Population in Lesotho
Lesotho: Population was 2.31 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.31 million people
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
148th
of 239 countries
All-time high
2.31 million people
in 2023
All-time low
32,003 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Lesotho, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 2.31 million people for population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Lesotho peaked at 2.31 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 32,003 people, in 1000.
That places Lesotho 148th out of 239 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.
Population in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 32,003 people | — |
| 1100 | 36,575 people | +14.3% |
| 1200 | 41,800 people | +14.3% |
| 1300 | 47,772 people | +14.3% |
| 1400 | 54,597 people | +14.3% |
| 1500 | 62,396 people | +14.3% |
| 1600 | 71,310 people | +14.3% |
| 1700 | 81,497 people | +14.3% |
| 1710 | 83,845 people | +2.9% |
| 1720 | 86,364 people | +3.0% |
| 1730 | 89,075 people | +3.1% |
| 1740 | 92,002 people | +3.3% |
| 1750 | 95,175 people | +3.4% |
| 1760 | 98,627 people | +3.6% |
| 1770 | 102,399 people | +3.8% |
| 1780 | 106,543 people | +4.0% |
| 1790 | 111,118 people | +4.3% |
| 1800 | 276,361 people | +148.7% |
| 1801 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 276,361 people | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 275,555 people | -0.3% |
| 1820 | 273,955 people | -0.6% |
| 1821 | 271,573 people | -0.9% |
| 1822 | 268,419 people | -1.2% |
| 1823 | 264,506 people | -1.5% |
| 1824 | 260,650 people | -1.5% |
| 1825 | 256,850 people | -1.5% |
| 1826 | 253,105 people | -1.5% |
| 1827 | 249,415 people | -1.5% |
| 1828 | 245,779 people | -1.5% |
| 1829 | 242,195 people | -1.5% |
| 1830 | 238,664 people | -1.5% |
| 1831 | 235,185 people | -1.5% |
| 1832 | 231,756 people | -1.5% |
| 1833 | 228,377 people | -1.5% |
| 1834 | 225,048 people | -1.5% |
| 1835 | 221,767 people | -1.5% |
| 1836 | 218,533 people | -1.5% |
| 1837 | 215,347 people | -1.5% |
| 1838 | 212,208 people | -1.5% |
| 1839 | 209,114 people | -1.5% |
| 1840 | 206,065 people | -1.5% |
| 1841 | 203,061 people | -1.5% |
| 1842 | 200,100 people | -1.5% |
| 1843 | 197,183 people | -1.5% |
| 1844 | 194,308 people | -1.5% |
| 1845 | 191,475 people | -1.5% |
| 1846 | 188,684 people | -1.5% |
| 1847 | 185,933 people | -1.5% |
| 1848 | 183,222 people | -1.5% |
| 1849 | 181,429 people | -1.0% |
| 1850 | 180,549 people | -0.5% |
| 1851 | 180,015 people | -0.3% |
| 1852 | 180,380 people | +0.2% |
| 1853 | 181,631 people | +0.7% |
| 1854 | 182,889 people | +0.7% |
| 1855 | 184,154 people | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 185,425 people | +0.7% |
| 1857 | 186,704 people | +0.7% |
| 1858 | 187,990 people | +0.7% |
| 1859 | 189,282 people | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 190,581 people | +0.7% |
| 1861 | 191,888 people | +0.7% |
| 1862 | 193,201 people | +0.7% |
| 1863 | 194,521 people | +0.7% |
| 1864 | 195,848 people | +0.7% |
| 1865 | 197,182 people | +0.7% |
| 1866 | 198,523 people | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 199,872 people | +0.7% |
| 1868 | 201,227 people | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 202,589 people | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 203,958 people | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 205,334 people | +0.7% |
| 1872 | 206,717 people | +0.7% |
| 1873 | 208,107 people | +0.7% |
| 1874 | 209,504 people | +0.7% |
| 1875 | 210,907 people | +0.7% |
| 1876 | 212,318 people | +0.7% |
| 1877 | 213,736 people | +0.7% |
| 1878 | 215,161 people | +0.7% |
| 1879 | 216,593 people | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 218,032 people | +0.7% |
| 1881 | 219,478 people | +0.7% |
| 1882 | 220,931 people | +0.7% |
| 1883 | 222,390 people | +0.7% |
| 1884 | 223,857 people | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 225,331 people | +0.7% |
| 1886 | 226,811 people | +0.7% |
| 1887 | 228,299 people | +0.7% |
| 1888 | 229,793 people | +0.7% |
| 1889 | 231,294 people | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 232,803 people | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 234,318 people | +0.7% |
| 1892 | 235,840 people | +0.6% |
| 1893 | 237,368 people | +0.6% |
| 1894 | 238,904 people | +0.6% |
| 1895 | 240,446 people | +0.6% |
| 1896 | 241,995 people | +0.6% |
| 1897 | 243,551 people | +0.6% |
| 1898 | 245,114 people | +0.6% |
| 1899 | 246,999 people | +0.8% |
| 1900 | 249,213 people | +0.9% |
| 1901 | 251,759 people | +1.0% |
| 1902 | 254,642 people | +1.1% |
| 1903 | 257,868 people | +1.3% |
| 1904 | 261,132 people | +1.3% |
| 1905 | 264,433 people | +1.3% |
| 1906 | 267,772 people | +1.3% |
| 1907 | 271,149 people | +1.3% |
| 1908 | 274,565 people | +1.3% |
| 1909 | 277,966 people | +1.2% |
| 1910 | 281,353 people | +1.2% |
| 1911 | 284,724 people | +1.2% |
| 1912 | 288,078 people | +1.2% |
| 1913 | 291,416 people | +1.2% |
| 1914 | 294,787 people | +1.2% |
| 1915 | 298,193 people | +1.2% |
| 1916 | 301,634 people | +1.2% |
| 1917 | 305,109 people | +1.2% |
| 1918 | 309,840 people | +1.6% |
| 1919 | 314,996 people | +1.7% |
| 1920 | 320,591 people | +1.8% |
| 1921 | 326,640 people | +1.9% |
| 1922 | 333,158 people | +2.0% |
| 1923 | 340,160 people | +2.1% |
| 1924 | 347,309 people | +2.1% |
