In Lesotho, 234,000 people (15% of the analysed population) are estimated to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse conditions between May–September 2026, rising to 311,000 (20%) during the lean season (October 2026 to March 2027 lean season). Food insecurity drivers include climatic shocks, high food and transport costs, and livestock disease outbreaks, with the anticipated transition to El Niño during the lean season possibly delaying rainfall onset, increasing temperatures, reducing crop and livestock production, and constraining food access. The expected to face the worst deterioration include Berea, Butha-Buthe, Mafeteng, Mokhotlong, and Quthing, from Stressed (IPC Phase 2) to IPC 3 levels. 2026 maize production is also estimated to be 30% below 2025 levels and nearly 50% below the five-year average, largely because of heavy rainfall and waterlogging from April–May.
Underlying vulnerabilities remain severe. Nearly half of the population (49.7%) lives below the national poverty line, concentrated in rural agricultural areas. Malnutrition persists; 36% of children aged two to five years face chronic malnutrition and around 70% of children under five experience iron and vitamin A deficiencies.
Economic pressures continue to erode household resilience. Increasing unemployment is weakening household purchasing power and access to essential goods. A foot and mouth disease outbreak, with a national emergency declaration until March 2027, is further affecting livestock-based livelihoods, trade, incomes, and food security.
(IPC 03/08/2026, FEWS NET 10/08/2026, FAO 24/08/2026, WB accessed 02/09/2026, WFP 05/08/2026)
In Lesotho, 234,000 people (15% of the analysed population) are estimated to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse conditions between May–September 2026, rising to 311,000 (20%) during the lean season (October 2026 to March 2027 lean season). Food insecurity drivers include climatic shocks, high food and transport costs, and livestock disease outbreaks, with the anticipated transition to El Niño during the lean season possibly delaying rainfall onset, increasing temperatures, reducing crop and livestock production, and constraining food access. The expected to face the worst deterioration include Berea, Butha-Buthe, Mafeteng, Mokhotlong, and Quthing, from Stressed (IPC Phase 2) to IPC 3 levels. 2026 maize production is also estimated to be 30% below 2025 levels and nearly 50% below the five-year average, largely because of heavy rainfall and waterlogging from April–May.
Underlying vulnerabilities remain severe. Nearly half of the population (49.7%) lives below the national poverty line, concentrated in rural agricultural areas. Malnutrition persists; 36% of children aged two to five years face chronic malnutrition and around 70% of children under five experience iron and vitamin A deficiencies.
Economic pressures continue to erode household resilience. Increasing unemployment is weakening household purchasing power and access to essential goods. A foot and mouth disease outbreak, with a national emergency declaration until March 2027, is further affecting livestock-based livelihoods, trade, incomes, and food security.
(IPC 03/08/2026, FEWS NET 10/08/2026, FAO 24/08/2026, WB accessed 02/09/2026, WFP 05/08/2026)
