Annual change in population in Lesotho
Lesotho: Annual change in population was 25,364 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
25,364 people
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
123rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
45,393 people
in 1985
All-time low
-18,050 people
in 2005
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Lesotho, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, annual change in population in Lesotho stood at 25,364 people.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Lesotho peaked at 45,393 people in 1985 and was at its lowest, -18,050 people, in 2005.
That places Lesotho 123rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in population in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 10,716 people | — |
| 1952 | 11,677 people | +9.0% |
| 1953 | 12,531 people | +7.3% |
| 1954 | 13,424 people | +7.1% |
| 1955 | 14,284 people | +6.4% |
| 1956 | 15,131 people | +5.9% |
| 1957 | 17,357 people | +14.7% |
| 1958 | 19,650 people | +13.2% |
| 1959 | 20,625 people | +5.0% |
| 1960 | 21,558 people | +4.5% |
| 1961 | 22,326 people | +3.6% |
| 1962 | 22,986 people | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 23,555 people | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 24,068 people | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 24,652 people | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 27,785 people | +12.7% |
| 1967 | 32,107 people | +15.6% |
| 1968 | 34,122 people | +6.3% |
| 1969 | 35,092 people | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 36,073 people | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 36,975 people | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 37,821 people | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 38,637 people | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 39,714 people | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 41,230 people | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 39,567 people | -4.0% |
| 1977 | 36,749 people | -7.1% |
| 1978 | 37,278 people | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 38,927 people | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 40,359 people | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 41,543 people | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 42,659 people | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 43,682 people | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 44,578 people | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 45,393 people | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 41,755 people | -8.0% |
| 1987 | 37,255 people | -10.8% |
| 1988 | 36,452 people | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 35,590 people | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 34,261 people | -3.7% |
| 1991 | 32,685 people | -4.6% |
| 1992 | 30,898 people | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 28,518 people | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 25,909 people | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 23,733 people | -8.4% |
| 1996 | 20,983 people | -11.6% |
| 1997 | 15,716 people | -25.1% |
| 1998 | 9,908 people | -37.0% |
| 1999 | 5,190 people | -47.6% |
| 2000 | 681 people | -86.9% |
| 2001 | -3,060 people | -549.3% |
| 2002 | -6,173 people | +101.7% |
| 2003 | -9,626 people | +55.9% |
| 2004 | -13,930 people | +44.7% |
| 2005 | -18,050 people | +29.6% |
| 2006 | -8,014 people | -55.6% |
| 2007 | 8,207 people | -202.4% |
| 2008 | 13,274 people | +61.7% |
| 2009 | 14,337 people | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 15,372 people | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 17,759 people | +15.5% |
| 2012 | 20,348 people | +14.6% |
| 2013 | 22,146 people | +8.8% |
| 2014 | 23,582 people | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 24,523 people | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 25,810 people | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 26,693 people | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 26,494 people | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 25,803 people | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 26,313 people | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 25,822 people | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 24,563 people | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 25,364 people | +3.3% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 25,364 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 167,005 people, 15% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 25,364 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359,940 people, 7% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | -549.3% | 681 people | -3,060 people |
| 2007 | +202.4% | -8,014 people | 8,207 people |
| 2002 | -101.7% | -3,060 people | -6,173 people |
| 2000 | -86.9% | 5,190 people | 681 people |
| 2008 | +61.7% | 8,207 people | 13,274 people |
| 2003 | -55.9% | -6,173 people | -9,626 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15,044 people | 10,716 people | 20,625 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 26,825 people | 21,558 people | 35,092 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 38,297 people | 36,073 people | 41,230 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 40,927 people | 35,590 people | 45,393 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 22,780 people | 5,190 people | 34,261 people | 10 |
| 2000s | -2,235 people | -18,050 people | 14,337 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 22,853 people | 15,372 people | 26,693 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 25,516 people | 24,563 people | 26,313 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 120 El Salvador 29,313 people compare
- 121 Lebanon 29,002 people compare
- 122 Moldova 27,086 people compare
- 124 Costa Rica 23,762 people compare
- 125 Azerbaijan 22,902 people compare
- 126 Solomon Islands 18,939 people compare
More population data for Lesotho
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1905 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1905 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3315 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6353 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 107.36 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 190,191 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 3.4 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Lesotho?
- Annual change in population in Lesotho was 25,364 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 45,393 people in 1985.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -18,050 people in 2005.
- How does Lesotho rank for annual change in population?
- Lesotho ranks 123rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.