Net migration metrics in Lesotho
Lesotho: Net migration metrics was -5,168 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
-5,168
Change on year
up 14.2%
World rank
168th
of 236 countries
All-time high
10,605
in 1970
All-time low
-35,679
in 2005
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Net migration metrics in Lesotho, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration metrics in Lesotho is -5,168, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 14.2% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration metrics in Lesotho peaked at 10,605 in 1970 and was at its lowest, -35,679, in 2005.
That places Lesotho 168th 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.
Net migration metrics in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | -986 | — |
| 1951 | -1,071 | +8.6% |
| 1952 | -1,153 | +7.7% |
| 1953 | -1,228 | +6.5% |
| 1954 | -1,311 | +6.8% |
| 1955 | -1,380 | +5.3% |
| 1956 | -1,436 | +4.1% |
| 1957 | 1,291 | -189.9% |
| 1958 | 1,503 | +16.4% |
| 1959 | 1,808 | +20.3% |
| 1960 | 1,989 | +10.0% |
| 1961 | 2,100 | +5.6% |
| 1962 | 2,172 | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 2,220 | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 2,198 | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 2,239 | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 7,248 | +223.7% |
| 1967 | 9,734 | +34.3% |
| 1968 | 10,108 | +3.8% |
| 1969 | 10,465 | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 10,605 | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 10,563 | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 10,386 | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 10,183 | -2.0% |
| 1974 | 9,972 | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 9,723 | -2.5% |
| 1976 | 2,986 | -69.3% |
| 1977 | 746 | -75.0% |
| 1978 | 1,047 | +40.3% |
| 1979 | 1,285 | +22.7% |
| 1980 | 1,361 | +5.9% |
| 1981 | 1,307 | -4.0% |
| 1982 | 1,281 | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 1,253 | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 1,199 | -4.3% |
| 1985 | 1,222 | +1.9% |
| 1986 | -7,501 | -713.8% |
| 1987 | -10,946 | +45.9% |
| 1988 | -11,028 | +0.7% |
| 1989 | -11,207 | +1.6% |
| 1990 | -11,598 | +3.5% |
| 1991 | -12,114 | +4.4% |
| 1992 | -12,707 | +4.9% |
| 1993 | -13,347 | +5.0% |
| 1994 | -13,953 | +4.5% |
| 1995 | -14,588 | +4.6% |
| 1996 | -17,042 | +16.8% |
| 1997 | -22,396 | +31.4% |
| 1998 | -23,299 | +4.0% |
| 1999 | -24,610 | +5.6% |
| 2000 | -26,220 | +6.5% |
| 2001 | -27,874 | +6.3% |
| 2002 | -29,924 | +7.4% |
| 2003 | -31,723 | +6.0% |
| 2004 | -33,530 | +5.7% |
| 2005 | -35,679 | +6.4% |
| 2006 | -11,416 | -68.0% |
| 2007 | -5,179 | -54.6% |
| 2008 | -5,392 | +4.1% |
| 2009 | -5,599 | +3.8% |
| 2010 | -5,886 | +5.1% |
| 2011 | -6,118 | +3.9% |
| 2012 | -6,425 | +5.0% |
| 2013 | -6,659 | +3.6% |
| 2014 | -6,877 | +3.3% |
| 2015 | -7,087 | +3.1% |
| 2016 | -6,766 | -4.5% |
| 2017 | -6,850 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | -6,892 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | -6,896 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | -3,449 | -50.0% |
| 2021 | -3,449 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -6,023 | +74.6% |
| 2023 | -5,168 | -14.2% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's -5,168 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -6,004, 86% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's -5,168 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -3,998, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration metrics 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | -713.8% | 1,222 | -7,501 |
| 1966 | +223.7% | 2,239 | 7,248 |
| 1957 | +189.9% | -1,436 | 1,291 |
| 1977 | -75.0% | 2,986 | 746 |
| 2022 | -74.6% | -3,449 | -6,023 |
| 2006 | +68.0% | -35,679 | -11,416 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | -396.3 | -1,436 | 1,808 | 10 |
| 1960s | 5,047 | 1,989 | 10,465 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6,750 | 746 | 10,605 | 10 |
| 1980s | -3,306 | -11,207 | 1,361 | 10 |
| 1990s | -16,565 | -24,610 | -11,598 | 10 |
| 2000s | -21,254 | -35,679 | -5,179 | 10 |
| 2010s | -6,646 | -7,087 | -5,886 | 10 |
| 2020s | -4,522 | -6,023 | -3,449 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 165 Kazakhstan -4,822 compare
- 166 Liberia -5,002 compare
- 167 Honduras -5,044 compare
- 169 Yemen -5,233 compare
- 170 North Macedonia -5,597 compare
- 171 East Timor -5,620 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 net migration metrics in Lesotho?
- Net migration metrics in Lesotho was -5,168 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 10,605 in 1970.
- What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -35,679 in 2005.
- How does Lesotho rank for net migration metrics?
- Lesotho ranks 168th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net migration metrics rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. 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 Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).