The Evolution of Mortality Rate in Lesotho from 1990 to 2022

Lesotho’s mortality rate fluctuated between 68.2 in 1990 and a peak of 73.0 in 2008 before declining steadily to 56.4 in 2022. The increase during the 1990s and early 2000s reflects the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which overwhelmed the healthcare system. By 2000, the rate had risen to 70.9, as access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) was limited.

The decline from 2008 onward coincides with scaled-up ART programs and international aid targeting the HIV/AIDS crisis. By 2022, the rate had dropped to 56.4, reflecting improvements in healthcare infrastructure and maternal health initiatives. However, challenges such as high HIV prevalence and healthcare access disparities persist.