Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people in Lesotho
Lesotho: Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people was 70.33 per 100 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
70.33 per 100 people
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
179th
of 212 countries
All-time high
110.37 per 100 people
in 2017
All-time low
0 per 100 people
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people in Lesotho, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 100 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people in Lesotho is 70.33 per 100 people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and down 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people in Lesotho peaked at 110.37 per 100 people in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0 per 100 people, in 1980.
That places Lesotho 179th out of 212 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.
Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | per 100 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1981 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1982 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1983 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1984 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1985 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1986 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1987 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1988 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1989 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1990 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1991 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1992 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1993 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1994 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1995 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1996 | 0.0645 per 100 people | — |
| 1997 | 0.1774 per 100 people | +174.9% |
| 1998 | 0.4951 per 100 people | +179.0% |
| 1999 | 0.6017 per 100 people | +21.5% |
| 2000 | 1.08 per 100 people | +79.1% |
| 2001 | 2.85 per 100 people | +164.3% |
| 2002 | 6.92 per 100 people | +142.8% |
| 2003 | 6.34 per 100 people | -8.3% |
| 2004 | 9.95 per 100 people | +56.9% |
| 2005 | 12.79 per 100 people | +28.5% |
| 2006 | 18.4 per 100 people | +43.9% |
| 2007 | 24.7 per 100 people | +34.2% |
| 2008 | 30.17 per 100 people | +22.1% |
| 2009 | 33.37 per 100 people | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 49.47 per 100 people | +48.2% |
| 2011 | 61.19 per 100 people | +23.7% |
| 2012 | 75.94 per 100 people | +24.1% |
| 2013 | 87.06 per 100 people | +14.6% |
| 2014 | 102.82 per 100 people | +18.1% |
| 2015 | 101.69 per 100 people | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 107.16 per 100 people | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 110.37 per 100 people | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 72.46 per 100 people | -34.4% |
| 2019 | 76.11 per 100 people | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 69.89 per 100 people | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 80.54 per 100 people | +15.2% |
| 2022 | 68.1 per 100 people | -15.4% |
| 2023 | 69.35 per 100 people | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 70.33 per 100 people | +1.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 70.33 per 100 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 97.13 per 100 people, 72% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 70.33 per 100 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 93.72 per 100 people, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1339 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0.6017 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.66 per 100 people | 1.08 per 100 people | 33.37 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.43 per 100 people | 49.47 per 100 people | 110.37 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.64 per 100 people | 68.1 per 100 people | 80.54 per 100 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More science & technology data for Lesotho
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 70.33 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.7033 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 1.64 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 52.8 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 60.18 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people in Lesotho?
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people in Lesotho was 70.33 per 100 people in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 110.37 per 100 people in 2017.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 per 100 people in 1980.
- How does Lesotho rank for mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people?
- Lesotho ranks 179th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This number can get over 100 when the average person has more than one subscription to a mobile service.