Skip to content

Population density: Burundi vs Lesotho compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burundi has a population density of 1,487 people per square mile compared to 203.8 people in Lesotho. Burundi has 21,327 sq ft of land per person vs 139,786 sq ft in Lesotho. Burundi and Lesotho rank 15th and 115th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Burundi has 0.17% of the world's population and 0.02% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.03% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Lesotho, making the population density in Burundi 629% higher than in Lesotho.

Population density by year

Burundi
Lesotho

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burundi Lesotho
2026 1,487 203.8
2025 1,452 201.6
2024 1,417 199.4
2023 1,381 197.2
2022 1,344 195
2021 1,308 192.9
2020 1,273 190.7
2019 1,236 188.5
2018 1,196 186.3
2017 1,161 184
2016 1,134 181.7
2015 1,114 179.5
2014 1,089 177.5
2013 1,053 175.4
2012 1,016 173.5
2011 980 171.8
2010 946 170.3
2009 902 169
2008 858 167.8
2007 823 166.6
2006 793 165.9
2005 765 166.6
2004 737 168.2
2003 710 169.3
2002 688 170.2
2001 669 170.7
2000 653 171
1999 639 170.9
1998 624 170.5
1997 612 169.6
1996 612 168.3
1995 612 166.5
1994 576 164.5
1993 573 162.2
1992 591 159.8
1991 575 157.2
1990 563 154.4
1989 552 151.5
1988 541 148.4
1987 529 145.3
1986 517 142.1
1985 508 138.6
1984 497 134.7
1983 485 130.9
1982 472 127.2
1981 461 123.5
1980 442 120
1979 424 116.5
1978 414 113.2
1977 402 110
1976 392 106.9
1975 383 103.5
1974 374 100
1973 364 96.6
1972 365 93.3
1971 365 90.1
1970 356 87
1969 348 83.9
1968 341 80.9
1967 333 78
1966 325 75.2
1965 317 72.9
1964 308 70.8
1963 299.5 68.7
1962 293.3 66.7
1961 285.9 64.7

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burundi increased by 87.4%, compared to a 22.9% growth in Lesotho.

In 2006, Burundi ranked 27th by population density and is 15th now. Lesotho was 113th in 2006 and ranks 115th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burundi
Lesotho
1x
Year Urban population
Burundi Lesotho
2024 24.8% 43.7%
2023 23.6% 42.7%
2022 22.3% 41.7%
2021 21.1% 40.7%
2020 19.9% 39.6%
2019 18.8% 38.6%
2018 17.7% 37.6%
2017 16.6% 36.5%
2016 15.6% 35.5%
2015 14.7% 34.1%
2014 13.8% 32.6%
2013 13% 31.2%
2012 12.2% 29.9%
2011 11.6% 28.6%
2010 11% 27.4%
2009 10.5% 26.3%
2008 10.1% 25.2%
2007 9.77% 24.2%
2006 9.46% 23.3%
2005 9.18% 22.5%
2004 8.92% 21.8%
2003 8.68% 21.1%
2002 8.45% 20.5%
2001 8.24% 19.9%
2000 8.04% 19.3%
1999 7.86% 18.8%
1998 7.68% 18.2%
1997 7.51% 17.7%
1996 7.34% 17.1%
1995 7.17% 16.5%
1994 7% 15.8%
1993 6.83% 15%
1992 6.65% 14.3%
1991 6.46% 13.6%
1990 6.27% 12.9%
1989 6.07% 12.3%
1988 5.86% 11.8%
1987 5.66% 11.5%
1986 5.46% 11.3%
1985 5.26% 11.3%
1984 5.07% 11.3%
1983 4.88% 11.3%
1982 4.69% 11.2%
1981 4.51% 11.2%
1980 4.34% 11.2%
1979 4.18% 11.2%
1978 4.02% 11.2%
1977 3.87% 11.2%
1976 3.72% 11.2%
1975 3.57% 11.1%
1974 3.42% 10.9%
1973 3.28% 10.6%
1972 3.14% 10.2%
1971 3.01% 9.75%
1970 2.88% 9.22%
1969 2.75% 8.68%
1968 2.63% 8.12%
1967 2.51% 7.59%
1966 2.4% 7.1%
1965 2.3% 6.62%
1964 2.2% 6.07%
1963 2.11% 5.47%
1962 2.01% 4.86%
1961 1.92% 4.24%
1960 1.84% 3.66%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/lesotho | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi and from 21.8% to 43.7% in Lesotho.

Densely populated cities

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/lesotho | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2005–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.