Demographics of Lesotho

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Demographics of Lesotho
Lesotho single age population pyramid 2020.png
Population pyramid of Lesotho in 2020
Population2,193,970 (2022 est.)
Growth rate0.76% (2022 est.)
Birth rate23.15 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate11.05 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy59.57 years
  male57.57 years
  female61.64 years
Fertility rate2.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate48.44 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate-4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years31.3%
65 and over5.6%
Sex ratio
Total0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth1.03 male(s)/female
Under 151.01 male(s)/female
65 and over0.48 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalityBasotho
Major ethnicSotho (99.7%)
Language
OfficialSesotho, English

Demographic features of the population of Lesotho include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects.

Contents

The Demographics of Lesotho describe the condition and overview of Lesotho's people, residents of which are called Basotho in the plural and Mosotho in the singular. Demographic topics include basic education, health, and population statistics as well as identified racial and religious affiliations.

Population

Historical population of Lesotho (Our World in Data). Lesotho-demography.png
Historical population of Lesotho (Our World in Data).

According to the 2016 census, Lesotho has a total population of 2,007,201. [1] Of the population, 34.17 percent lived in urban and 65.83 percent in rural areas. [1] The country's capital, Maseru, accounts for around half of the total urban population. The sex distribution is 982,133 male and 1,025,068 female, or around 96 males for each 100 females. [1]

The average population density in the country is around 66,1 people per square kilometer. The density is lower in the Lesotho Highlands than in the western lowlands. Although the majority of the population—56.1 percent—is between 15 and 64 years of age, Lesotho has a substantial youth population numbering around 37.8 percent. [2] The annual population growth rate is estimated at 0.13% [2]

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects [3] [4] the total population was 2,281,454 in 2021, compared to only 734 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 37.4%, 58.3% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 4.3% was 65 years or older . [5]

Total populationPopulation aged 0–14 (%)Population aged 15–64 (%)Population aged 65+ (%)
1950734 00040.754.94.5
1955788 00041.953.74.4
1960852 00043.152.74.3
1965934 00043.652.24.2
19701 033 00044.151.84.2
19751 150 00044.551.34.2
19801 310 00044.351.64.1
19851 487 00044.351.64.1
19901 639 00044.151.74.2
19951 795 00043.152.54.4
20001 964 00041.254.34.5
20052 066 00039.656.04.4
20102 171 00037.458.34.3
Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 10.IV.2016): [6]
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total982 1331 025 0682 007 201100
0–4100 79399 362200 1559.97
5–9109 953111 523221 47611.03
10–14107 879107 934215 81310.75
15–19106 214103 652209 86610.46
20–2498 827100 440199 2679.93
25–2995 80293 141188 9439.41
30–3486 95681 189168 1458.38
35–3968 24662 135130 3816.50
40–4448 66547 63096 2954.80
45–4936 42538 46274 8873.73
50–5431 78538 57470 3593.51
55–5925 75934 05859 8172.98
60–6420 77028 45149 2212.45
65-6915 31122 04737 3581.86
70-7412 01718 79130 8081.53
75-798 46715 70724 1741.20
80-845 42413 19718 6210.93
85-891 8735 2017 0740.35
90-946622 1272 7890.14
95+3051 4471 7520.09
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–14318 625318 819637 44431.76
15–64619 449627 7321 247 18162.14
65+44 05978 517122 5766.11
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2021) (Data are projections based on the 2016 Population Census.): [7]
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total1 019 4531 057 8582 077 311100
0–4100 10498 343198 4469.55
5–9111 585114 805226 39010.90
10–14106 278106 664212 94210.25
15–19100 31196 522196 8329.48
20–2495 95996 699192 6589.27
25–29102 41198 595201 0069.68
30–34101 35292 981194 3339.36
35–3980 45969 851150 3107.24
40–4453 41549 648103 0634.96
45–4937 53738 31475 8523.65
50–5433 35240 80474 1553.57
55–5927 07137 91564 9863.13
60–6422 94532 50955 4542.67
65-6916 33623 85240 1871.93
70+30 34060 35690 6964.37
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–14317 967319 812637 77930.70
15–64654 810653 8381 308 64863.00
65+46 67684 208130 8846.30

