Quick facts
Lesotho population overview
Lesotho is the 45th most populous of 58 countries and territories in Africa. The United Nations put the population at 2,377,064 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +1.1% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 72 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 54,910 births (23.1 per 1,000 people) and 24,246 deaths (10.2 per 1,000), and net emigration of roughly 4,754 people. The infant mortality rate is 51.3 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 736,500 in 1960 to 2,363,325 in 2025 — a change of +220.9%, or +1.8% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 22.1 years; life expectancy at birth is 58.6 years; women have on average 2.7 children (2024, above the 2.1 replacement level); 34.1% of residents are under 15 and 3.9% are 65 or older (2025); 44.7% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Maseru. Lesotho covers 30,360 km², giving a population density of about 79 people per km². GDP was $2.57B in 2025 — about $1,089 per person (World Bank classification: lower middle income).
Lesotho population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #147 of 238 → | 2,397,993 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 2,377,064 |
| World rank | #147 of 238 |
| Rank in Africa | #45 of 58 |
| Share of world population | 0.029% |
| Annual growth rate #91 of 238 → | +1.1% |
| Births per year est. | 54,910 |
| Deaths per year est. | 24,246 |
| Net migration per year est. · #183 of 238 → | -4,754 |
| Birth rate #56 of 216 → | 23.1 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #29 of 216 → | 10.2 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #12 of 238 → | 51.3 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #179 of 238 → | 95.2 males per 100 females |
| Median age #184 of 238 → | 22.1 years |
| Life expectancy #212 of 216 → | 58.6 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #68 of 216 → | 2.7 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #162 of 216 → | 44.7% |
| Surface area 2023 · #138 of 215 → | 30,360 km² |
| Population density #121 of 215 → | 79 per km² |
| Capital | Maseru |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #186 of 212 → | $2.57B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #195 of 212 → | $1,089 |
| Income group World Bank | Lower middle income |
Lesotho population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 2,397,993 | – | – |
| 2025 | 2,363,325 | +25,902 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | +25,951 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | +25,362 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | +24,568 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | +25,815 | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | +131,116 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | +108,360 | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | +43,175 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | -50,837 | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | +52,476 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | +141,741 | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | +185,317 | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | +217,858 | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | +192,878 | +3% |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | +194,370 | +3.6% |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | +165,183 | +3.6% |
| 1965 | 854,090 | +117,590 | +3% |
| 1960 | 736,500 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Lesotho
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maseru Capital | 359,753 | 15% |
| 2 | Maputsoe | 61,916 | 2.6% |
| 3 | Mohale's Hoek | 46,593 | 1.9% |
| 4 | Mafeteng | 45,287 | 1.9% |
| 5 | Hlotse | 43,967 | 1.8% |
| 6 | Butha-Buthe | 40,599 | 1.7% |
| 7 | Mabote | 38,047 | 1.6% |
| 8 | Quthing | 33,910 | 1.4% |
Maseru is the largest city with 359,753 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Lesotho cities →
About Lesotho
Population over time
- From 736,500 in 1960 to 2,397,993 today — up 225.6%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +1.2% per year.
- World rank: Population #147 of 238 · Population growth rate #91 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 57.8 years (2024), up 7.6 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 2.7 births per woman (2024) — above the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #212 of 216 · Fertility rate #68 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 23.8 births vs 10.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 13.3 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #56 of 216 · Death rate #29 of 216.
Age structure
- 34.1% of the population is under 15 and 3.9% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has shrunk from 4.5% in 1960 — the population is getting younger.
- World rank: Population under 15 #54 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #168 of 216 · Median age #184 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 1 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions are at or near their historical peak.
- Per person: 0.43 t in 2024, vs 0.07 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #160 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #166 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 9.73 kg of oil equivalent per person (2007), down 31.5% since 2004.
- Renewables supplied 34.9% of final energy in 2022 (-17.1 points since 1990).
- World rank: Renewable energy share #70 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 1.1% of land area (2023).
- Cover has been essentially stable since 1990 (+0 points).
- World rank: Forest area #193 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 44.7% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 3.7% in 1960 (+41 points).
- Still majority-rural — less than half the population lives in cities.
- World rank: Urban population #162 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low — freshwater withdrawals are 0.8% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 2,288 m³ in 2022, down 66.8% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #98 of 183 · Water stress #156 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $2.57B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 9.1% since 2015.
- That works out to $1,089 per person.
- World rank: GDP #186 of 212 · GDP per capita #195 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 16.3% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 4.3% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #14 of 186 · Inflation rate #56 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 51.8% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 70.3 per 100 people (2024).
- World rank: Internet users #160 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #179 of 210.
Lesotho in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Lesotho in 2026?
As of October 2026, Lesotho has an estimated population of 2,397,993. The United Nations estimated 2,377,064 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +1.1% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Lesotho growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +1.1% per year — roughly 72 more people every day. Each year there are about 54,910 births and 24,246 deaths, with net migration of -4,754.
What is the population density of Lesotho?
About 79 people per square kilometre: 2,397,993 people living on 30,360 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Lesotho?
The median age is 22.1 years, and life expectancy at birth is 58.6 years. 34.1% of the population is under 15 and 3.9% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Lesotho rank by population?
Lesotho is the 147th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 45th in Africa, with 0.029% of the global population.
How has the population of Lesotho changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 736,500; by 2025 it had grown to 2,363,325 (+220.9%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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SloveniaCite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Lesotho Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/lesotho/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/lesotho/">Lesotho Population 2026 — Live Counter</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.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+1.1%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.