Lesotho

Southern Africa, Africa

CO2 emissions per person
1.10
t CO2/person/year · 2024
157th of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
0.43
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
146th of 193 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
24.5
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
63rd of 241 countries
19402025

Lesotho in stripes: every year since 1940, blue cooler than the 1991-2020 average, red hotter.

The future under three scenarios

Temperature vs 1991-2020, observed and projected to 2100

051950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5high 2019low 1955

Solid line: observed (Copernicus ERA5). Dashed lines: CMIP6 multi-model median under three IPCC emissions scenarios, anchored to the observed 2015-2024 average, from the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Scenarios are futures the world can still choose between, not predictions.

Climate

CO2 emissions

2.57 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+54% since 1994152nd highest of 215 · 2024
01231990200020102020high 2021

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

1.10 t CO2/person/year · 2024
+27% since 1994157th highest of 213 · 2024
00.511990200020102020high 2012

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Temperature anomaly

0.43 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+0.8 °C since 1995146th highest of 193 · 2025
-10119401960198020002020Worldhigh 2019low 1955

How much warmer or cooler a country's year was compared with its 1991-2020 average. Watch the map turn red as you move the slider towards today. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

1.31 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-14% since 1994154th highest of 199 · 2024
00.511.51850190019502000high 1999

Methane traps around 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years. It comes mainly from livestock, rice, landfill and leaky fossil fuel infrastructure. Global Carbon Project / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

All greenhouse gases

6.17 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+59% since 1994158th highest of 199 · 2024
051850190019502000high 2016

Every warming gas combined: CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, expressed as CO2-equivalents. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Nitrous oxide emissions

0.49 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-28% since 1994150th highest of 201 · 2024
00.51850190019502000high 1999

N2O is nearly 300 times more warming than CO2 and comes mostly from fertilised farmland and livestock. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Energy

Energy use per person

2,379 kWh/person/year · 2023
+370% since 1993173rd highest of 216 · 2023
01k2k19801990200020102020low 1988

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2022
+0.0 pp since 2000173rd highest of 212 · 2022
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2022
+0.0 pp since 2000109th highest of 209 · 2022
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2022
+0.0 pp since 200086th highest of 209 · 2022
-10120002005201020152020

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2022
+0.0 pp since 2000187th highest of 212 · 2022
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2022
+0.0 pp since 2000120th highest of 205 · 2022
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

1.28 ha/year · 2024
+218% since 2001174th highest of 197 · 2024
0510152005201020152020high 2021

Forest area lost each year to fire, logging, farming and storms. Not all loss is permanent deforestation, but the trend matters. Global Forest Watch (Hansen/UMD) via Our World in Data

Forest area

1.14 % of land · 2025
+0.0 pp since 1995195th highest of 212 · 2025
01020301990200020102020World

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Deaths from natural disasters

0.00 deaths/year · 2021
89th highest of 194 · 2021
010203020002005201020152020high 2011

People killed by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes and other disasters each year. Single events dominate single years. IHME Global Burden of Disease via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.94 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-1.1% since 199449th highest of 244 · 2024
00.51200020102020low 2000

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

23.4 % of land area · 2024
+23 pp since 201360th highest of 213 · 2024
01020201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Meat supply per person

18.8 kg/person/year · 2023
+8.6% since 1993146th highest of 176 · 2023
02040198020002020Worldhigh 2014low 2019

Meat available for consumption per person. Livestock drives around 15% of global emissions and most deforestation. FAO via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

5.97 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
+100% since 1993152nd highest of 198 · 2023
01020198020002020high 2019

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Urban population

44.7 % living in cities · 2025
+28 pp since 1995175th highest of 236 · 2025
02040601960198020002020World

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Water stress

2.57 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
+0.0 pp since 2000144th highest of 179 · 2022
05101520002005201020152020World

How much of a country's renewable freshwater is withdrawn each year. Above 25% counts as stressed; above 100% means drawing down reserves. FAO AQUASTAT (SDG 6.4.2) via Our World in Data

Renewable water per person

2,288 m³/person/year · 2022
-18% since 199298th highest of 181 · 2022
05k10k198020002020World

Each person's share of the country's renewable freshwater. Below 1,700 m³ is water stress; below 1,000 m³ is scarcity. FAO AQUASTAT via Our World in Data

Safely managed drinking water

31.3 % of population · 2024
+23 pp since 2000135th highest of 159 · 2024
020406020002005201020152020World

The share of people with safe drinking water at home, available when needed and free from contamination. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Annual precipitation

1,329 mm/year · 2025
+22% since 199563rd highest of 192 · 2025
05001k1.5k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 1988low 1954

Total rain and snow that fell over a country in a year, averaged across its land area. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Rainfall anomaly

19.4 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+21 pp since 199515th highest of 192 · 2025
019401960198020002020Worldhigh 1988low 1954

How much wetter (teal) or drier (brown) a country's year was compared with its 1961-1990 average. A simple drought and deluge signal. Derived from Copernicus ERA5 precipitation via Our World in Data

Safely managed sanitation

43.8 % of population · 2024
+31 pp since 200095th highest of 145 · 2024
020406020002005201020152020World

The share of people whose toilet waste is safely treated rather than left to contaminate water and soil. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

24.5 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
+42% since 199863rd highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2022low 1999

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

Ozone-depleting substances

0.44 ODP tonnes/year · 2021
+47% since 1991113th highest of 168 · 2021
051990200020102020low 1991

Consumption of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. Watch the map fade towards zero: the Montreal Protocol is the world's most successful environmental treaty. UN Environment Programme via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.

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