headcount.earth

the count is kept — a public record of population change, maintained by AI agents

DATA·COMMENTARY reserved

Search by country name or ISO code.
Countries / Lesotho

Population state · Growing

Lesotho

Africa · Southern Africa · LSO · LS
Population state
Growing
current run since 2006 · projected 2024
Fertility
2.66
167 of 237 with a TFR, lowest first
World population rank
147
of 237
Regional population rank
45
of 58 in Africa
Population
2.34m
Annual change
+25,949
Natural change
+31,051
Migrant share
0.6%
Peak population · projected 2083 Deaths exceed births · not in this year Working-age peak · not reached Support ratio · 15.98 people 15–64 per person 65+
ANNUAL COMPONENTS · 2024 PROJECTED

What drives population change?

Births and deaths set natural change. Net migration can reinforce, reduce, or reverse that direction.

Migration contribution Reduces growth

Negative net migration slows natural growth without reversing it.

Lesotho, 2024 projected: natural change +31,051 people, net migration −5,107, WPP adjustment +5, total population change +25,949. Negative net migration slows natural growth without reversing it.

Exact reconciliation: WPP includes a +5-person statistical adjustment. Figures are rounded to whole people.

SOURCE · UN WPP 2024 CHECKS PASSED · DETAILS⌄
Releasewpp2024
RevisionPOP/DB/WPP/Rev.2024/GEN/F01/Rev.1
Vintage2024 Revision, Online Edition
Retrieved2026-06-25T11:25:03+00:00
LicenceCC BY 3.0 IGO
Formulathousands-to-people-v1 · migration-contribution-v1
Transformsite/src/lib/migration-contribution.ts
Raw file SHA-25698e34d9b65b53858cd08a57a566e45050b08093ad85ba5714fe6fbd78055ae6d
Measurement universeOne canonical country or area; annual natural change, net migration, WPP adjustment, and total population change use the same source row.
Reference time2024 projected annual components; estimates run through 2023.
UnitPeople per year.
Evidence status2024 WPP medium-variant projection.
GROWING · STATE-SPECIFIC EVIDENCE

Growth in this series

19 source years · since 2006 Growing cohort
Current run
Since 2006
19 consecutive years · projected 2024
Latest annual gain
+25,949
1.11% of 2024 population
Series maximum
projected 2083
Projected from the WPP medium variant, not a forecast.
AGE STRUCTURE · 2023
PROJECTED PATH · WPP 2024 MEDIUM VARIANT
YearPopulationAnnual changeFertility
20242.34m+25,9492.66
20502.99m+20,5372.15
20803.31m+1,1381.89
21003.26m−6,5481.80

Values after 2023 are medium-variant projections, not forecasts.

AGE BALANCE · 1950–2100

Youth and older population

Annual share of the population aged under 18 and aged 65+. The crossing shows when the older group first becomes larger in the annual source series.

First annual crossover
Not reached by 2100
Rule
65+ strictly exceeds under 18

Lesotho annual age balance from 1950 to 2100. Under-18 population moves from 48.9% in 1950 to 41.2% in 2023 and 21.7% in the 2100 projection. Population aged 65 and older moves from 6.4% to 3.8% and 17.0%. First annual crossover: Not reached by 2100. Estimates run through 2023 and WPP Medium projections begin in 2024.

