Share of the population living in cities in Lesotho

Lesotho: Share of the population living in cities 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 the population living in cities 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

Lesotho recorded 12.39 for share of the population living in cities in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.

That represents a change of up 12.3% over ten years.

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

That places Lesotho 186th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Share of the population living in cities in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Share of the population living in cities 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 the population living in cities in Lesotho?
Share of the population living in cities in Lesotho was 12.39 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of the population living in cities recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 12.39 in 2020.
What is the lowest share of the population living in cities recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1950.
How does Lesotho rank for share of the population living in cities?
Lesotho ranks 186th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of the population living in cities 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 the population living in cities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population living in cities
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