Lesotho birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Lesotho has a birth rate of 24.1 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 2.69 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Lesotho was 5.78 children per woman — 2.15 times higher than in 2023.

Lesotho birth rate statistics:

Lesotho is ranked 56/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 87/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Lesotho is 20.9 — it was 21 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.8, a change from 29.5 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 98.1 in 1960 to 70.6 in 2023.
27.8% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 25.3% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Lesotho by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	2.69	68
2022	2.72	68
2021	2.77	67
2020	2.85	67
2019	2.92	63
2018	3.02	62
2017	3.11	59
2016	3.18	58
2015	3.22	58
2014	3.24	59
2013	3.28	59
2012	3.3	61
2011	3.34	60
2010	3.25	66
2009	3.31	65
2008	3.39	64
2007	3.44	64
2006	3.41	66
2005	3.43	66
2004	3.51	66
2003	3.62	63
2002	3.68	65
2001	3.63	70
2000	3.61	71
1999	3.67	73
1998	3.82	73
1997	3.98	71
1996	4.06	70
1995	4.13	72
1994	4.21	72
1993	4.37	72
1992	4.54	72
1991	4.68	71
1990	4.81	72
1989	4.96	72
1988	5.1	70
1987	5.22	71
1986	5.32	72
1985	5.4	73
1984	5.48	74
1983	5.56	72
1982	5.63	71
1981	5.69	72
1980	5.75	73
1979	5.79	72
1978	5.82	72
1977	5.85	72
1976	5.87	76
1975	5.83	78
1974	5.75	88
1973	5.69	91
1972	5.69	96
1971	5.7	96
1970	5.7	101
1969	5.7	104
1968	5.73	109
1967	5.75	111
1966	5.76	113
1965	5.77	114
1964	5.77	120
1963	5.78	120
1962	5.79	120
1961	5.79	119
1960	5.78	119

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Lesotho is 2.69, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 4.37 — a 38.3% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	31,115	55,727	24,612
2022	30,803	55,762	24,959
2021	27,806	56,303	28,497
2020	30,721	57,297	26,576
2019	32,279	58,416	26,137
2018	33,112	59,745	26,633
2017	33,601	60,918	27,317
2016	33,390	61,637	28,247
2015	32,087	61,408	29,321
2014	30,922	61,362	30,440
2013	29,789	61,670	31,881
2012	27,592	61,085	33,493
2011	25,647	60,841	35,194
2010	21,877	58,216	36,339
2009	20,335	58,146	37,811
2008	19,349	58,292	38,943
2007	17,763	57,590	39,827
2006	15,234	55,681	40,447
2005	15,831	55,781	39,950
2004	17,271	56,642	39,371
2003	20,133	58,150	38,017
2002	22,274	58,573	36,299
2001	23,190	57,456	34,266
2000	24,786	56,606	31,820
1999	27,393	57,006	29,613
1998	30,889	58,418	27,529
1997	34,637	60,089	25,452
1996	36,228	59,989	23,761
1995	37,370	59,643	22,273
1994	38,629	59,787	21,158
1993	40,505	60,762	20,257
1992	42,579	62,132	19,553
1991	44,026	62,987	18,961
1990	45,060	63,574	18,514
1989	46,264	64,400	18,136
1988	47,158	65,007	17,849
1987	47,718	65,296	17,578
1986	45,232	62,528	17,296
1985	44,575	61,614	17,039
1984	43,785	60,664	16,879
1983	42,899	59,762	16,863
