Population by age group in Lesotho
Lesotho: Population by age group was 88,432 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
88,432
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
157th
of 236 countries
All-time high
92,462
in 2003
All-time low
32,440
in 1958
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population by age group in Lesotho, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, population by age group in Lesotho stood at 88,432.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in Lesotho peaked at 92,462 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 32,440, in 1958.
Lesotho ranks 157th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Population by age group in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 36,799 | — |
| 1951 | 36,072 | -2.0% |
| 1952 | 35,328 | -2.1% |
| 1953 | 34,588 | -2.1% |
| 1954 | 33,884 | -2.0% |
| 1955 | 33,243 | -1.9% |
| 1956 | 32,736 | -1.5% |
| 1957 | 32,465 | -0.8% |
| 1958 | 32,440 | -0.1% |
| 1959 | 32,614 | +0.5% |
| 1960 | 32,974 | +1.1% |
| 1961 | 33,473 | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 34,072 | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 34,742 | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 35,454 | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 36,185 | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 37,046 | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 38,008 | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 38,909 | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 39,767 | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 40,592 | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 41,400 | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 42,224 | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 43,093 | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 44,041 | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 45,122 | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 46,360 | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 47,739 | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 49,296 | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 51,042 | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 52,983 | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 55,111 | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 57,387 | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 59,770 | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 62,216 | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 64,646 | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 66,941 | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 69,085 | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 71,143 | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 73,117 | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 75,011 | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 76,811 | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 78,555 | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 80,254 | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 81,894 | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 83,464 | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 84,953 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 86,474 | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 88,016 | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 89,481 | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 90,759 | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 91,724 | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 92,302 | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 92,462 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 92,263 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 91,733 | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 90,844 | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 89,540 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 87,914 | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 86,169 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 84,521 | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 83,114 | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 82,078 | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 81,631 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 81,940 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 82,045 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 81,787 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 81,968 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 82,550 | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 83,491 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 84,682 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 85,580 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 86,690 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 88,432 | +2.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 88,432 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 495,679, 18% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 88,432 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 418,208, 21% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 34,017 | 32,440 | 36,799 | 10 |
| 1960s | 36,063 | 32,974 | 39,767 | 10 |
| 1970s | 45,091 | 40,592 | 51,042 | 10 |
| 1980s | 63,240 | 52,983 | 73,117 | 10 |
| 1990s | 82,491 | 75,011 | 89,481 | 10 |
| 2000s | 90,571 | 86,169 | 92,462 | 10 |
| 2010s | 82,512 | 81,631 | 84,521 | 10 |
| 2020s | 86,346 | 84,682 | 88,432 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 154 Luxembourg 100,367 compare
- 155 Botswana 98,420 compare
- 156 Macao 96,191 compare
- 158 Guadeloupe 86,714 compare
- 159 Martinique 84,139 compare
- 160 Gambia 80,339 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 population by age group in Lesotho?
- Population by age group in Lesotho was 88,432 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by age group recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 92,462 in 2003.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 32,440 in 1958.
- How does Lesotho rank for population by age group?
- Lesotho ranks 157th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population by age group rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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