The population of Lesotho is expected to grow by 30,000 in 2018 and reach 2,293,000 in 2019. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 4,000 people yearly. On average there are 61,287 births and 27,980 deaths in Lesotho per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 1.47 percent per year. The population density of Lesotho has changed from 43.2 in 1980 to 72.6 in 2016.
| Current population | 2,289,301 people at present (Friday 16th of November 2018) | |
| Median Age | 25.1 years |
| Life expectancy | 54.7 years | |
| Population density | 74.5 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2,263,000 | 30,000 (1.3%) | -4,000 | 25.1 | 3.00 | 75 | 654,000 (28.9%) |
| 2017 | 2,233,000 | 29,179 (1.3%) | -4,000 | 25.0 | 3.05 | 74 | 634,000 (28.4%) |
| 2016 | 2,203,821 | 29,176 (1.3%) | -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 2017 the population of Lesotho was 2,233,000 and the average age increased from 23.9 in 1960 to 25.0. Urban population has increased from 365,293 (19.5%) in 2000 to 654,000 (28.9%) in the current year. The population density of Lesotho has changed from 43.2 in 1980 to 72.6 in 2016.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,322,000 | 29,000 (1.3%) | -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%) |
Total Lesotho population should reach 2,322,000 by 2020 and should increase to 3,203,000 people by year 2050. 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 population growth rate is 1.34% (29,179 residents, including 28,063 deaths). The demographics of Lesotho constitutes of 1,164,000 women and 1,099,000 men, which means there are 944 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 46.1% of population (1,044,148) is 19 or younger, 49.5% of population (1,120,638) is between age 20 and 64 and 4.5% of population (102,288) is over 65.