Lesotho Population 2023 (Live)

2,327,831

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.

The current population of Lesotho is 2,327,831 based on projections of the latest United Nations data. The UN estimates the July 1, 2023 population at 2,330,318.

Lesotho Growth Rate

Lesotho Population 2023 (Live)

Lesotho Population Clock

Lesotho Population (as of 5/26/2023)2,327,831
Next UN Estimate (July 1, 2023)2,330,318
Births per Day163
Deaths per Day80
Migrations per Day-11
Net Change per Day71
Population Change Since Jan. 110,366

Components of Population Change

One birth every 8.83 minutes
One death every 18 minutes
One emigrant every 130.92 minutes
Net gain of one person every 20.28 minutes

Lesotho Population Clock

Lesotho Population Density Map

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Lesotho Population by Year (Historical)

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Lesotho Population by Year (Projections)

Lesotho Population Pyramid 2023

Lesotho Median Age

24.7

Total

24.7

Male

24.7

Female

Lesotho Population by Age

There are people over age 18 in Lesotho.

Census Years

Lesotho Population Pyramid

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.

Lesotho - General Info

  1. Bureau of Statistics
  2. World Population Prospects (2022 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.
  3. GeoNames

Sources