diff --git a/backend/backend.go b/backend/backend.go
index 4e2cb40..20bcf27 100644
--- a/backend/backend.go
+++ b/backend/backend.go
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Backend struct {
-	url     string
-	healthy atomic.Bool
-	weight  int
+	url         string
+	healthy     atomic.Bool
+	weight      int
+	activeConns atomic.Int64
 }
 
 type BackendOptions struct {
@@ -39,6 +40,18 @@ func (b *Backend) SetHealth(isHealthy bool) {
 	b.healthy.Store(isHealthy)
 }
 
+func (b *Backend) IncrActiveConns() {
+	b.activeConns.Add(1)
+}
+
+func (b *Backend) DecrActiveConns() {
+	b.activeConns.Add(-1)
+}
+
+func (b *Backend) GetActiveConns() int64 {
+	return b.activeConns.Load()
+}
+
 type BackendPool struct {
 	bs []*Backend
 	mu sync.RWMutex
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index f09b179..c15861e 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"load-balancer/listener"
 	"load-balancer/proxy"
 	"load-balancer/router"
+	"load-balancer/router/leastconnections"
 	"load-balancer/router/roundrobin"
 	"load-balancer/router/weightedroundrobin"
 	"log"
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@ func main() {
 		algo = roundrobin.NewRoundRobin(bp)
 	case "weighted-round-robin":
 		algo = weightedroundrobin.NewWeightedRoundRobin(bp)
+	case "least_connections":
+		algo = leastconnections.NewLeastConnections(bp)
 	default:
 		panic("unknown algorithm")
 	}
diff --git a/proxy/proxy.go b/proxy/proxy.go
index cf90d3f..a39baee 100644
--- a/proxy/proxy.go
+++ b/proxy/proxy.go
@@ -40,11 +40,16 @@ func (p *Proxy) Handle(conn net.Conn) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("routing: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	backendConn, err := net.DialTimeout("tcp", b.GetUrl(), p.dialTimeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("dial %s: %w", b.GetUrl(), err)
 	}
+
+	b.IncrActiveConns()
+	defer b.DecrActiveConns()
 	defer backendConn.Close()
+
 	err = conn.SetDeadline(time.Now().Add(p.connTimeout))
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("set deadline %s: %w", conn.RemoteAddr(), err)
@@ -53,6 +58,7 @@ func (p *Proxy) Handle(conn net.Conn) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("set deadline %s: %w", backendConn.RemoteAddr(), err)
 	}
+
 	ch := make(chan error, 2)
 	go func() {
 		_, localErr := io.Copy(backendConn, conn)
@@ -68,10 +74,12 @@ func (p *Proxy) Handle(conn net.Conn) error {
 		}
 		ch <- localErr
 	}()
+
 	for range 2 {
 		if err = <-ch; err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/proxy/proxy_test.go b/proxy/proxy_test.go
index 0ef81f5..0d3f8ea 100644
--- a/proxy/proxy_test.go
+++ b/proxy/proxy_test.go
@@ -128,3 +128,65 @@ func TestHandleBackendUnreachable(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("expected error when backend is unreachable")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestActiveConnsIncrementedDuringConnection(t *testing.T) {
+	ln, err := net.Listen("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer ln.Close()
+
+	connEstablished := make(chan struct{})
+	unblock := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		conn, err := ln.Accept()
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		defer conn.Close()
+		close(connEstablished)
+		<-unblock
+	}()
+
+	b := backend.NewBackend(backend.BackendOptions{Url: ln.Addr().String()})
+	p := NewProxy(&stubRouter{b: b}, defaultOpts())
+
+	clientConn, proxyConn := net.Pipe()
+	defer clientConn.Close()
+
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		p.Handle(proxyConn)
+		close(done)
+	}()
+
+	<-connEstablished
+	deadline := time.After(time.Second)
+	for b.GetActiveConns() != 1 {
+		select {
+		case <-deadline:
+			t.Fatalf("timed out waiting for active conn increment, got %d", b.GetActiveConns())
+		default:
+		}
+	}
+
+	close(unblock)
+	clientConn.Close()
+	<-done
+
+	if b.GetActiveConns() != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 0 active conns after Handle returned, got %d", b.GetActiveConns())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestActiveConnsNotIncrementedOnFailedDial(t *testing.T) {
+	b := backend.NewBackend(backend.BackendOptions{Url: "127.0.0.1:1"})
+	p := NewProxy(&stubRouter{b: b}, defaultOpts())
+	_, proxyConn := net.Pipe()
+
+	p.Handle(proxyConn)
+
+	if b.GetActiveConns() != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 0 active conns after failed dial, got %d", b.GetActiveConns())
+	}
+}
