COUNTRY PROFILELesotho
Lesotho's population is 2,363,325 (2025) — the 144th-largest in the world and the 45th-largest in Africa, growing by about 25,902 people a year.
2,377,774
Population right now, ticking live from the last confirmed count.▲ growing2,363,325 (World Bank, 2025) + +25,902/year × elapsed time since 2025-12-31 — open formula, updates every tick
Lesotho Facts at a Glance
Five numbers that summarise the country — population trend, rank, density, wealth, share of humanity.
Population2025
2,363,325
World rank
#144
of 217 tracked geographies
Density
77.8 / km²
30,360 km² land area
GDP / capita
$1,089
#165 economy overall
Share of humanity
1 in 3472 people on Earth lives in Lesotho
Lesotho's Population Growth
Yes — Lesotho's population rose by 25,902 people (+1.11%) between 2024 and 2025. The fertility rate is 2.7 births per woman. Net migration was negative in the latest year on record.
You, in Lesotho
A personal read on the numbers above — nothing is stored, it never leaves your browser.
Enter a birth year between 1960 and 2025 to see where you'd land.
Lesotho Demographics
Every indicator has its own source and dataset year — shown honestly rather than smoothed into one.
Population density2025
77.8 people / km²
30,360 km² land area, 2025
Median age2025
22.9 years
half the population is older, half younger
Life expectancy2024
57.8 years
M 55 · F 60.4
Average height2019
167.9 cm (male)
female 156.7 cm
Homicide rate2008
38.2 per 100,000
#185 safest of 196
Air quality (PM2.5)2023
26.4 µg/m³
lower is cleaner
Urban population2025
44.7 %
share living in cities
Fertility rate2025
2.7 births / woman
replacement level ≈ 2.1
Net migration2025
−5,192 people
negative in latest year
Lesotho in World Rankings
Every world ranking we publish, where this country sits in each one, and its overall percentile profile.
Population2,363,325 people
#144 / 217
→
GDP$2.6B
#165 / 186
→
Life expectancy57.8 years
#213 / 217
→
Average height167.9 cm (male)
#169 / 200
→
Cleanest air26.44 µg/m³ PM2.5
#143 / 200
→
Safest countries38.2 homicides / 100k
#185 / 196
→
Most dangerous38.2 homicides / 100k
#11 / 196
→
Percentile in each ranking — further from centre is a higher rank (closer to #1).
Population, 1960 to 2025
66 years of estimates from the same source.
Source: World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL) · annual estimates, 1960–2025 · hover the line for any year.
Age & sex structure
17 five-year bands, male and female, 2025.
Male — 1,152,173Female — 1,211,156
Largest cities
By population, GeoNames city-proper figures (not metro area).
Where is Lesotho Located?
- Capital
- Maseru
- Currency
- Loti (LSL)
- Language(s)
- English, Sesotho, Zulu, Xhosa
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Continent
- 54 countries in Africa →
- Land area
- 30,360 km²
- Area (GeoNames)
- 30,355 km²
- Borders
- 1 country
Shares a border with
South AfricaLesothoVSExplore Lesotho in Every Ranking
Jump straight to the full world table for any of these indicators.
Frequently asked
What is the population of Lesotho?
Lesotho's population is 2,363,325 as of 2025 (World Bank estimate), ranking #144 of 217 countries and territories by population.
How many people live in Lesotho?
2,363,325 people, as of the 2025 World Bank estimate — the most recent figure this page tracks.
What is Lesotho's population density?
77.8 people per km², based on a land area of 30,360 km².
What is Lesotho ranked in population worldwide?
#144 of 217 countries and territories by population — see the full ranking table for every country's position.
What is the life expectancy in Lesotho?
57.8 years on average (2024) — 55.0 for men, 60.4 for women.
What is Lesotho's GDP?
$2.6B, ranking #165 of 186 economies we track — $1,089 per capita.
Sources
World Bank Open Data
CC BY 4.0 · population, GDP, life expectancy, homicide, PM2.5, vitals
data.worldbank.org →