# Lesotho - Link: https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/ - Published: 2026-05-22T22:15:52-05:00 - Author: Preeti Sinha National Blueprint · One of 195 # Lesotho A mountain kingdom of 2.36 million that sells about 780 million cubic metres of water a year to its neighbour; its budget of February 2026 put royalties for 2025/ 26 at M4.78 billion. Perfect Nations values what Lesotho owns and raises capital against it, through ** innovative financing for development (FfD)** and **super intelligence (SI)**. Lesotho at a glance * **2.4m**PeopleWorld Bank, 2025 * _Furthest from reach · Education_**97%**of Basotho children could not read a simple text by the end of primary school, on 2016 data[World Bank, 2016](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.LPV.PRIM?locations=LS) * **15**Instruments and investments on record[Capital already committed](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/#bp-register) [Work with us](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/#bp-studio)[Read the Letter to Lesotho](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/#bp-letter) What we do for Lesotho ## Assets. Capital. Solutions. Perfect Nations is a new-age sovereign advisory firm, and its clients are nations. 1. [01AssetsThe cupFive sovereign assets, valued, from The Highland Water to The People.](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/#bp-assets) 2. [02CapitalThe laurels15 instruments and investments on record, every one sourced.](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/#bp-capital) 3. [03SolutionsThe seven starsSeven basic standards of living, star by star. Education is furthest from reach today.](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/#bp-pc) **The whole logo:** a Perfect Nation, where every citizen has all seven basic standards of living, led by good governance. [01](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/#bp-do)**Assets** · The cup · Sovereign Assets ## Five assets no balance sheet counts. Each is owned today, earns today, and can carry Lesotho toward seven basic standards of living for every citizen. * **780M m³**Supplied to South Africa a year * ### The Highland Water * Royalties of M4.78 billion expected for 2025/26, which the Budget Speech of February 2026 calls exceptionally high. * **99.8%**Renewable share of electricity output, 2021 * ### The Clean Power * A grid run on water, with 60.6% of citizens connected. * **92.9%**Of land in agriculture, 2024 * ### The Mountains * Rangeland for wool and mohair across almost all of the country. * **20.8%**Remittances, share of GDP, 2025 * ### The Diaspora * Income earned abroad and sent home: an asset, and a measure of the work missing at home. * **2.36m**Citizens, 2025 * ### The People * Most live in the lowlands and foothills. [Every figure, with its source](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/#bp-sources) [The Sovereign Assets ledger](https://perfectnations.com/sovereign-assets/) [02](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/#bp-do)**Capital** · The laurels· Capital Architecture ## 15 instruments. Highland water royalties, and loans and grants for lowland water, power, schools, health and farms. Bonds, guarantees, swaps and loans that raise capital against what Lesotho owns, every line sourced. [Capital Architecture](https://perfectnations.com/capital-architecture/) The record in figures * **M4.78bn**Lesotho Highlands Water Project royalties expected for 2025/26, “exceptionally high”; M4.95 billion budgeted for 2026/27[Budget Speech, 2026](https://www.rsl.org.ls/sites/default/files/2026-02/2026-27%20Budget%20Speech%2018-02-2026%20.pdf) * **M22.48bn**Total public debt, 52.9% of GDP, end December 2025, down from 54.5% a quarter earlier; the Budget Speech gives M22.7 billion, 50 percent of GDP, at end January 2026[Central Bank of Lesotho, 2026](https://centralbank.org.ls/wp-content/uploads/Q4-2025-Quarterly-Review.pdf) * **$364M**U.S.