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 2022 (Live)
2,306,995
The current population of Lesotho is 2,306,995 based on projections of the latest United Nations data. The UN estimates the July 1, 2022 population at 2,305,825.
Lesotho Growth Rate
Lesotho Population Clock
| Lesotho Population (as of 9/28/2022) | 2,306,995 |
| Last UN Estimate (July 1, 2022) | 2,305,825 |
| Births per Day | 33 |
| Deaths per Day | 18 |
| Migrations per Day | -2 |
| Net Change per Day | 13 |
| Population Change Since Jan. 1 | 3,523 |
Net increase of 1 person every 111 minutes
Population estimates based on interpolation of data from World Population Prospects
Components of Population Change
| One birth every 44 minutes | |
| One death every 80 minutes | |
| One net migrant every 720 minutes | |
| Net gain of one person every 111 minutes |
Lesotho Population Pyramid 2022
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Lesotho Median Age
24.7
Total
24.7
Male
24.7
Female
Lesotho Population by Age
There are 1,383,943 people over age 18 in Lesotho.
Census Years
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,
Lesotho Demographics
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.
- Bureau of Statistics
- World Population Prospects (2022 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.
- GeoNames