Urban and rural population in Lesotho
Lesotho: Urban and rural population was 1.06 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.06 million
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
152nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.06 million
in 2025
All-time low
10,142
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Lesotho, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Lesotho is 1.06 million, 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, urban and rural population in Lesotho peaked at 1.06 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,142, 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.
Urban and rural population in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10,142 | — |
| 1951 | 10,409 | +2.6% |
| 1952 | 10,843 | +4.2% |
| 1953 | 11,428 | +5.4% |
| 1954 | 12,152 | +6.3% |
| 1955 | 13,001 | +7.0% |
| 1956 | 14,015 | +7.8% |
| 1957 | 15,777 | +12.6% |
| 1958 | 18,615 | +18.0% |
| 1959 | 22,375 | +20.2% |
| 1960 | 26,944 | +20.4% |
| 1961 | 32,191 | +19.5% |
| 1962 | 37,960 | +17.9% |
| 1963 | 44,075 | +16.1% |
| 1964 | 50,332 | +14.2% |
| 1965 | 56,515 | +12.3% |
| 1966 | 62,631 | +10.8% |
| 1967 | 69,370 | +10.8% |
| 1968 | 77,019 | +11.0% |
| 1969 | 85,296 | +10.7% |
| 1970 | 94,012 | +10.2% |
| 1971 | 102,939 | +9.5% |
| 1972 | 111,812 | +8.6% |
| 1973 | 120,337 | +7.6% |
| 1974 | 128,212 | +6.5% |
| 1975 | 135,115 | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 140,342 | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 144,639 | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 148,965 | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 153,443 | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 158,060 | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 162,803 | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 167,680 | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 172,697 | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 177,859 | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 183,181 | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 188,316 | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 195,252 | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 205,331 | +5.2% |
| 1989 | 218,121 | +6.2% |
| 1990 | 233,134 | +6.9% |
| 1991 | 249,853 | +7.2% |
| 1992 | 267,708 | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 286,022 | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 304,116 | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 321,382 | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 337,091 | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 351,162 | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 364,054 | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 376,044 | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 387,304 | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 398,120 | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 408,762 | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 419,306 | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 429,694 | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 440,063 | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 453,841 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 473,058 | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 495,502 | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 520,162 | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 546,982 | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 576,309 | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 608,212 | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 642,467 | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 678,950 | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 717,470 | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 756,466 | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 787,957 | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 820,360 | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 852,921 | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 886,084 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 919,434 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 952,631 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 986,494 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 1.02 million | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 1.06 million | +3.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 1.06 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 16% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 1.06 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 22% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,876 | 10,142 | 22,375 | 10 |
| 1960s | 54,233 | 26,944 | 85,296 | 10 |
| 1970s | 127,982 | 94,012 | 153,443 | 10 |
| 1980s | 182,930 | 158,060 | 218,121 | 10 |
| 1990s | 309,057 | 233,134 | 376,044 | 10 |
| 2000s | 442,581 | 387,304 | 520,162 | 10 |
| 2010s | 698,809 | 546,982 | 852,921 | 10 |
| 2020s | 970,212 | 886,084 | 1.06 million | 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 urban and rural population in Lesotho?
- Urban and rural population in Lesotho was 1.06 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 1.06 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,142 in 1950.
- How does Lesotho rank for urban and rural population?
- Lesotho ranks 152nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).