Net migration in Lesotho
Lesotho: Net migration was -5,192 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Lesotho, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Lesotho is -5,192, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 26.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Lesotho peaked at 10,605 in 1970 and was at its lowest, -35,679, in 2005.
Lesotho ranks 137th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,989 | — |
| 1961 | 2,100 | +5.6% |
| 1962 | 2,172 | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 2,220 | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 2,198 | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 2,239 | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 7,248 | +223.7% |
| 1967 | 9,734 | +34.3% |
| 1968 | 10,108 | +3.8% |
| 1969 | 10,465 | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 10,605 | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 10,563 | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 10,386 | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 10,183 | -2.0% |
| 1974 | 9,972 | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 9,723 | -2.5% |
| 1976 | 2,986 | -69.3% |
| 1977 | 746 | -75.0% |
| 1978 | 1,047 | +40.3% |
| 1979 | 1,285 | +22.7% |
| 1980 | 1,361 | +5.9% |
| 1981 | 1,307 | -4.0% |
| 1982 | 1,281 | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 1,253 | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 1,199 | -4.3% |
| 1985 | 1,222 | +1.9% |
| 1986 | -7,501 | -713.8% |
| 1987 | -10,946 | +45.9% |
| 1988 | -11,028 | +0.7% |
| 1989 | -11,207 | +1.6% |
| 1990 | -11,598 | +3.5% |
| 1991 | -12,114 | +4.4% |
| 1992 | -12,707 | +4.9% |
| 1993 | -13,347 | +5.0% |
| 1994 | -13,953 | +4.5% |
| 1995 | -14,588 | +4.6% |
| 1996 | -17,042 | +16.8% |
| 1997 | -22,396 | +31.4% |
| 1998 | -23,299 | +4.0% |
| 1999 | -24,610 | +5.6% |
| 2000 | -26,220 | +6.5% |
| 2001 | -27,874 | +6.3% |
| 2002 | -29,924 | +7.4% |
| 2003 | -31,723 | +6.0% |
| 2004 | -33,530 | +5.7% |
| 2005 | -35,679 | +6.4% |
| 2006 | -11,416 | -68.0% |
| 2007 | -5,179 | -54.6% |
| 2008 | -5,392 | +4.1% |
| 2009 | -5,599 | +3.8% |
| 2010 | -5,886 | +5.1% |
| 2011 | -6,118 | +3.9% |
| 2012 | -6,425 | +5.0% |
| 2013 | -6,659 | +3.6% |
| 2014 | -6,877 | +3.3% |
| 2015 | -7,087 | +3.1% |
| 2016 | -6,766 | -4.5% |
| 2017 | -6,850 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | -6,892 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | -6,896 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | -3,449 | -50.0% |
| 2021 | -3,449 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -6,023 | +74.6% |
| 2023 | -5,168 | -14.2% |
| 2024 | -5,107 | -1.2% |
| 2025 | -5,192 | +1.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's -5,192 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 51% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's -5,192 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | -713.8% | 1,222 | -7,501 |
| 1966 | +223.7% | 2,239 | 7,248 |
| 1977 | -75.0% | 2,986 | 746 |
| 2022 | -74.6% | -3,449 | -6,023 |
| 2006 | +68.0% | -35,679 | -11,416 |
| 1976 | -69.3% | 9,723 | 2,986 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5,047 | 1,989 | 10,465 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6,750 | 746 | 10,605 | 10 |
| 1980s | -3,306 | -11,207 | 1,361 | 10 |
| 1990s | -16,565 | -24,610 | -11,598 | 10 |
| 2000s | -21,254 | -35,679 | -5,179 | 10 |
| 2010s | -6,646 | -7,087 | -5,886 | 10 |
| 2020s | -4,731 | -6,023 | -3,449 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More financial sector data for Lesotho
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0069 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 7.46 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.548 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 5.45 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0069 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 7.46 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.548 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Lesotho?
- Net migration in Lesotho was -5,192 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 10,605 in 1970.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -35,679 in 2005.
- How does Lesotho rank for net migration?
- Lesotho ranks 137th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.