Lesotho’s population growth fell to 1.1% y/y in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. Faster growth means more people to school, house and employ, and slower growth means a smaller future workforce and an older population. Which is better depends on whether jobs and services keep pace. The latest figure is 1.1% y/y for January 2025, the same as a year earlier, with a change of 0.01 percentage points. Since 2016 the range has been narrow, from 1.1% y/y in January 2022 to 1.2% y/y in January 2017. The current reading therefore sits at the bottom of that range.

Why it matters. At 1.1% y/y, Lesotho adds people gradually, so demand for classrooms, clinics and homes rises by small amounts each year. Planners in government and business can expect a similar pace in the coming years, because the rate has barely moved since 2016. The pressure on household incomes and public budgets then depends mostly on how fast jobs and tax revenue grow.