| 1925 | 354,609 people | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 362,061 people | +2.1% |
| 1927 | 369,671 people | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 377,440 people | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 385,307 people | +2.1% |
| 1930 | 393,273 people | +2.1% |
| 1931 | 401,338 people | +2.1% |
| 1932 | 409,503 people | +2.0% |
| 1933 | 417,768 people | +2.0% |
| 1934 | 426,201 people | +2.0% |
| 1935 | 434,803 people | +2.0% |
| 1936 | 443,580 people | +2.0% |
| 1937 | 452,533 people | +2.0% |
| 1938 | 461,667 people | +2.0% |
| 1939 | 470,890 people | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 480,202 people | +2.0% |
| 1941 | 489,603 people | +2.0% |
| 1942 | 499,092 people | +1.9% |
| 1943 | 508,670 people | +1.9% |
| 1944 | 518,432 people | +1.9% |
| 1945 | 528,380 people | +1.9% |
| 1946 | 538,520 people | +1.9% |
| 1947 | 548,855 people | +1.9% |
| 1948 | 559,387 people | +1.9% |
| 1949 | 569,597 people | +1.8% |
| 1950 | 579,554 people | +1.7% |
| 1951 | 590,270 people | +1.8% |
| 1952 | 601,947 people | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 614,478 people | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 627,902 people | +2.2% |
| 1955 | 642,186 people | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 657,317 people | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 674,674 people | +2.6% |
| 1958 | 694,324 people | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 714,949 people | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 736,507 people | +3.0% |
| 1961 | 758,833 people | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 781,819 people | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 805,374 people | +3.0% |
| 1964 | 829,442 people | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 854,094 people | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 881,879 people | +3.3% |
| 1967 | 913,986 people | +3.6% |
| 1968 | 948,108 people | +3.7% |
| 1969 | 983,200 people | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 1.02 million people | +3.7% |
| 1971 | 1.06 million people | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 1.09 million people | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 1.13 million people | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 1.17 million people | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 1.21 million people | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 1.25 million people | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 1.29 million people | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 1.33 million people | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 1.37 million people | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 1.41 million people | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 1.45 million people | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 1.49 million people | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 1.53 million people | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 1.58 million people | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 1.62 million people | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 1.67 million people | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 1.70 million people | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 1.74 million people | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 1.78 million people | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 1.81 million people | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 1.84 million people | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 1.87 million people | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 1.90 million people | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 1.93 million people | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 1.95 million people | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 1.97 million people | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 1.99 million people | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 2.00 million people | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 2.00 million people | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 2.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2.00 million people | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 1.99 million people | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 1.99 million people | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 1.97 million people | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 1.95 million people | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 1.95 million people | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 1.95 million people | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 1.97 million people | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 1.98 million people | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 2.00 million people | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 2.01 million people | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 2.03 million people | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 2.06 million people | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 2.08 million people | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 2.10 million people | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 2.13 million people | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 2.16 million people | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 2.18 million people | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 2.21 million people | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 2.24 million people | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 2.26 million people | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 2.29 million people | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 2.31 million people | +1.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 2.31 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.20 million people, 19% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 2.31 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 16% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | +148.7% | 111,118 people | 276,361 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 32,003 people | 32,003 people | 32,003 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 36,575 people | 36,575 people | 36,575 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 41,800 people | 41,800 people | 41,800 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 47,772 people | 47,772 people | 47,772 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 54,597 people | 54,597 people | 54,597 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 62,396 people | 62,396 people | 62,396 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 71,310 people | 71,310 people | 71,310 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 81,497 people | 81,497 people | 81,497 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 83,845 people | 83,845 people | 83,845 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 86,364 people | 86,364 people | 86,364 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 89,075 people | 89,075 people | 89,075 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 92,002 people | 92,002 people | 92,002 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 95,175 people | 95,175 people | 95,175 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 98,627 people | 98,627 people | 98,627 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 102,399 people | 102,399 people | 102,399 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 106,543 people | 106,543 people | 106,543 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 111,118 people | 111,118 people | 111,118 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 276,361 people | 276,361 people | 276,361 people | 10 |
| 1810s | 276,280 people | 275,555 people | 276,361 people | 10 |
| 1820s | 258,645 people | 242,195 people | 273,955 people | 10 |
| 1830s | 223,600 people | 209,114 people | 238,664 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 193,146 people | 181,429 people | 206,065 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 183,902 people | 180,015 people | 189,282 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 196,543 people | 190,581 people | 202,589 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 210,234 people | 203,958 people | 216,593 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 224,622 people | 218,032 people | 231,294 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 239,734 people | 232,803 people | 246,999 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 263,050 people | 249,213 people | 277,966 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 297,013 people | 281,353 people | 314,996 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 351,695 people | 320,591 people | 385,307 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 431,156 people | 393,273 people | 470,890 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 524,074 people | 480,202 people | 569,597 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 639,760 people | 579,554 people | 714,949 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 849,324 people | 736,507 people | 983,200 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.19 million people | 1.02 million people | 1.37 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.60 million people | 1.41 million people | 1.78 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.93 million people | 1.81 million people | 2.00 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.98 million people | 1.95 million people | 2.00 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.10 million people | 2.00 million people | 2.21 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.27 million people | 2.24 million people | 2.31 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More population data for Lesotho
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3315 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1905 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 190,191 people (2100)
- Population density 107.36 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6353 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.5533 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Lesotho?
- Population in Lesotho was 2.31 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 2.31 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 32,003 people in 1000.
- How does Lesotho rank for population?
- Lesotho ranks 148th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.