Quick facts
Maseru overview
Maseru (orange) and the other large cities of Lesotho
Maseru lies in Maseru District in Lesotho at 29.32°S, 27.48°E, about 1,552 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Maseru (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Lesotho: the next largest cities are Maputsoe (61,916), Mohale's Hoek (46,593), Mafeteng (45,287). Together, the three largest cities hold 19.5% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Mabote, about 6 km away, followed by Teyateyaneng (32 km).
Lesotho as a whole has a live population of 2,397,993 (+1.1% a year) and ranks #147 of 238 countries — see the Lesotho population page for the full statistics and the Lesotho atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Maseru
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Mabote Berea | 6 km | 38,047 |
| Teyateyaneng Berea | 32 km | 27,272 |
| Mafeteng Mafeteng District | 61 km | 45,287 |
| Maputsoe Leribe | 63 km | 61,916 |
| Hlotse Leribe | 74 km | 43,967 |
| Mohale's Hoek Mohale's Hoek District | 93 km | 46,593 |
| Butha-Buthe Butha-Buthe | 96 km | 40,599 |
| Thaba-Tseka Thaba-Tseka | 111 km | 16,765 |
Largest cities in Lesotho
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MaseruCapital | Maseru District | 359,753 |
| 2 | Maputsoe | Leribe | 61,916 |
| 3 | Mohale's Hoek | Mohale's Hoek District | 46,593 |
| 4 | Mafeteng | Mafeteng District | 45,287 |
| 5 | Hlotse | Leribe | 43,967 |
| 6 | Butha-Buthe | Butha-Buthe | 40,599 |
| 7 | Mabote | Berea | 38,047 |
| 8 | Quthing | Quthing | 33,910 |
| 9 | Teyateyaneng | Berea | 27,272 |
| 10 | Qacha’s Nek | Qacha's Nek District | 25,573 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Maseru?
Maseru has about 359,753 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Maseru the capital of Lesotho?
Yes — Maseru is the national capital of Lesotho.
How big is Maseru compared with the rest of Lesotho?
Its 359,753 residents are 15% of the 2,397,993 people living in Lesotho today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Maseru?
In Maseru District, Lesotho, at latitude -29.32 and longitude 27.48, 1,552 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Mabote (6 km), Teyateyaneng (32 km), Mafeteng (61 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Maseru Population 2026 — Lesotho. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/lesotho/maseru/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/lesotho/maseru/">Maseru Population 2026 — Lesotho</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.