“We felt like part of the Basotho’: Census gives LGBTIQ+ community a place in national data”

RETHABILE MOHONO

LESOTHO– For the first time, members of Lesotho’s LGBTIQ+ community say they feel seen as part of the nation after being included in the 2026 Population and Housing Census.

“For the first time we felt like we are part of the Basotho,” one LGBTIQ+ member said.

The inclusion of questions recognising gender identity and sexuality in the national census has been welcomed by LGBTIQ+ organisations and human rights advocates, who say being counted could have implications beyond numbers.

“I felt like the country cares about us as well, like we mean something to our country,” the LGBTIQ+ member said.

“I am really happy that maybe there will be more changes after this.”

For a community that has historically been left out of official data and national planning processes, the census represents a moment of recognition.

Bokang Bane, Managing Director of LGBTIQ+ advocacy organisation Queer Worx, said the inclusion of questions on gender identity and sexuality was significant.

“When we talk about leaving no one behind, which is UN motto towards achieving SDGs, and within the NSDP, the very same notion goes, and adopting those into national context and national priorities that says leave no one behind, then this census is the reflection of that,” Bane said.

“The first thing is everyone is counted and hope that really everyone is counted with dignity and transparency, and that is what we hope and believe.”

Bane said being counted meant more than simply appearing in a set of statistics.

“If people are counted, it means they are recognised and they exist within the national planning, they are budgeted for, there are programmes that will identify challenges and the gaps that are there within the grand scheme of national development,” Bane said.

The information, Bane said, could also help show the contribution LGBTIQ+ people make to national development and society, including their participation in the economy.

Queer Worx was involved in the first consultation on the census after being invited by the Bureau of Statistics.

Bane said the consultation itself represented movement towards recognising people who had previously not been adequately counted.

“The census also reflects that true picture of what society looks like in 2026,” Bane said.

Various human rights organisations also celebrated the development, and  support through the Marang and RISE projects had also contributed to progress in advancing equality, justice and inclusion for LGBTI communities across Lesotho.

The organisation highlighted advocacy for the inclusion of LGBTI persons in the National Census, contributions towards the Justice Needs Survey and development of inclusive Legal Aid frameworks.

It also pointed to efforts encouraging participation in democratic and electoral processes, support for Pride Parades and visibility of LGBTI communities, as well as strengthening dialogue, representation and community empowerment.

 ‘More than to be counted’

For Rebokeng Mothobi, a lawyer and Country Lead/Focal Person at the Southern African HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAFAIDS), the inclusion is an important step towards making LGBTIQ+ people more visible in Lesotho’s national development framework.

Mothobi said queer people form part of the general population, but have largely been invisible in official data and national planning processes.

“When a population is not adequately reflected in data, it becomes difficult for government and other stakeholders to understand their circumstances, identify inequalities and design appropriate interventions,” Mothobi said.

Mothobi said the inclusion of questions recognising the queer community could contribute to equality and non-discrimination by recognising that LGBTIQ+ people are part of the population whose experiences and needs deserve consideration in national planning.

But the lawyer warned that inclusion in the census would only have value if the information is properly collected, protected and used.

“LGBTQI+ people must be assured that their privacy and confidentiality will be respected, particularly in a society where stigma, discrimination and violence remain concerns,” Mothobi said.

Questions relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, Mothobi said, should therefore be accompanied by strong safeguards against misuse of personal information.

The inclusion also carries a symbolic significance for a community that has experienced stigma and exclusion.

Mothobi said being recognised in an official national exercise could contribute to a greater sense of belonging and citizenship.

It could also move conversations about LGBTIQ+ people away from assumptions and anecdotal evidence towards evidence-based understanding.

Reliable data could strengthen advocacy for inclusive policies and services while giving civil society organisations better evidence when engaging government and other stakeholders.

But Mothobi stressed that being counted should not be mistaken for having achieved equality.

“The queer community needs more than to be counted; it needs to be meaningfully included in national development.”

Counting must lead to action

The 2026 Population and Housing Census is the largest statistical operation conducted by the Government of Lesotho through the Bureau of Statistics.

The census is conducted every 10 years and follows previous exercises conducted in 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016.

The 2026 census provides an opportunity to update demographic, social, economic and housing information from the 2016 census.

The Bureau of Statistics is mandated under the Bureau of Statistics Act No. 8 of 2001 to conduct population and housing censuses and collect, compile, analyse and disseminate official statistics for national development planning, research, public information and international cooperation.

The census adopted a full-coverage approach, with population and housing units within the defined census scope enumerated throughout Lesotho.

Its reference night was April 11, 2026.

Enumeration has concluded with satisfactory overall numbers, while mop-up operations are being conducted in specific areas, including Maseru and cattle pounds.

More than 8,000 temporary field staff were employed across the country.

The Bureau of Statistics is expected to begin analysing the data, with official results to be announced and published after a comprehensive review has been finalised and approved.

The census is intended to update information on population size, distribution and living conditions, which informs government decisions on healthcare, education and infrastructure, among other areas.

The exercise was spearheaded by the Bureau of Statistics under the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, with technical and financial support from the United Nations Population Fund.

Mothobi said the data could help identify disparities and service gaps affecting LGBTIQ+ people and provide an evidence base for more inclusive health, social protection, education, justice and other public services.

However, data alone will not create change.

“The critical question is whether government and other stakeholders will utilise the information to inform planning, budgeting, policy development and implementation,” Mothobi said.

They said government and stakeholders would need to analyse the data, make appropriate findings available, engage LGBTIQ+ communities in interpreting the results and incorporate the evidence into national policies and programmes.

“I would therefore describe the census inclusion as an important starting point rather than a guarantee of change,” Mothobi said.

“The success of this initiative will ultimately be measured not by whether queer people were counted, but by whether being counted contributes to better policies, more inclusive services and greater protection of their human rights.”

For the LGBTIQ+ community, the census has already delivered something that cannot easily be measured in numbers: a feeling of being recognised as part of the country.

The challenge now is to ensure that recognition does not end with the census.

“Visibility through data must ultimately translate into visibility in policy, resources and service delivery,” Mothobi said.