Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Lesotho

Lesotho: Share of population living in cities towns and villages was 12.39 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
12.39
World rank
186th
of 236 countries
All-time high
12.39
in 2020
All-time low
0
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Lesotho, 1950–2020

02.557.51012.51950198520201950: 01955: 01960: 01965: 01970: 01975: 01980: 5.61985: 8.81990: 9.71995: 10.42000: 10.62005: 10.92010: 112015: 11.12020: 12.4

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2020, share of population living in cities towns and villages in Lesotho stood at 12.39. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living in cities towns and villages in Lesotho peaked at 12.39 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1950.

Lesotho ranks 186th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Lesotho, 1950 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1950 0 —
1955 0 —
1960 0 —
1965 0 —
1970 0 —
1975 0 —
1980 5.58 —
1985 8.84 +58.5%
1990 9.71 +9.8%
1995 10.38 +6.9%
2000 10.6 +2.2%
2005 10.92 +3.1%
2010 11.03 +1.0%
2015 11.08 +0.5%
2020 12.39 +11.8%

Lesotho compared with similar countries

  • Lesotho's 12.39 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.18, 32% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • Lesotho's 12.39 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.31, 33% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 0 0 0 2
1960s 0 0 0 2
1970s 0 0 0 2
1980s 7.21 5.58 8.84 2
1990s 10.04 9.71 10.38 2
2000s 10.76 10.6 10.92 2
2010s 11.06 11.03 11.08 2
2020s 12.39 12.39 12.39 1

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 183 Uganda 14.84 compare
  2. 184 Slovakia 14.16 compare
  3. 185 Rwanda 13.97 compare
  4. 187 Papua New Guinea 10.95 compare
  5. 188 Malawi 10.82 compare
  6. 189 Laos 4.51 compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living in cities towns and villages in Lesotho?
Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Lesotho was 12.39 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of population living in cities towns and villages recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 12.39 in 2020.
What is the lowest share of population living in cities towns and villages recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1950.
How does Lesotho rank for share of population living in cities towns and villages?
Lesotho ranks 186th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population living in cities towns and villages rising or falling in Lesotho?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.3%. 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 Share of population living in cities towns and villages. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 12 November 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-in-cities-towns-and-villages/lesotho/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in cities towns and villages
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 3,540 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed