Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Lesotho
Lesotho: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 1.06 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Lesotho, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Lesotho is 1.06 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and up 47.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Lesotho peaked at 1.06 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,142 people, in 1950.
That places Lesotho 152nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,876 people | 10,142 people | 22,375 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 54,233 people | 26,944 people | 85,296 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 127,982 people | 94,012 people | 153,443 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 182,930 people | 158,060 people | 218,121 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 309,057 people | 233,134 people | 376,044 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 442,581 people | 387,304 people | 520,162 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 698,809 people | 546,982 people | 852,921 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 970,212 people | 886,084 people | 1.06 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More population data for Lesotho
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.66 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 419 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.66 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.66 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.3% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 2.69 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Lesotho?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Lesotho was 1.06 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 1.06 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,142 people in 1950.
- How does Lesotho rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Lesotho ranks 152nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.