Lesotho has a high infant mortality rate of 8.3% and a very high HIV/AIDS rate. The HIV prevalence is around 24%, which is one of the highest in the world. Around half of women under 40 have HIV in urban areas, and the country has a life expectancy of just 42 years old.
| Lesotho Population (as of 11/19/2024) | 2,347,506 |
| Last UN Estimate (July 1, 2024) | 2,337,420 |
| Births per Day | 152 |
| Deaths per Day | 67 |
| Migrations per Day | -14 |
| Net Change per Day | 71 |
| Population Change Since Jan. 1 | 23,004 |
Net increase of 1 person every 20.28 minutes
Population estimates based on interpolation of data from World Population Prospects
| One birth every 9.47 minutes | |
| One death every 21.5 minutes | |
| One emigrant every 102.85 minutes | |
| Net gain of one person every 20.28 minutes |
City | 2024 Pop. |
|---|---|
| Maseru | 118,355 |
| Mafeteng | 57,059 |
| Leribe | 47,675 |
| Maputsoe | 32,117 |
| Mohale's Hoek | 28,310 |
| Qacha's Nek | 25,573 |
| Quthing | 24,130 |
| Butha-Buthe | 16,330 |
| Nako | 13,146 |
| Mokhotlong | 8,809 |
Year | Population | Change | Density (/km²) | Population Rank | Density Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,337,420 | 1.13% | 77 | 147 | 137 |
| 2023 | 2,311,470 | 1.15% | 76 | 147 | 136 |
| 2020 | 2,235,730 | 1.19% | 74 | 147 | 137 |
| 2019 | 2,209,400 | 1.18% | 73 | 147 | 137 |
| 2018 | 2,183,600 | 1.23% | 72 | 147 | 138 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 1.25% | 71 | 146 | 138 |
| 2015 | 2,104,610 | 1.06% | 69 | 146 | 138 |
| 2010 | 1,996,250 | 0.44% | 66 | 147 | 140 |
| 2005 | 1,953,080 | -0.51% | 64 | 146 | 133 |
| 2000 | 2,003,910 | 0.53% | 66 | 143 | 123 |
| 1995 | 1,951,440 | 1.52% | 64 | 145 | 122 |
| 1990 | 1,809,700 | 2.18% | 60 | 144 | 122 |
| 1985 | 1,624,380 | 2.92% | 54 | 144 | 123 |
| 1980 | 1,406,520 | 2.99% | 46 | 145 | 124 |
| 1975 | 1,213,640 | 3.55% | 40 | 144 | 127 |
| 1970 | 1,019,270 | 3.6% | 34 | 144 | 131 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 3.01% | 28 | 145 | 133 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 2.78% | 24 | 145 | 132 |
| 1955 | 642,188 | 2.07% | 21 | 144 | 133 |
Year | Population | Change | Density (/km²) | Population Rank | Density Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,337,420 | 1.13% | 77 | 147 | 137 |
| 2025 | 2,363,320 | 1.12% | 78 | 147 | 134 |
| 2030 | 2,493,820 | 1.08% | 82 | 147 | 132 |
| 2035 | 2,626,570 | 1.04% | 87 | 146 | 131 |
| 2040 | 2,757,880 | 0.98% | 91 | 142 | 130 |
| 2045 | 2,881,340 | 0.88% | 95 | 142 | 127 |
| 2050 | 2,993,080 | 0.76% | 99 | 142 | 124 |
| 2055 | 3,087,280 | 0.62% | 102 | 142 | 123 |
| 2060 | 3,164,300 | 0.49% | 104 | 140 | 122 |
| 2065 | 3,224,030 | 0.38% | 106 | 140 | 123 |
| 2070 | 3,269,320 | 0.28% | 108 | 140 | 122 |
| 2075 | 3,297,640 | 0.17% | 109 | 140 | 121 |
| 2080 | 3,311,360 | 0.08% | 109 | 139 | 121 |
| 2085 | 3,312,370 | 0.01% | 109 | 138 | 121 |
| 2090 | 3,305,220 | -0.04% | 109 | 138 | 121 |
| 2095 | 3,287,140 | -0.11% | 108 | 138 | 118 |
24.7
Total
24.7
Male
24.7
Female
There are people over age 18 in Lesotho.
Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 24 April 2016 |
| 2006 | 13 May 2006 |
| 1996 | 14 April 1996 |
| 1986 | 12 April 1986 |
Lesotho, officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a small landlocked country surrounded by South Africa. This compares to the 2004 census population of 2.03 million. Lesotho has a population density of 68 people per square kilometer (162/sq mi), or 138th in the world. Population density is lowest in the highlands. The capital and largest city is Maseru,
About 99.7% of Lesotho's population identifies as Basotho, a Bantu-speaking people. There are several subgroups of the Basotho, including the Batloung (Tlou), Bakuena (Kuena), Baphuthi (Phuti), Bataung (Tau), Batsoeneng (Tsoene), Matebele and Bafokeng. The main language is Sesotho, although English is the other official language.
About 90% of the population is Christian. Protestants make up 45% of the population, with Roman Catholics accounting for 45%. Muslims, Hindus, Baha'i, and indigenous religions account for the remaining 10%.
Lesotho has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa with about 85% of the adult population being literate, partly because Lesotho spends 12% of its GDP on education. Unlike most countries, Lesotho has a higher female literacy rate than male literacy rate.
About 25% of the population lives in urban areas while the majority live in rural areas. The urbanization rate of Lesotho is 3.5% per year, however. Nearly 40% of the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 USD per day.