Individuals using the Internet (% of population) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Individuals using the Internet (% of population) was 51.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Individuals using the Internet in Lesotho, 1990–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for individuals using the internet in Lesotho is 51.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 30 years on record.
The figure is up 5.7% on the previous year and up 135.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, individuals using the internet in Lesotho peaked at 51.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1990.
That places Lesotho 158th out of 208 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Individuals using the Internet (% of population) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1996 | 0.0% | — |
| 1997 | 0.0% | +95.8% |
| 1998 | 0.0% | +97.1% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | +389.1% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | +293.7% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +23.3% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | +315.1% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | +41.4% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | +42.0% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | +18.6% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | +15.5% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | +15.6% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 7.0% | +81.3% |
| 2012 | 10.0% | +42.9% |
| 2013 | 15.0% | +50.0% |
| 2014 | 22.0% | +46.7% |
| 2015 | 25.0% | +13.6% |
| 2016 | 32.5% | +29.8% |
| 2017 | 39.0% | +20.2% |
| 2018 | 40.8% | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 42.3% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 43.7% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 45.1% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 48.1% | +6.7% |
| 2023 | 49.0% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 51.8% | +5.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 51.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 55.8%, 93% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 51.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.5%, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Individuals using the Internet (% of population) in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +389.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2002 | +315.1% | 0.3% | 1.1% |
| 2000 | +293.7% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 5 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 0.2% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.7% | 3.9% | 42.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.5% | 43.7% | 51.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More infrastructure data for Lesotho
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 1.64 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 70.33 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 7,980 (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 0.3414 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0034 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate 8.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 7,980 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 0.7033 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is individuals using the internet in Lesotho?
- Individuals using the internet in Lesotho was 51.8% in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest individuals using the internet recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 51.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest individuals using the internet recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1990.
- How does Lesotho rank for individuals using the internet?
- Lesotho ranks 158th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is individuals using the internet rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 135.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Individuals using the Internet (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Internet users are individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc.