# Maseru > capital of Lesotho **Wikidata**: [Q3909](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3909) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maseru) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/maseru ## Summary Maseru is the capital city of Lesotho, founded in 1869. It serves as the administrative center of the Maseru District and is situated on the Caledon River. As a border city with an elevation of 1,600 meters, it has grown from a settlement to a city with a preferred population count of 343,541 as of 2016. ## Key Facts - **Inception:** 1869 - **Population:** 343,541 (2016-04-10, preferred); 227,880 (2006-04-09); 170,000 (1996-04-14); 115,000 (1986-04-12) - **Area:** 138 square kilometres - **Country:** Lesotho - **Location:** Maseru District - **Coordinates:** -29.31, 27.48 (preferred); -29.31667, 27.48333 - **Elevation:** 1,600 metres above sea level - **Timezone:** UTC+02:00 - **Official Languages:** English, Sesotho - **Local Dialing Codes:** 22, 28 - **Postal Code:** 100 - **UN/LOCODE:** LSMSU - **Demonym:** Masérois (masculine singular), Maséroise (feminine singular) - **HASC:** LS.MS.MS - **GADM ID:** LSO.5_1 - **Instance of:** City, border city, big city - **Capital of:** Lesotho, Maseru District, Basutoland - **Sister Cities:** Austin, Koblenz - **Located next to:** Caledon River ## FAQs **What is the population of Maseru?** According to the most preferred data from 2016, Maseru has a population of 343,541. Previous censuses recorded 227,880 residents in 2006, 170,000 in 1996, and 115,000 in 1986. **Where is Maseru located?** Maseru is located in the Maseru District of Lesotho. It sits on the Caledon River at an elevation of 1,600 meters, with coordinates approximately -29.31 latitude and 27.48 longitude. **When was Maseru founded?** Maseru was founded in 1869. It historically served as the capital of Basutoland and is currently the capital of Lesotho. **What are the linguistic and administrative details of Maseru?** The city's official languages are English and Sesotho. Administratively, it uses the postal code 100, the UN/LOCODE LSMSU, and the HASC code LS.MS.MS. ## Why It Matters Maseru holds significant importance as the political and administrative capital of Lesotho. Its foundation in 1869 marks it as a historical hub, having evolved from the capital of Basutoland to the modern capital of the Kingdom of Lesotho. As a border city on the Caledon River, it plays a crucial role in the region's geography and connectivity. Its status as a big city is supported by a population exceeding 340,000, making it a central point for the nation's demographic and economic activities. The city is also a cultural node, with international ties to Austin and Koblenz and a digital presence across hundreds of Wikipedia languages. ## Notable For - **Capital Status:** Serves as the capital of Lesotho and the Maseru District. - **Border City:** Located on the Caledon River, defining its status as a border city. - **High Elevation:** Situated at 1,600 meters above sea level. - **Historical Foundation:** Established in 1869, serving as the capital of Basutoland. - **International Relations:** Twin city to Austin (USA) and Koblenz (Germany). - **Global Digital Presence:** Covered by Wikipedia in over 100 languages and indexed by major global encyclopedias. ## Body ### History and Foundation Maseru was founded in 1869. It is recognized as a large human settlement, classified as a city, a border city, and a big city. Historically, it functioned as the capital of Basutoland before becoming the capital of the independent Kingdom of Lesotho. ### Geography and Climate The city covers an area of 138 square kilometres. It is situated in the Maseru District at coordinates -29.31, 27.48. A defining geographic feature is its location on the Caledon River. The city's elevation is recorded at 1,600 metres above sea level. It operates in the UTC+02:00 timezone. ### Demographics Population figures for Maseru have shown consistent growth: - 1986-04-12: 115,000 - 1996-04-14: 170,000 - 2006-04-09: 227,880 - 2016-04-10: 343,541 (Preferred value) The city's demonyms are Masérois (masculine singular) and Maséroise (feminine singular). ### Administration and Governance Maseru is the capital of Lesotho and the Maseru District. Key administrative identifiers include: - **HASC:** LS.MS.MS - **GADM ID:** LSO.5_1 - **UN/LOCODE:** LSMSU - **Postal Code:** 100 - **Local Dialing Codes:** 22, 28 ### International Relations The city maintains twin-city relationships with: - Austin - Koblenz ### Infrastructure and Services The city's infrastructure is identified by the OpenStreetMap node ID 30656833 and the GeoNames ID 932505. It has a local dialing code of 22 and 28. ### Cultural and Linguistic Context Maseru's official languages are English and Sesotho. The city has a notable digital footprint: - **Wikipedia:** Available in numerous languages including Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, and many others. - **Subreddit:** r/maseru (English, created 2013-09-17). - **Quora Topic:** Maseru-Lesotho. ### Identifiers and Classification Maseru is cataloged in numerous international databases: - **Wikidata:** Entity described by sources like the Great Soviet Encyclopedia and the Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition. - **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n82125170 - **VIAF ID:** 152469547 - **GND ID:** 4371854-1 - **BabelNet ID:** 00015565n - **Freebase ID:** /m/0fqcf - **Image:** Available on Wikimedia Commons (e.g., Maseru_from_Parliament_Hill.jpg). ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. archINFORM 3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 4. [Source](https://www.citypopulation.de/Lesotho.html) 5. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0 6. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf) 7. [Source](http://www.golesotho.co.za/Other%20Pages/Maseru.html) 8. YSO-Wikidata mapping project 9. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line 10. Enciclopedia Treccani 11. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)