Urban area over the long-term in Lesotho
Lesotho: Urban area over the long-term was 314.83 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
314.83 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
147th
of 202 countries
All-time high
314.83 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Lesotho, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban area over the long-term in Lesotho is 314.83 km² per grid cell, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Lesotho peaked at 314.83 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Lesotho 147th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1200 | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1300 | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1400 | 0.0031 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1500 | 0.0106 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1600 | 0.0362 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1700 | 0.124 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1710 | 0.1438 km² per grid cell | +15.9% |
| 1720 | 0.1622 km² per grid cell | +12.8% |
| 1730 | 0.1832 km² per grid cell | +13.0% |
| 1740 | 0.2073 km² per grid cell | +13.1% |
| 1750 | 0.2348 km² per grid cell | +13.3% |
| 1760 | 0.2665 km² per grid cell | +13.5% |
| 1770 | 0.3031 km² per grid cell | +13.7% |
| 1780 | 0.3454 km² per grid cell | +14.0% |
| 1790 | 0.3945 km² per grid cell | +14.2% |
| 1800 | 0.4519 km² per grid cell | +14.5% |
| 1810 | 0.5191 km² per grid cell | +14.9% |
| 1820 | 0.5985 km² per grid cell | +15.3% |
| 1830 | 0.6928 km² per grid cell | +15.8% |
| 1840 | 0.8425 km² per grid cell | +21.6% |
| 1850 | 0.953 km² per grid cell | +13.1% |
| 1860 | 1.15 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1870 | 1.4 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1880 | 1.69 km² per grid cell | +21.1% |
| 1890 | 2.05 km² per grid cell | +21.0% |
| 1900 | 2.48 km² per grid cell | +20.9% |
| 1910 | 3.17 km² per grid cell | +28.2% |
| 1920 | 3.99 km² per grid cell | +25.8% |
| 1930 | 5.19 km² per grid cell | +29.9% |
| 1940 | 8.48 km² per grid cell | +63.4% |
| 1950 | 8.56 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1951 | 9.14 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1952 | 9.77 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1953 | 10.42 km² per grid cell | +6.7% |
| 1954 | 11.11 km² per grid cell | +6.6% |
| 1955 | 11.85 km² per grid cell | +6.6% |
| 1956 | 12.81 km² per grid cell | +8.0% |
| 1957 | 14.48 km² per grid cell | +13.1% |
| 1958 | 16.37 km² per grid cell | +13.0% |
| 1959 | 18.5 km² per grid cell | +13.0% |
| 1960 | 20.91 km² per grid cell | +13.0% |
| 1961 | 23.61 km² per grid cell | +12.9% |
| 1962 | 26.67 km² per grid cell | +12.9% |
| 1963 | 30.11 km² per grid cell | +12.9% |
| 1964 | 33.97 km² per grid cell | +12.8% |
| 1965 | 38.29 km² per grid cell | +12.7% |
| 1966 | 42.57 km² per grid cell | +11.2% |
| 1967 | 44.66 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1968 | 46.85 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1969 | 49.14 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1970 | 51.54 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1971 | 53.96 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1972 | 56.43 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 58.95 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 61.71 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1975 | 64.75 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 67.03 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 67.48 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 68.08 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 68.8 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 69.62 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 70.38 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 71.23 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 72.06 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 72.75 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 73.23 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 74.26 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 77.17 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 80.05 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 83.05 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 86.29 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 89.77 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 93.5 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 97.46 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 101.63 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 106 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 110.27 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 114.23 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 118.29 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 122.32 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 126.25 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 131.53 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 136.86 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 142.27 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 147.79 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 153.47 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 159.33 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 165.4 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 171.74 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 178.44 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 197.44 km² per grid cell | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 204.49 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 211.65 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 218.95 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 226.38 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 233.95 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 241.66 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 249.51 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 257.52 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 265.67 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 273.98 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 281.87 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 289.89 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 298.06 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 306.37 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 314.83 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 314.83 km² per grid cell is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 837.49 km² per grid cell, 38% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 314.83 km² per grid cell is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 43% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +242.9% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +242.9% | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +242.9% | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.0009 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +242.9% | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 0.0031 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +242.9% | 0.0031 km² per grid cell | 0.0106 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +242.9% | 0.0106 km² per grid cell | 0.0362 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0031 km² per grid cell | 0.0031 km² per grid cell | 0.0031 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0106 km² per grid cell | 0.0106 km² per grid cell | 0.0106 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.0362 km² per grid cell | 0.0362 km² per grid cell | 0.0362 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.124 km² per grid cell | 0.124 km² per grid cell | 0.124 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.1438 km² per grid cell | 0.1438 km² per grid cell | 0.1438 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.1622 km² per grid cell | 0.1622 km² per grid cell | 0.1622 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.1832 km² per grid cell | 0.1832 km² per grid cell | 0.1832 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.2073 km² per grid cell | 0.2073 km² per grid cell | 0.2073 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.2348 km² per grid cell | 0.2348 km² per grid cell | 0.2348 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.2665 km² per grid cell | 0.2665 km² per grid cell | 0.2665 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.3031 km² per grid cell | 0.3031 km² per grid cell | 0.3031 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.3454 km² per grid cell | 0.3454 km² per grid cell | 0.3454 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.3945 km² per grid cell | 0.3945 km² per grid cell | 0.3945 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.4519 km² per grid cell | 0.4519 km² per grid cell | 0.4519 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.5191 km² per grid cell | 0.5191 km² per grid cell | 0.5191 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.5985 km² per grid cell | 0.5985 km² per grid cell | 0.5985 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.6928 km² per grid cell | 0.6928 km² per grid cell | 0.6928 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.8425 km² per grid cell | 0.8425 km² per grid cell | 0.8425 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 0.953 km² per grid cell | 0.953 km² per grid cell | 0.953 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 1.15 km² per grid cell | 1.15 km² per grid cell | 1.15 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 1.4 km² per grid cell | 1.4 km² per grid cell | 1.4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.69 km² per grid cell | 1.69 km² per grid cell | 1.69 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.05 km² per grid cell | 2.05 km² per grid cell | 2.05 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.48 km² per grid cell | 2.48 km² per grid cell | 2.48 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 3.99 km² per grid cell | 3.99 km² per grid cell | 3.99 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 5.19 km² per grid cell | 5.19 km² per grid cell | 5.19 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 8.48 km² per grid cell | 8.48 km² per grid cell | 8.48 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 12.3 km² per grid cell | 8.56 km² per grid cell | 18.5 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 35.68 km² per grid cell | 20.91 km² per grid cell | 49.14 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 61.87 km² per grid cell | 51.54 km² per grid cell | 68.8 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 74.38 km² per grid cell | 69.62 km² per grid cell | 83.05 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 103.98 km² per grid cell | 86.29 km² per grid cell | 122.32 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 151.31 km² per grid cell | 126.25 km² per grid cell | 178.44 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 230.72 km² per grid cell | 197.44 km² per grid cell | 265.67 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 294.17 km² per grid cell | 273.98 km² per grid cell | 314.83 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
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 urban area over the long-term in Lesotho?
- Urban area over the long-term in Lesotho was 314.83 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 314.83 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Lesotho rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Lesotho ranks 147th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.