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in Lesotho not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. [5]

PeriodLive births per yearDeaths per yearNatural change per yearCBR*CDR*NC*TFR*IMR*
1950–195532 00017 00015 00042.122.719.45.84169
1955–196035 00017 00018 00042.220.321.95.86150
1960–196538 00016 00021 00042.318.324.05.81134
1965–197042 00017 00024 00042.517.824.85.80130
1970–197547 00018 00028 00042.816.926.05.80123
1975–198052 00019 00033 00042.015.127.05.69110
1980–198556 00018 00038 00040.413.027.45.4694
1985–199059 00018 00041 00037.611.626.05.1484
1990–199560 00017 00042 00034.710.024.74.7070
1995–200063 00025 00038 00033.713.520.24.3781
2000–200562 00036 00026 00030.717.912.83.7986
2005–201060 00035 00025 00028.516.711.93.3777
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Fertility and Births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR): [8]

YearTotalUrbanRural
CBRTFRWFRCBRTFRWFRCBRTFRWFR
200425.33.52.519.31.91.426.74.12.9
200926.43.32.424.52.11.727.14.02.8
201424.33.32.323.32.31.724.73.92.7
2023-2418.62.519.02.118.42.8
Fertility data as of 2014 (DHS Program): [9]
DistrictTotal fertility ratePercentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnantMean number of children ever born to women age 40-49
Butha-Buthe3.74.73.9
Leribe3.53.63.7
Berea3.13.53.7
Maseru2.64.43.5
Mafeteng2.86.13.5
Mohale's Hoek3.83.83.7
Quthing3.93.34.1
Qacha's Nek2.95.03.8
Mokhotlong4.45.24.9
Thaba-Tseka4.04.34.6

Life expectancy at birth

Life expectancy from 1950 to 2015 (UN World Population Prospects): [10]

PeriodLife expectancy in
Years
1950–195542.15
1955–1960Increase2.svg 45.08
1960–1965Increase2.svg 47.80
1965–1970Increase2.svg 48.52
1970–1975Increase2.svg 49.80
1975–1980Increase2.svg 52.24
1980–1985Increase2.svg 55.28
1985–1990Increase2.svg 57.33
1990–1995Increase2.svg 59.70
1995–2000Decrease2.svg 52.74
2000–2005Decrease2.svg 45.62
2005–2010Increase2.svg 49.04
2010–2015Increase2.svg 52.51

Other demographic statistics

Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates Lesotho Population 1950-2021 UN World Population Prospects 2022.svg
Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022. [11]

The following demographic are from the CIA World Factbook [12] unless otherwise indicated.

6,600 people living in Lesotho are from Asia or Europe. They represent 0.3% of the total population of Lesotho. The 5,000 Chinese people form the largest non-African ethnic group in Lesotho. [13]

Population

2,193,970 (2022 est.)
1,962,461 (July 2018 est.)

Religions

Protestant 47.8% (Pentecostal 23.1%, Lesotho Evangelical 17.3%, Anglican 7.4%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, other Christian 9.1%, non-Christian 1.4%, none 2.3% (2014 est.)

Age structure

Population pyramid of Lesotho in 2020 Lesotho single age population pyramid 2020.png
Population pyramid of Lesotho in 2020
0-14 years: 31.3% (male 309,991/female 306,321)
15-24 years: 19.26% (male 181,874/female 197,452)
25-54 years: 38.86% (male 373,323/female 391,901)
55-64 years: 4.98% (male 52,441/female 45,726)
65 years and over: 5.6% (2020 est.) (male 57,030/female 53,275)
0-14 years: 31.84% (male 314,155 /female 310,772)
15-24 years: 19.34% (male 181,332 /female 1955,236)
25-54 years: 38.27% (male 366,652 /female 384,333)
55-64 years: 5.02% (male 52,490 /female 46,016)
65 years and over: 5.53% (male 55,804 /female 52,671) (2018 est.)

