MigrantoBasotho Diaspora
246.9K Basotho live abroad — the #126 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 100% of all emigrants
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 237718 |
| Mozambique | 8173 |
| Botswana | 292 |
| Eswatini | 226 |
| Australia | 157 |
| Tanzania | 143 |
| Namibia | 139 |
| Denmark | 48 |
| Guinea | 28 |
| Norway | 10 |
| Slovakia | 3 |
| Hungary | 1 |
| Greece | 0 |
| Bolivia | 0 |
By destination region
Africa is the leading destination region at 100%
246.7K
157
62
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Lesotho.
South Africa is the primary destination for emigrants
South Africa attracts 96% of all emigrants from Lesotho, while the second-largest destination receives just 3%.
A significant share of the population lives abroad
1 in 9 residents of Lesotho has emigrated — 246.9K out of 2.3M, representing 10.6% of the population.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 130251 |
| 1995 | 122192 |
| 2000 | 121214 |
| 2005 | 138931 |
| 2010 | 161987 |
| 2015 | 191588 |
| 2020 | 224803 |
| 2024 | 246938 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | South Africa | Mozambique | Botswana | Eswatini | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 126222 | 2875 | 505 | 293 | 46 |
| 1995 | 116921 | 3955 | 816 | 111 | 59 |
| 2000 | 114876 | 4601 | 1212 | 131 | 67 |
| 2005 | 130208 | 6319 | 1827 | 167 | 92 |
| 2010 | 153913 | 7201 | 241 | 198 | 112 |
| 2015 | 183120 | 7465 | 261 | 221 | 150 |
| 2020 | 215957 | 7842 | 277 | 223 | 150 |
| 2024 | 237718 | 8173 | 292 | 226 | 157 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Lesotho as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Lesotho
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Basotho move to?
Most Basotho have moved to South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana — these three countries account for about 100% of all Basotho living abroad.
How many Basotho live abroad?
Around 246.9K Basotho live abroad, making it the #126-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of Lesotho lives abroad?
About 11% of the population of Lesotho lives abroad — that's 246.9K out of a total population of 2.3M.
How has emigration from Lesotho changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Lesotho has grown from 191.6K to 246.9K people, a growth of about 29%.
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