MigrantoImmigrants in Lesotho
9K foreigners live in Lesotho — 0% of the country's population
Immigrants in Lesotho by country
The 3 largest groups make up 78% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 5964 |
| India | 522 |
| Pakistan | 522 |
| Uganda | 313 |
| China | 276 |
| Botswana | 247 |
| Ghana | 203 |
| USA | 203 |
| Tanzania | 193 |
| Zambia | 158 |
| Zimbabwe | 158 |
| Malawi | 84 |
| Eswatini | 84 |
| Mozambique | 52 |
| Namibia | 7 |
By region of origin
83% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Lesotho in numbers
South Africans are the largest group by a wide margin
66% of all immigrants were born in South Africa, while the next group accounts for just 6%.
The immigrant population has grown 25% since 2020
The number of foreigners living in Lesotho rose from 7.2K to 9K in four years.
Immigrant population in Lesotho over time
Foreigners living in Lesotho, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 4469 |
| 1995 | 4024 |
| 2000 | 3699 |
| 2005 | 3769 |
| 2010 | 3840 |
| 2015 | 5474 |
| 2020 | 7207 |
| 2024 | 8986 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Lesotho, by year
| Year | South Africans | Indians | Pakistanis | Ugandans | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2777 | 308 | 308 | 185 | 162 |
| 1995 | 2528 | 266 | 266 | 160 | 140 |
| 2000 | 2441 | 215 | 215 | 130 | 114 |
| 2005 | 2492 | 219 | 219 | 132 | 116 |
| 2010 | 2544 | 223 | 223 | 134 | 118 |
| 2015 | 3629 | 318 | 318 | 191 | 168 |
| 2020 | 4782 | 419 | 419 | 251 | 221 |
| 2024 | 5964 | 522 | 522 | 313 | 276 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Lesotho
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Lesotho
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Lesotho?
Around 9K immigrants live in Lesotho — the world's #198 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Lesotho are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 0% of the population of Lesotho — that's 9K out of a total population of 2.3M.
Where do most immigrants in Lesotho come from?
Most immigrants in Lesotho come from South Africa, India and Pakistan — these three countries account for about 78% of all immigrants.
How many South Africans live in Lesotho?
Around 6K South Africans live in Lesotho — about 66% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Lesotho growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Lesotho has grown from 5.5K to 9K, about 64%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Lesotho come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Lesotho. Their children born in Lesotho are not included.
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Living in Lesotho
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