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Population density: India vs Lesotho compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 203.8 people in Lesotho. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 139,786 sq ft in Lesotho. India and Lesotho rank 19th and 115th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. India has 17.9% of the world's population and 2% 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 India 531% higher than in Lesotho.

Population density by year

India
Lesotho

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
India Lesotho
2026 1,287 203.8
2025 1,275 201.6
2024 1,264 199.4
2023 1,253 197.2
2022 1,242 195
2021 1,232 192.9
2020 1,222 190.7
2019 1,210 188.5
2018 1,197 186.3
2017 1,184 184
2016 1,171 181.7
2015 1,157 179.5
2014 1,143 177.5
2013 1,129 175.4
2012 1,114 173.5
2011 1,099 171.8
2010 1,083 170.3
2009 1,068 169
2008 1,052 167.8
2007 1,037 166.6
2006 1,022 165.9
2005 1,006 166.6
2004 990 168.2
2003 973 169.3
2002 956 170.2
2001 939 170.7
2000 922 171
1999 904 170.9
1998 887 170.5
1997 870 169.6
1996 853 168.3
1995 837 166.5
1994 820 164.5
1993 803 162.2
1992 787 159.8
1991 770 157.2
1990 753 154.4
1989 737 151.5
1988 721 148.4
1987 705 145.3
1986 689 142.1
1985 673 138.6
1984 658 134.7
1983 642 130.9
1982 627 127.2
1981 613 123.5
1980 599 120
1979 585 116.5
1978 571 113.2
1977 558 110
1976 545 106.9
1975 533 103.5
1974 520 100
1973 508 96.6
1972 497 93.3
1971 486 90.1
1970 476 87
1969 465 83.9
1968 455 80.9
1967 446 78
1966 436 75.2
1965 427 72.9
1964 417 70.8
1963 408 68.7
1962 398 66.7
1961 389 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/india/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in India increased by 25.9%, compared to a 22.9% growth in Lesotho.

In 2006, India ranked 17th by population density and is 19th now. Lesotho was 113th in 2006 and ranks 115th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

India
Lesotho
1x
Year Urban population
India Lesotho
2024 35.4% 43.7%
2023 35.1% 42.7%
2022 34.8% 41.7%
2021 34.4% 40.7%
2020 34.1% 39.6%
2019 33.8% 38.6%
2018 33.5% 37.6%
2017 33.2% 36.5%
2016 32.9% 35.5%
2015 32.5% 34.1%
2014 32.2% 32.6%
2013 31.9% 31.2%
2012 31.6% 29.9%
2011 31.3% 28.6%
2010 30.9% 27.4%
2009 30.5% 26.3%
2008 30.1% 25.2%
2007 29.8% 24.2%
2006 29.4% 23.3%
2005 29.1% 22.5%
2004 28.8% 21.8%
2003 28.5% 21.1%
2002 28.2% 20.5%
2001 27.9% 19.9%
2000 27.6% 19.3%
1999 27.4% 18.8%
1998 27.2% 18.2%
1997 27% 17.7%
1996 26.8% 17.1%
1995 26.6% 16.5%
1994 26.4% 15.8%
1993 26.2% 15%
1992 26% 14.3%
1991 25.8% 13.6%
1990 25.6% 12.9%
1989 25.4% 12.3%
1988 25.2% 11.8%
1987 25% 11.5%
1986 24.8% 11.3%
1985 24.7% 11.3%
1984 24.5% 11.3%
1983 24.3% 11.3%
1982 24% 11.2%
1981 23.8% 11.2%
1980 23.5% 11.2%
1979 23.2% 11.2%
1978 22.8% 11.2%
1977 22.4% 11.2%
1976 21.9% 11.2%
1975 21.5% 11.1%
1974 21% 10.9%
1973 20.6% 10.6%
1972 20.3% 10.2%
1971 20% 9.75%
1970 19.7% 9.22%
1969 19.5% 8.68%
1968 19.2% 8.12%
1967 19% 7.59%
1966 18.8% 7.1%
1965 18.6% 6.62%
1964 18.4% 6.07%
1963 18.3% 5.47%
1962 18.1% 4.86%
1961 18% 4.24%
1960 17.9% 3.66%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 21.8% to 43.7% in Lesotho.

Densely populated cities

India
City Population
Delhi 26.5M
Mumbai 15.4M
Bangalore 12.3M
Hyderabad 9.3M
Ahmedabad 7.64M
Chennai 6.6M
Pune 5.94M
Surat 5.94M
Kolkata 4.5M
Lucknow 3.38M
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/india/lesotho | CC BY

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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)

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