The population of Lesotho is expected to grow by 29,000 in 2022 and reach 2,409,000 in 2023. 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 76.5 in 2020.
| Current population | 2,402,173 people at present (Monday 3rd of October 2022) | |
| Median Age | 25.4 years |
| Population density | 78.4 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 2021 the population of Lesotho was 2,352,000 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 740,000 (31.1%) in the current year. The population density of Lesotho has changed from 43.2 in 1980 to 76.5 in 2020.
| 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 population growth rate is 1.23% (30,000 residents, including 27,850 deaths). The demographics of Lesotho constitutes of 1,221,000 women and 1,160,000 men, which means there are 950 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 44.9% of population (1,068,117) is 19 or younger, 50.4% of population (1,200,738) is between age 20 and 64 and 4.5% of population (107,859) is over 65.