, part of the Africa region. Officially known as Kingdom of Lesotho, it is home to roughly 2.3 million people and covers an area of about 30,355 square kilometres.
On this page you will find a complete profile of Lesotho — its capital Maseru, its people and languages, the money used there, where it sits on the world map, and plenty of facts worth remembering the next time the country comes up in a quiz.
Lesotho on the map
Lesotho lies in Southern Africa, in the Africa region of the world. Measuring roughly 30,355 square kilometres, it ranks 142nd in the world by total area.
As a landlocked country, Lesotho has no direct access to the open ocean, which has shaped its trade routes, cuisine and history in distinctive ways. It shares land borders with South Africa.
Maseru serves as the capital — the centre of government and, for most travellers, the gateway to everything else Lesotho has to offer.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population and languages of Lesotho
Lesotho is home to approximately 2.3 million residents — the 147th largest population on the planet. Its people are known as Mosothos.
Lesotho is multilingual: the languages spoken include English and Sotho. This linguistic variety reflects the country's layered history and the many communities that shaped it.
Like every country featured on Spin a Country, Lesotho rewards curiosity — its festivals, food and everyday customs tell a story that statistics alone never can.
Practical information about Lesotho
The official currency is the Lesotho loti (LSL, symbol L). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Lesotho is +266. Websites from the country typically use the .ls internet domain.
If Lesotho came up on your random spin, take five minutes to memorise its flag, capital (Maseru) and population — these are the three facts most often asked in geography quizzes.
Neighbouring countries
Lesotho shares borders with 1 country:
Fun facts about Lesotho
- Lesotho's flag emoji is 🇱🇸 — its two-letter country code is LS and its three-letter code is LSO.
- Lesotho covers 30,355 km², ranking 142nd in the world by area.
- With about 2.3 million people, Lesotho holds the 147th spot in the world population ranking.
- Lesotho is a member state of the United Nations.
- Lesotho is one of the world's landlocked countries — it has no sea coastline.
Lesotho — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Lesotho?
- The capital of Lesotho is Maseru.
- What is the population of Lesotho?
- Lesotho has a population of approximately 2,337,423 people, ranking 147th in the world.
- Where is Lesotho located?
- Lesotho is located in Southern Africa, part of the Africa region. It is a landlocked country.
- What language is spoken in Lesotho?
- The languages spoken in Lesotho include English and Sotho.
- What currency is used in Lesotho?
- Lesotho uses the Lesotho loti (LSL).