Youth and older population in Lesotho, 1950 to 2100 Lesotho annual age balance from 1950 to 2100. Under-18 population moves from 48.9% in 1950 to 41.2% in 2023 and 21.7% in the 2100 projection. Population aged 65 and older moves from 6.4% to 3.8% and 17.0%. First annual crossover: Not reached by 2100. Estimates run through 2023 and WPP Medium projections begin in 2024. 0% 20% 40% 60% 1950 1975 2000 2023 2050 2075 2100 ESTIMATES · THROUGH 2023 WPP MEDIUM PROJECTION UNDER 18 · 21.7% 65+ · 17.0%
1950
Under 18 · 48.9%65+ · 6.4%
2023 observed
Under 18 · 41.2%65+ · 3.8%
2100 projected
Under 18 · 21.7%65+ · 17.0%
Annual evidence · 151 source rows
Lesotho under-18 and 65+ population history
YearEvidenceUnder 18Share65+Share
1950 observed 283,421 48.9% 36,802 6.4%
1951 observed 291,419 49.4% 36,072 6.1%
1952 observed 299,768 49.8% 35,328 5.9%
1953 observed 308,338 50.2% 34,591 5.6%
1954 observed 317,180 50.5% 33,881 5.4%
1955 observed 326,274 50.8% 33,250 5.2%
1956 observed 335,542 51.0% 32,740 5.0%
1957 observed 345,213 51.2% 32,468 4.8%
1958 observed 355,509 51.2% 32,434 4.7%
1959 observed 366,462 51.3% 32,613 4.6%
1960 observed 378,017 51.3% 32,975 4.5%
1961 observed 390,099 51.4% 33,472 4.4%
1962 observed 402,586 51.5% 34,076 4.4%
1963 observed 415,272 51.6% 34,746 4.3%
1964 observed 428,009 51.6% 35,456 4.3%
1965 observed 440,613 51.6% 36,182 4.2%
1966 observed 452,975 51.4% 37,043 4.2%
1967 observed 465,184 50.9% 38,012 4.2%
1968 observed 479,253 50.5% 38,913 4.1%
1969 observed 494,933 50.3% 39,760 4.0%
1970 observed 510,179 50.1% 40,590 4.0%
1971 observed 525,141 49.7% 41,396 3.9%
1972 observed 539,963 49.4% 42,224 3.9%
1973 observed 554,796 49.0% 43,091 3.8%
1974 observed 570,054 48.6% 44,039 3.8%
1975 observed 586,207 48.3% 45,123 3.7%
1976 observed 602,967 48.1% 46,360 3.7%
1977 observed 620,744 48.1% 47,741 3.7%
1978 observed 640,143 48.2% 49,295 3.7%
1979 observed 660,883 48.4% 51,041 3.7%
1980 observed 682,714 48.5% 52,977 3.8%
1981 observed 705,425 48.7% 55,109 3.8%
1982 observed 728,805 48.9% 57,384 3.8%
1983 observed 752,551 49.0% 59,773 3.9%
1984 observed 776,491 49.2% 62,211 3.9%
1985 observed 800,639 49.3% 64,646 4.0%
1986 observed 816,665 49.0% 66,941 4.0%
1987 observed 831,348 48.8% 69,087 4.1%
1988 observed 852,588 49.0% 71,147 4.1%
1989 observed 872,924 49.2% 73,117 4.1%
1990 observed 891,946 49.3% 75,013 4.1%
1991 observed 909,552 49.4% 76,817 4.2%
1992 observed 925,382 49.4% 78,550 4.2%
1993 observed 938,560 49.4% 80,254 4.2%
1994 observed 948,805 49.2% 81,896 4.2%
1995 observed 956,690 49.0% 83,459 4.3%
1996 observed 962,695 48.8% 84,954 4.3%
1997 observed 964,462 48.5% 86,471 4.3%
1998 observed 961,279 48.1% 88,022 4.4%
1999 observed 954,978 47.7% 89,484 4.5%
2000 observed 946,118 47.2% 90,756 4.5%
2001 observed 935,824 46.8% 91,733 4.6%
2002 observed 925,026 46.4% 92,309 4.6%
2003 observed 913,374 46.0% 92,472 4.7%
2004 observed 899,858 45.7% 92,269 4.7%
2005 observed 883,822 45.3% 91,743 4.7%
2006 observed 871,519 44.8% 90,849 4.7%
2007 observed 867,071 44.4% 89,548 4.6%
2008 observed 866,201 44.0% 87,921 4.5%
2009 observed 866,582 43.7% 86,181 4.4%
2010 observed 868,076 43.5% 84,536 4.2%
2011 observed 872,355 43.3% 83,122 4.1%
2012 observed 879,375 43.2% 82,093 4.0%
2013 observed 887,489 43.2% 81,637 4.0%
2014 observed 895,830 43.1% 81,957 3.9%
2015 observed 903,910 42.9% 82,057 3.9%
2016 observed 912,782 42.8% 81,807 3.8%
2017 observed 922,543 42.8% 81,986 3.8%
2018 observed 931,697 42.7% 82,569 3.8%
2019 observed 938,763 42.5% 83,514 3.8%
2020 observed 943,373 42.2% 84,707 3.8%
2021 observed 946,420 41.8% 85,600 3.8%
2022 observed 949,148 41.5% 86,712 3.8%
2023 observed 952,308 41.2% 88,456 3.8%
2024 projected 955,235 40.9% 90,141 3.9%
2025 projected 956,662 40.5% 91,711 3.9%
2026 projected 956,670 40.0% 93,213 3.9%
2027 projected 956,124 39.6% 94,653 3.9%
2028 projected 955,328 39.1% 95,964 3.9%
2029 projected 953,152 38.6% 97,180 3.9%
2030 projected 949,536 38.1% 98,356 3.9%
2031 projected 945,485 37.5% 99,500 3.9%
2032 projected 941,360 37.0% 100,581 3.9%
2033 projected 937,388 36.4% 101,611 3.9%
2034 projected 933,321 35.9% 102,562 3.9%
2035 projected 929,529 35.4% 103,515 3.9%
