Lesotho Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age in Lesotho, 1960–2100

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 with the average of 31.6 years in other countries. 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 39.6 years by 2100. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Chart Table

Lesotho

Male

Female

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

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).

Working-age demographic by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Working age share
	Lesotho	World
2100	65.1%	59.6%
2099	65.2%	59.6%
2098	65.3%	59.7%
2097	65.4%	59.7%
2096	65.5%	59.7%
2095	65.6%	59.7%
2094	65.6%	59.7%
2093	65.7%	59.8%
2092	65.8%	59.8%
2091	65.8%	59.8%
2090	65.9%	59.8%
2089	65.9%	59.8%
2088	66%	59.8%
2087	66%	59.8%
2086	66.1%	59.8%
2085	66.2%	59.9%
2084	66.3%	59.9%
2083	66.4%	60%
2082	66.6%	60.1%
2081	66.7%	60.3%
2080	66.9%	60.4%
2079	67.1%	60.6%
2078	67.2%	60.7%
2077	67.4%	60.9%
2076	67.6%	61%
2075	67.7%	61.1%
2074	67.8%	61.3%
2073	67.9%	61.4%
2072	67.9%	61.5%
2071	68%	61.6%
2070	68%	61.7%
2069	68%	61.8%
2068	68.1%	61.9%
2067	68.1%	62%
2066	68.1%	62%
2065	68.1%	62.1%
2064	68%	62.1%
2063	68%	62.1%
2062	68%	62.2%
2061	68%	62.2%
2060	68%	62.3%
2059	68%	62.3%
2058	68%	62.4%
2057	68%	62.4%
2056	68%	62.5%
2055	68.1%	62.7%
2054	68.1%	62.8%
2053	68.2%	62.9%
2052	68.3%	63.1%
2051	68.4%	63.2%
2050	68.4%	63.4%
2049	68.5%	63.5%
2048	68.5%	63.6%
2047	68.5%	63.8%
2046	68.5%	63.9%
2045	68.4%	64%
2044	68.4%	64.1%
2043	68.3%	64.2%
2042	68.2%	64.3%
2041	68%	64.4%
2040	67.8%	64.5%
2039	67.6%	64.7%
2038	67.4%	64.8%
2037	67.2%	64.9%
2036	66.9%	65.1%
2035	66.6%	65.2%
2034	66.2%	65.3%
2033	65.8%	65.4%
2032	65.3%	65.4%
2031	64.8%	65.4%
2030	64.3%	65.4%
2029	63.8%	65.4%
2028	63.2%	65.4%
2027	62.7%	65.4%
2026	62.2%	65.2%
2025	61.8%	65.1%
2024	61.6%	65.1%
2023	61.2%	65%
2022	60.9%	64.9%
2021	60.6%	64.9%
2020	60.4%	64.8%
2019	60.1%	64.9%
2018	59.9%	64.9%
2017	59.7%	65%
2016	59.5%	65.1%
2015	59.5%	65.1%
2014	59.5%	65.2%
2013	59.5%	65.2%
2012	59.4%	65.2%
2011	59.4%	65.2%
2010	59.2%	65.1%
2009	59.1%	65%
2008	58.9%	64.9%
2007	58.6%	64.7%
2006	58.3%	64.5%
2005	57.9%	64.3%
2004	57.6%	64%
2003	57.2%	63.7%
2002	56.8%	63.4%
2001	56.3%	63.1%
2000	55.9%	62.8%
1999	55.4%	62.5%
1998	54.9%	62.2%
1997	54.4%	61.9%
1996	54%	61.7%
1995	53.7%	61.5%
1994	53.4%	61.3%
1993	53.2%	61.2%
1992	53%	61.1%
1991	52.9%	61%
1990	52.9%	60.9%
1989	53%	60.8%
1988	53.2%	60.7%
1987	53.5%	60.5%
1986	53.3%	60.4%
1985	53.1%	60.1%
1984	53.2%	59.9%
1983	53.4%	59.6%
1982	53.6%	59.3%
1981	53.9%	59%
1980	54.1%	58.7%
1979	54.4%	58.4%
1978	54.6%	58%
1977	54.8%	57.7%
1976	54.9%	57.5%
1975	54.7%	57.4%
1974	54.3%	57.3%
1973	53.9%	57.3%
1972	53.4%	57.2%
1971	52.9%	57.1%
1970	52.4%	57%
1969	51.9%	56.9%
1968	51.5%	56.9%
1967	51.1%	56.9%
1966	50.9%	56.8%
1965	51%	56.9%
1964	50.8%	57%
1963	50.5%	57.2%
1962	50.4%	57.4%
1961	50.4%	57.5%
1960	50.4%	57.6%

