Lesotho Birth Rate
Crude birth rate per 1,000 people SP.DYN.CBRT.IN
Lesotho's birth rate was 22.7 in 2025, ranked 58th globally. This represents a 5.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Lesotho's birth rate stood at 22.7 in 2025, a decline of +1.4 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 22.7 by 2025. Lesotho ranked 58th globally.
Lesotho’s birth rate has fallen dramatically over the 65‑year span covered by World Bank data, dropping from an all‑time peak of 44.57 births per 1,000 people in 1960 to a trough of 22.73 in 2025, placing the kingdom at rank 58 globally. This decline represents a reduction of roughly 49 percent and mirrors broader demographic transitions in sub‑Saharan Africa, where fertility declines are linked to increased urbanisation, expanded access to education and family‑planning services, and rising female labour‑force participation. The 2025 figure is virtually identical to that of nearby Pacific peers such as Tonga (22.79) and Tuvalu (22.55), underscoring the convergence of birth‑rate levels across disparate regions at similar stages of development. Continued improvements in health‑care delivery and sustained economic growth could further depress the birth rate, while any reversal in these trends or a surge in adolescent fertility would likely temper the downward trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Birth Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 22.1 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 22.7 | - | - |
| 2025 | 22.7 | −1.4 | #58 |
| 2023 | 24.1 | −0.3 | #162 |
| 2022 | 24.4 | −0.5 | #161 |
| 2021 | 24.9 | −0.7 | #161 |
| 2020 | 25.6 | −0.8 | #163 |
| 2019 | 26.4 | −0.9 | #163 |
| 2018 | 27.4 | −0.9 | #165 |
| 2017 | 28.2 | −0.7 | #165 |
| 2016 | 28.9 | −0.2 | #166 |
| 2015 | 29.2 | −0.3 | #166 |
| 2014 | 29.5 | −0.5 | #166 |
| 2013 | 30.0 | −0.0 | #165 |
| 2012 | 30.0 | −0.2 | #165 |
| 2011 | 30.2 | +1.0 | #162 |
| 2010 | 29.2 | −0.2 | #161 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lesotho matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw birth rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lesotho's birth rate was 22.7 in 2025. Ranked 58th globally. This represents a 5.7% decrease from the previous year.
Lesotho's birth rate peaked at 44.6 in 1960.
The lowest birth rate in Lesotho was 22.7 in 2025.
Lesotho ranks 58th globally in birth rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.DYN.CBRT.IN. Data sourced from World Bank.
Lesotho's birth rate is projected to reach 22.7 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The birth rate of Lesotho in 2025 was 22.7. This ranks 58th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lesotho_birth-rate,
title = {Lesotho Birth Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lesotho/birth-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}