Urban population in Lesotho
Lesotho: Urban population was 1.06 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Lesotho, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 1.06 million for urban population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 47.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Lesotho peaked at 1.06 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 26,944, in 1960.
Lesotho ranks 150th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 26,944 | — |
| 1961 | 32,191 | +19.5% |
| 1962 | 37,960 | +17.9% |
| 1963 | 44,075 | +16.1% |
| 1964 | 50,332 | +14.2% |
| 1965 | 56,515 | +12.3% |
| 1966 | 62,631 | +10.8% |
| 1967 | 69,370 | +10.8% |
| 1968 | 77,019 | +11.0% |
| 1969 | 85,296 | +10.7% |
| 1970 | 94,013 | +10.2% |
| 1971 | 102,939 | +9.5% |
| 1972 | 111,812 | +8.6% |
| 1973 | 120,337 | +7.6% |
| 1974 | 128,212 | +6.5% |
| 1975 | 135,115 | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 140,342 | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 144,639 | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 148,965 | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 153,443 | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 158,060 | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 162,803 | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 167,680 | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 172,697 | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 177,859 | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 183,181 | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 188,316 | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 195,252 | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 205,331 | +5.2% |
| 1989 | 218,121 | +6.2% |
| 1990 | 233,134 | +6.9% |
| 1991 | 249,853 | +7.2% |
| 1992 | 267,708 | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 286,022 | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 304,116 | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 321,382 | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 337,091 | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 351,162 | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 364,054 | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 376,044 | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 387,304 | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 398,120 | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 408,762 | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 419,306 | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 429,694 | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 440,063 | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 453,841 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 473,058 | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 495,502 | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 520,162 | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 546,982 | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 576,309 | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 608,212 | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 642,467 | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 678,950 | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 717,470 | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 756,466 | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 787,957 | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 820,360 | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 852,921 | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 886,084 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 919,434 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 952,631 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 986,494 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 1.02 million | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 1.06 million | +3.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 1.06 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 16% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 1.06 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 22% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 54,233 | 26,944 | 85,296 | 10 |
| 1970s | 127,982 | 94,013 | 153,443 | 10 |
| 1980s | 182,930 | 158,060 | 218,121 | 10 |
| 1990s | 309,057 | 233,134 | 376,044 | 10 |
| 2000s | 442,581 | 387,304 | 520,162 | 10 |
| 2010s | 698,809 | 546,982 | 852,921 | 10 |
| 2020s | 970,212 | 886,084 | 1.06 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More climate change data for Lesotho
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 6.55 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 715.74 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 50.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 61.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 51.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 9.3 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.1962 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Lesotho?
- Urban population in Lesotho was 1.06 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 1.06 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 26,944 in 1960.
- How does Lesotho rank for urban population?
- Lesotho ranks 150th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.