Lesotho Population History
1960 - 2026
Lesotho's population has grown from 736,500 in 1960 to 2,311,472 in 2023, a total increase of 213.8% (3.14x). The population reached its all-time recorded high in 2023.
1960 Population
736,500
2023 Population
2.3M
Total Growth
213.8%
Peak Year
2023
Population by Decade
1960
736,500
1970
1.0M
1980
1.4M
1990
1.8M
2000
2.0M
2010
2.0M
2020
2.2M
2023
2.3M
Growth Rate by Period
1960-1965
+3.01%
1965-1970
+3.60%
1970-1975
+3.55%
1975-1980
+2.99%
1980-1985
+2.92%
1985-1990
+2.18%
1990-1995
+1.52%
1995-2000
+0.53%
2000-2005
-0.51%
2005-2010
+0.44%
2010-2015
+1.06%
2015-2020
+1.22%
Year-by-Year Population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | +25,362 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | +24,568 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | +25,815 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | +26,322 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | +25,802 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | +26,493 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | +26,688 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | +25,811 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | +24,522 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | +23,585 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | +22,150 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | +20,345 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | +17,758 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | +15,368 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | +14,342 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | +13,273 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | +8,205 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | -8,013 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | -18,053 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | -13,930 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | -9,620 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | -6,174 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | -3,060 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | +679 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | +5,185 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | +9,919 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | +15,712 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | +20,981 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | +23,730 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | +25,914 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | +28,519 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | +30,895 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | +32,683 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | +34,260 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | +35,595 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | +36,451 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | +37,252 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | +41,759 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | +45,393 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | +44,573 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | +43,681 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | +42,663 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | +41,548 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | +40,352 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | +38,929 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | +37,273 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | +36,753 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | +39,571 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | +41,223 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | +39,723 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | +38,634 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | +37,817 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | +36,973 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | +36,071 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | +35,097 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | +34,123 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | +32,112 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | +27,780 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | +24,653 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | +24,064 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | +23,559 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | +22,990 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | +22,324 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | — |