MigrantoImmigrants in Lesotho
9K foreign-born residents — the #198 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 78% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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
Africa is the leading region of origin at 83%
7.5K
1.3K
203
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Lesotho.
South Africa is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
South Africa accounts for 66% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 6%.
Immigration has accelerated notably since 2020
The immigrant population grew 25% from 7.2K to 9K, indicating an acceleration in migration flows following COVID and recent geopolitical shifts.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 4469 |
| 1995 | 4024 |
| 2000 | 3699 |
| 2005 | 3769 |
| 2010 | 3840 |
| 2015 | 5474 |
| 2020 | 7207 |
| 2024 | 8986 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | South Africa | India | Pakistan | Uganda | China |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Lesotho as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Lesotho
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Lesotho?
Around 9K foreign-born residents live in Lesotho, making it the #198-largest immigrant population in the world.
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 foreign-born residents.
What share 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.
How has immigration to Lesotho changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Lesotho has grown from 5.5K to 9K people, a growth of about 64%.
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