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eventREF E-0096460Revised

4 October 1966

Lesotho celebrates independence from Britain

Updated
1 Oct 2020
Flag of Lesotho

Lesotho is one of the smallest countries in the world, with just over 30 000 km2 of land.  It has a population of approximately two million. The country gained its independence from Britain on 4 October 1966. The day has become known as Lesotho’s National Day and is celebrated yearly. Lesotho is the only country in the world that entirely lies above 1000 metres in elevation. It is also unique in being one of a few countries that are completely surrounded by another country. The Lesotho government is a constitutional monarchy. 

How we know this

  1. 01Infoplease Lesotho[online] Available at:www.infoplease.com[Accessed on 13 September 2013]
  2. 02Africa Lesotho Its people, issues and history[online] Available at: https://africa.co.ls[Accessed on 13 September 2013]

Last updated · 1 Oct 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, September 25). Lesotho celebrates independence from Britain . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096460

South African History Online (2013) 'Lesotho celebrates independence from Britain ', South African History Online, 25 September. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096460 (Accessed: 6 November 2026).

South African History Online, Lesotho celebrates independence from Britain [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096460, (accessed 6 November 2026).

"Lesotho celebrates independence from Britain ." South African History Online, 25 Sept. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096460. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

South African History Online. "Lesotho celebrates independence from Britain ." South African History Online. September 25, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096460.

Also on 4 October

  1. 1836General Piet Cronje, politician, military leader and general during Anglo Boer War is born
  2. 1922The inauguration of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is celebrated
  3. 1929The Table Mountain cableway, one of the biggest tourist attractions in Cape Town, is inaugurated
  4. 1974Oliver Kgadime Matsepe, Northern Sotho writer and poet dies in Tafelkop, Groblersdal district.
  5. 1989Efforts by a pro-sanctions lobbyist group against SA debt rescheduling prove unsuccessful
  6. 1993European Community lifts sanctions against SA

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