Lesotho Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age history and projection chart in
Lesotho vs World

Table

Year	Median age
	Lesotho	World
1960	17.5	22.5
1961	17.4	22.5
1962	17.4	22.4
1963	17.4	22.2
1964	17.5	22
1965	17.5	21.8
1966	17.5	21.7
1967	17.6	21.6
1968	17.8	21.5
1969	18	21.5
1970	18.2	21.4
1971	18.3	21.4
1972	18.5	21.5
1973	18.6	21.5
1974	18.8	21.6
1975	18.9	21.7
1976	19	21.9
1977	19	22
1978	18.9	22.2
1979	18.8	22.3
1980	18.8	22.5
1981	18.7	22.6
1982	18.6	22.7
1983	18.6	22.9
1984	18.5	23
1985	18.4	23.2
1986	18.6	23.3
1987	18.7	23.4
1988	18.6	23.6
1989	18.5	23.8
1990	18.4	23.9
1991	18.4	24.1
1992	18.4	24.3
1993	18.4	24.5
1994	18.5	24.7
1995	18.6	25
1996	18.6	25.2
1997	18.8	25.4
1998	18.9	25.7
1999	19.1	25.9
2000	19.2	26.1
2001	19.4	26.3
2002	19.5	26.5
2003	19.7	26.7
2004	19.8	27
2005	19.9	27.2
2006	20	27.4
2007	20.2	27.6
2008	20.4	27.8
2009	20.6	28
2010	20.7	28.2
2011	20.9	28.4
2012	21	28.6
2013	21.1	28.9
2014	21.2	29.1
2015	21.3	29.3
2016	21.4	29.5
2017	21.6	29.8
2018	21.7	30
2019	21.8	30.3
2020	22	30.6
2021	22.1	30.8
2022	22.3	31
2023	22.5	31.3
2024	22.7	31.6
2025	22.8	31.9
2026	23.1	32.1
2027	23.3	32.3
2028	23.5	32.6
2029	23.8	32.8
2030	24	33
2031	24.2	33.2
2032	24.5	33.4
2033	24.8	33.6
2034	25	33.8
2035	25.3	34
2036	25.6	34.2
2037	25.9	34.4
2038	26.2	34.6
2039	26.5	34.8
2040	26.8	35
2041	27.1	35.2
2042	27.4	35.4
2043	27.7	35.6
2044	28	35.8
2045	28.4	36
2046	28.7	36.2
2047	29	36.4
2048	29.3	36.6
2049	29.5	36.8
2050	29.8	37.1

In 1960, the median age in Lesotho was 17.5 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 22.7 years compared to the world's average of 31.6 years. Ranked 161st for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Lesotho ranks 143rd currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Lesotho is expected to increase to around 29.8 years by 2050. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Lesotho demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Table

Age range	Share of population
	Lesotho
	Male	Female
0-4	5.68%	5.59%
5-9	5.94%	5.87%
10-14	5.74%	5.7%
15-19	5.16%	5.15%
20-24	4.71%	4.74%
25-29	4.29%	4.39%
30-34	4.21%	4.37%
35-39	3.86%	4.09%
40-44	2.81%	3.06%
45-49	1.86%	2.01%
50-54	1.27%	1.39%
55-59	1.01%	1.26%
60-64	0.81%	1.15%
65-69	0.6%	0.94%
70-74	0.35%	0.66%
75-79	0.21%	0.43%
80+	0.2%	0.46%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Lesotho has average demographic potential with 71.6% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 42/196).

