Population and Demographics

According to recent estimates, Lesotho's population totals close to 2.3 million. The population distribution of Lesotho is 19% urban and 81% rural. Population density is lower in the highlands than in the western lowlands. Although the majority of the population (58%) is between 15 and 64 years of age, Lesotho has a substantial youth population numbering around 37%.

Lesotho's ethno-linguistic structure consists almost entirely of the Sotho, a Bantu-speaking people. The Kwena are the largest subgroup of the Sotho; other Sotho subgroups include the Natal (North) Nguni, the Mahlape, and the Cape (South) Nguni (Thembu). Only 0.3% of the population consists of Europeans, Asians, and other ethnic groups.

The two official languages are Southern Sotho (Sesotho) English, although Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa and French are also spoken.

80% of the country is Christian, with Roman Catholics, the largest religious group, making up more than 40% of the population. Smaller groups include the Lesotho Evangelical Church (25% of the population), Anglican (11%), and other Christian and tribal religions.