Lesotho Facts

Lesotho facts for kids: Waterfalls and Blanket boy - images by MBrand85 and GilK/shutterstock.com

Here are some interesting Lesotho facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Lesotho Facts for Kids

  • Population: 2.1 million people (2021)
  • Capital: Maseru with 700,000 inhabitants in the district
  • Name: Kingdom of Lesotho. The name comes from the Sesotho language and means: Place of the people who speak Sesotho. Formerly referred to as Basutoland
  • King: King Letsie III rules as chief of state
  • Motto: ‘Peace, rain and prosperity’
  • Government: Constitutional monarchy
  • Language: Sesotho and English
  • Religion: mainly Christian (Protestant 48% and Catholics 40%)
  • Currency: 1 Loti = 100 Lisette
  • National Day: 4 October (Independence Day)
  • National Symbol: Basotho hat
  • National Anthem: ‘Lesotho, Land of our Fathers’ is sung in Sesotho. The musical tune is from a Swiss songbook from 1823.
  • History: Lesotho gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.