Safest cities in Lesotho
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in LesothoAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Lesotho, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- There are occasional political demonstrations in Maseru. These are usually peaceful, but there is a risk of isolated incidents of violence. Move away from demonstrations or gatherings, particularly if you see the security forces are present. Lesotho successfully held elections in 2022 but has had a history which includes political-related violence…
Crime
- Mugging and violent vehicle crimeMuggers can target foreign nationals. Do not walk alone in isolated areas or after dark.
- Petty theft and burglaryTake precautions to safeguard your valuables and cash. Leave them in hotel safes, if possible. Keep copies of important documents, including your passport’s photo page and entry stamps, in a separate place.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDAlways carry a copy of the photo page of your passport and your entry stamp. Officials may ask to see these.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesPossession of drugs is a serious offence and punishments can be severe, including prison sentences.
- LGBT+ travellersSexual activity between men is illegal, but FCDO is not aware of this being enforced. Showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention.
Transport risks
- Road travelYou can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Lesotho for up to 3 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.
- Taxis and minibusesLocal minibus taxis (‘4+1s’) may be poorly maintained and uninsured. They often ignore road safety rules including speed limits. Avoid using them and steer clear of them when driving.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Lesotho, updated 2025-12-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 22.2 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 44.92017
- Human development
- HDI 0.5502023
- Income
- $3,900/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 31.9 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 61/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 50/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 37/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 3.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.61GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 26.4 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 31%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.2 doctors /1k1.3 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Drought
- 6.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 2.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Lesotho (as of 2025).
How Lesotho compares
| Measure | Lesotho | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 22 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +20 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 44.9 | 35.2 | +9.7 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.550 | 0.763 | −0.213 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 31.9 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +16.5 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 50/100 | 52/100 | −2/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 37/100 | 39/100 | −2/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 26.4 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +6.7 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.7/10 | 3.8/10 | −0.1/10 — better for Lesotho |
| Measure | Lesotho | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 22 /100k | 4.4 /100k | +18 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 44.9 | 38.3 | +6.6 — better for Africa median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.550 | 0.563 | −0.013 — better for Africa median |
| Road deaths | 31.9 /100k | 27.9 /100k | +4.0 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Rule of law | 50/100 | 42/100 | +8/100 — better for Lesotho |
| Corruption perceptions | 37/100 | 30/100 | +7/100 — better for Lesotho |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 26.4 µg/m³ | 27.7 µg/m³ | −1.3 µg/m³ — better for Lesotho |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.7/10 | 5.3/10 | −1.6/10 — better for Lesotho |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 1 cities, safest first
- Maseru42.7 · #5688 worldwide