Lesotho has a population of around 2.2 million. About 25% of the population lives in urban areas and 75% in rural areas. Population density is lower in the highlands than in the lowlands to the west.

99.7% of the population speaks Sesotho as their first language. The official languages are Sesotho and English. Schooling is conducted in Sesotho through grade 3, after which lessons switch to English from grade 4 onward. As a result, most Basotho speak English fluently — though since there's little need to use English in everyday life, it's probably best thought of as a language of education.

A side note

Sesotho is also one of South Africa's 11 official languages. Sesotho speakers are estimated to number around 3.8 million, concentrated mainly in the Free State province (formerly part of Lesotho) — far more than the population of Lesotho itself.

In a small village in Berea District, east of Maseru District.

About 95% of Lesotho's population is Christian, of which roughly 50% are Protestant and about 40% are Catholic. The remainder follow traditional beliefs, have no religious affiliation, or belong to other faiths. Muslims make up only a tiny fraction.

A Catholic cathedral in Maseru

As in other southern African countries, the education system is based on the British model. Primary School runs for seven years, from grade 1 to grade 7, and High School runs for five years, from grade 8 to grade 12; there is no equivalent of Japan's junior high school. Compulsory education runs through the second year of high school, the same total length as in Japan. After finishing high school, students either enter the workforce or go on to tertiary education — either a three-year college or a four-year university. There are no university entrance exams; placement is based on high school grades. Lesotho invests more than 12% of its GDP in education, and its literacy rate is very high compared with other African countries.

As in Britain, graduation ceremonies feature the classic gown and mortarboard.