The population of Lesotho is expected to grow by 26,011 in 2026 and reach 2,415,369 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 4,876 people yearly. On average there are 55,445 births and 24,379 deaths in Lesotho per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 1.30 percent per year. The population density of Lesotho has changed from 46.3 in 1980 to 77.0 in 2024.
| Current population | 2,411,375 people at present (Thursday 5th of November 2026) | |
| Median Age | 26.1 years |
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | |
| Population density | 78.7 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2,389,336 | 26,011 (1.1%) | -4,876 | 26.1 | 2.61 | 79 | 1,090,789 (45.7%) |
| 2025 | 2,363,325 | 25,902 (1.1%) | -5,192 | 25.9 | 2.64 | 78 | 1,055,687 (44.7%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -5,107 | 25.7 | 2.66 | 77 | 1,020,940 (43.7%) |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -5,168 | 25.5 | 2.69 | 76 | 986,494 (42.7%) |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -6,023 | 25.3 | 2.72 | 75 | 952,631 (41.7%) |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -3,449 | 25.2 | 2.77 | 74 | 919,434 (40.7%) |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 26,322 (1.2%) | -3,449 | 25.0 | 2.85 | 74 | 886,084 (39.6%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -6,896 | 24.9 | 2.92 | 73 | 852,921 (38.6%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -6,892 | 24.8 | 3.02 | 72 | 820,360 (37.6%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -6,850 | 24.6 | 3.11 | 71 | 787,957 (36.5%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -6,766 | 24.6 | 3.18 | 70 | 756,466 (35.5%) |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 24,522 (1.2%) | -7,087 | 24.5 | 3.22 | 69 | 717,470 (34.1%) |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 15,368 (0.8%) | -5,886 | 24.5 | 3.25 | 66 | 546,982 (27.4%) |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | -18,053 (-0.9%) | -35,679 | 24.6 | 3.43 | 64 | 440,063 (22.5%) |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 679 (0.0%) | -26,220 | 24.3 | 3.61 | 66 | 387,304 (19.3%) |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 23,730 (1.2%) | -14,588 | 23.7 | 4.13 | 64 | 321,382 (16.5%) |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 34,260 (1.9%) | -11,598 | 23.5 | 4.81 | 60 | 233,134 (12.9%) |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 45,393 (2.8%) | 1,222 | 23.6 | 5.40 | 54 | 183,181 (11.3%) |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 40,352 (2.9%) | 1,361 | 23.8 | 5.75 | 46 | 158,060 (11.2%) |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 41,223 (3.4%) | 9,723 | 24.2 | 5.83 | 40 | 135,115 (11.1%) |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 36,071 (3.5%) | 10,605 | 23.8 | 5.70 | 34 | 94,013 (9.2%) |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 24,653 (2.9%) | 2,239 | 23.2 | 5.77 | 28 | 56,515 (6.6%) |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 22,324 (2.9%) | 1,989 | 23.1 | 5.78 | 24 | 26,944 (3.7%) |
In 2025 the population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 and the average age increased from 23.1 in 1960 to 25.9. Urban population has increased from 387,304 (19.3%) in 2000 to 1,090,789 (45.7%) in the current year. The population density of Lesotho has changed from 46.3 in 1980 to 77.0 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -3,449 | 25.0 | 2.85 | 74 | 886,084 (39.6%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -5,192 | 25.9 | 2.64 | 78 | 1,055,687 (44.7%) |
| 2030 | 2,493,818 | 26,135 (1.1%) | -4,982 | 26.9 | 2.50 | 82 | 1,234,126 (49.5%) |
| 2035 | 2,626,567 | 26,788 (1.0%) | -4,199 | 28.0 | 2.38 | 87 | 1,419,196 (54.0%) |
| 2040 | 2,757,876 | 25,730 (0.9%) | -4,250 | 29.1 | 2.29 | 91 | 1,606,474 (58.3%) |
| 2045 | 2,881,339 | 23,834 (0.8%) | -3,693 | 30.3 | 2.21 | 95 | 1,788,954 (62.1%) |
| 2050 | 2,993,077 | 20,920 (0.7%) | -3,675 | 31.4 | 2.15 | 99 | 1,960,162 (65.5%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 66.0 (63.0 years for male and 69.0 years for females). Population density will go up to 98.6 people per square kilometer.
The population growth rate is 1.10% (25,902 residents, including 24,492 deaths). The demographics of Lesotho constitutes of 1,223,851 women and 1,165,485 men, which means there are 952 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 44.1% of population (1,053,458) is 19 or younger, 52.0% of population (1,242,455) is between age 20 and 64 and 3.9% of population (93,184) is over 65.