1982	41,941	58,828	16,887
1981	40,808	57,809	17,001
1980	39,617	56,800	17,183
1979	38,440	55,727	17,287
1978	37,084	54,436	17,352
1977	35,654	53,013	17,359
1976	34,117	51,383	17,266
1975	32,311	49,300	16,989
1974	30,444	47,182	16,738
1973	28,859	45,243	16,384
1972	27,841	43,962	16,121
1971	26,838	42,729	15,891
1970	25,935	41,577	15,642
1969	25,137	40,572	15,435
1968	24,490	39,704	15,214
1967	23,911	38,884	14,973
1966	23,326	37,891	14,565
1965	22,755	37,010	14,255
1964	22,116	36,049	13,933
1963	21,585	35,233	13,648
1962	21,132	34,465	13,333
1961	20,581	33,645	13,064
1960	19,981	32,824	12,843

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Lesotho (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +1.44% annually. On average, 31,583 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 1.35% — 31,115 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Lesotho ranks 103/196 for absolute natural population change and 79/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Lesotho compared to other countries

	Lesotho	Rank
Fertility rate	2.69	68/196
Birth rate	24.1	56/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+31,115	103/196
Natural population change rate	+1.35%	79/196
Population growth	+1.12%	93/197
Age at first childbirth	20.9 years	98/137
Average age at childbearing	27.8 years	163/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	69.3	39/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	133.8	67/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	37.3	63/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	27.8%	6/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	65.3%	31/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	86.6%	142/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.48%	11/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	2.87%	15/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	5.54%	10/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	5.89%	21/192
Life expectancy	58.6 years	193/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	45.1	69.3	133.8	37.3
2025	45.7	69.6	134.8	38.5
2024	46.3	70.1	135.7	39.6
2023	46.9	71.1	136.8	40.8
2022	47.4	72.1	137.4	41.5
2021	48.4	73.4	139.4	42.4
2020	49.8	74.7	142.6	43.7
2019	51.4	77.2	144.9	45.1
2018	53.2	80.7	147.9	46.4
2017	54.9	84.8	150.8	47.5
2016	56.2	86	153.4	48.3
2015	56.7	83.8	153.7	48.8
2014	57.3	85.4	156.5	47.2
2013	58.2	88.1	160.1	45.9
2012	58.3	87	161.9	44.9
2011	58.6	84.7	165.3	44.7
2010	56.6	83.4	161.2	42.1
2009	57	86	164.2	41.6
2008	57.5	89.2	168.1	41.6
2007	57.3	89.4	170.9	41.4
2006	55.6	85.7	168.9	41.2
2005	55.5	83	168.9	42.4
2004	55.8	80.9	171.8	44.8
2003	56.9	83.3	176	47.3
2002	57	81.3	178.1	49.6
2001	55.7	80	176	49.5
2000	54.8	78.5	175.2	49.9
1999	55.2	78	178.9	51.6
1998	56.7	80.2	184.4	54.8
1997	58.6	82.5	191.4	58.2
1996	59	81.7	193.7	60.2
1995	59.3	79.8	196.3	61.8
1994	60.2	82.1	199.4	63.2
1993	62.1	82.7	205.9	66
1992	64.5	85.9	213.3	68.9
1991	66.5	89	218.7	71.2
1990	68.4	90	223.3	73.7
1989	70.7	92.5	228.7	76.2
1988	72.9	94.1	233.9	78.5
1987	74.8	95.7	238.1	80.4
1986	73.4	97.6	242.3	79.9
1985	74.4	97.8	246.2	80.5
1984	75.3	97.3	250.8	80.9
1983	76.2	96.6	255.5	81.5
1982	77.1	97.1	260.1	81.9
1981	78	100.4	262.2	82.4
1980	78.8	105.8	263.5	82.7
1979	79.6	111.2	262.3	82.7
1978	79.9	111.8	264.7	82.1
1977	80	112	266.3	82
1976	79.7	108.4	268.8	82.4
1975	78.6	103.2	267.5	82.2
1974	77.3	99.5	264.2	81.9
1973	76.2	96.1	261	81.7
1972	76	93.6	261.2	82.6
1971	75.8	91.2	260.7	83.5
1970	75.7	90	259.4	84.2
1969	75.8	91	261.7	84.5
1968	76.1	94.2	261.6	85
1967	76.5	95.6	261.4	85.3
1966	77	95.3	261.6	86.5
1965	77.7	94.5	262	86.8
1964	77.8	96.3	261.3	86.8
1963	78.1	97.7	260	87.3
1962	78.6	98.8	258.9	87.7
1961	79	99.7	257.3	87.8
1960	79.3	99.2	256.2	87.9

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Lesotho by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 15.5% will be to women under age 20, 52.1% to women ages 20-29, and 32.4% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 13.1%, 53%, and 33.9%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Lesotho	World
2100	18%	16.5%
2099	18.1%	16.6%
2098	18.2%	16.6%
2097	18.3%	16.7%
2096	18.3%	16.8%
2095	18.4%	16.8%
2094	18.5%	16.9%
2093	18.6%	17%
2092	18.7%	17%
2091	18.9%	17.1%
2090	19%	17.2%
2089	19.1%	17.2%
2088	19.2%	17.3%
2087	19.3%	17.4%
2086	19.4%	17.4%
2085	19.6%	17.5%
2084	19.7%	17.5%
2083	19.8%	17.6%
2082	19.9%	17.7%
2081	20%	17.7%
2080	20.2%	17.8%
2079	20.3%	17.8%
2078	20.4%	17.9%
2077	20.5%	17.9%
2076	20.6%	18%
2075	20.7%	18%
2074	20.9%	18.1%
2073	21%	18.2%
2072	21.1%	18.2%
2071	21.3%	18.3%
2070	21.4%	18.3%
2069	21.5%	18.4%
2068	21.7%	18.5%
2067	21.9%	18.6%
2066	22%	18.6%
2065	22.2%	18.7%
2064	22.4%	18.8%
2063	22.6%	18.9%
2062	22.8%	19.1%
2061	23%	19.2%
2060	23.3%	19.3%
2059	23.5%	19.4%
2058	23.7%	19.5%
2057	24%	19.6%
2056	24.2%	19.8%
2055	24.5%	19.9%
2054	24.7%	20%
2053	25%	20.1%
2052	25.3%	20.2%
2051	25.5%	20.3%
2050	25.8%	20.4%
2049	26.1%	20.5%
2048	26.3%	20.6%
2047	26.5%	20.7%
2046	26.8%	20.8%
2045	27%	20.9%
2044	27.3%	20.9%
2043	27.5%	21%
2042	27.7%	21.1%
2041	28%	21.2%
2040	28.2%	21.2%
2039	28.4%	21.3%
2038	28.7%	21.4%
2037	28.9%	21.5%
2036	29.2%	21.6%
2035	29.5%	21.8%
2034	29.9%	22%
2033	30.3%	22.2%
2032	30.8%	22.4%
2031	31.3%	22.7%
2030	31.8%	23%
2029	32.3%	23.3%
2028	32.8%	23.6%
2027	33.4%	23.9%
2026	33.9%	24.2%
2025	34.3%	24.6%
2024	34.5%	24.7%
2023	34.9%	25%
2022	35.3%	25.3%
2021	35.6%	25.6%
2020	35.8%	25.8%
2019	36.1%	26%
2018	36.3%	26.2%
2017	36.5%	26.4%
2016	36.6%	26.5%
2015	36.6%	26.6%
2014	36.6%	26.8%
2013	36.5%	26.9%
2012	36.5%	27%
2011	36.5%	27.1%
2010	36.5%	27.3%
2009	36.6%	27.5%
2008	36.7%	27.6%
2007	36.8%	27.9%
2006	37.1%	28.1%
2005	37.4%	28.5%
2004	37.7%	28.8%
2003	38.1%	29.2%
2002	38.6%	29.6%
2001	39.1%	30%
2000	39.6%	30.4%
1999	40.2%	30.8%
1998	40.7%	31.1%
1997	41.2%	31.5%
1996	41.7%	31.8%