diff --git a/router/leastconnections/leastconnections.go b/router/leastconnections/leastconnections.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..981b0b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/router/leastconnections/leastconnections.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package leastconnections
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"load-balancer/backend"
+	"math"
+)
+
+var ErrNoBackends = errors.New("no backends available")
+
+type BackendPool interface {
+	GetPool() []*backend.Backend
+}
+
+type LeastConnections struct {
+	bp BackendPool
+}
+
+func NewLeastConnections(bp BackendPool) *LeastConnections {
+	if bp == nil {
+		panic("backend pool cannot be nil")
+	}
+	return &LeastConnections{bp: bp}
+}
+
+func (ls *LeastConnections) GetBackend() (*backend.Backend, error) {
+	bp := ls.bp.GetPool()
+	var best *backend.Backend
+	bestConns := int64(math.MaxInt64)
+	for _, b := range bp {
+		if !b.IsHealthy() {
+			continue
+		}
+		if activeConns := b.GetActiveConns(); activeConns < bestConns {
+			bestConns = activeConns
+			best = b
+		}
+	}
+	if best == nil {
+		return nil, ErrNoBackends
+	}
+	return best, nil
+}
diff --git a/router/leastconnections/leastconnections_test.go b/router/leastconnections/leastconnections_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..53ce8e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/router/leastconnections/leastconnections_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+package leastconnections
+
+import (
+	"load-balancer/backend"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+type stubPool struct {
+	backends []*backend.Backend
+}
+
+func (s *stubPool) GetPool() []*backend.Backend {
+	return s.backends
+}
+
+func newHealthy(activeConns int64) *backend.Backend {
+	b := backend.NewBackend(backend.BackendOptions{Url: "127.0.0.1:0"})
+	b.SetHealth(true)
+	for range activeConns {
+		b.IncrActiveConns()
+	}
+	return b
+}
+
+func newUnhealthy(activeConns int64) *backend.Backend {
+	b := backend.NewBackend(backend.BackendOptions{Url: "127.0.0.1:0"})
+	for range activeConns {
+		b.IncrActiveConns()
+	}
+	return b
+}
+
+func TestPicksLeastConnectedBackend(t *testing.T) {
+	busy := newHealthy(5)
+	idle := newHealthy(1)
+	lc := NewLeastConnections(&stubPool{backends: []*backend.Backend{busy, idle}})
+
+	got, err := lc.GetBackend()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != idle {
+		t.Error("expected backend with fewest connections")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSkipsUnhealthyBackend(t *testing.T) {
+	unhealthy := newUnhealthy(0)
+	healthy := newHealthy(5)
+	lc := NewLeastConnections(&stubPool{backends: []*backend.Backend{unhealthy, healthy}})
+
+	got, err := lc.GetBackend()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != healthy {
+		t.Error("expected healthy backend even with higher conn count")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReturnsErrNoBackendsWhenAllUnhealthy(t *testing.T) {
+	lc := NewLeastConnections(&stubPool{backends: []*backend.Backend{
+		newUnhealthy(0),
+		newUnhealthy(2),
+	}})
+
+	_, err := lc.GetBackend()
+	if err != ErrNoBackends {
+		t.Errorf("expected ErrNoBackends, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReturnsErrNoBackendsOnEmptyPool(t *testing.T) {
+	lc := NewLeastConnections(&stubPool{backends: []*backend.Backend{}})
+
+	_, err := lc.GetBackend()
+	if err != ErrNoBackends {
+		t.Errorf("expected ErrNoBackends, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPicksOnlyHealthyBackendRegardlessOfConnCount(t *testing.T) {
+	healthy := newHealthy(100)
+	lc := NewLeastConnections(&stubPool{backends: []*backend.Backend{
+		newUnhealthy(0),
+		newUnhealthy(0),
+		healthy,
+	}})
+
+	got, err := lc.GetBackend()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != healthy {
+		t.Error("expected the only healthy backend")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEqualConnectionsReturnsHealthyBackend(t *testing.T) {
+	a := newHealthy(3)
+	b := newHealthy(3)
+	lc := NewLeastConnections(&stubPool{backends: []*backend.Backend{a, b}})
+
+	got, err := lc.GetBackend()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !got.IsHealthy() {
+		t.Error("expected a healthy backend")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConcurrentSafety(t *testing.T) {
+	backends := []*backend.Backend{
+		newHealthy(0),
+		newHealthy(1),
+		newHealthy(2),
+	}
+	lc := NewLeastConnections(&stubPool{backends: backends})
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for range 100 {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			lc.GetBackend()
+		}()
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+}