Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Lesotho

Urban population share in Lesotho in 2025 — 44.7%. Ranked 162 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 41 pp.

2025 44.7% +1 pp vs 2024
World rank 162of 217
Period maximum 44.7%2025
Period minimum 3.7%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Lesotho, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 3.7%1962: 4.9%1964: 6.1%1966: 7.1%1968: 8.1%1970: 9.2%1972: 10.2%1974: 10.9%1976: 11.2%1978: 11.2%1980: 11.2%1982: 11.2%1984: 11.3%1986: 11.3%1988: 11.8%1990: 12.9%1992: 14.3%1994: 15.8%1996: 17.1%1998: 18.2%2000: 19.3%2002: 20.5%2004: 21.8%2006: 23.3%2008: 25.2%2010: 27.4%2012: 29.9%2014: 32.6%2016: 35.5%2018: 37.6%2020: 39.6%2022: 41.7%2024: 43.7%2025: 44.7%
Change over the period: +41 pp Annual average: 0.63 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Lesotho

Lesotho 44.7%
World 57.8%
Southern Africa computed 62.2%
Urban population share — Lesotho, by year Lesotho All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 44.7 +1 pp
2024 43.7 +1 pp
2023 42.7 +1 pp
2022 41.7 +1 pp
2021 40.7 +1 pp
2020 39.6 +1 pp
2019 38.6 +1 pp
2018 37.6 +1 pp
2017 36.5 +1 pp
2016 35.5 +1.4 pp
2015 34.1 +1.4 pp
2014 32.6 +1.4 pp
2013 31.2 +1.3 pp
2012 29.9 +1.3 pp
2011 28.6 +1.2 pp
2010 27.4 +1.1 pp
2009 26.3 +1.1 pp
2008 25.2 +1 pp
2007 24.2 +0.9 pp
2006 23.3 +0.8 pp
2005 22.5 +0.7 pp
2004 21.8 +0.7 pp
2003 21.1 +0.6 pp
2002 20.5 +0.6 pp
2001 19.9 +0.6 pp
2000 19.3 +0.6 pp
1999 18.8 +0.6 pp
1998 18.2 +0.6 pp
1997 17.7 +0.6 pp
1996 17.1 +0.6 pp
1995 16.5 +0.7 pp
1994 15.8 +0.7 pp
1993 15 +0.7 pp
1992 14.3 +0.7 pp
1991 13.6 +0.7 pp
1990 12.9 +0.6 pp
1989 12.3 +0.5 pp
1988 11.8 +0.3 pp
1987 11.5 +0.2 pp
1986 11.3 +0 pp
1985 11.3 +0 pp
1984 11.3 +0 pp
1983 11.3 +0 pp
1982 11.2 +0 pp
1981 11.2 +0 pp
1980 11.2 +0 pp
1979 11.2 +0 pp
1978 11.2 +0 pp
1977 11.2 +0 pp
1976 11.2 +0.1 pp
1975 11.1 +0.2 pp
1974 10.9 +0.3 pp
1973 10.6 +0.4 pp
1972 10.2 +0.5 pp
1971 9.7 +0.5 pp
1970 9.2 +0.5 pp
1969 8.7 +0.6 pp
1968 8.1 +0.5 pp
1967 7.6 +0.5 pp
1966 7.1 +0.5 pp
1965 6.6 +0.5 pp
1964 6.1 +0.6 pp
1963 5.5 +0.6 pp
1962 4.9 +0.6 pp
1961 4.2 +0.6 pp
1960 3.7

Southern Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.