Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC in Lesotho
Lesotho: Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC was 38.24 homicides per 100,000 population in 2008. ▲ Rising
Latest (2008)
38.24 homicides per 100,000 population
Change on year
down 16.5%
World rank
11th
of 179 countries
All-time high
45.82 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2007
All-time low
28.68 homicides per 100,000 population
in 1990
Years of data
7
1990–2008
Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC in Lesotho, 1990–2008
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in homicides per 100,000 population.
Analysis
In 2008, homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Lesotho stood at 38.24 homicides per 100,000 population.
The figure is down 16.5% on the previous year and down 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Lesotho peaked at 45.82 homicides per 100,000 population in 2007 and was at its lowest, 28.68 homicides per 100,000 population, in 1990.
Lesotho ranks 11th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 28.68 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 1991 | 29.8 homicides per 100,000 population | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 34.16 homicides per 100,000 population | +14.7% |
| 1993 | 34.97 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 43.21 homicides per 100,000 population | +23.6% |
| 2007 | 45.82 homicides per 100,000 population | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 38.24 homicides per 100,000 population | -16.5% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 38.24 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.07 homicides per 100,000 population, 9.4× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 38.24 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.43 homicides per 100,000 population, 7.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.16 homicides per 100,000 population | 28.68 homicides per 100,000 population | 43.21 homicides per 100,000 population | 5 |
| 2000s | 42.03 homicides per 100,000 population | 38.24 homicides per 100,000 population | 45.82 homicides per 100,000 population | 2 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 8 Haiti 41.15 homicides per 100,000 population
- 9 Trinidad and Tobago 40.44 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 10 Saint Lucia 39.04 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 12 Bahamas 32.2 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 13 Honduras 31.44 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 14 Anguilla 29.14 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More social development data for Lesotho
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 27 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 27 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Lesotho?
- Homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Lesotho was 38.24 homicides per 100,000 population in 2008, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicide rate, who vs. unodc recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 45.82 homicides per 100,000 population in 2007.
- What is the lowest homicide rate, who vs. unodc recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.68 homicides per 100,000 population in 1990.
- How does Lesotho rank for homicide rate, who vs. unodc?
- Lesotho ranks 11th out of 179 countries with data for 2008.
- Is homicide rate, who vs. unodc rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 population.