World Factbook
Lesotho
Kingdom of Lesotho
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green; centered on the white stripe is a black mokorotlo , a traditional Basotho straw hat and national symbol meaning: blue stands for rain, white for peace, and green for prosperity history: the redesigned flag was introduced in 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence
Capital
name
Maseru
etymology
the name means "[place of] red sandstones" in the Sesotho language
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
29 19 S, 27 29 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previous 1959, 1967; latest adopted 2 April 1993 (effectively restoring the 1967 version)
amendment process
proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including fundamental rights and freedoms, sovereignty of the kingdom, the office of the king, and powers of Parliament, requires a majority vote by the National Assembly, approval by the Senate, approval in a referendum by a majority of qualified voters, and assent of the king; passage of amendments other than those specified provisions requires at least a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament
Country name
former
Basutoland
etymology
the name comes from the Sotho people, whose name means "dark-skinned;" Le - is a singular noun prefix; the former name, Basutoland, uses the plural noun prefix, Ba -
local long form
Kingdom of Lesotho
local short form
Lesotho
conventional long form
Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form
Lesotho
Independence
4 October 1966 (from the UK)
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; High Court and Court of Appeal review legislative acts
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Judicial branch
note
note: both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues
highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament)
subordinate courts
Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; military courts
judge selection and term of office
Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75
Executive branch
note
note: King LETSIE III previously occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile
cabinet
consists of the prime minister (appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State), the deputy prime minister, and 18 other ministers; the prime minister is the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the National Assembly
chief of state
King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996)
head of government
Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE (28 October 2022)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary but has no executive or legislative powers under the constitution; under traditional law, the College of Chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, determine next in line of succession, or serve as regent in the event that a successor is not of mature age
National holiday
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
National color(s)
blue, white, green, black
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Maloti-Drakensberg Park
Political parties
All Basotho Convention or ABC Alliance of Democrats or AD Basotho Action Party or BAP Basotho National Party or BNP Democratic Congress or DC Democratic Party of Lesotho or DPL Lesotho People's Congress or LPC Movement of Economic Change or MEC National Independent Party or NIP Popular Front for Democracy of PFD Reformed Congress of Lesotho or RCL
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)
history
adopted 1967; music derives from an 1823 Swiss songbook
lyrics/music
Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR
National symbol(s)
mokorotio (Basotho hat)
Administrative divisions
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
National Assembly
term in office
5 years
number of seats
122 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/2/2022
expected date of next election
October 2027
percentage of women in chamber
25%
parties elected and seats per party
Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) (56); Democratic Congress (DC) (29); All Basotho Convention (ABC) (8); Basotho Action Party (BAP) (6); Other (20)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
5 years
number of seats
33 (11 appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/7/2022
expected date of next election
November 2027
percentage of women in chamber
21.2%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 234-6815
chancery
2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 797-5533
chief of mission
Ambassador Tumisang MOSOTHO (since 16 September 2022)
email address and website
lesothoembassy@verizon.net https://www.gov.ls/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[266] 22310116
embassy
254 Kingsway Avenue, Maseru
telephone
[266] 22312666
mailing address
2340 Maseru Place, Washington DC 20521-2340
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Thomas HINES (since August 2024)
email address and website
USConsularMaseru@state.gov https://ls.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction