Lesotho

Donate to WPB
CountryLesotho
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Correctional Service
Prison administration
Lesotho Correctional Service
Contact address
PO Box 41, Maseru 100, Lesotho
Telephone
+266 22 0072000
Fax
+266 22 325008
Website
Email
info@justice.gov.ls
Head of prison administration (and title)
Mating Nkakala
Commissioner of Corrections
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
2 216
at 2019 (government report to UN Human Rights Council)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
104
based on an estimated national population of 2.13 million at 2019 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
19.5%
(30.8.2014)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.9%
(2019)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
2.2%
(2019)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.9%
(31.12.2009)
Number of establishments / institutions
14
(2018)
Official capacity of prison system
2 936
(30.8.2014)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
70.6%
(30.8.2014)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 2,908 143
2002 3,521 173
2004 3,173 158
2006 2,508 126
2008 2,594 130
2010 2,498 125
2012 2,564 127
2014 2,073 102
2017 2,400 115
2000 2,908 143
2002 3,521 173
2004 3,173 158
2006 2,508 126
2008 2,594 130
2010 2,498 125
2012 2,564 127
2014 2,073 102
2017 2,400 115

Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                LESOTHO

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1999
2005
2009

901
477
451

35.3%
16.3%
17.7%

47
23
21

2014

404

19.5%

18

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                  LESOTHO

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2014

139
78
61
74

4.5%
2.7%
2.4%
3.6%

7.0
3.8
2.8
3.3

2019

65

2.9%

3.1

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate