Rank #108 by World Population
🇱🇸Lesotho
Lesotho has a population of 2,311,472, ranking #108 in the world. The capital is Maseru. Located in Sub-Saharan Africa .
World Bank: Lower middle income
2,311,472
Population
#108
World Rank
57.4
Life Expectancy
$916
GDP Per Capita
Lesotho, #108 by world population
Lesotho Population History (1960-2024)
The country of Lesotho had a population of 736,500 in 1960 and 2,337,423 in 2024, a 3.2× growth over 64 years. The peak was 2,337,423 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.83%.
2,337,423
Population (2024)
736,500
Population (1960)
2,337,423
Peak (2024)
1.83%
Avg Annual Growth
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 736,500 |
| 1961 | 758,824 |
| 1962 | 781,814 |
| 1963 | 805,373 |
| 1964 | 829,437 |
| 1965 | 854,090 |
| 1966 | 881,870 |
| 1967 | 913,982 |
| 1968 | 948,105 |
| 1969 | 983,202 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 |
Demographics
| Population | 2,311,472 |
| Population Growth Rate | 1.10% |
| Urban Population | 42.7% |
| Fertility Rate | 2.69 births/woman |
| Life Expectancy | 57.4 years |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 58.4 per 1,000 |
| Literacy Rate | - |
Economy & Trade
$916
GDP Per Capita
16.3%
Unemployment Rate
Lower middle income
Income Level
141.5%
Trade (% of GDP)
Health & Education
12.6%
Health Expenditure (% GDP)
0.23
Physicians per 1,000
7.3%
Education Expenditure (% GDP)
58.4
Infant Mortality (per 1,000)
Development & Connectivity
57.3%
Electricity Access
48.1%
Internet Users
81
Mobile Subs per 100
76.1
People per km2
-5,168
Net Migration
Environment
1.1%
Forest Area
Other Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
Lesotho in global context
Lesotho is one of 212 countries tracked. See how it ranks globally, regional shares of world population, and projections to 2050 / 2100.
World Population 2026: Top 10 Countries, Regions & Trends →Other related entities
Country rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
Lesotho has a population of 2,311,472, ranking #108 in the world. The annual population growth rate is 1.10%.
Life expectancy in Lesotho is 57.4 years. The infant mortality rate is 58.4 per 1,000 live births.
Lesotho's GDP per capita is $916. It is classified as a lower middle income country by the World Bank.
42.7% of Lesotho's population lives in urban areas. The overall population density is 76.1 people per square kilometer.
Literacy data for Lesotho is available from the World Bank.
International data from the World Bank Open Data API. Population figures are latest available estimates. GDP per capita in current US dollars.
Lesotho is a country in Sub-Saharan Africa with a population of 2,311,472. Population growth is modest, around 1.1% a year.
Lesotho is a lower-income economy, with GDP per capita of about $916. Life expectancy is 57.4 years, below the global average, with a fertility rate of 2.7 births per woman, and 42.7% of the population lives in urban areas.
Source: World Bank Open Data, 2026.