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

Age dependency by year

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+

Share of young demographic (0-14 years) by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 0-14
	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%

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+) by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 65+ years old
	Lesotho	World
2100	16.9%	23.9%
2099	16.7%	23.8%
2098	16.5%	23.7%
2097	16.3%	23.6%
2096	16.2%	23.5%
2095	16%	23.4%
2094	15.8%	23.4%
2093	15.7%	23.3%
2092	15.5%	23.2%
2091	15.3%	23.1%
2090	15.2%	23.1%
2089	15%	23%
2088	14.8%	22.9%
2087	14.7%	22.8%
2086	14.5%	22.7%
2085	14.3%	22.6%
2084	14%	22.5%
2083	13.8%	22.4%
2082	13.5%	22.2%
2081	13.2%	22%
2080	12.9%	21.8%
2079	12.7%	21.6%
2078	12.4%	21.4%
2077	12.1%	21.2%
2076	11.8%	21%
2075	11.6%	20.8%
2074	11.4%	20.6%
2073	11.1%	20.4%
2072	10.9%	20.3%
2071	10.8%	20.1%
2070	10.6%	19.9%
2069	10.4%	19.8%
2068	10.2%	19.6%
2067	10%	19.5%
2066	9.84%	19.3%
2065	9.69%	19.2%
2064	9.54%	19.1%
2063	9.37%	18.9%
2062	9.17%	18.8%
2061	8.97%	18.6%
2060	8.77%	18.5%
2059	8.55%	18.3%
2058	8.32%	18.1%
2057	8.05%	17.9%
2056	7.75%	17.7%
2055	7.44%	17.5%
2054	7.1%	17.2%
2053	6.75%	17%
2052	6.39%	16.7%
2051	6.07%	16.4%
2050	5.76%	16.2%
2049	5.46%	16%
2048	5.19%	15.8%
2047	4.94%	15.5%
2046	4.72%	15.3%
2045	4.53%	15.1%
2044	4.37%	14.9%
2043	4.23%	14.8%
2042	4.12%	14.6%
2041	4.04%	14.4%
2040	3.98%	14.2%
2039	3.95%	14%
2038	3.94%	13.8%
2037	3.94%	13.5%
2036	3.94%	13.3%
2035	3.94%	13%
2034	3.95%	12.7%
2033	3.95%	12.4%
2032	3.95%	12.2%
2031	3.95%	11.9%
2030	3.94%	11.6%
2029	3.93%	11.3%
2028	3.93%	11%
2027	3.91%	10.7%
2026	3.89%	10.5%
2025	3.87%	10.3%
2024	3.86%	10.2%
2023	3.83%	9.98%
2022	3.79%	9.74%
2021	3.79%	9.53%
2020	3.79%	9.33%
2019	3.78%	9.1%
2018	3.78%	8.88%
2017	3.8%	8.65%
2016	3.84%	8.45%
2015	3.9%	8.26%
2014	3.94%	8.08%
2013	3.97%	7.92%
2012	4.04%	7.78%
2011	4.13%	7.66%
2010	4.23%	7.58%
2009	4.35%	7.52%
2008	4.47%	7.47%
2007	4.58%	7.41%
2006	4.67%	7.34%
2005	4.7%	7.26%
2004	4.68%	7.18%
2003	4.66%	7.1%
2002	4.63%	7.01%
2001	4.58%	6.92%
2000	4.53%	6.84%
1999	4.47%	6.76%
1998	4.41%	6.68%
1997	4.35%	6.61%
1996	4.31%	6.53%
1995	4.28%	6.45%
1994	4.25%	6.37%
1993	4.22%	6.29%
1992	4.19%	6.21%
1991	4.17%	6.14%
1990	4.14%	6.07%
1989	4.12%	6.01%
1988	4.09%	5.95%
1987	4.06%	5.91%
1986	4.02%	5.86%
1985	3.98%	5.82%
1984	3.94%	5.8%
1983	3.9%	5.79%
1982	3.85%	5.8%
1981	3.81%	5.81%
1980	3.77%	5.81%
1979	3.74%	5.77%
1978	3.71%	5.71%
1977	3.7%	5.65%
1976	3.7%	5.59%
1975	3.72%	5.53%
1974	3.76%	5.47%
1973	3.8%	5.42%
1972	3.86%	5.37%
1971	3.92%	5.32%
1970	3.98%	5.28%
1969	4.04%	5.24%
1968	4.1%	5.2%
1967	4.16%	5.16%
1966	4.2%	5.12%
1965	4.24%	5.08%
1964	4.27%	5.04%
1963	4.31%	5.02%
1962	4.36%	5.01%
1961	4.41%	4.99%
1960	4.48%	4.97%

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

Median age map

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1x