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Population density: Lesotho vs Uganda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population density of 203.8 people per square mile compared to 682 people in Uganda. Lesotho has 139,786 sq ft of land per person vs 51,875 sq ft in Uganda. Lesotho and Uganda rank 115th and 42nd 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 0.62% of the population and 0.13% of the land area for Uganda, making the population density in Lesotho 70.1% lower than in Uganda.

Population density by year

Lesotho
Uganda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Lesotho Uganda
2026 203.8 682
2025 201.6 664
2024 199.4 646
2023 197.2 628
2022 195 611
2021 192.9 593
2020 190.7 574
2019 188.5 555
2018 186.3 537
2017 184 519
2016 181.7 501
2015 179.5 485
2014 177.5 470
2013 175.4 456
2012 173.5 444
2011 171.8 431
2010 170.3 418
2009 169 408
2008 167.8 396
2007 166.6 384
2006 165.9 373
2005 166.6 362
2004 168.2 352
2003 169.3 342
2002 170.2 331
2001 170.7 321
2000 171 311
1999 170.9 301
1998 170.5 291.9
1997 169.6 283.3
1996 168.3 275.2
1995 166.5 267.9
1994 164.5 260.7
1993 162.2 252.1
1992 159.8 243.5
1991 157.2 235.3
1990 154.4 227.7
1989 151.5 220.5
1988 148.4 213.5
1987 145.3 206.8
1986 142.1 200.5
1985 138.6 194.7
1984 134.7 189.3
1983 130.9 184.3
1982 127.2 179.8
1981 123.5 175.7
1980 120 172.1
1979 116.5 168.5
1978 113.2 164.5
1977 110 160.2
1976 106.9 156
1975 103.5 152
1974 100 148.1
1973 96.6 144.5
1972 93.3 141.1
1971 90.1 137.6
1970 87 133.8
1969 83.9 129.8
1968 80.9 125.8
1967 78 122
1966 75.2 118.3
1965 72.9 114.7
1964 70.8 111.3
1963 68.7 108
1962 66.7 104.9
1961 64.7 101.9

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/uganda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Lesotho increased by 22.9%, compared to a 82.7% growth in Uganda.

In 2006, Lesotho ranked 113th by population density and is 115th now. Uganda was 55th in 2006 and ranks 42nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Lesotho
Uganda
1x
Year Urban population
Lesotho Uganda
2024 43.7% 31.3%
2023 42.7% 30.6%
2022 41.7% 29.9%
2021 40.7% 29.2%
2020 39.6% 28.5%
2019 38.6% 27.8%
2018 37.6% 27.1%
2017 36.5% 26.4%
2016 35.5% 25.7%
2015 34.1% 25%
2014 32.6% 24.2%
2013 31.2% 22.7%
2012 29.9% 21.4%
2011 28.6% 20.1%
2010 27.4% 18.8%
2009 26.3% 17.6%
2008 25.2% 16.5%
2007 24.2% 15.5%
2006 23.3% 14.6%
2005 22.5% 13.8%
2004 21.8% 13.1%
2003 21.1% 12.6%
2002 20.5% 12.2%
2001 19.9% 11.9%
2000 19.3% 11.6%
1999 18.8% 11.4%
1998 18.2% 11.2%
1997 17.7% 11%
1996 17.1% 10.9%
1995 16.5% 10.7%
1994 15.8% 10.6%
1993 15% 10.4%
1992 14.3% 10.2%
1991 13.6% 10%
1990 12.9% 9.76%
1989 12.3% 9.47%
1988 11.8% 9.15%
1987 11.5% 8.8%
1986 11.3% 8.44%
1985 11.3% 8.09%
1984 11.3% 7.74%
1983 11.3% 7.43%
1982 11.2% 7.15%
1981 11.2% 6.92%
1980 11.2% 6.76%
1979 11.2% 6.65%
1978 11.2% 6.57%
1977 11.2% 6.51%
1976 11.2% 6.46%
1975 11.1% 6.42%
1974 10.9% 6.38%
1973 10.6% 6.34%
1972 10.2% 6.29%
1971 9.75% 6.24%
1970 9.22% 6.17%
1969 8.68% 6.09%
1968 8.12% 5.97%
1967 7.59% 5.81%
1966 7.1% 5.63%
1965 6.62% 5.42%
1964 6.07% 5.2%
1963 5.47% 4.97%
1962 4.86% 4.75%
1961 4.24% 4.55%
1960 3.66% 4.36%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 21.8% to 43.7% in Lesotho and from 13.1% to 31.3% in Uganda.

Densely populated cities

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Uganda
City Population
Kampala 1.68M
Mbale 586K
Arua 385K
Kira Town 317K
Jinja 279K
Gulu 177K
Kasese 101K
Entebbe 70K

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/uganda | 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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