| Title | Chapter 8: Demographic context of international trade in Lesotho |
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| DOI | https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2025.BK536.08 |
| Landing page | https://books.aosis.co.za/index.php/ob/catalog/book/536 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Denis Nfor Yuni & Tsotang Tsietsi (eds.). Licensee: AOSIS (Pty) Ltd. The moral rights of the editors and authors have been asserted. |
| Publisher | AOSIS |
| Long abstract | This chapter synthesises the literature, including past censuses and midcensual surveys, to map out potential international trade implications given Lesotho’s population dynamics. The literature illustrates that Lesotho’s population growth is not growing rapidly compared to that of some African countries. The literature distinctly indicates that population dynamics have a bearing on economic capacity and trade potential. Evidence shows that Lesotho has been experiencing a youth bulge, which is likely to persist beyond 2031. If Lesotho manages to harness this bulge, it will benefit from growing consumer markets, an increased labour force, increased export potential and enhanced youth entrepreneurship. However, if Lesotho does not generate enough job opportunities to absorb the growing labour force, this could lead to high unemployment rates, social unrest and potentially high emigration, leading to brain drain, which may have negative implications for trade. Data further suggests that Lesotho is likely to start ageing by 2031, presenting a new challenge for the country. Another emergent demographic feature is the feminisation of migration, coupled with longstanding male emigration to South Africa. These could impact trade through changes in consumption patterns, labour force dynamics and cultural exchanges. Lesotho needs proactive policies to address the potential risks associated with the identified demographic phenomena. |
| Print length | 22 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
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Nthatisi Leseba is a lecturer in the Department of Statistics and Demography at NUL, Lesotho. Leseba holds an MA in Population Studies from UKZN, South Africa.
Mapitso Lebuso is a senior lecturer in Demography in the Department of Statistics and Demography at NUL, Lesotho. Lebuso holds an MA in Population Studies from the Regional Institute of Population Studies (RIPS) at the University of Ghana, as well as a BA in Demography and a certificate in Statistics from NUL. Currently, she is a PhD candidate in Population Studies and Demography at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa. Lebuso’s research interests focus on adolescents, morbidity, and maternal health-related issues. She has presented papers, published book chapters, written reports on population-related topics and participated in various professional activities, including supervising undergraduate research and reviewing research papers. Lebuso is a member of several professional organisations, including the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), the Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) and the Population Association for Southern Africa (PASA). Additionally, Lebusohas been involved in data analysis consultancy projects and has provided professional services to the Lesotho government and private institutions.
Tšoamathe ‘Maseribane currently serves as a lecturer in Demography in the Department of Statistics and Demography at NUL, Lesotho. 'Maseribane holds an MA in Population Studies from UKZN, South Africa, and a BA in Economics and Demography from NUL. As an innovative population scientist with a diverse skill set and a passion for data-driven sustainable development, ‘Maseribane has over 20 years of progressive involvement in population and development activities. ‘Maseribane re-joined NUL after working with the UNDP, where she provided strategic leadership for the Lesotho Data Project. Prior to that, she led the M&E division at the Lesotho Millennium Development Agency (LMDA) and collaborated with a team of experts to develop the second Compact for Lesotho as an M&E specialist. Her career also includes roles as a Demography lecturer at NUL, a researcher at the National AIDS Commission (NAC), a senior researcher at the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC), a senior statistician at the Bureau of Statistics and a research consultant for various organisations, including government and United Nations (UN) agencies. Maseribane’s research interests focus on population statistics, particularly in the areas of official statistics and M&E.