Age dependency chart

Table

Year	Age dependency ratio
	Lesotho			World
	Total	Young	Old	Total	Young	Old
1960	98.5%	89.6%	8.89%	73.5%	64.9%	8.62%
1961	98.6%	89.8%	8.76%	73.8%	65.1%	8.67%
1962	98.5%	89.9%	8.65%	74.1%	65.4%	8.73%
1963	98%	89.4%	8.54%	74.9%	66.1%	8.79%
1964	96.7%	88.3%	8.41%	75.5%	66.6%	8.85%
1965	96.1%	87.8%	8.31%	75.8%	66.8%	8.93%
1966	96.4%	88.1%	8.25%	75.9%	66.9%	9%
1967	95.8%	87.7%	8.14%	75.9%	66.8%	9.07%
1968	94.4%	86.4%	7.98%	75.8%	66.6%	9.14%
1969	92.6%	84.8%	7.79%	75.7%	66.5%	9.2%
1970	90.8%	83.2%	7.6%	75.5%	66.2%	9.26%
1971	88.9%	81.5%	7.41%	75.2%	65.9%	9.33%
1972	87.1%	79.9%	7.22%	74.9%	65.6%	9.39%
1973	85.4%	78.4%	7.05%	74.6%	65.1%	9.46%
1974	84%	77.1%	6.91%	74.4%	64.9%	9.54%
1975	82.9%	76.1%	6.8%	74.2%	64.6%	9.64%
1976	82.3%	75.5%	6.74%	74%	64.3%	9.72%
1977	82.4%	75.7%	6.75%	73.5%	63.7%	9.79%
1978	83%	76.2%	6.8%	72.4%	62.5%	9.84%
1979	83.9%	77%	6.87%	71.3%	61.4%	9.88%
1980	84.8%	77.8%	6.96%	70.4%	60.5%	9.89%
1981	85.7%	78.6%	7.07%	69.5%	59.6%	9.85%
1982	86.5%	79.3%	7.18%	68.7%	58.9%	9.79%
1983	87.2%	79.9%	7.29%	67.9%	58.1%	9.72%
1984	87.9%	80.5%	7.4%	67%	57.3%	9.68%
1985	88.4%	80.9%	7.5%	66.3%	56.6%	9.68%
1986	87.5%	80%	7.54%	65.7%	55.9%	9.71%
1987	86.9%	79.4%	7.58%	65.2%	55.4%	9.75%
1988	87.9%	80.2%	7.68%	64.8%	54.9%	9.81%
1989	88.5%	80.8%	7.76%	64.4%	54.5%	9.89%
1990	88.9%	81%	7.83%	64.2%	54.3%	9.97%
1991	88.9%	81%	7.88%	64%	53.9%	10.1%
1992	88.6%	80.7%	7.91%	63.7%	53.6%	10.2%
1993	88%	80.1%	7.94%	63.5%	53.2%	10.3%
1994	87.2%	79.2%	7.95%	63.1%	52.7%	10.4%
1995	86.1%	78.2%	7.96%	62.7%	52.2%	10.5%
1996	85%	77.1%	7.97%	62.1%	51.5%	10.6%
1997	83.8%	75.8%	7.99%	61.5%	50.8%	10.7%
1998	82.2%	74.2%	8.03%	60.7%	50%	10.7%
1999	80.6%	72.5%	8.07%	60%	49.2%	10.8%
2000	79%	70.9%	8.11%	59.3%	48.4%	10.9%
2001	77.5%	69.4%	8.14%	58.5%	47.6%	11%
2002	76.1%	68%	8.15%	57.8%	46.7%	11.1%
2003	74.8%	66.7%	8.14%	57%	45.9%	11.1%
2004	73.6%	65.5%	8.13%	56.3%	45.1%	11.2%
2005	72.7%	64.5%	8.11%	55.6%	44.3%	11.3%
2006	71.7%	63.6%	8.02%	55%	43.6%	11.4%
2007	70.7%	62.8%	7.82%	54.5%	43.1%	11.4%
2008	69.9%	62.3%	7.6%	54.1%	42.6%	11.5%
2009	69.3%	62%	7.37%	53.8%	42.2%	11.6%
2010	68.9%	61.7%	7.15%	53.5%	41.9%	11.6%
2011	68.5%	61.5%	6.95%	53.4%	41.6%	11.8%
2012	68.2%	61.4%	6.79%	53.3%	41.4%	11.9%
2013	68.1%	61.4%	6.67%	53.4%	41.2%	12.1%
2014	68.1%	61.5%	6.62%	53.5%	41.1%	12.4%
2015	68.1%	61.6%	6.56%	53.6%	40.9%	12.7%
2016	67.9%	61.5%	6.45%	53.7%	40.7%	13%
2017	67.5%	61.1%	6.37%	53.9%	40.6%	13.3%
2018	66.9%	60.6%	6.31%	54.1%	40.4%	13.7%
2019	66.3%	60%	6.28%	54.2%	40.1%	14%
2020	65.6%	59.4%	6.28%	54.2%	39.8%	14.4%
2021	65%	58.7%	6.24%	54.2%	39.5%	14.7%
2022	64.2%	57.9%	6.23%	54%	39%	15%
2023	63.3%	57%	6.25%	53.9%	38.5%	15.4%
2024	62.3%	56%	6.26%	53.7%	38%	15.7%

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Lesotho decreased from 73.6% to 62.3% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an decreased proportion of people aged 65+

