Data / Lesotho / Profile

Lesotho in figures

A profile of Lesotho from official statistics: 18 figures in 4 sections, each with its period, its change from a year earlier, its rank among similar places where a ranking exists, and its source.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

People

Population in Lesotho was 2.36 million in 2025, up 1.1% from 2024, and the 72nd lowest of 215 countries.

Population2.36 million2025Up 1.1% from 2024The 72nd lowest of 215 countries
Population growth rate1.1%2023Up 0.02 percentage points from 2022The 105th highest of 215 countries
Median age, July 1 estimate21.43 years2023, estimatedUp 0.16 years from 2022The 54th lowest of 236 countries
Population aged 65 and over3.8%2023Up less than 0.1 percentage points from 2022
Population density77 inhabitants per km²2024Up 1.1% from 2023
Net migration-5,1682023Compared with -6,023 in 2022
1.9M2M2.1M2.2M2.3M2.4M20012005200920132017202120252001: 2,000,853 persons2002: 1,994,679 persons2003: 1,985,059 persons2004: 1,971,129 persons2005: 1,953,076 persons2006: 1,945,063 persons2007: 1,953,268 persons2008: 1,966,541 persons2009: 1,980,883 persons2010: 1,996,251 persons2011: 2,014,009 persons2012: 2,034,354 persons2013: 2,056,504 persons2014: 2,080,089 persons2015: 2,104,611 persons2016: 2,130,422 persons2017: 2,157,110 persons2018: 2,183,603 persons2019: 2,209,405 persons2020: 2,235,727 persons2021: 2,261,542 persons2022: 2,286,110 persons2023: 2,311,472 persons2024: 2,337,423 persons2025: 2,363,325 persons
Population, 2001 to 2025. persons. Source: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL).

Sources: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL); World Bank, Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW); United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Median age on 1 July, modelled estimates 1950 to 2023; projections excluded; World Bank, Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS); World Bank, Population density, people per km² of land area (EN.POP.DNST); World Bank, Net migration (SM.POP.NETM). Population and demography statistics and rankings

Work and income

Unemployment rate in Lesotho was 18.7% in 2024, with no 2023 figure in the same series to compare.

Unemployment rate18.7%2024No 2023 figure to compare
Employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over47.8%2025Down 0.2 percentage points from 2024The 32nd lowest of 181 countries
Labor force participation rate, ages 15 and over57.1%2025Down 0.3 percentage points from 2024The 55th lowest of 181 countries
1520253035401997199920082013201920241997: 37.94 %1999: 27.27 %2008: 35.46 %2013: 24.58 %2019: 16.88 %2024: 18.7 %
Unemployment rate, 1997 to 2024. %. Source: International Labour Organization, Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT).

Sources: International Labour Organization, Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT); World Bank, Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS); World Bank, Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS). Labor market statistics and rankings

Economy

GDP (US dollars) in Lesotho was $2.57 billion in 2025, up 7.6% from 2024, and the 23rd lowest of 199 countries in 2024.

Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars$2.57 billion2025Up 7.6% from 2024The 23rd lowest of 199 countries in 2024
GDP per capita, US dollars$1,0892025Up 6.4% from 2024The 17th lowest of 199 countries in 2024
Real GDP growth2%2025Down 3.2 percentage points from 2024The 37th highest of 199 countries in 2024
GDP per capita, PPP (international dollars)3,184 international $2025Up 3.7% from 2024
Trade as a share of GDP154%2025Up 1.5 percentage points from 2024
5001,0001,5002,0002,5003,00020012005200920132017202120252001: 825.7 USD million2002: 775.8 USD million2003: 1,157.8 USD million2004: 1,511.2 USD million2005: 1,682.3 USD million2006: 1,800.1 USD million2007: 1,682.1 USD million2008: 1,766.9 USD million2009: 1,740.9 USD million2010: 2,234.8 USD million2011: 2,579.4 USD million2012: 2,477.7 USD million2013: 2,367.1 USD million2014: 2,441.1 USD million2015: 2,359.7 USD million2016: 2,114.4 USD million2017: 2,306.7 USD million2018: 2,556.2 USD million2019: 2,390.7 USD million2020: 2,053.7 USD million2021: 2,412.1 USD million2022: 2,355 USD million2023: 2,129.9 USD million2024: 2,391.3 USD million2025: 2,573.6 USD million
Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars, 2001 to 2025. USD million. Source: World Bank, GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD).

Sources: World Bank, GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD); World Bank, GDP per capita, current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD); World Bank, GDP growth, annual % (NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG); World Bank, GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD); World Bank, Trade, % of GDP (NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS). Economy statistics and rankings

Health

Life expectancy in Lesotho was 57.38 years in 2023, up 0.56 years from 2022, and the 3rd lowest of 215 countries.

Life expectancy at birth57.38 years2023Up 0.56 years from 2022The 3rd lowest of 215 countries
Infant mortality rate56.3 per 1,000 live births2024Down 2.1 per 1,000 live births from 2023Tied for the 10th highest of 195 countries
Adult obesity rate, age-standardized22.2%2024Up 0.5 percentage points from 2023The 97th lowest of 199 countries
Tobacco use, age-standardized28%2024Up 0.1 percentage points from 2023
404550556019992003200720112015201920231999: 50.39 years2000: 48.78 years2001: 47.15 years2002: 45.95 years2003: 44.92 years2004: 44.04 years2005: 43.61 years2006: 43.18 years2007: 43.66 years2008: 44.3 years2009: 45.06 years2010: 46.05 years2011: 46.93 years2012: 48.24 years2013: 49.55 years2014: 50.79 years2015: 51.83 years2016: 52.91 years2017: 53.87 years2018: 54.64 years2019: 55.25 years2020: 55.13 years2021: 54.21 years2022: 56.81 years2023: 57.38 years
Life expectancy at birth, 1999 to 2023. years. Source: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN).

Sources: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN); World Bank, Mortality rate, infant, per 1,000 live births (SP.DYN.IMRT.IN); World Health Organization, Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults (18+ years), both sexes (NCD_BMI_30A); World Health Organization, Age-standardized prevalence of tobacco use among persons 15 years and older (%), both sexes (M_Est_tob_curr_std). Health statistics and rankings

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  2. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.GROW. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  3. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Median age on 1 July, modelled estimates 1950 to 2023; projections excluded. Modelled estimate. https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz. Retrieved 2026-10-10. CC BY 3.0 IGO.
  4. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  5. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population density, people per km² of land area (EN.POP.DNST). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  6. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Net migration (SM.POP.NETM). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  7. International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT. Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT). https://data.ilo.org/vis?df%5Bds%5D=ds-production&df%5Bid%5D=DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT&df%5Bag%5D=ILO (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  8. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  9. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  10. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  11. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP per capita, current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  12. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP growth, annual % (NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  13. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  14. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Trade, % of GDP (NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  15. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  16. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Mortality rate, infant, per 1,000 live births (SP.DYN.IMRT.IN). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  17. World Health Organization, data.who.int. Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults (18+ years), both sexes (NCD_BMI_30A) [Indicator]. https://data.who.int/indicators/i/C6262EC/BEFA58B (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made to source values. WHO does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.
  18. World Health Organization, data.who.int. Age-standardized prevalence of tobacco use among persons 15 years and older (%), both sexes (M_Est_tob_curr_std) [Indicator]. https://data.who.int/indicators/i/847662C/75DDA77 (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made to source values. WHO does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.

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