Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Lesotho
Lesotho: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 27 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Lesotho, 1971–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Lesotho stood at 27.
The figure is up 8.0% on the previous year and up 68.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Lesotho peaked at 310 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1986.
Lesotho ranks 170th of 205 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 60 | — |
| 1974 | 110 | +83.3% |
| 1975 | 310 | +181.8% |
| 1977 | 90 | -71.0% |
| 1978 | 160 | +77.8% |
| 1979 | 160 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 70 | -56.2% |
| 1981 | 80 | +14.3% |
| 1986 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1989 | 5 | — |
| 1990 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 55 | +1000.0% |
| 2001 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2002 | 5 | — |
| 2003 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 5 | — |
| 2007 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 10 | +100.0% |
| 2014 | 16 | +60.0% |
| 2015 | 16 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 5 | -68.8% |
| 2017 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 2018 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12 | +100.0% |
| 2023 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 25 | +108.3% |
| 2025 | 27 | +8.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 27 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,568, 0% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 27 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12,726, 0% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +1000.0% | 5 | 55 |
| 1975 | +181.8% | 110 | 310 |
| 2024 | +108.3% | 12 | 25 |
| 1986 | -100.0% | 80 | 0 |
| 2001 | -100.0% | 55 | 0 |
| 2005 | -100.0% | 5 | 0 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 148.33 | 60 | 310 | 6 |
| 1980s | 38.75 | 0 | 80 | 4 |
| 1990s | 21.67 | 5 | 55 | 3 |
| 2000s | 3.89 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| 2010s | 8 | 5 | 16 | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.67 | 6 | 27 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
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 refugee population by country or territory of origin in Lesotho?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Lesotho was 27 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 310 in 1975.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1986.
- How does Lesotho rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Lesotho ranks 170th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.8%. 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 Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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