Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho
Lesotho: Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS was 81,000 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho, 1990–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates.
Analysis
In 2024, children orphaned by hiv/aids in Lesotho stood at 81,000.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.7% on the previous year and down 32.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children orphaned by hiv/aids in Lesotho peaked at 130,000 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 1,100, in 1990.
That places Lesotho 27th out of 138 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16,470 | 1,100 | 49,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 105,600 | 61,000 | 130,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 120,000 | 110,000 | 130,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 93,000 | 81,000 | 110,000 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More health data for Lesotho
- Age population, age 08, male, interpolated 27,969 (2025)
- Population, male 48.8% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female 751,340 (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total 805,943 (2025)
- Age population, age 06, female, interpolated 26,809 (2025)
- Age population, age 06, male, interpolated 27,201 (2025)
- Age population, age 07, female, interpolated 27,293 (2025)
- Age population, age 07, male, interpolated 27,660 (2025)
- Age population, age 08, female, interpolated 27,631 (2025)
- Age population, age 11, male, interpolated 27,651 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children orphaned by hiv/aids in Lesotho?
- Children orphaned by hiv/aids in Lesotho was 81,000 in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates.
- What is the highest children orphaned by hiv/aids recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 130,000 in 2007.
- What is the lowest children orphaned by hiv/aids recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,100 in 1990.
- How does Lesotho rank for children orphaned by hiv/aids?
- Lesotho ranks 27th out of 138 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children orphaned by hiv/aids rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNAIDS estimates, published as part of Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS is the estimated number of children who have lost their mother or both parents to AIDS before age 15 since the epidemic began. Some of the orphaned children included in this cumulative total are no longer alive; others are no longer under age 15.