–Lesotho health cooperation, five years from April 2026, signed December 2025[Lesotho News Agency, 2025](https://www.lena.gov.ls/lesotho-usa-sign-health-cooperation-mou/) * **$78M**Lesotho Lowlands Water Development Project, Phase II: water for about 115,000 people in Maputsoe and Hlotse[World Bank, 2019](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2019/05/17/new-world-bank-financing-to-provide-improved-water-supply-to-thousands-of-basotho-and-businesses) * **$50M**ASCENT–Lesotho: electricity for nearly 147,000 residents and businesses, 2026[World Bank, 2026](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/05/27/world-bank-group-helps-lesotho-to-expand-energy-access-and-economic-opportunity-for-nearly-147-000-people) Capital already committed * GovernmentActiveLesotho Highlands Water Project royaltiesM4.78bn * Treaty with South Africa · Water transfers · Fiscal year 2025/26 * Expected for 2025/26; M4.95 billion budgeted for 2026/27 * Royalties paid by South Africa for about 780 million cubic metres of water a year transferred from the highlands. The Budget Speech of 18 February 2026 expects“ exceptionally high” royalties of M4.78 billion to give 2025/26 a surplus, and budgets M4.95 billion for 2026/27. In March 2026 Lesotho called for new terms( News24). * Government of LesothoGovernment of South Africa * [Source](https://www.rsl.org.ls/sites/default/files/2026-02/2026-27%20Budget%20Speech%2018-02-2026%20.pdf) * MultilateralSignedAccelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation( ASCENT–Lesotho)$50M * Announced 27 May 2026 · IDA credit · Agreement signed, announced by the Government 19 June 2026 * Electricity for nearly 147,000 residents and businesses * Extends the grid in peri-urban, rural and highland areas, with standalone solar for the last mile and pilots of off-grid power, and supports utility reform and clean cooking. Household access to electricity rose from 7% in 2004 to 59% in 2024; universal access by 2030 needs more than 45,000 connections a year, against about 4,000 a year now. * World Bank * [Source](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/05/27/world-bank-group-helps-lesotho-to-expand-energy-access-and-economic-opportunity-for-nearly-147-000-people) * MultilateralActiveLesotho Education Improvement Project$20M * Approved 1 July 2024 · IDA credit * 189 classrooms, 48 laboratories, more than 100,000 students * Builds 189 classrooms, 1,140 latrines, 48 laboratories and 10 workshops in targeted schools, and strengthens the teaching of foundational skills in the early primary grades. It also funds a national learning assessment in junior secondary school, where education sets Lesotho’s Coverage. * World Bank * [Source](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/07/01/world-bank-boosts-its-support-to-the-afe-education-sector-in-lesotho) * MultilateralActiveCompetitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project$52.5M * Announced 28 June 2022 · $45 million loan · $7.5 million Global Risk Financing Facility grant * At least 500 entrepreneurs and SMEs, half of them owned by women * Gives micro, small and medium enterprises better access to business services and finance, with a focus on women and young people, and digitalises government services to business. At least 15,000 small firms are to become more resilient to climate and other shocks. * World Bank * [Source](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/06/28/world-bank-approves-45-million-to-support-entrepreneurship-and-women-and-youth-owned-smes-in-lesotho) * MultilateralActivePathways to Sustainable Livelihoods Project$26.5M * Approved June 2022 · Loan * Livelihoods for poor households * Makes selected social assistance programmes more efficient and fair, and digitalises the social protection system of the Ministry of Social Development. It helps poor and vulnerable households move from support into productive work. * World Bank * [Source](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/06/27/lesotho-world-bank-approves-a-26-5-million-loan-to-strengthen-the-livelihoods-of-the-most-vulnerable) * MultilateralActiveNutrition and Health System Strengthening Project$26.4M * Approved 25 June 2021 · $22 million IDA credit · $4.4 million grant * Nutrition and primary care in high-stunting districts * Funds community nutrition services where stunting is highest, village health workers who track children’s growth, and quality grants to every public and Christian Health Association of Lesotho facility. It carries the National Food and Nutrition Strategy. * World Bank * [Source](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/06/25/lesotho-to-strengthen-its-nutrition-and-health-system-with-world-bank-support) * MultilateralActiveRenewable Energy and Energy Access Project$52.9M * Announced 30 January 2020 · $40 million IDA · $12.9 million Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program * Mini-grids for up to 40 communities * Upgrades the hydro mini-grid at Semonkong, extends the grid to the economic zones and builds mini-grids where they are the least-cost option. It also sets the legal and regulatory frame for private mini-grids. * World Bank * [Source](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/01/30/new-world-bank-funding-to-boost-lesothos-efforts-to-improve-electricity-access-to-thousands-of-basotho) * MultilateralSignedLesotho Lowlands Water Development Project, Botha-Bothe region $30M * Approved 11 December 2019 · Signed 22 September 2020 · Total cost $108.7 million * Water for about 118,000 people * New water delivery and treatment works, house connections and water points in the Botha-Bothe region. Co-financed with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, BADEA, the Kuwait Fund and the Saudi Fund for Development. * OPEC Fund * [Source](https://opecfund.org/operations/list/lesotho-lowlands-water-development-project-botha-bothe-region) * MultilateralActiveSmallholder Agriculture Development Project II$52M * Announced 30 May 2019 · $50 million IDA · $2 million Japan PHRD grant · Seven years, all ten districts * Farm incomes and household nutrition * Matching grants for on-farm and post-harvest investment, training in climate- smart farming, and nutrition education for rural households. At least half of the farmers and agro-processors reached are to be women and young people. * World Bank * [Source](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2019/05/30/lesothos-efforts-towards-commercial-and-climate-resilient-agriculture-get-a-boost-with-52-million-financing) * MultilateralActiveLesotho Lowlands Water Development Project, Phase II$78M * Announced 17 May 2019 · IDA · Parallel financing from the EIB and the European Development Fund * Water for about 115,000 people in Maputsoe and Hlotse * Brings bulk water to the lowland towns of Maputsoe and Hlotse, their industry and the villages along the pipeline. The lowlands are where most Basotho live, and safely managed drinking water reaches 31.3% of citizens. * World Bank * [Source](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2019/05/17/new-world-bank-financing-to-provide-improved-water-supply-to-thousands-of-basotho-and-businesses) * RegionalApprovedLesotho Tax Modernization Project, supplemental financing$4.25M * African Development Fund loan · 2021 · Original project approved November 2017 * E-taxation, e-payment and e-invoicing * Pays for e-taxation, e-payment and e-invoicing systems and links banks and mobile money providers to the Lesotho Revenue Authority. A broader tax base, reaching small businesses and the informal sector, is revenue the nation can spend on the seven standards. * African Development Bank * [Source](https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/lesotho-african-development-fund-extends-425-million-loan-to-modernize-tax-collection-boost-revenue-v2kmf9j4) * RegionalSignedLesotho Lowlands Water Supply Scheme€123M * Signed 26 April 2019 · EIB loan €82 million · EU grant €41 million * At least 300,000 direct beneficiaries, about 15% of the population * River intakes, treatment works, pipelines, a pumping station and distribution networks, with small-scale sanitation and hygiene and a cut in water losses. The EIB and the EU cover more than 60% of the cost, alongside World Bank financing. * European Investment BankEuropean Union * [Source](https://www.eib.org/fr/press/all/2019-111-european-support-gives-lesotho-lowlands-improved-access-to-water) * BilateralWaivedWaiver of two Chinese interest-free loansM214.466M * Protocol signed 9 April 2026 · Loans of 2011 and 2012, due by the end of 2024 * Debt relief on loans for the Manthabiseng Convention Centre and a mushroom project * China waived two interest-free loans with a combined disbursed amount of M214.466 million, under its pledge to cancel such loans due by the end of 2024 for least developed African countries. The Minister of Finance called it crucial relief for the public debt, which carries Lesotho’s spending on schools, clinics and water. * Government of ChinaGovernment of Lesotho * [Source](https://www.lena.gov.ls/lesotho-china-sign-protocol-on-waiving-partial-loans/) * BilateralSignedU.S.