Lesotho: Urban population growth (annual %)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Lesotho's urban population growth (annual %) fell 0.09 percentage points on 2024 (from 3.43% to 3.35%).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −0.09 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.43 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 1.42 percentage points in 1988 and the biggest yearly fall was 1.69 percentage points in 1965. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is downward, about 0.16 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 71% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Lesotho had the 35th highest value of the 217 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Lesotho in the 2025 ranking

• Côte d'Ivoire — 31st of 217: 3.47%
• South Sudan — 32nd of 217: 3.46%
• Zimbabwe — 33rd of 217: 3.38%
• Georgia — 35th of 217: 3.34%
• Nigeria — 36th of 217: 3.32%
• Guinea-Bissau — 37th of 217: 3.32%

What this measures

Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.

Limitations: Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 65 values

Urban population growth (annual %) in nearby economies

• Angola — 4.14% (2025)
• Benin — 3.94% (2025)
• Botswana — 2.34% (2025)
• Burkina Faso — 4.26% (2025)
• Burundi — 5.8% (2025)
• Cabo Verde — 1.58% (2025)
• Cameroon — 3.04% (2025)
• Central African Republic — 4.34% (2025)
• Chad — 5.74% (2025)
• Comoros — 3.05% (2025)
• Congo, Dem. Rep.

More environment data for Lesotho

• Rural population — 1.31 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 55.33% (2025)
• Urban population — 1.06 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 44.67% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 2,107 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons) — 74 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 2,181 (2024)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — -0.67% (2025)
• Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) — 6.09 (2024)
• Agricultural land (sq. km) — 28,200 (2024)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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Questions people ask

What is Lesotho's urban population growth (annual %)?

3.35% in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1961?

It is down 14.45 percentage points from 17.79% in 1961. The highest value was 17.79% in 1961 and the lowest 2.38% in 2005.

How does Lesotho rank?

35th highest of 217 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in urban population growth (annual %) unusual for Lesotho?

In 2025, Lesotho's urban population growth (annual %) fell 0.09 percentage points on 2024 (from 3.43% to 3.35%). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −0.09 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.43 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SP.URB.GROW, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), uri: https://population.un.org/wup/, note: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects, National definitions, publisher: UN Population Division; Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), note: Wo… Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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