The population of Lesotho is expected to grow by 28,000 in 2023 and reach 2,438,000 in 2024. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 4,000 people yearly. The population density of Lesotho has changed from 43.2 in 1980 to 77.5 in 2021.
| Current population | 2,431,008 people at present (Wednesday 4th of October 2023) | |
| Median Age | 25.6 years |
| Population density | 79.4 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2,409,000 | 28,000 (1.2%) | -4,000 | 25.6 | 79 | 763,000 (31.7%) | |
| 2022 | 2,381,000 | 29,000 (1.2%) | -4,000 | 25.4 | 78 | 740,000 (31.1%) | |
| 2021 | 2,352,000 | 30,000 (1.3%) | -4,000 | 25.4 | 78 | 718,000 (30.5%) | |
| 2020 | 2,322,000 | 29,000 (1.3%) | -4,000 | 25.2 | 2.91 | 77 | 697,000 (30.0%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,000 | 25.1 | 2.95 | 76 | 675,000 (29.5%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,000 | 25.1 | 3.00 | 75 | 654,000 (28.9%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,000 | 25.0 | 3.05 | 74 | 634,000 (28.4%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,000 | 24.9 | 3.10 | 73 | 613,544 (27.8%) |
| 2015 | 2,174,645 | 28,860 (1.3%) | -4,000 | 24.9 | 3.14 | 72 | 593,939 (27.3%) |
| 2010 | 2,040,551 | 21,342 (1.1%) | -5,000 | 24.6 | 3.30 | 67 | 505,098 (24.8%) |
| 2005 | 1,949,543 | 15,815 (0.8%) | -8,000 | 24.0 | 3.55 | 64 | 433,754 (22.2%) |
| 2000 | 1,868,699 | 18,172 (1.0%) | -8,000 | 23.5 | 4.09 | 62 | 365,293 (19.5%) |
| 1995 | 1,761,359 | 29,102 (1.7%) | -14,885 | 23.3 | 4.55 | 58 | 298,638 (17.0%) |
| 1990 | 1,603,938 | 27,916 (1.7%) | -9,269 | 23.0 | 4.92 | 53 | 224,022 (14.0%) |
| 1985 | 1,472,192 | 29,980 (2.0%) | -12,536 | 22.9 | 5.31 | 48 | 173,012 (11.8%) |
| 1980 | 1,310,118 | 33,455 (2.6%) | -5,152 | 22.8 | 5.59 | 43 | 150,009 (11.5%) |
| 1975 | 1,150,635 | 26,780 (2.3%) | -1,308 | 23.0 | 5.76 | 38 | 124,522 (10.8%) |
| 1970 | 1,033,050 | 21,035 (2.0%) | -4,810 | 23.3 | 5.81 | 34 | 88,925 (8.6%) |
| 1965 | 933,655 | 17,833 (1.9%) | -4,480 | 23.6 | 5.80 | 31 | 59,436 (6.4%) |
| 1960 | 851,591 | 14,871 (1.7%) | -5,000 | 23.9 | 5.84 | 28 | 29,908 (3.5%) |
In 2022 the population of Lesotho was 2,381,000 and the average age increased from 23.9 in 1960 to 25.4. Urban population has increased from 365,293 (19.5%) in 2000 to 763,000 (31.7%) in the current year. The population density of Lesotho has changed from 43.2 in 1980 to 77.5 in 2021.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,000 | 25.2 | 2.91 | 77 | 697,000 (30.0%) |
| 2025 | 2,466,000 | 28,000 (1.1%) | -4,000 | 25.8 | 2.72 | 81 | 808,000 (32.8%) |
| 2030 | 2,608,000 | 28,000 (1.1%) | -4,000 | 26.5 | 2.57 | 86 | 928,000 (35.6%) |
| 2035 | 2,753,000 | 30,000 (1.1%) | -4,000 | 27.4 | 2.45 | 91 | 1,057,000 (38.4%) |
| 2040 | 2,902,000 | 30,000 (1.0%) | -4,000 | 28.5 | 2.35 | 96 | 1,194,000 (41.1%) |
| 2045 | 3,055,000 | 31,000 (1.0%) | -4,000 | 29.6 | 2.25 | 101 | 1,341,000 (43.9%) |
| 2050 | 3,203,000 | 29,000 (0.9%) | -4,000 | 30.8 | 2.17 | 106 | 1,496,000 (46.7%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 68.6 (66.8 years for male and 70.5 years for females). Population density will go up to 105.5 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of Lesotho constitutes of 1,235,000 women and 1,175,000 men, which means there are 951 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 44.8% of population (1,078,028) is 19 or younger, 50.8% of population (1,223,049) is between age 20 and 64 and 4.5% of population (108,405) is over 65.