1995	42%	32.1%
1994	42.3%	32.3%
1993	42.6%	32.5%
1992	42.8%	32.7%
1991	42.9%	32.9%
1990	42.9%	33%
1989	42.8%	33.2%
1988	42.7%	33.4%
1987	42.5%	33.6%
1986	42.7%	33.8%
1985	43%	34%
1984	42.8%	34.3%
1983	42.7%	34.6%
1982	42.5%	34.9%
1981	42.3%	35.2%
1980	42.1%	35.5%
1979	41.9%	35.9%
1978	41.7%	36.3%
1977	41.5%	36.7%
1976	41.4%	36.9%
1975	41.6%	37.1%
1974	41.9%	37.2%
1973	42.3%	37.3%
1972	42.7%	37.5%
1971	43.1%	37.6%
1970	43.6%	37.7%
1969	44%	37.8%
1968	44.4%	37.9%
1967	44.8%	38%
1966	44.9%	38%
1965	44.8%	38%
1964	44.9%	38%
1963	45.2%	37.8%
1962	45.3%	37.6%
1961	45.2%	37.5%
1960	45.1%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Lesotho was 45.1% in 1960, 42.8% in 1992, and 34.5% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Lesotho.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Lesotho	World
2023	478	197
2022	477	203
2021	577	242
2020	529	211
2019	467	207
2018	491	211
2017	468	215
2016	518	220
2015	594	228
2014	707	231
2013	855	235
2012	1,000	239
2011	1,210	247
2010	1,311	253
2009	1,387	258
2008	1,205	264
2007	891	269
2006	696	276
2005	549	283
2004	499	291
2003	508	301
2002	484	311
2001	465	321
2000	413	328
1999	371	340
1998	332	360
1997	312	358
1996	319	366
1995	357	371
1994	423	382
1993	542	389
1992	601	395
1991	641	395
1990	665	391
1989	680	401
1988	680	414
1987	686	429
1986	680	438
1985	711	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Lesotho was 478 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.48% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 15.7% increase compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Lesotho	World
2023	5.89%	2.49%
2022	6.15%	2.59%
2021	6.44%	2.66%
2020	6.68%	2.75%
2019	6.87%	2.86%
2018	6.91%	2.97%
2017	7.12%	3.11%
2016	7.18%	3.22%
2015	7.51%	3.35%
2014	7.82%	3.48%
2013	8.02%	3.61%
2012	8.26%	3.77%
2011	8.59%	3.97%
2010	9.01%	4.11%
2009	9.64%	4.31%
2008	10.9%	4.5%
2007	11.2%	4.7%
2006	11.5%	4.92%
2005	11.6%	5.16%
2004	11.5%	5.43%
2003	11.4%	5.65%
2002	11.2%	5.94%
2001	11.1%	6.21%
2000	10.9%	6.48%
1999	10.7%	6.75%
1998	10.5%	7.05%
1997	10.2%	7.28%
1996	9.83%	7.52%
1995	9.45%	7.76%
1994	9.07%	7.98%
1993	8.73%	8.19%
1992	8.51%	8.46%
1991	8.43%	8.66%
1990	8.47%	8.81%
1989	8.6%	9.02%
1988	8.8%	9.31%
1987	9.06%	9.47%
1986	9.36%	9.81%
1985	9.72%	10.1%
1984	10.1%	10.4%
1983	10.6%	10.6%
1982	11.1%	10.8%
1981	11.7%	11%
1980	12.3%	11.4%
1979	12.9%	11.7%
1978	13.6%	12.2%
1977	14.2%	12.6%
1976	14.9%	13%
1975	15.5%	13.4%
1974	16%	13.8%
1973	16.5%	14.1%
1972	16.9%	14.5%
1971	17.3%	15.1%
1970	17.7%	15.2%
1969	18%	15.4%
1968	18.3%	15.6%
1967	18.5%	15.9%
1966	18.6%	16.1%
1965	18.7%	16.4%
1964	18.6%	16.6%
1963	18.6%	16.5%
1962	18.5%	16.7%
1961	18.5%	17%
1960	18.6%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Lesotho was 58.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 5.89% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 109.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.