Lesotho working age demographic chart

Table

Year	Working age population share
	Lesotho	World
1960	50.4%	57.6%
1961	50.4%	57.5%
1962	50.4%	57.4%
1963	50.5%	57.2%
1964	50.8%	57%
1965	51%	56.9%
1966	50.9%	56.8%
1967	51.1%	56.9%
1968	51.5%	56.9%
1969	51.9%	56.9%
1970	52.4%	57%
1971	52.9%	57.1%
1972	53.4%	57.2%
1973	53.9%	57.3%
1974	54.3%	57.3%
1975	54.7%	57.4%
1976	54.9%	57.5%
1977	54.8%	57.7%
1978	54.6%	58%
1979	54.4%	58.4%
1980	54.1%	58.7%
1981	53.9%	59%
1982	53.6%	59.3%
1983	53.4%	59.6%
1984	53.2%	59.9%
1985	53.1%	60.1%
1986	53.3%	60.4%
1987	53.5%	60.5%
1988	53.2%	60.7%
1989	53%	60.8%
1990	52.9%	60.9%
1991	52.9%	61%
1992	53%	61.1%
1993	53.2%	61.2%
1994	53.4%	61.3%
1995	53.7%	61.5%
1996	54%	61.7%
1997	54.4%	61.9%
1998	54.9%	62.2%
1999	55.4%	62.5%
2000	55.9%	62.8%
2001	56.3%	63.1%
2002	56.8%	63.4%
2003	57.2%	63.7%
2004	57.6%	64%
2005	57.9%	64.3%
2006	58.3%	64.5%
2007	58.6%	64.7%
2008	58.9%	64.9%
2009	59.1%	65%
2010	59.2%	65.1%
2011	59.4%	65.2%
2012	59.4%	65.2%
2013	59.5%	65.2%
2014	59.5%	65.2%
2015	59.5%	65.1%
2016	59.5%	65.1%
2017	59.7%	65%
2018	59.9%	64.9%
2019	60.1%	64.9%
2020	60.4%	64.8%
2021	60.6%	64.9%
2022	60.9%	64.9%
2023	61.2%	65%
2024	61.6%	65.1%
2025	62%	65.2%
2026	62.5%	65.3%
2027	63%	65.4%
2028	63.5%	65.4%
2029	64%	65.4%
2030	64.5%	65.4%
2031	65%	65.4%
2032	65.5%	65.4%
2033	66%	65.4%
2034	66.4%	65.3%
2035	66.7%	65.2%
2036	67%	65%
2037	67.3%	64.9%
2038	67.5%	64.7%
2039	67.7%	64.6%
2040	67.9%	64.5%
2041	68.1%	64.4%
2042	68.2%	64.3%
2043	68.3%	64.2%
2044	68.4%	64.1%
2045	68.5%	63.9%
2046	68.5%	63.8%
2047	68.5%	63.7%
2048	68.5%	63.6%
2049	68.5%	63.4%
2050	68.4%	63.3%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Lesotho changed from 57.6% to 61.6% between 2004 and 2024.

Share of young population (0-14 years)

Table

Year	Share of population 0-14 years old
	Lesotho	World
1960	45.1%	37.4%
1961	45.2%	37.5%
1962	45.3%	37.6%
1963	45.2%	37.8%
1964	44.9%	38%
1965	44.8%	38%
1966	44.9%	38%
1967	44.8%	38%
1968	44.4%	37.9%
1969	44%	37.8%
1970	43.6%	37.7%
1971	43.1%	37.6%
1972	42.7%	37.5%
1973	42.3%	37.3%
1974	41.9%	37.2%
1975	41.6%	37.1%
1976	41.4%	36.9%
1977	41.5%	36.7%
1978	41.7%	36.3%
1979	41.9%	35.9%
1980	42.1%	35.5%
1981	42.3%	35.2%
1982	42.5%	34.9%
1983	42.7%	34.6%
1984	42.8%	34.3%
1985	43%	34%
1986	42.7%	33.8%
1987	42.5%	33.6%
1988	42.7%	33.4%
1989	42.8%	33.2%
1990	42.9%	33%
1991	42.9%	32.9%
1992	42.8%	32.7%
1993	42.6%	32.5%
1994	42.3%	32.3%
1995	42%	32.1%
1996	41.7%	31.8%
1997	41.2%	31.5%
1998	40.7%	31.1%
1999	40.2%	30.8%
2000	39.6%	30.4%
2001	39.1%	30%
2002	38.6%	29.6%
2003	38.1%	29.2%
2004	37.7%	28.8%
2005	37.4%	28.5%
2006	37.1%	28.1%
2007	36.8%	27.9%
2008	36.7%	27.6%
2009	36.6%	27.5%
2010	36.5%	27.3%
2011	36.5%	27.1%
2012	36.5%	27%
2013	36.5%	26.9%
2014	36.6%	26.8%
2015	36.6%	26.6%
2016	36.6%	26.5%
2017	36.5%	26.4%
2018	36.3%	26.2%
2019	36.1%	26%
2020	35.8%	25.8%
2021	35.6%	25.6%
2022	35.3%	25.3%
2023	34.9%	25%
2024	34.5%	24.7%
2025	34.1%	24.4%
2026	33.6%	24.1%
2027	33.1%	23.8%
2028	32.6%	23.4%
2029	32%	23.1%
2030	31.5%	22.8%
2031	31%	22.6%
2032	30.5%	22.3%
2033	30.1%	22.1%
2034	29.7%	21.9%
2035	29.3%	21.7%
2036	29%	21.6%
2037	28.8%	21.5%
2038	28.5%	21.4%
2039	28.3%	21.3%
2040	28.1%	21.2%
2041	27.8%	21.1%
2042	27.6%	21%
2043	27.4%	21%
2044	27.1%	20.9%
2045	26.9%	20.8%
2046	26.7%	20.7%
2047	26.4%	20.7%
2048	26.2%	20.6%
2049	25.9%	20.5%
2050	25.7%	20.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Lesotho decreased from 37.7% to 34.5% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+)

