180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Not RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Not Recommended
Lesotho never drops below 1,400 metres — you can pony-trek to the 192-metre Maletsunyane falls at Semonkong, white-knuckle the Sani Pass hairpins, even ski. The catch is a murder rate deep in the red. It mostly doesn't touch the highland lodges and trekking circuits, but it's the reason the numbers look bad: go with guides and keep to the mountains.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Lesotho: 22.2
Ranked 12th in the world for the highest homicide rate.
22.2 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — a high rate by any standard.
Higher than 92% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Lesotho: 2.3
Ranked 45th least peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 27% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 2.267.
Up 4 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Lesotho: 6.5
Ranked 78th least free country in the world.
Less free than 58% of the 165 countries measured — 6.59 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 7.05; doing business and owning property, 5.96.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Lesotho: 4.4
Ranked 82nd most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 56% of the 197 countries scored — 44 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 55 out of 100, everyday attitudes 32.