Lesotho: Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Lesotho's fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) fell 0.0043 on 2023 (from 0.38 to 0.38).

Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2005 to 2023), the average change was +0.02 and a typical year strayed about 0.05 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.6 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 0.13 in 2021 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.05 in 2019. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.03 a year. A straight line explains 86% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Lesotho had the 139th highest value of the 151 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Lesotho in the 2024 ranking

• Ethiopia — 135th of 151: 0.59
• Gambia, The — 136th of 151: 0.52
• Guinea-Bissau — 137th of 151: 0.39
• Angola — 139th of 151: 0.36
• Benin — 140th of 151: 0.28
• Tanzania — 141st of 151: 0.25

What this measures

Fixed broadband subscriptions refers to fixed subscriptions to high-speed access to the public Internet (a TCP/IP connection), at downstream speeds equal to, or greater than, 256 kbit/s. This includes cable modem, DSL, fiber-to-the-home/building, other fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions, satellite broadband and terrestrial fixed wireless broadband. This total is measured irrespective of the method of payment. It excludes subscriptions that have access to data communications (including the Internet) via mobile-cellular networks. It should include fixed WiMAX and any other fixed wireless technologies. It includes both residential subscriptions and subscriptions for organizations.

Limitations: Data are collected by national statistics offices through household surveys. Because survey questions and definitions differ, the estimates may not be strictly comparable across countries. Fixed broadband Internet includes cable modem, DSL, fibre and other fixed broadband technology (such as satellite broadband Internet, Ethernet LANs, fixed-wireless access, Wireless Local Area Network, WiMAX etc.). Subscribers with access to data communications (including the Internet) via mobile cellular networks are excluded. Advertised and real speeds can differ substantially.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 20 values

Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) in nearby economies

• Angola — 0.36 (2024)
• Benin — 0.28 (2024)
• Botswana — 7.44 (2024)
• Burkina Faso — 0.85 (2024)
• Burundi — 0.02 (2023)
• Cabo Verde — 8.31 (2024)
• Cameroon — 2.13 (2022)
• Chad — 0 (2024)
• Comoros — 0.39 (2023)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 0.03 (2024)

More infrastructure data for Lesotho

• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 7,980 (2024)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 0.34 (2024)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 1.64 million (2024)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 70.33 (2024)
• Individuals using the Internet (% of population) — 51.8% (2024)
• Scientific and technical journal articles — 60.18 (2023)
• ICT service exports (BoP, current US$) — US$15,667 (2025)
• ICT service exports (% of service exports, BoP) — 0.08% (2025)
• ICT goods imports (% total goods imports) — 2.04% (2024)
• ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Lesotho's fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people)?

0.38 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2004?

It is up 33,896% from 0.00112 in 2004 (33.84% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 0.4 in 2022 and the lowest 0.00112 in 2004.

How does Lesotho rank?

139th highest of 151 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) unusual for Lesotho?

In 2024, Lesotho's fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) fell 0.0043 on 2023 (from 0.38 to 0.38). Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2005 to 2023), the average change was +0.02 and a typical year strayed about 0.05 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.6 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IT.NET.BBND.P2, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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