The population of Lesotho is expected to grow by 30,000 in 2019 and reach 2,322,000 in 2020. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 4,000 people yearly. On average there are 61,277 births and 27,926 deaths in Lesotho per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 1.45 percent per year. The population density of Lesotho has changed from 43.2 in 1980 to 73.6 in 2017.
| Current population | 2,316,518 people at present (Wednesday 23rd of October 2019) | |
| Median Age | 25.1 years |
| Life expectancy | 55.1 years | |
| Population density | 75.5 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2,293,000 | 30,000 (1.3%) | -4,000 | 25.1 | 2.95 | 76 | 675,000 (29.5%) |
| 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 2018 the population of Lesotho was 2,263,000 and the average age increased from 23.9 in 1960 to 25.1. Urban population has increased from 365,293 (19.5%) in 2000 to 675,000 (29.5%) in the current year. The population density of Lesotho has changed from 43.2 in 1980 to 73.6 in 2017.
| 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 1.33% (30,000 residents, including 28,022 deaths). The demographics of Lesotho constitutes of 1,178,000 women and 1,115,000 men, which means there are 947 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 45.8% of population (1,049,048) is 19 or younger, 49.8% of population (1,140,768) is between age 20 and 64 and 4.5% of population (103,644) is over 65.