Lesotho
El Niño Drives Hunger
Lesotho is experiencing a major hunger crisis as a result of El Niño-induced drought. WFP delivers food directly to women, men, girls and boys experiencing severe hunger.
Make a difference in Lesotho
Hunger Stats
While more than 80% of Lesotho’s population lives in rural areas and most of the country relies on subsistence farming, many households still lack access to agricultural land. Lesotho is highly vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis.
33%
of children under 5 are stunted
520k
people are severely hungry
50%
of people live below the poverty line
33%
of children under 5 are stunted
520k
people are severely hungry
50%
of people live below the poverty line
33%
of children under 5 are stunted
Lesotho Facts
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Population: 2.2 million people.
Background: Lesotho became independent in 1966. The country is a constitutional monarchy, ruled by a king as head of state and a prime minister as head of government.
Geography & Climate: Lesotho is a small, mountainous and landlocked country, completely surrounded by South Africa. The country’s climate is temperate, though the climate crisis is making Lesotho hotter and drier.
Economy: Lesotho depends mostly on agriculture and remittances from other countries. More than three-fourths of its population depend on animal herding and subsistence agriculture, while the country produces less than 20% of its own food. Lesotho relies heavily on South Africa for much of its economic activity: It imports 85% of all goods – including food – from South Africa.
Causes of Hunger
Recent History
1986-1998
Political Transitions
After gaining independence in 1966, Lesotho experienced political instability, including several coups,...
2001-2007
Unprecedented Drought
In 2004, after three years of drought, a state of emergency was declared and the prime minister appealed...
2012-2020
Multiple Transitions of Power
Between 2012 through 2020, Lesotho experienced general political unrest and strikes. Teachers, doctors,...
01-Jan-1970, 00:33
Drought Returns
In 2020, the United Nations declared that tens of thousands across the country were ‘one step from famine,’...
WFP’s Work in Lesotho
We’ve been in Lesotho since 1962, delivering food directly to the hungriest people. Even as climate shocks and extreme poverty increasingly devastate communities, we continue to hold fast in our mission to save lives.
Crisis Response
We deliver food and cash assistance and work to strengthen the technical capacity of the government – specifically the government’s early warning systems and food and nutrition security monitoring.
Nutrition & School Meals
We work with the government and other partners to provide nutritious food. We coordinate across sectors to put equitable food policies and programs – including our school meals program – into action.
Farmers
We help communities affected by the climate crisis. For small-scale farmers, we provide agricultural trainings, tools, cash assistance and other resources to ensure they can grow enough food to feed their families.
