Lesotho

All demographic indicators on this page are based on UN mid 2025 estimates unless stated otherwise.

Lesotho population (live estimate)

Real-time estimate based on UN demographic growth models.

2,363,000

Annual growth: 1.094%.

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Official population estimates

World population
2,363,000
Median age
21.8
Population growth rate (%)
1.094 ▲ Population is growing

This map shows first-level administrative regions (ADM1).

Key Facts

  • Capital: Maseru
  • Official language: English
  • Region: Southern Africa
  • Continent: Africa
Languages
Languages and linguistic groups
Religions
Religious composition
Cities
Major cities and urban areas
Administrative divisions
Districts
Population
Population structure and dynamics

Languages

A brief overview of the linguistic situation in the country.

Official language
Southern Sotho, English
Minority language
1
Working / administrative language
2

Lesotho has two official languages: Sesotho and English. Sesotho is spoken by nearly the entire population and serves as the primary cultural and community language. English is used in administration, education, and legal contexts.

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Religions

A brief overview of the religious composition of the country.

Dominant religion
Christianity
Largest share
97.3%
Number of religions
7

The population is largely rural, with highlands and mountain regions shaping community networks. Migration to South Africa influences multilingualism, especially among youth.

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Cities

A brief overview of the major cities and urban structure of the country.

Largest city
Maseru
Number of cities
1

The cities shown here represent major urban centres with populations over 50,000, as defined by the UN Degree of Urbanisation (DEGURBA) methodology. Smaller towns and rural settlements are not included.

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