–Lesotho health cooperation memorandum of understanding$364M * Signed December 2025 · Five years from April 2026 * Planned investment over five years (M6.18 billion) * Aims to save lives and strengthen Lesotho’s health system over five years. The Budget Speech of February 2026 puts the U.S. disbursement at US$218 million ( M3.5 billion) over five years from April 2026. Lesotho has passed the 95-95-95 HIV targets, at 97-97-99. * U.S. Department of StateGovernment of Lesotho * [Source](https://www.lena.gov.ls/lesotho-usa-sign-health-cooperation-mou/) * BilateralSignedButha-Buthe drinking water system$20M * Loan agreement announced 11 November 2021 · AED 73 million * 350 km of pipelines, 25 pumping stations, 42 tanks * A barrier and intake on the Hololo River, a treatment plant and about 350 km of transmission and distribution lines for Butha-Buthe District and its industry, designed to supply the district to 2045. The Fund expects water-borne illness to fall by half. * Abu Dhabi Fund for Development * [Source](https://www.adfd.ae/en/media-center/news/adfd-provides-aed73-million-to-finance-water-supply-system-in-lesotho) ### The Lesotho Newswire [The Solutions Wire](https://perfectnations.com/state-of-nations/#sn-wire) ![Thabo Mokoena, Nation Steward of Lesotho](https://perfectnations.com/wp-content/ uploads/2026/10/thabo-mokoena-nation-steward-of-lesotho-150x150.png) **Thabo Mokoena**Nation Steward of Lesotho · SI ResearcherLast updated 12 November 2026 * 14 Oct 2026[**Lesotho : un accord avec l’ALSF pour mieux négocier ses grands contrats**](https://www.financialafrik.com/2026/10/14/lesotho-un-accord-avec-lalsf-pour-mieux-negocier-ses-grands-contrats/) Financial Afrik * 21 Jun 2026[**Lesotho signs M900 million World Bank deal covering electricity, skills and nutrition**](https://lesothotribune.co.ls/lesotho-signs-m900-million-world-bank-deal-covering-electricity-skills-and-nutrition/) Lesotho Tribune * 27 May 2026[**World Bank Group Helps Lesotho to Expand Energy Access and Economic Opportunity for Nearly 147,000 People**](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/05/27/world-bank-group-helps-lesotho-to-expand-energy-access-and-economic-opportunity-for-nearly-147-000-people) World Bank * 9 Apr 2026[**Lesotho, China sign protocol on waiving partial loans**](https://www.lena.gov.ls/lesotho-china-sign-protocol-on-waiving-partial-loans) Lesotho News Agency * 28 Mar 2026[**Lesotho wants new deal from SA for its water**](https://www.news24.com/business/climate-future/news/lesotho-wants-new-deal-from-sa-for-its-water-20260328-0437) News24 ## Already working in Lesotho. Independent firms and social enterprises already at work in Lesotho, highlighted by Perfect Nations. None is a partner of Perfect Nations. [Suggest an enterprise](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/contact@perfectnations.com?subject=An%20enterprise%20already%20at%20work%20in%20Lesotho) * Livelihood * ### Select Africa * A microfinance institution lending to civil servants and other low-income earners in Lesotho, Eswatini and Malawi, for small businesses, farming, school costs and homes. Swedfund lent it up to US$15 million in September 2025. * [Swedfund, 2025](https://www.swedfund.se/en/investments-and-projects/select-africa) [03](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/#bp-do)**Solutions** · The seven stars · Perfect Capita ## Perfect Lesotho, _star by star._ **Perfect Capita** is the yearly cost, per person, of lifting everyone above the Living Line in all seven basic living standards, set with Lesotho in its own prices. [How Perfect Capita works](https://perfectnations.com/perfect-capita/) **3.1** Education · furthest from reach3.1% of children read a simple text by the end of primary school; 2016, dated[World Bank, 2016](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.LPV.PRIM?locations=LS) Tap a star for its figure and source. The price of Perfect Lesotho To be set with Lesotho, from its own figures and in its own prices: Perfect Capita times the people of Lesotho, each year. Read more * Food**38.4%**Not food insecure; 61.6% are moderately or severely food insecure [FAO, 2024](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SN.ITK.MSFI.ZS?locations=LS) * Water**31.3%**Safely managed drinking water[WHO/UNICEF, 2024](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS?locations=LS) * Shelter**43.8%**Safely managed sanitation[WHO/UNICEF, 2024](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.SMSS.ZS?locations=LS) * Energy**24.8**About 248 kWh of electricity a person a year, against the Living Line of 1,000; 58% cook with clean fuels (2024)[Ember, 2024](https://ember-energy.org/data/yearly-electricity-data/) * Education**3.1**3.1% of children read a simple text by the end of primary school; 2016, dated[World Bank, 2016](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.LPV.PRIM?locations=LS) * Health**55**WHO service coverage index[WHO, 2023](https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/universal-health-coverage-index?country=~LSO) * Livelihood**43.2%**Above US$4.20 a day; 56.8% live below it, dated[World Bank, 2017](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.LMIC?locations=LS) Perfect Nations estimate, to be confirmed with Lesotho. Figures marked dated rest on surveys more than five years old; lenient measures are marked as such. [The strict measures](https://perfectnations.com/perfect-capita/#pq-measures) Strict measures. Food: share not moderately or severely food insecure (FAO). Water: safely managed drinking water where measured; where it is not, basic water, marked as such. Shelter: the lower of safely managed sanitation and the share outside urban slums. Energy: the lower of electricity per person against 1,000 kWh and clean cooking. Education: the lower of children reading by the end of primary school and lower- secondary completion. Health: WHO service coverage index. Livelihood: share above the stricter of the national poverty line and the World Bank line for the nation’s income group. Each figure links to its source. ### Solutions for Perfect Lesotho [All Solutions](https://perfectnations.com/state-of-nations/#sn-solutions) * **Solution No. 17**9 Nov 2026 * ### 󠀁[Water for Learning](https://perfectnations.com/state-of-nations/#solution-17)󠁿 * The water Lesotho sells to its neighbour returns as literacy in its mountain schools. - **01****The challenge**97% of Basotho children could not read a simple text by the end of primary school, on 2016 data. - **02****What Perfect Nations advises**Lesotho should pledge a fixed share of its Highlands Water royalties to a learning trust that rewards schools as children learn to read, and let Basotho abroad add their savings through a diaspora bond. With super intelligence, reading can be measured in Sesotho and English in every mountain school, so the water that flows to its neighbour returns as literacy at home. * **97%**of Basotho children could not read a simple text, 2016 data * From**Preeti Sinha**President and CEO, Perfect Nations[Read the Solution](https://perfectnations.com/state-of-nations/#solution-17) [Discuss this Solution](https://perfectnations.com/contact/?about=solution-17&country=Lesotho) ![Lesotho in Bloom, nation portrait of Lesotho](https://perfectnations.com/wp-content/ uploads/2026/10/pn-portrait-lesotho-768x768.png) Lesotho in BloomNation Portrait · [Art of Nations](https://perfectnations.com/art-of-nations/) Perfect Nations® · Letters to the NationsLesotho ## Dear Lesotho, You are a nation that already exports its water and is paid for it. … The water earns. Half of you still live below the poverty line. “Your mountains already sell water to a continent. Let the royalty buy food, water and care at home.” Yours in design,**Preeti Sinha**President and CEO, Perfect Nations[Read the full letter](https://perfectnations.com/dear-lesotho/) Work with us · The ReDesign Studio ## The Perfect Lesotho _ReDesign Studio_ One mission, three depths: the same four moves for Lesotho, taken as far toward market as you choose. Read more For the Government of Lesotho, its development partners and investors. Scope and fees are agreed in writing before any work begins. 1. **01**Identify the assets 2. **02**Estimate Perfect Capita 3. **03**Co-design the capital architecture 4. **04**Launch the instruments 1. Mandate 013 hours 2. ### The Nation Briefing 3. A private session for the people who decide. 4. You leave withThe gap, named and sized 5. Read more 6. a. **01**The five sovereign assets on this page, walked through. b. **02**Coverage of 3.1 and the Gap, explained. c. **03**The instruments that could close the Gap, shortlisted. d. **04**The path to market, outlined. 7. [Request a Nation Briefing](https://perfectnations.com/contact/?about=briefing&country=Lesotho) 8. Mandate 023 days 9. ### The Blueprint Lab 10. Your team and ours, working the blueprint together. 11. You leave withThe structure, drawn 12. Read more 13. a. **01**The ledger tested against your ministries’ own data. b. **02**Each of the seven standards costed in local prices. c. **03**One financing structure, drawn with your team. d. **04**A term sheet and the partners to approach. 14. [Plan a Blueprint Lab](https://perfectnations.com/contact/?about=lab&country=Lesotho) 15. Mandate 03End to end 16. ### The Sovereign Mandate 17. Led personally by the President and CEO. 18. You leave withA structure ready for market 19. Read more 20. a. **01**A full sovereign asset ledger, valued and verified. b. **02**Perfect Capita set and agreed with government, with a monitoring plan. c. **03**The full structure: legal form, credit enhancement, guarantees and pricing. d. **04**Taken to investors and development partners, through to close. 21. [Discuss a Sovereign Mandate](https://perfectnations.com/contact/?about=commission&country=Lesotho) ### Co-design it with us Where Basotho and Co-designers design the nation they want to live in. * Writings * #### Write Perfect Lesotho into being. * Up to 1,500 words on your vision of Perfect Lesotho, published with your name. * [Submit your writing](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/contact@perfectnations.com?subject=Writing%20for%20Perfect%20Lesotho&body=Your%20name%2C%20or%20a%20pen%20name%3A%0D%0AWhere%20you%20live%3A%0D%0ATitle%3A%0D%0A%0D%0AYour%20vision%20of%20Perfect%20Lesotho%2C%20and%20the%20economic%20solutions%20to%20achieve%20it%20%28up%20to%201%2C500%20words%29%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AI%20confirm%20that%20this%20is%20my%20own%20original%20writing%2C%20and%20I%20give%20Perfect%20Nations%20permission%20to%20publish%20it%20with%20credit%20to%20me.%0D%0A) * Voices of Perfect Nations Launching soon * #### The local leaders already building Perfect Lesotho. * Great local leaders: honest, dedicated and committed to basic standards of living for all. Every guest answers one question: “What does Lesotho already own, and how could it pay for a decent life for every citizen?” * [Nominate yourself](https://perfectnations.com/contact/?nation=lesotho&topic=nominate-self) [Suggest a guest](https://perfectnations.com/contact/?nation=lesotho&topic=guest) * Co-designers * #### Join the community. * Everyone who shares a vision, a voice or an enterprise here becomes a **Co-designer of Perfect Lesotho**. * [Become a Co-designer](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/lesotho/contact@perfectnations.com?subject=Becoming%20a%20Co-designer%20of%20Perfect%20Lesotho&body=Your%20name%3A%0D%0AWhere%20you%20live%3A%0D%0AHow%20you%20would%20like%20to%20contribute%20%28writing%2C%20a%20voice%20for%20the%20podcast%2C%20an%20enterprise%2C%20your%20expertise%29%3A%0D%0A) The Lesotho ReDesign Studio is open ## Design Perfect Lesotho with us. Share your vision, suggest a guest, or write to us: every message receives a personal reply. [Enter the ReDesign Studio](https://perfectnations.com/design-studio/)[Write to us](https://perfectnations.com/contact/?nation=lesotho) [All 195 nations](https://perfectnations.com/blueprints/) Sources 1. World Bank, World Development Indicators, accessed 12 October 2026: population 2025, urban share 2025, land in agriculture and forest 2024, electricity access 2024, renewable fresh water per person 2022, natural resource rents, renewable share of electricity output 2021. 2. WHO UHC service coverage index, 2023 (WHO Global Health Observatory). WHO/UNICEF JMP basic drinking water (via World Bank). FAO prevalence of undernourishment ( via World Bank). UN-Habitat urban slum share, 2022 (via World Bank). National poverty headcount, latest survey (via World Bank). 3. News24, 28 March 2026: about 780 million m³ a year supplied; royalties about USD 220 million (R3.8 billion). 4. World Bank project pages for each entry of Capital already committed, as linked. The World Bank projects database lists few approvals after 2024; newer operations may be missing. 5. Electricity used per person: Ember, Yearly Electricity Data (2026 release), accessed 12 November 2026. ![Lesotho in Bloom, flag edition: the nation portrait of Lesotho painted with its flag](https://perfectnations.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/pn-portrait-flag-lesotho- 768x768.png) Lesotho in BloomNation Portrait, flag edition · [Art of Nations](https://perfectnations.com/art-of-nations/)