The population of Lesotho (2001 estimate) is 2,177,062. The overall population density is 72 persons per sq km (186 per sq mi). The population was growing at 1.5 % a year in 2001. While the growth rate was lower than in many African countries, it was still high enough to place a burden on Lesotho’s limited resources. Many people, particularly men, reside outside the nation for a portion of each year working as laborers. Life expectancy at birth was 50 years for women and 48 years for men. The only city of remarkable size in Lesotho is Maseru.

The Sotho speak Sotho, a Bantu language of the Niger-Congo language family; they were originally united by a common loyalty to the royal house of Mshweshwe ,of the Moketeli branch of the Kwena lineage. Internally, divisions among different chiefdoms—and within the royal lineage itself—have had political significance, but externally the sense of Sotho nationhood and cultural unity remains strong. Both Sotho and English are official languages in the nation; Zulu is spoken by a small but remarkable minority of Zulu. In addition, there are a few thousand nationals of Asian or mixed descent. The small European community is controlled by expatriate teachers, issionaries, aid workers, technicians, and development advisers.