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Population in Australia compared to Lesotho: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Australia was 27,196,812 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Australia's population is 27,799,169 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Australia's population is 11.6 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Australia is ranked the 55th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.34% for Australia vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Australia has had an average growth rate of +1.49% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Australia has increased from 20.5M people to 27.8M (35.9% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Australia vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Australia
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Australia Lesotho
2100 44,031,396 3,280,784
2099 43,809,392 3,286,697
2098 43,581,416 3,292,498
2097 43,339,542 3,298,102
2096 43,103,046 3,303,027
2095 42,875,281 3,307,947
2094 42,654,231 3,312,002
2093 42,420,140 3,315,757
2092 42,183,554 3,319,661
2091 41,942,760 3,322,573
2090 41,703,255 3,324,769
2089 41,471,675 3,326,847
2088 41,232,214 3,328,480
2087 41,005,392 3,329,964
2086 40,785,916 3,330,456
2085 40,573,592 3,331,259
2084 40,363,192 3,331,485
2083 40,140,606 3,331,492
2082 39,925,452 3,331,234
2081 39,703,018 3,330,412
2080 39,490,533 3,329,267
2079 39,277,415 3,327,166
2078 39,063,163 3,324,646
2077 38,847,269 3,321,422
2076 38,637,253 3,317,850
2075 38,425,571 3,314,237
2074 38,212,169 3,309,174
2073 38,002,408 3,303,860
2072 37,795,438 3,298,181
2071 37,589,598 3,291,492
2070 37,376,868 3,283,654
2069 37,159,014 3,275,244
2068 36,939,616 3,266,152
2067 36,721,604 3,256,626
2066 36,504,952 3,246,903
2065 36,297,175 3,237,153
2064 36,095,981 3,226,489
2063 35,883,588 3,215,103
2062 35,673,924 3,202,287
2061 35,465,080 3,188,933
2060 35,260,552 3,174,998
2059 35,055,719 3,160,204
2058 34,839,385 3,145,053
2057 34,630,577 3,129,261
2056 34,422,531 3,113,129
2055 34,208,970 3,095,904
2054 33,996,776 3,078,567
2053 33,788,097 3,060,152
2052 33,580,016 3,040,649
2051 33,366,925 3,020,109
2050 33,152,099 2,999,457
2049 32,937,633 2,978,037
2048 32,711,001 2,955,727
2047 32,496,856 2,932,688
2046 32,269,549 2,909,307
2045 32,047,969 2,885,537
2044 31,829,535 2,861,372
2043 31,610,306 2,836,777
2042 31,387,780 2,811,663
2041 31,168,179 2,786,147
2040 30,952,283 2,760,391
2039 30,740,454 2,734,400
2038 30,521,772 2,708,216
2037 30,307,856 2,681,863
2036 30,085,861 2,654,755
2035 29,862,898 2,627,701
2034 29,641,453 2,600,880
2033 29,418,053 2,574,065
2032 29,191,922 2,547,344
2031 28,959,421 2,520,831
2030 28,722,798 2,494,646
2029 28,484,745 2,468,268
2028 28,236,324 2,441,871
2027 27,984,287 2,415,830
2026 27,730,530 2,389,516
2025 27,466,430 2,363,516
2024 27,196,812 2,337,423
2023 26,659,922 2,311,472
2022 26,018,721 2,286,110
2021 25,685,412 2,261,542
2020 25,649,248 2,235,727
2019 25,334,826 2,209,405
2018 24,963,258 2,183,603
2017 24,592,588 2,157,110
2016 24,190,907 2,130,422
2015 23,815,995 2,104,611
2014 23,475,686 2,080,089
2013 23,128,129 2,056,504
2012 22,733,465 2,034,354
2011 22,340,024 2,014,009
2010 22,031,750 1,996,251
2009 21,691,653 1,980,883
2008 21,249,199 1,966,541
2007 20,827,622 1,953,268
2006 20,450,966 1,945,063
2005 20,176,844 1,953,076
2004 19,932,722 1,971,129
2003 19,720,737 1,985,059
2002 19,495,210 1,994,679
2001 19,274,701 2,000,853
2000 19,028,802 2,003,913
1999 18,812,264 2,003,234
1998 18,607,584 1,998,049
1997 18,423,037 1,988,130
1996 18,224,767 1,972,418
1995 18,004,882 1,951,437
1994 17,805,468 1,927,707
1993 17,634,808 1,901,793
1992 17,478,635 1,873,274
1991 17,284,036 1,842,379
1990 17,065,128 1,809,696
1989 16,814,416 1,775,436
1988 16,532,164 1,739,841
1987 16,263,874 1,703,390
1986 16,018,350 1,666,138
1985 15,788,312 1,624,379
1984 15,579,391 1,578,986
1983 15,393,472 1,534,413
1982 15,184,247 1,490,732
1981 14,923,260 1,448,069
1980 14,692,000 1,406,521
1979 14,514,000 1,366,169
1978 14,358,000 1,327,240
1977 14,192,000 1,289,967
1976 14,033,000 1,253,214
1975 13,893,000 1,213,643
1974 13,723,000 1,172,420
1973 13,380,000 1,132,697
1972 13,177,000 1,094,063
1971 12,937,000 1,056,246
1970 12,507,000 1,019,273
1969 12,263,000 983,202
1968 12,009,000 948,105
1967 11,799,000 913,982
1966 11,651,000 881,870
1965 11,388,000 854,090
