Lesotho population (2026)
The population of Lesotho is 2,389,336 as of 1 July 2026, according to UN World Population Prospects 2024. Lesotho ranks #147 of 236 countries and territories and holds 0.029% of the world population. The population is growing by 1.09% a year (+26,011 people). The median age is 23.1 years, women have 2.61 children on average and life expectancy at birth is 58.6 years. Population density is 79 people per km² of land. The capital is Maseru.
Population of Lesotho, 1955–2050
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Median age | Fertility | Life expectancy | World share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2050 | 2,993,076 | +0.69% | 29.8 | 2.14 | 66.0 | 0.031% |
| 2045 | 2,881,339 | +0.82% | 28.4 | 2.21 | 64.8 | 0.031% |
| 2040 | 2,757,876 | +0.93% | 26.8 | 2.29 | 63.4 | 0.030% |
| 2035 | 2,626,567 | +1.02% | 25.3 | 2.38 | 61.9 | 0.030% |
| 2030 | 2,493,818 | +1.04% | 24.0 | 2.5 | 60.2 | 0.029% |
| 2026 | 2,389,336 | +1.09% | 23.1 | 2.61 | 58.6 | 0.029% |
| 2025 | 2,363,324 | +1.09% | 22.8 | 2.64 | 58.2 | 0.029% |
| 2024 | 2,337,422 | +1.11% | 22.6 | 2.66 | 57.8 | 0.029% |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | +1.12% | 22.4 | 2.69 | 57.4 | 0.029% |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | +1.08% | 22.3 | 2.72 | 56.8 | 0.029% |
| 2020 | 2,235,726 | +1.22% | 22.0 | 2.85 | 55.1 | 0.028% |
| 2015 | 2,104,612 | +1.19% | 21.3 | 3.22 | 51.8 | 0.028% |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | +0.80% | 20.7 | 3.25 | 46.0 | 0.028% |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | -1.02% | 19.9 | 3.43 | 43.6 | 0.030% |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | -0.07% | 19.2 | 3.61 | 48.8 | 0.032% |
| 1995 | 1,951,436 | +1.17% | 18.5 | 4.13 | 56.4 | 0.034% |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | +1.85% | 18.4 | 4.81 | 59.3 | 0.034% |
| 1985 | 1,624,378 | +2.82% | 18.4 | 5.4 | 59.2 | 0.033% |
| 1980 | 1,406,520 | +2.91% | 18.7 | 5.75 | 56.5 | 0.032% |
| 1975 | 1,213,644 | +3.46% | 18.8 | 5.82 | 53.5 | 0.030% |
| 1970 | 1,019,272 | +3.58% | 18.0 | 5.7 | 51.5 | 0.028% |
| 1965 | 854,090 | +2.93% | 17.2 | 5.77 | 50.3 | 0.026% |
| 1960 | 736,500 | +2.98% | 17.3 | 5.78 | 50.2 | 0.024% |
| 1955 | 642,188 | +2.29% | 17.6 | 5.79 | 48.0 | 0.023% |
Lesotho statistics by category
Economy · Energy · Environment · Health · Food & Agriculture · Water · Education · Technology · Society & Media · Government · Transport · Biodiversity · Geography · Space & Science · Time & Calendar
Nearby countries: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, DR Congo, Tanzania