Lesotho Demographics

Population of Lesotho (2026)

View live population, charts & trends: Population of Lesotho

Lesotho Population
2,389,336
see live
Yearly Change
+1.10%
Global Share
0.03%
Global Rank
147

Median Age

The median age in Lesotho is 22.1 years (2026).

Fertility in Lesotho

A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 represents the Replacement-Level Fertility : the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without needing international immigration. A value below 2.1 will cause the native population to decline


Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
2.61
(Live Births per Woman, 2026)

Life Expectancy in Lesotho

See also: Countries in the world ranked by Life Expectancy

Both Sexes
58.6
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes combined)
Females
61.3
(life expectancy at birth, females)
Males
55.8
(life expectancy at birth, males)


Infant Mortality Rate and Deaths of Children under 5 Years Old in Lesotho


Infant Mortality
51.3
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Deaths under age 5
65.2
(per 1,000 live births)


Lesotho Urban Population

Currently, 45.7% of the population of Lesotho is urban (1,090,789 people in 2026)


Population Density

The 2026 population density in Lesotho is 79 people per km² (204 people per mi2), calculated on a total land area of 30,355 km² (11,720 sq. miles).

Largest Urban Centers and Peri-Urban Centers in Lesotho

The 30 largest of 44 urban centers and peri-urban centers, ranked by population at the census of April 10, 2016 (by Lesotho Bureau of Statistics).

RankUrban Center or Peri-Urban CenterPopulation
1Maseru343,541
2Maputsoe59,126
3Mohale's Hoek44,494
4Mafeteng43,247
5Hlotse41,986
6Butha-Buthe38,770
7Quthing32,382
8Teyateyaneng26,043
9Qacha's Nek18,282
10Thaba-Tseka16,010
11Mokhotlong13,810
12Roma13,617
13Mapoteng-Makhoroana13,523
14Mazenod12,141
15Mantsebo8,801
16Semonkong8,247
17Mamathe7,695
18Mount Moorosi6,677
19Pitseng6,194
20Thabana-Morena5,970
21Mants'onyane5,697
22Peka5,670
23Kolo/Motsekuoa5,233
24Morija4,928
25Sefikeng4,889
26Rothe4,879
27Matelile4,337
28Matsieng4,008
29Kolonyama3,810
30Mapholaneng3,739
See all 44 urban centers and peri-urban centers in Lesotho

See also

Sources

Definitions

Population Pyramid

A Population pyramid (also called "Age-Sex Pyramid") is a graphical representation of the age and sex of a population.

Types:

  • Expansive - pyramid with a wide base (larger percentage of people in younger age groups, indicating high birth rates and high fertility rates) and narrow top (high death rate and lower life expectancies). It suggests a growing population. Example: Nigeria Population Pyramid
  • Constrictive - pyramid with a narrow base (lower percentage of younger people, indicating declining birth rates with each succeeding age group getting smaller than the previous one). Example: United States
  • Stationary - with a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group. The population is stable, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Stages:

Population pyramid stages

Dependency Ratio

There are three types of age dependency ratio: Youth, Elderly, and Total. All three ratios are commonly multiplied by 100.

Youth Dependency Ratio

Definition: population ages 0-15 divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 0-15] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Elderly dependency ratio

Definition: population ages 65-plus divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 65-plus] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Total dependency ratio

Definition: sum of the youth and old-age ratios.

Formula: (([Population ages 0-15] + [Population ages 65-plus]) ÷ [Population ages 16-64] ) × 100

NOTE: Dependency Ratio does not take into account labor force participation rates by age group. Some portion of the population counted as "working age" may actually be unemployed or not in the labor force whereas some portion of the "dependent" population may be employed and not necessarily economically dependent.