Population growth rate

0.76% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 121st
0.24% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 178th

Birth rate

23.15 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 50th
24.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 52nd

Death rate

11.05 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 22nd
15.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.88 children born/woman (2023 est.) Country comparison to the world: 55th
2.92 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 51st
2.59 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 72nd

Median age

total: 24.7 years. Country comparison to the world: 164th
male: 24.7 years
female: 24.7 years (2020 est.)
total: 24.4 years. Country comparison to the world: 164th
male: 24.4 years
female: 24.3 years (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.9 years (2014 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Contraceptive prevalence rate

64.9% (2018)
60.2% (2014)

Net migration rate

-4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 199th
-6.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) Country comparison to the world: 203rd

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 66.9 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 59.5 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 13.5 (2015 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 29.9% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
urban population: 30.2% of total population (2018)
rate of urbanization: 2.83% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 59.57 years. Country comparison to the world: 220th
male: 57.57 years
female: 61.64 years (2022 est.)
total population: 53 years (2018 est.)
male: 53 years (2018 est.)
female: 53.1 years (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

7.4% of GDP (2020) Country comparison to the world: 16th

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

total population: 79.4% (2015 est.)
male: 70.1% (2015 est.)
female: 88.3% (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2017)
total: 11 years (2015)
male: 10 years (2015)
female: 11 years (2015)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 34.4% (2013 est.)
male: NA (2013 est.)
female: NA (2013 est.)

Ethnic groups and languages

Ethnic groups in Lesotho [14]
Ethnic groups
Sotho
99.7%
Europeans, South Asians and Other
0.3%

Due to Lesotho's long history as a unified nation, that continued even through British colonial rule, the ethnic makeup of the country is very homogenous. Lesotho's ethno-linguistic structure consists almost entirely of the Basotho (singular Mosotho), a Bantu-speaking people: an estimate of 99.7 percent of the people identify as Basotho. [2] The Kwena (Bakoena) are the largest subgroup of the Sotho; other Basotho subgroups include the Natal (North) Nguni, Batloung (the Tlou), Baphuthi (the Phuti), Bafokeng, Bataung (the Tau), Bats'oeneng (the tso'ene) and the Cape (South) Nguni (Thembu). Other ethnic groups in Lesotho include South Asians (Indian, Pakistani), numbering more than 4,000 and a few hundread Europeans. [15]

Sesotho (Southern Sotho) and English languages are both official. [2] Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa and French are also spoken.

Religion

The population of Lesotho is estimated to be around 90 percent Christian. [16] Roman Catholics, the largest religious group, make up around 45 percent of the population. [16] Evangelicals comprise 26 percent of the population, and Anglican and other Christian groups an additional 19 percent. [16] Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Baháʼí, and members of traditional indigenous religions comprise the remaining 10 percent of the population. [16]

Education and literacy

According to recent estimates, 85 percent of the population 15 and over was literate. Among women the literacy rate was around 95 percent, and among men around 75 percent. [2] As such, Lesotho boasts one of the higher literacy rates in Africa. Although education is not compulsory, the Government of Lesotho is incrementally implementing a programme for free primary education. It was expected that the program would be fully in place by 2006. The National University of Lesotho located in Roma and the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology located in the heart of Maseru, Moshoeshoe 2 are the only universities in the country. [17] In addition, the country has almost 20 other public and 15 private institutes giving tertiary education. [17]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "2016 census" (PDF). Lesotho Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 CIA. "CIA - The World Factbook - Lesotho" . Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  3. "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  4. "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision Archived May 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics".
  7. "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  8. Demographic and Health Surveys
  9. http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR309/FR309.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  10. "World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations" . Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  11. "Lesotho Population 2022", World Population Review
  12. PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from "Lesotho". The World Factbook (2024 ed.). CIA.  (Archived 2022 edition.)
  13. "Lesotho - Country Profile - Kingdom of Lesotho - South Africa".
  14. "Africa :: LESOTHO". CIA The World Factbook. 19 April 2022.
  15. Commonwealth Secretariat (2004). The Commonwealth Yearbook. Commonwealth Secretariat. p. 181. ISBN   0-11-703227-1.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Lesotho". United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor . 2007-09-14. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  17. 1 2 Matora Ntimo-Makara. "INHEA: Lesotho higher education profile". The Boston College Center for International Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-04-15.

Attribution