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%).