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Population density: Lesotho vs Turkey compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population density of 203.8 people per square mile compared to 289.2 people in Turkey. Lesotho has 139,786 sq ft of land per person vs 98,624 sq ft in Turkey. Lesotho and Turkey rank 115th and 82nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Lesotho has 0.03% of the world's population and 0.02% of all countries' land area, compared to 1.05% of the population and 0.52% of the land area for Turkey, making the population density in Lesotho 29.5% lower than in Turkey.

Population density by year

Lesotho
Turkey

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Lesotho Turkey
2026 203.8 289.2
2025 201.6 288.5
2024 199.4 287.8
2023 197.2 287.1
2022 195 286
2021 192.9 283.2
2020 190.7 280.6
2019 188.5 277.9
2018 186.3 274
2017 184 270.3
2016 181.7 266.8
2015 179.5 263.2
2014 177.5 259.7
2013 175.4 256.3
2012 173.5 253
2011 171.8 249.8
2010 170.3 246.1
2009 169 242.4
2008 167.8 239.1
2007 166.6 236.1
2006 165.9 235.7
2005 166.6 233.3
2004 168.2 230.8
2003 169.3 228.3
2002 170.2 225.6
2001 170.7 222.9
2000 171 220.2
1999 170.9 217.4
1998 170.5 214.5
1997 169.6 211.5
1996 168.3 208.5
1995 166.5 205.4
1994 164.5 202
1993 162.2 198.5
1992 159.8 195.2
1991 157.2 191.9
1990 154.4 188.5
1989 151.5 185
1988 148.4 181.4
1987 145.3 177.8
1986 142.1 174.2
1985 138.6 170.6
1984 134.7 166.8
1983 130.9 163
1982 127.2 159.3
1981 123.5 155.9
1980 120 152.8
1979 116.5 149.8
1978 113.2 146.9
1977 110 143.9
1976 106.9 141
1975 103.5 138.2
1974 100 135.3
1973 96.6 132.4
1972 93.3 129.3
1971 90.1 126.3
1970 87 123.3
1969 83.9 120.4
1968 80.9 117.5
1967 78 114.6
1966 75.2 111.7
1965 72.9 108.8
1964 70.8 106.1
1963 68.7 103.4
1962 66.7 100.7
1961 64.7 98

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/lesotho/turkey | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Lesotho increased by 22.9%, compared to a 22.7% growth in Turkey.

In 2006, Lesotho ranked 113th by population density and is 115th now. Turkey was 83rd in 2006 and ranks 82nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Lesotho
Turkey
1x
Year Urban population
Lesotho Turkey
2024 43.7% 89.3%
2023 42.7% 89%
2022 41.7% 89%
2021 40.7% 89.2%
2020 39.6% 88.9%
2019 38.6% 88.7%
2018 37.6% 88.2%
2017 36.5% 88%
2016 35.5% 88.1%
2015 34.1% 87.2%
2014 32.6% 83.6%
2013 31.2% 78.5%
2012 29.9% 73.8%
2011 28.6% 71%
2010 27.4% 69.3%
2009 26.3% 67.8%
2008 25.2% 66.5%
2007 24.2% 65.3%
2006 23.3% 64.3%
2005 22.5% 63.3%
2004 21.8% 62.4%
2003 21.1% 61.6%
2002 20.5% 60.7%
2001 19.9% 59.9%
2000 19.3% 59%
1999 18.8% 58.1%
1998 18.2% 57.3%
1997 17.7% 56.5%
1996 17.1% 55.8%
1995 16.5% 55.1%
1994 15.8% 54.3%
1993 15% 53.6%
1992 14.3% 52.8%
1991 13.6% 51.9%
1990 12.9% 51%
1989 12.3% 50%
1988 11.8% 49%
1987 11.5% 47.8%
1986 11.3% 46.7%
1985 11.3% 45.6%
1984 11.3% 44.4%
1983 11.3% 43.2%
1982 11.2% 42%
1981 11.2% 40.9%
1980 11.2% 39.9%
1979 11.2% 39%
1978 11.2% 38.1%
1977 11.2% 37.2%
1976 11.2% 36.3%
1975 11.1% 35.4%
1974 10.9% 34.4%
1973 10.6% 33.4%
1972 10.2% 32.3%
1971 9.75% 31.3%
1970 9.22% 30.2%
1969 8.68% 29.2%
1968 8.12% 28.1%
1967 7.59% 27%
1966 7.1% 26.1%
1965 6.62% 25.4%
1964 6.07% 24.9%
1963 5.47% 24.5%
1962 4.86% 24.1%
1961 4.24% 23.8%
1960 3.66% 23.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 21.8% to 43.7% in Lesotho and from 62.4% to 89.3% in Turkey.

Densely populated cities

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Turkey
City Population
Istanbul 15.7M
Ankara 5.8M
Izmir 4.49M
Bursa 2.9M
Antalya 2.43M
Konya 2.23M
Urfa 1.99M
Kocaeli 1.85M
Adana 1.77M
Diyarbakir 1.73M

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/lesotho/turkey | 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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