Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 19.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Lesotho, 1999–2025
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Lesotho stood at 19.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Lesotho peaked at 35.3% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 16.3%, in 2005.
Lesotho ranks 122nd of 150 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 35.3% | — |
| 2005 | 16.3% | -53.8% |
| 2009 | 17.7% | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 19.5% | +10.2% |
| 2025 | 19.5% | +0.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 19.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40.2%, 48% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 19.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.0%, 57% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35.3% | 35.3% | 35.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 17.0% | 16.3% | 17.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 19.5% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 1 |
| 2020s | 19.5% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
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 share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Lesotho?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Lesotho was 19.5% in 2025, according to Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 35.3% in 1999.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.3% in 2005.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Lesotho ranks 122nd out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners as a percentage of the total prison population.