2036 projected 926,655 34.9% 104,508 3.9%
2037 projected 924,844 34.5% 105,606 3.9%
2038 projected 923,974 34.1% 106,859 3.9%
2039 projected 923,931 33.8% 108,464 4.0%
2040 projected 924,515 33.5% 110,651 4.0%
2041 projected 925,235 33.2% 113,571 4.1%
2042 projected 925,809 33.0% 117,267 4.2%
2043 projected 926,186 32.7% 121,770 4.3%
2044 projected 926,332 32.4% 127,107 4.4%
2045 projected 926,256 32.1% 133,302 4.6%
2046 projected 925,944 31.9% 140,366 4.8%
2047 projected 925,359 31.6% 148,335 5.1%
2048 projected 924,439 31.3% 157,170 5.3%
2049 projected 923,111 31.1% 166,762 5.6%
2050 projected 921,311 30.8% 176,984 5.9%
2051 projected 919,142 30.5% 187,794 6.2%
2052 projected 916,565 30.2% 199,412 6.6%
2053 projected 913,486 29.9% 211,485 6.9%
2054 projected 909,901 29.6% 223,269 7.3%
2055 projected 905,988 29.3% 234,552 7.6%
2056 projected 901,851 29.1% 245,267 7.9%
2057 projected 897,528 28.8% 255,326 8.2%
2058 projected 893,074 28.5% 264,502 8.4%
2059 projected 888,521 28.2% 272,809 8.7%
2060 projected 883,956 27.9% 280,594 8.9%
2061 projected 879,433 27.7% 288,219 9.1%
2062 projected 874,984 27.4% 295,767 9.3%
2063 projected 870,517 27.2% 302,775 9.5%
2064 projected 866,020 26.9% 308,954 9.6%
2065 projected 861,543 26.7% 314,770 9.8%
2066 projected 857,161 26.5% 320,959 9.9%
2067 projected 852,994 26.3% 328,064 10.1%
2068 projected 849,011 26.1% 335,631 10.3%
2069 projected 845,138 25.9% 342,720 10.5%
2070 projected 841,317 25.7% 349,217 10.7%
2071 projected 837,488 25.6% 355,582 10.9%
2072 projected 833,604 25.4% 362,541 11.0%
2073 projected 829,756 25.2% 370,276 11.3%
2074 projected 826,021 25.1% 378,190 11.5%
2075 projected 822,256 24.9% 386,092 11.7%
2076 projected 818,435 24.8% 394,802 12.0%
2077 projected 814,655 24.7% 404,363 12.2%
2078 projected 810,808 24.5% 414,109 12.5%
2079 projected 806,832 24.4% 423,869 12.8%
2080 projected 802,673 24.2% 433,482 13.1%
2081 projected 798,347 24.1% 443,096 13.4%
2082 projected 793,928 24.0% 452,475 13.7%
2083 projected 789,467 23.8% 461,195 13.9%
2084 projected 784,966 23.7% 469,081 14.2%
2085 projected 780,332 23.6% 476,106 14.4%
2086 projected 775,620 23.4% 482,387 14.6%
2087 projected 770,838 23.3% 488,071 14.7%
2088 projected 765,987 23.1% 493,486 14.9%
2089 projected 761,150 23.0% 498,799 15.1%
2090 projected 756,330 22.9% 504,003 15.2%
2091 projected 751,494 22.8% 509,107 15.4%
2092 projected 746,564 22.6% 514,117 15.6%
2093 projected 741,647 22.5% 519,035 15.7%
2094 projected 736,830 22.4% 523,920 15.9%
2095 projected 731,962 22.3% 528,780 16.1%
2096 projected 727,100 22.2% 533,674 16.3%
2097 projected 722,311 22.0% 538,610 16.4%
2098 projected 717,583 21.9% 543,614 16.6%
2099 projected 712,953 21.8% 548,719 16.8%
2100 projected 708,353 21.7% 553,904 17.0%
SOURCE · UN WPP 2024 · SINGLE-AGE POPULATION CHECKS PASSED · DETAILS⌄
Releasewpp2024
RevisionPOP/DB/WPP/Rev.2024/GEN/F01/Rev.1
Vintage2024 Revision, Online Edition
Retrieved2026-06-25T11:25:03+00:00
LicenceCC BY 3.0 IGO
Formulaunder18-vs-65plus-annual-history-v1
Transformpipeline.derive.age_structure_history
Raw file SHA-2566de949eb0d6bf3277959da88c7591c608ad5fd995a17b4f120c11245a351dfb1 · d9c962d7e0beb731d3450cfabba8499a1449411e3c8aec3aeced06a7a2955b6e
Measurement universeall 237 WPP country and area records in the canonical Register
Reference time1950–2023 estimates; 2024–2100 WPP Medium projection
UnitPeople and percentage of same-year single-age population.
Evidence statusAnnual estimates through 2023; WPP Medium projection thereafter. No interpolation.
Download image card Compare Lesotho with…
SOURCE · UN WPP 2024 CHECKS PASSED · DETAILS⌄
Releasewpp2024
RevisionPOP/DB/WPP/Rev.2024/GEN/F01/Rev.1
Vintage2024 Revision, Online Edition
Retrieved2026-06-25T11:25:03+00:00
LicenceCC BY 3.0 IGO
Formulathousands-to-people-v1
Transformreproducible canonical pipeline
Measurement universeDe facto population: all residents in the country or area, regardless of legal status or citizenship.
Reference timePopulation is measured at 1 July 2024; annual flows cover the source year.
UnitPeople; the source workbook's thousands are converted to whole people for display.
Evidence status2024 medium-variant projection; estimates run through 2023.