Annual population growth in Lesotho
Lesotho: Annual population growth was 25,364 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
25,364
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
123rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
45,393
in 1985
All-time low
-18,050
in 2005
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Lesotho, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, annual population growth in Lesotho stood at 25,364.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in Lesotho peaked at 45,393 in 1985 and was at its lowest, -18,050, 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 population growth in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 10,716 | — |
| 1952 | 11,677 | +9.0% |
| 1953 | 12,531 | +7.3% |
| 1954 | 13,424 | +7.1% |
| 1955 | 14,284 | +6.4% |
| 1956 | 15,131 | +5.9% |
| 1957 | 17,357 | +14.7% |
| 1958 | 19,650 | +13.2% |
| 1959 | 20,625 | +5.0% |
| 1960 | 21,558 | +4.5% |
| 1961 | 22,326 | +3.6% |
| 1962 | 22,986 | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 23,555 | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 24,068 | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 24,652 | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 27,785 | +12.7% |
| 1967 | 32,107 | +15.6% |
| 1968 | 34,122 | +6.3% |
| 1969 | 35,092 | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 36,073 | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 36,975 | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 37,821 | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 38,637 | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 39,714 | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 41,230 | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 39,567 | -4.0% |
| 1977 | 36,749 | -7.1% |
| 1978 | 37,278 | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 38,927 | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 40,359 | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 41,543 | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 42,659 | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 43,682 | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 44,578 | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 45,393 | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 41,755 | -8.0% |
| 1987 | 37,255 | -10.8% |
| 1988 | 36,452 | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 35,590 | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 34,261 | -3.7% |
| 1991 | 32,685 | -4.6% |
| 1992 | 30,898 | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 28,518 | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 25,909 | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 23,733 | -8.4% |
| 1996 | 20,983 | -11.6% |
| 1997 | 15,716 | -25.1% |
| 1998 | 9,908 | -37.0% |
| 1999 | 5,190 | -47.6% |
| 2000 | 681 | -86.9% |
| 2001 | -3,060 | -549.3% |
| 2002 | -6,173 | +101.7% |
| 2003 | -9,626 | +55.9% |
| 2004 | -13,930 | +44.7% |
| 2005 | -18,050 | +29.6% |
| 2006 | -8,014 | -55.6% |
| 2007 | 8,207 | -202.4% |
| 2008 | 13,274 | +61.7% |
| 2009 | 14,337 | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 15,372 | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 17,759 | +15.5% |
| 2012 | 20,348 | +14.6% |
| 2013 | 22,146 | +8.8% |
| 2014 | 23,582 | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 24,523 | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 25,810 | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 26,693 | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 26,494 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 25,803 | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 26,313 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 25,822 | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 24,563 | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 25,364 | +3.3% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 25,364 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 167,005, 15% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 25,364 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359,940, 7% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth 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 | -3,060 |
| 2007 | +202.4% | -8,014 | 8,207 |
| 2002 | -101.7% | -3,060 | -6,173 |
| 2000 | -86.9% | 5,190 | 681 |
| 2008 | +61.7% | 8,207 | 13,274 |
| 2003 | -55.9% | -6,173 | -9,626 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15,044 | 10,716 | 20,625 | 9 |
| 1960s | 26,825 | 21,558 | 35,092 | 10 |
| 1970s | 38,297 | 36,073 | 41,230 | 10 |
| 1980s | 40,927 | 35,590 | 45,393 | 10 |
| 1990s | 22,780 | 5,190 | 34,261 | 10 |
| 2000s | -2,235 | -18,050 | 14,337 | 10 |
| 2010s | 22,853 | 15,372 | 26,693 | 10 |
| 2020s | 25,516 | 24,563 | 26,313 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 120 El Salvador 29,313 compare
- 121 Lebanon 29,002 compare
- 122 Moldova 27,086 compare
- 124 Costa Rica 23,762 compare
- 125 Azerbaijan 22,902 compare
- 126 Solomon Islands 18,939 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)
- Population growth rate -0.201 (2100)
- Population density 107.36 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 190,191 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.201 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 2.27 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Lesotho?
- Annual population growth in Lesotho was 25,364 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 45,393 in 1985.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -18,050 in 2005.
- How does Lesotho rank for annual population growth?
- Lesotho ranks 123rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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