Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 12.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lesotho, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lesotho stood at 12.4%. 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 rural areas in Lesotho peaked at 12.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, 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 rural areas in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 5.6% | — |
| 1985 | 8.8% | +58.5% |
| 1990 | 9.7% | +9.8% |
| 1995 | 10.4% | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 10.6% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 10.9% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 11.0% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 11.1% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 12.4% | +11.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 7.2% | 5.6% | 8.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 10.0% | 9.7% | 10.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.8% | 10.6% | 10.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.1% | 11.0% | 11.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.4% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 1 |
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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lesotho?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lesotho was 12.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Lesotho ranks 186th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas 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 European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.