Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access was 41.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Lesotho, 2000–2024
Source: SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of rural population.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 41.4% for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.4% on the previous year and up 165.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Lesotho peaked at 45.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2004.
Lesotho ranks 183rd of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.0% | — |
| 2004 | 1.4% | -30.0% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | +164.3% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | -29.7% |
| 2007 | 6.9% | +165.4% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | +24.6% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 4.4% | -48.8% |
| 2011 | 10.8% | +145.5% |
| 2012 | 7.2% | -33.3% |
| 2013 | 14.8% | +105.6% |
| 2014 | 15.6% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 19.7% | +26.3% |
| 2016 | 23.3% | +18.3% |
| 2017 | 20.2% | -13.3% |
| 2019 | 32.6% | +61.4% |
| 2020 | 35.2% | +8.0% |
| 2021 | 37.7% | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 38.0% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 45.2% | +18.9% |
| 2024 | 41.4% | -8.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.8% | 1.4% | 8.6% | 7 |
| 2010s | 16.5% | 4.4% | 32.6% | 9 |
| 2020s | 39.5% | 35.2% | 45.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More energy & mining data for Lesotho
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -7.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 15.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Lesotho?
- Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Lesotho was 41.4% in 2024, according to SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 45.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2004.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access?
- Lesotho ranks 183rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 165.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Having access to electricity is defined in international statistics as having an electricity source that can provide very basic lighting, and charge a phone or power a radio for 4 hours per day.