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