Rural population, annual growth rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Rural population, annual growth rate was -0.6715 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population, annual growth rate in Lesotho, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population, annual growth rate in Lesotho is -0.6715 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.7% on the previous year and up 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population, annual growth rate in Lesotho peaked at 3.29 % change on previous year in 1975 and was at its lowest, -1.84 % change on previous year, in 2005.
Lesotho ranks 151st of 208 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population, annual growth rate in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.41 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 2.37 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 1963 | 2.35 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 2.34 % change on previous year | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 2.37 % change on previous year | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 2.72 % change on previous year | +14.6% |
| 1967 | 3.1 % change on previous year | +14.0% |
| 1968 | 3.13 % change on previous year | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 3.08 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 3.05 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1971 | 3.03 % change on previous year | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 3.04 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 3.07 % change on previous year | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 3.15 % change on previous year | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 3.29 % change on previous year | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 3.18 % change on previous year | -3.1% |
| 1977 | 2.92 % change on previous year | -8.4% |
| 1978 | 2.88 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 2.92 % change on previous year | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 2.95 % change on previous year | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 2.95 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 2.94 % change on previous year | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 2.92 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 2.89 % change on previous year | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 2.86 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 2.54 % change on previous year | -11.2% |
| 1987 | 2.05 % change on previous year | -19.3% |
| 1988 | 1.75 % change on previous year | -14.8% |
| 1989 | 1.49 % change on previous year | -15.0% |
| 1990 | 1.24 % change on previous year | -16.9% |
| 1991 | 1.01 % change on previous year | -18.0% |
| 1992 | 0.8188 % change on previous year | -19.2% |
| 1993 | 0.6353 % change on previous year | -22.4% |
| 1994 | 0.484 % change on previous year | -23.8% |
| 1995 | 0.3985 % change on previous year | -17.7% |
| 1996 | 0.3233 % change on previous year | -18.9% |
| 1997 | 0.1003 % change on previous year | -69.0% |
| 1998 | -0.1814 % change on previous year | -280.9% |
| 1999 | -0.4168 % change on previous year | +129.7% |
| 2000 | -0.6502 % change on previous year | +56.0% |
| 2001 | -0.8586 % change on previous year | +32.0% |
| 2002 | -1.05 % change on previous year | +22.2% |
| 2003 | -1.27 % change on previous year | +21.3% |
| 2004 | -1.55 % change on previous year | +22.1% |
| 2005 | -1.84 % change on previous year | +18.8% |
| 2006 | -1.44 % change on previous year | -21.9% |
| 2007 | -0.7383 % change on previous year | -48.7% |
| 2008 | -0.6195 % change on previous year | -16.1% |
| 2009 | -0.7015 % change on previous year | +13.2% |
| 2010 | -0.7839 % change on previous year | +11.7% |
| 2011 | -0.7983 % change on previous year | +1.8% |
| 2012 | -0.8041 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 2013 | -0.8484 % change on previous year | +5.5% |
| 2014 | -0.9123 % change on previous year | +7.5% |
| 2015 | -0.9992 % change on previous year | +9.5% |
| 2016 | -0.9502 % change on previous year | -4.9% |
| 2017 | -0.3501 % change on previous year | -63.2% |
| 2018 | -0.4317 % change on previous year | +23.3% |
| 2019 | -0.4959 % change on previous year | +14.9% |
| 2020 | -0.5042 % change on previous year | +1.7% |
| 2021 | -0.5579 % change on previous year | +10.6% |
| 2022 | -0.643 % change on previous year | +15.3% |
| 2023 | -0.6374 % change on previous year | -0.9% |
| 2024 | -0.6415 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 2025 | -0.6715 % change on previous year | +4.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's -0.6715 % change on previous year is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.8714 % change on previous year. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's -0.6715 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.21 % change on previous year. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural population, annual growth rate in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | -280.9% | 0.1003 % change on previous year | -0.1814 % change on previous year |
| 1999 | -129.7% | -0.1814 % change on previous year | -0.4168 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.65 % change on previous year | 2.34 % change on previous year | 3.13 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.05 % change on previous year | 2.88 % change on previous year | 3.29 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.53 % change on previous year | 1.49 % change on previous year | 2.95 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.441 % change on previous year | -0.4168 % change on previous year | 1.24 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.07 % change on previous year | -1.84 % change on previous year | -0.6195 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.7374 % change on previous year | -0.9992 % change on previous year | -0.3501 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.6093 % change on previous year | -0.6715 % change on previous year | -0.5042 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 148 Cuba -0.6522 % change on previous year compare
- 149 Russia -0.6656 % change on previous year compare
- 150 Argentina -0.6693 % change on previous year compare
- 152 Fiji -0.6777 % change on previous year compare
- 153 Germany -0.6813 % change on previous year compare
- 154 Gabon -0.6835 % change on previous year compare
More agriculture & rural data for Lesotho
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0649 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 70.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5533 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 5.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
- Rural population 55.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population, annual growth rate in Lesotho?
- Rural population, annual growth rate in Lesotho was -0.6715 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 3.29 % change on previous year in 1975.
- What is the lowest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.84 % change on previous year in 2005.
- How does Lesotho rank for rural population, annual growth rate?
- Lesotho ranks 151st out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population, annual growth rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Rural population, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Rural population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.