Lesotho, a small African country, is leading the world and Africa in the number of suicides per one hundred thousand population with 87.5 people.
This was disclosed in a data published by World of Statistics on its “X”, formerly Twitter, handle on May 15, 2024.
The information was based on a World Health Organisation (WHO) report first published in 2019.
The report was derived from some fifty-one countries studied, after which Lesotho topped the list.
How many people commit suicide in Lesotho?
According to World of Statistics, out of every one hundred thousand people, 87.5 persons take their own lives.
Following Lesotho is Guyana, 40.9, and Kiribati, 30.6, suicides per one hundred thousand people respectively.
(Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America.
It is part of the historic mainland British West Indies.
Kiribati, officially the Republic of Kiribati, on the other hand, is an island country in the Micronesia subregion of Oceania.
Located in the central Pacific Ocean, its permanent population is over 119,000 as of the 2020 census.)
South Africa and Russia trail at 23.5 and 21.6 suicides per one hundred thousand people respectively.
Turkey and war-torn Syria are last on the list with 2.3 and 2.1 suicides per one hundred thousand population.
Japan, an Asian country known for decency and incorruption, is surprisingly 16th at 12.2.
Nigeria is 35th on the list at 6.9 suicides/100,000, same as recorded by the United Kingdom, behind Denmark’s 7.6.
Egypt recorded 3.4 suicides per 100,000, being the least in Africa.
Suicide per 100,000 population of 51 countries
See the list of suicide per 100,000 population of the 51 countries polled with Lesotho in the first position below:
- Lesotho: 87.5
- Guyana: 40.9
- Kiribati: 30.6
- South Africa: 23.5
- Russia: 21.6
- South Korea: 21.2
- Lithuania: 20.2
- Kazakhstan: 18.1
- Ukraine: 17.7
- US: 14.5
- Slovenia: 14.0
- Belgium: 13.9
- Finland: 13.4
- India: 12.9
- Sweden: 12.4
- Japan: 12.2
- Estonia: 12.0
- Hungary: 11.8
- Norway: 11.8
- Australia: 11.3
- Iceland: 11.2
- Croatia: 11.0
- Austria: 10.4
- Canada: 10.3
- New Zealand: 10.3
- Niger: 10.1
- Pakistan: 9.8
- France: 9.7
- Czechia: 9.5
- Poland: 9.3
- Ireland: 8.9
- Germany: 8.3
- Argentina: 8.1
- Denmark: 7.6
- Nigeria: 6.9
- UK: 6.9
- China: 6.7
- Brazil: 6.4
- Saudi Arabia: 5.4
- Mexico: 5.3
- Spain: 5.3
- UAE: 5.2
- Iran: 5.1
- Italy: 4.3
- Bangladesh: 3.9
- Colombia: 3.7
- Egypt: 3.4
- Lebanon: 2.8
- Indonesia: 2.6
- Turkey: 2.3
- Syria: 2.1
About Lesotho
Lesotho, officially known as the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa.
Here are some key points about Lesotho:
Geography
Completely encircled by South Africa, Lesotho is an enclave within its borders.
It is the only sovereign enclave in the world outside of the Italian Peninsula.
History
Lesotho’s history dates back as many as 400 years. It emerged as a single polity under King Moshoeshoe I in 1822.
Since gaining independence from Great Britain in 1966, Lesotho has faced turbulent politics, economic challenges, and poverty.
Population and Languages
The population primarily consists of Basotho (99.7%).
The official languages are Sesotho and English.
Government
Lesotho is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
King Letsie III is the monarch, and Sam Matekane serves as the Prime Minister.
Economy
The economy faces periodic crises, but efforts continue to improve living conditions.
Lesotho’s GDP per capita is around $1,110 (nominal) and $3,234 (PPP).
Lesotho’s motto, “Khotso, Pula, Nala” (Peace, Rain, Prosperity), reflects its aspirations for a better future.