Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Lesotho
Lesotho: Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people was 1.07 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Lesotho, 1971–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people per 100,000 inhabitants.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 1.07 people per 100,000 inhabitants for refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 106.0% on the previous year and up 39.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Lesotho peaked at 25.54 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 1975 and was at its lowest, 0 people per 100,000 inhabitants, in 1986.
That places Lesotho 165th out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | people per 100,000 inhabitants | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.68 people per 100,000 inhabitants | — |
| 1974 | 9.38 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +65.2% |
| 1975 | 25.54 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +172.2% |
| 1977 | 6.98 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -72.7% |
| 1978 | 12.06 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +72.8% |
| 1979 | 11.71 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -2.8% |
| 1980 | 4.98 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -57.5% |
| 1981 | 5.52 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +11.0% |
| 1986 | 0 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -100.0% |
| 1989 | 0.2816 people per 100,000 inhabitants | — |
| 1990 | 0.2763 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 0.2714 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 2.89 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +965.6% |
| 2001 | 0 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -100.0% |
| 2002 | 0.2507 people per 100,000 inhabitants | — |
| 2003 | 0.2519 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 0.2537 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 0 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 0.2571 people per 100,000 inhabitants | — |
| 2007 | 0.256 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 0.2543 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 0.2524 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 0.2505 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 0.2483 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 0.2458 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 0.4863 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +97.8% |
| 2014 | 0.7692 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +58.2% |
| 2015 | 0.7602 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 0.2347 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -69.1% |
| 2017 | 0.2781 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +18.5% |
| 2018 | 0.2748 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 0.2716 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 0.2684 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 0.2653 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 0.5249 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +97.9% |
| 2023 | 0.5191 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 1.07 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +106.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 1.07 people per 100,000 inhabitants is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.19 people per 100,000 inhabitants, 3% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 1.07 people per 100,000 inhabitants is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 79.16 people per 100,000 inhabitants, 1% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +965.6% | 0.2714 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 2.89 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
| 1975 | +172.2% | 9.38 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 25.54 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
| 2024 | +106.0% | 0.5191 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 1.07 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
| 1986 | -100.0% | 5.52 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
| 2001 | -100.0% | 2.89 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
| 2005 | -100.0% | 0.2537 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.89 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 5.68 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 25.54 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 6 |
| 1980s | 2.7 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 5.52 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 4 |
| 1990s | 1.15 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.2714 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 2.89 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.1973 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.2571 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 9 |
| 2010s | 0.3819 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.2347 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.7692 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5295 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.2653 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 1.07 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 162 Vanuatu 1.53 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 163 Ireland 1.29 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 164 United States 1.16 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 166 North Korea 1.07 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 167 Portugal 1.06 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 168 Argentina 1.02 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
More reference data data for Lesotho
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5388 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0101 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0549 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Lesotho?
- Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Lesotho was 1.07 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 25.54 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 1975.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 1986.
- How does Lesotho rank for refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people?
- Lesotho ranks 165th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. This data is given per 100,000 people in their country of origin.