Sex ratio by age in Lesotho
Lesotho: Sex ratio by age was 18.18 males per 100 females in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
18.18 males per 100 females
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
129th
of 212 countries
All-time high
20 males per 100 females
in 2016
All-time low
0 males per 100 females
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio by age in Lesotho, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 18.18 males per 100 females for sex ratio by age in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.5% on the previous year and up 45.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio by age in Lesotho peaked at 20 males per 100 females in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0 males per 100 females, in 1950.
That places Lesotho 129th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sex ratio by age in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1951 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1952 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1953 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1954 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1955 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1956 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1957 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1958 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1959 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1960 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1961 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1962 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1963 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1964 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1965 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1966 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1967 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1968 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1969 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1970 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1971 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1972 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1973 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1974 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1975 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1976 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1977 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1978 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1979 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1980 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1981 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1982 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1983 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1984 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1985 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1986 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1987 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1988 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1989 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1990 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1991 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1992 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1993 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1994 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1995 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1996 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1997 | 12.5 males per 100 females | — |
| 1998 | 12.5 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 12.5 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 11.11 males per 100 females | -11.1% |
| 2001 | 10 males per 100 females | -10.0% |
| 2002 | 9.09 males per 100 females | -9.1% |
| 2003 | 9.09 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 9.09 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 8.33 males per 100 females | -8.3% |
| 2006 | 8.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 8.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 16.67 males per 100 females | +100.0% |
| 2009 | 15.38 males per 100 females | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 14.29 males per 100 females | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 13.33 males per 100 females | -6.7% |
| 2012 | 13.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 12.5 males per 100 females | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 17.65 males per 100 females | +41.2% |
| 2015 | 15.79 males per 100 females | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 20 males per 100 females | +26.7% |
| 2017 | 19.05 males per 100 females | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 18.18 males per 100 females | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 17.39 males per 100 females | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 16 males per 100 females | -8.0% |
| 2021 | 17.39 males per 100 females | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 19.05 males per 100 females | +9.5% |
| 2023 | 18.18 males per 100 females | -4.5% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 18.18 males per 100 females is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.49 males per 100 females, 71% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 18.18 males per 100 females is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.72 males per 100 females, 59% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sex ratio by age 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +100.0% | 8.33 males per 100 females | 16.67 males per 100 females |
| 2014 | +41.2% | 12.5 males per 100 females | 17.65 males per 100 females |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1960s | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.75 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 12.5 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.54 males per 100 females | 8.33 males per 100 females | 16.67 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.15 males per 100 females | 12.5 males per 100 females | 20 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.66 males per 100 females | 16 males per 100 females | 19.05 males per 100 females | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More gender data for Lesotho
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 786.22 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.5717 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1,708 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1,708 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 26,291 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 26,787 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 25,880 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 26,319 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 25,717 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sex ratio by age in Lesotho?
- Sex ratio by age in Lesotho was 18.18 males per 100 females in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio by age recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 20 males per 100 females in 2016.
- What is the lowest sex ratio by age recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 males per 100 females in 1950.
- How does Lesotho rank for sex ratio by age?
- Lesotho ranks 129th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio by age rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of males per 100 females at age 100+.