Population of Lesotho

As of May 2026, the population of Lesotho is 2.4 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 25 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.04%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 21.2 years in 2016 to 22.7 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 55.5 years and population density is 79.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Lesotho peaked in 1967, reaching around 3.65% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.03% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 43.47 thousand in 1985 to nearly 24.71 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Lesotho, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 42.9 years in 2006 to 55.5 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 13 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Lesotho

The cities of Lesotho are small, with the 5 most populated adding up to around 557.5 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Maseru, Maseru District, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 359.8 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Maputsoe, Leribe with 61.9 thousand and Mohale's Hoek, Mohale's Hoek District with 46.6 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Lesotho: