AFSUN Policy Brief: Maseru

Maseru is the capital of the Kingdom of Lesotho, with a
population of approximately 230,000 (2006 Census). The
Urban Food Security Baseline Survey sampled 800
households and 2,737 individuals drawn from the census
urban constituencies numbers 33 and 34, which include the
six peri-urban neighbourhoods of Lithoteng, Qoaling, Ha
Seoli, Ha Shelile, Tsoapo-le-Bolila and Semphetenyane.
These constituencies were purposively selected because it is
known from previous poverty mapping studies that they
contain pockets of extreme levels of poverty in Maseru. The
average household size was found to be four persons who
mostly lived in nuclear and female-headed households. Very
few households (0.4%) were headed by females younger
than 18 years. Seventy percent of households lived in owneroccupied
housing, while the rest lived in rented
accommodation. The household population that was in fulltime
wage work was 18%, which was less than the national
urban average of 30%. There was an almost equal split
between the proportions of people who were born in urban
Maseru (46%) and those born outside, especially from rural
areas (48%).