Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate was 3.4 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.4 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
31st
of 234 countries
All-time high
20.42 % change on previous year
in 1960
All-time low
2.41 % change on previous year
in 2005
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Lesotho, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Lesotho is 3.4 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Lesotho peaked at 20.42 % change on previous year in 1960 and was at its lowest, 2.41 % change on previous year, in 2005.
That places Lesotho 31st out of 234 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 2.63 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | 4.17 % change on previous year | +58.3% |
| 1953 | 5.4 % change on previous year | +29.6% |
| 1954 | 6.34 % change on previous year | +17.4% |
| 1955 | 6.98 % change on previous year | +10.1% |
| 1956 | 7.8 % change on previous year | +11.8% |
| 1957 | 12.57 % change on previous year | +61.2% |
| 1958 | 17.99 % change on previous year | +43.1% |
| 1959 | 20.2 % change on previous year | +12.3% |
| 1960 | 20.42 % change on previous year | +1.1% |
| 1961 | 19.47 % change on previous year | -4.7% |
| 1962 | 17.92 % change on previous year | -8.0% |
| 1963 | 16.11 % change on previous year | -10.1% |
| 1964 | 14.2 % change on previous year | -11.9% |
| 1965 | 12.28 % change on previous year | -13.5% |
| 1966 | 10.82 % change on previous year | -11.9% |
| 1967 | 10.76 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 11.03 % change on previous year | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 10.75 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 10.22 % change on previous year | -4.9% |
| 1971 | 9.5 % change on previous year | -7.1% |
| 1972 | 8.62 % change on previous year | -9.2% |
| 1973 | 7.62 % change on previous year | -11.5% |
| 1974 | 6.54 % change on previous year | -14.2% |
| 1975 | 5.38 % change on previous year | -17.7% |
| 1976 | 3.87 % change on previous year | -28.1% |
| 1977 | 3.06 % change on previous year | -20.9% |
| 1978 | 2.99 % change on previous year | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 3.01 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 3.01 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 3 % change on previous year | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 3 % change on previous year | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 2.99 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 2.99 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 2.99 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 2.8 % change on previous year | -6.3% |
| 1987 | 3.68 % change on previous year | +31.4% |
| 1988 | 5.16 % change on previous year | +40.2% |
| 1989 | 6.23 % change on previous year | +20.7% |
| 1990 | 6.88 % change on previous year | +10.5% |
| 1991 | 7.17 % change on previous year | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 7.15 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 6.84 % change on previous year | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 6.33 % change on previous year | -7.5% |
| 1995 | 5.68 % change on previous year | -10.3% |
| 1996 | 4.89 % change on previous year | -13.9% |
| 1997 | 4.17 % change on previous year | -14.6% |
| 1998 | 3.67 % change on previous year | -12.1% |
| 1999 | 3.29 % change on previous year | -10.3% |
| 2000 | 2.99 % change on previous year | -9.1% |
| 2001 | 2.79 % change on previous year | -6.7% |
| 2002 | 2.67 % change on previous year | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 2.58 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 2.48 % change on previous year | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 2.41 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 3.13 % change on previous year | +29.7% |
| 2007 | 4.23 % change on previous year | +35.2% |
| 2008 | 4.74 % change on previous year | +12.0% |
| 2009 | 4.98 % change on previous year | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 5.16 % change on previous year | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 5.36 % change on previous year | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 5.54 % change on previous year | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 5.63 % change on previous year | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 5.68 % change on previous year | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 5.67 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 5.44 % change on previous year | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 4.16 % change on previous year | -23.4% |
| 2018 | 4.11 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 3.97 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 3.89 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 3.76 % change on previous year | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 3.61 % change on previous year | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 3.55 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 3.49 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 3.4 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 3.4 % change on previous year is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.77 % change on previous year, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 3.4 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.42 % change on previous year, 99% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | +61.2% | 7.8 % change on previous year | 12.57 % change on previous year |
| 1952 | +58.3% | 2.63 % change on previous year | 4.17 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9.34 % change on previous year | 2.63 % change on previous year | 20.2 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 14.38 % change on previous year | 10.75 % change on previous year | 20.42 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.08 % change on previous year | 2.99 % change on previous year | 10.22 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.59 % change on previous year | 2.8 % change on previous year | 6.23 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.61 % change on previous year | 3.29 % change on previous year | 7.17 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.3 % change on previous year | 2.41 % change on previous year | 4.98 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.07 % change on previous year | 3.97 % change on previous year | 5.68 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.62 % change on previous year | 3.4 % change on previous year | 3.89 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 28 South Sudan 3.52 % change on previous year compare
- 29 Togo 3.52 % change on previous year compare
- 30 Zimbabwe 3.44 % change on previous year compare
- 32 Nigeria 3.38 % change on previous year compare
- 33 Guinea-Bissau 3.38 % change on previous year compare
- 34 Gambia 3.35 % change on previous year 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, per unit of GDP 0.0004 people per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Lesotho?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Lesotho was 3.4 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 20.42 % change on previous year in 1960.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.41 % change on previous year in 2005.
- How does Lesotho rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate?
- Lesotho ranks 31st out of 234 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.