Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Lesotho

Lesotho: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 14.08 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
14.08 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 55.1%
World rank
28th
of 170 countries
All-time high
373.68 % change on previous year
in 1976
All-time low
-95.01 % change on previous year
in 1990
Years of data
37
1971–2025

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Lesotho, 1971–2025

-10001002003004001971199820251971: 171.4 % change on previous year1972: -68.4 % change on previous year1973: 200 % change on previous year1974: 5.6 % change on previous year1975: 0 % change on previous year1976: 373.7 % change on previous year1977: 25.6 % change on previous year1978: -12.4 % change on previous year1979: -30.3 % change on previous year1981: 15 % change on previous year1982: 0 % change on previous year1983: 0 % change on previous year1984: 3 % change on previous year1985: -3 % change on previous year1986: 0 % change on previous year1987: -65.2 % change on previous year1988: 5.8 % change on previous year1989: 0.426 % change on previous year1990: -95 % change on previous year1991: 3.8 % change on previous year1992: -46.8 % change on previous year1993: -48.7 % change on previous year1994: -5 % change on previous year2012: -13.2 % change on previous year2013: -12.1 % change on previous year2014: 48.3 % change on previous year2015: -27.9 % change on previous year2016: 48.4 % change on previous year2017: 19.6 % change on previous year2018: 1.8 % change on previous year2019: 155.4 % change on previous year2020: 89.5 % change on previous year2021: 9.2 % change on previous year2022: -15.2 % change on previous year2023: 27.1 % change on previous year2024: 31.3 % change on previous year2025: 14.1 % change on previous year

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.

Analysis

The most recent figure for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Lesotho is 14.08 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 55.1% on the previous year and up 150.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Lesotho peaked at 373.68 % change on previous year in 1976 and was at its lowest, -95.01 % change on previous year, in 1990.

Lesotho ranks 28th of 170 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate in Lesotho, 1971 to 2025.
Year % change on previous year Change
1971 171.43 % change on previous year
1972 -68.42 % change on previous year -139.9%
1973 200 % change on previous year -392.3%
1974 5.56 % change on previous year -97.2%
1975 0 % change on previous year -100.0%
1976 373.68 % change on previous year
1977 25.56 % change on previous year -93.2%
1978 -12.39 % change on previous year -148.5%
1979 -30.3 % change on previous year +144.6%
1981 15 % change on previous year -149.5%
1982 0 % change on previous year -100.0%
1983 0 % change on previous year
1984 3.04 % change on previous year
1985 -2.95 % change on previous year -197.0%
1986 0 % change on previous year -100.0%
1987 -65.22 % change on previous year
1988 5.75 % change on previous year -108.8%
1989 0.4255 % change on previous year -92.6%
1990 -95.01 % change on previous year -22427.2%
1991 3.77 % change on previous year -104.0%
1992 -46.82 % change on previous year -1340.7%
1993 -48.72 % change on previous year +4.1%
1994 -5 % change on previous year -89.7%
2012 -13.16 % change on previous year +163.2%
2013 -12.12 % change on previous year -7.9%
2014 48.28 % change on previous year -498.3%
2015 -27.91 % change on previous year -157.8%
2016 48.39 % change on previous year -273.4%
2017 19.57 % change on previous year -59.6%
2018 1.82 % change on previous year -90.7%
2019 155.36 % change on previous year +8444.6%
2020 89.51 % change on previous year -42.4%
2021 9.23 % change on previous year -89.7%
2022 -15.2 % change on previous year -264.8%
2023 27.09 % change on previous year -278.2%
2024 31.35 % change on previous year +15.7%
2025 14.08 % change on previous year -55.1%

Lesotho compared with similar countries

  • Lesotho's 14.08 % change on previous year is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.1859 % change on previous year, 75.7× the median. (38 countries reporting)
  • Lesotho's 14.08 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.17 % change on previous year, 4.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1990 -22427.2% 0.4255 % change on previous year -95.01 % change on previous year
2019 +8444.6% 1.82 % change on previous year 155.36 % change on previous year
1992 -1340.7% 3.77 % change on previous year -46.82 % change on previous year

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 73.9 % change on previous year -68.42 % change on previous year 373.68 % change on previous year 9
1980s -4.88 % change on previous year -65.22 % change on previous year 15 % change on previous year 9
1990s -38.35 % change on previous year -95.01 % change on previous year 3.77 % change on previous year 5
2010s 27.53 % change on previous year -27.91 % change on previous year 155.36 % change on previous year 8
2020s 26.01 % change on previous year -15.2 % change on previous year 89.51 % change on previous year 6

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 25 South Sudan 16.9 % change on previous year compare
  2. 26 Greece 15.55 % change on previous year compare
  3. 27 Costa Rica 15.06 % change on previous year compare
  4. 29 Togo 14.05 % change on previous year compare
  5. 30 Ecuador 13.83 % change on previous year compare
  6. 31 Serbia 13.29 % change on previous year compare

See the full ranking of 217 places →

More social development data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Lesotho?
Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Lesotho was 14.08 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 373.68 % change on previous year in 1976.
What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was -95.01 % change on previous year in 1990.
How does Lesotho rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
Lesotho ranks 28th out of 170 countries with data for 2025.
Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in Lesotho?
Over the last ten years it is up 150.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Lesotho data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/refugees-under-the-mandate-of-the-unhcr-by-country-or-territory-of-asylum-annual-growth/lesotho/

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<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/refugees-under-the-mandate-of-the-unhcr-by-country-or-territory-of-asylum-annual-growth/lesotho/">Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Lesotho</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

The year-on-year percentage change in Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate
Unit
% change on previous year
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
217 places, 9,779 data points, 1961–2025
Last refreshed

The year-on-year percentage change in Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.