Share of the population using the Internet in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of the population using the Internet was 51.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population using the Internet in Lesotho, 1990–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 51.8% for share of the population using the internet in 2024. That is the highest value across all 30 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.7% on the previous year and up 135.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population 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.
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 science & technology data for Lesotho
- Scientific and technical journal articles 60.18 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 1.64 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 70.33 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 70.33 per 100 people (2024)
- Research and development expenditure 0.1% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 1.02 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 0.3794 per 100 people (2024)
- Landline Internet subscriptions 8,869 (2024)
- Researchers in R&D 32.24 per million people (2023)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people, by download speed 0.38 per 100 population (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population using the internet in Lesotho?
- Share of the population using the internet in Lesotho was 51.8% in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population using the internet recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 51.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of the population using the internet recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1990.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of the population using the internet?
- Lesotho ranks 158th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population 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), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population using the Internet. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the population who used the Internet in the last three months.