Table

Year	Share of population 65+ years old
	Lesotho	World
1960	4.48%	4.97%
1961	4.41%	4.99%
1962	4.36%	5.01%
1963	4.31%	5.02%
1964	4.27%	5.04%
1965	4.24%	5.08%
1966	4.2%	5.12%
1967	4.16%	5.16%
1968	4.1%	5.2%
1969	4.04%	5.24%
1970	3.98%	5.28%
1971	3.92%	5.32%
1972	3.86%	5.37%
1973	3.8%	5.42%
1974	3.76%	5.47%
1975	3.72%	5.53%
1976	3.7%	5.59%
1977	3.7%	5.65%
1978	3.71%	5.71%
1979	3.74%	5.77%
1980	3.77%	5.81%
1981	3.81%	5.81%
1982	3.85%	5.8%
1983	3.9%	5.79%
1984	3.94%	5.8%
1985	3.98%	5.82%
1986	4.02%	5.86%
1987	4.06%	5.91%
1988	4.09%	5.95%
1989	4.12%	6.01%
1990	4.14%	6.07%
1991	4.17%	6.14%
1992	4.19%	6.21%
1993	4.22%	6.29%
1994	4.25%	6.37%
1995	4.28%	6.45%
1996	4.31%	6.53%
1997	4.35%	6.61%
1998	4.41%	6.68%
1999	4.47%	6.76%
2000	4.53%	6.84%
2001	4.58%	6.92%
2002	4.63%	7.01%
2003	4.66%	7.1%
2004	4.68%	7.18%
2005	4.7%	7.26%
2006	4.67%	7.34%
2007	4.58%	7.41%
2008	4.47%	7.47%
2009	4.35%	7.52%
2010	4.23%	7.58%
2011	4.13%	7.66%
2012	4.04%	7.78%
2013	3.97%	7.92%
2014	3.94%	8.08%
2015	3.9%	8.26%
2016	3.84%	8.45%
2017	3.8%	8.65%
2018	3.78%	8.88%
2019	3.78%	9.1%
2020	3.79%	9.33%
2021	3.79%	9.53%
2022	3.79%	9.74%
2023	3.83%	9.98%
2024	3.86%	10.2%
2025	3.88%	10.4%
2026	3.9%	10.6%
2027	3.92%	10.8%
2028	3.93%	11.1%
2029	3.94%	11.5%
2030	3.94%	11.7%
2031	3.95%	12%
2032	3.95%	12.3%
2033	3.95%	12.6%
2034	3.95%	12.8%
2035	3.94%	13.1%
2036	3.94%	13.4%
2037	3.94%	13.7%
2038	3.95%	13.9%
2039	3.97%	14.1%
2040	4.01%	14.3%
2041	4.08%	14.5%
2042	4.18%	14.7%
2043	4.3%	14.9%
2044	4.45%	15%
2045	4.63%	15.2%
2046	4.83%	15.4%
2047	5.07%	15.7%
2048	5.33%	15.9%
2049	5.61%	16.1%
2050	5.91%	16.3%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Lesotho decreased from 4.68% to 3.86% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in life expectancy.