1964 11,167,000 829,437
1963 10,950,000 805,373
1962 10,742,000 781,814
1961 10,483,000 758,824
1960 10,276,477 736,500

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Australia increased by 3,739,941 people (a 18.3% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Australia gained 3,608,262 people (a 14.9% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Australia was ranked 54th most populous country in 2006 and is 55th in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Australia's population will grow by 19.3% to 33,152,099 people with a rank change from 55th to 59th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Australia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 44M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Australia
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Australia Lesotho
2100 0.51% -0.18%
2099 0.52% -0.18%
2098 0.56% -0.17%
2097 0.55% -0.15%
2096 0.53% -0.15%
2095 0.52% -0.12%
2094 0.55% -0.11%
2093 0.56% -0.12%
2092 0.57% -0.09%
2091 0.57% -0.07%
2090 0.56% -0.06%
2089 0.58% -0.05%
2088 0.55% -0.04%
2087 0.54% -0.01%
2086 0.52% -0.02%
2085 0.52% -0.007%
2084 0.55% -0%
2083 0.54% 0.008%
2082 0.56% 0.02%
2081 0.54% 0.03%
2080 0.54% 0.06%
2079 0.55% 0.08%
2078 0.56% 0.1%
2077 0.54% 0.11%
2076 0.55% 0.11%
2075 0.56% 0.15%
2074 0.55% 0.16%
2073 0.55% 0.17%
2072 0.55% 0.2%
2071 0.57% 0.24%
2070 0.59% 0.26%
2069 0.59% 0.28%
2068 0.59% 0.29%
2067 0.59% 0.3%
2066 0.57% 0.3%
2065 0.56% 0.33%
2064 0.59% 0.35%
2063 0.59% 0.4%
2062 0.59% 0.42%
2061 0.58% 0.44%
2060 0.58% 0.47%
2059 0.62% 0.48%
2058 0.6% 0.5%
2057 0.6% 0.52%
2056 0.62% 0.56%
2055 0.62% 0.56%
2054 0.62% 0.6%
2053 0.62% 0.64%
2052 0.64% 0.68%
2051 0.65% 0.69%
2050 0.65% 0.72%
2049 0.69% 0.75%
2048 0.66% 0.79%
2047 0.7% 0.8%
2046 0.69% 0.82%
2045 0.69% 0.84%
2044 0.69% 0.87%
2043 0.71% 0.89%
2042 0.7% 0.92%
2041 0.7% 0.93%
2040 0.69% 0.95%
2039 0.72% 0.97%
2038 0.71% 0.98%
2037 0.74% 1.02%
2036 0.75% 1.03%
2035 0.75% 1.03%
2034 0.76% 1.04%
2033 0.77% 1.05%
2032 0.8% 1.05%
2031 0.82% 1.05%
2030 0.84% 1.07%
2029 0.88% 1.08%
2028 0.9% 1.08%
2027 0.92% 1.1%
2026 0.96% 1.1%
2025 0.99% 1.12%
2024 2.01% 1.12%
2023 2.46% 1.11%
2022 1.3% 1.09%
2021 0.14% 1.15%
2020 1.24% 1.19%
2019 1.49% 1.18%
2018 1.51% 1.23%
2017 1.66% 1.25%
2016 1.57% 1.23%
2015 1.45% 1.18%
2014 1.5% 1.15%
2013 1.74% 1.09%
2012 1.76% 1.01%
2011 1.4% 0.89%
2010 1.57% 0.78%
2009 2.08% 0.73%
2008 2.02% 0.68%
2007 1.84% 0.42%
2006 1.36% -0.41%
2005 1.22% -0.92%
2004 1.07% -0.7%
2003 1.16% -0.48%
2002 1.14% -0.31%
2001 1.29% -0.15%
2000 1.15% 0.03%
1999 1.1% 0.26%
1998 1% 0.5%
1997 1.09% 0.8%
1996 1.22% 1.08%
1995 1.12% 1.23%
1994 0.97% 1.36%
1993 0.89% 1.52%
1992 1.13% 1.68%
1991 1.28% 1.81%
1990 1.49% 1.93%
1989 1.71% 2.05%
1988 1.65% 2.14%
1987 1.53% 2.24%
1986 1.46% 2.57%
1985 1.34% 2.87%
1984 1.21% 2.9%
1983 1.38% 2.93%
1982 1.75% 2.95%
1981 1.57% 2.95%
1980 1.23% 2.95%
1979 1.09% 2.93%
1978 1.17% 2.89%
1977 1.13% 2.93%
1976 1.01% 3.26%
1975 1.24% 3.52%
1974 2.56% 3.51%
1973 1.54% 3.53%
1972 1.86% 3.58%
1971 3.44% 3.63%
1970 1.99% 3.67%
1969 2.12% 3.7%
1968 1.78% 3.73%
1967 1.27% 3.64%
1966 2.31% 3.25%
1965 1.98% 2.97%
1964 1.98% 2.99%
1963 1.94% 3.01%
1962 2.47% 3.03%
1961 2.01% 3.03%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Australia grew by 2.01%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Australia Lesotho
Current population
27799169
2396633
Population rank 55/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.34% 0.03%
One net population change
58.7 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
1.83 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
2.86 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,471 +71
Annual growth/decline +536,890 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +2.01% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 51/197 93/197
One migration net change every
3.84 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change +137,109 -5,192
Net migration rank 11/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 8,111,404 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 9/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 30.4% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 18/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Australia
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Australia Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 137,109 - -5,192
2024 - 138,510 - -5,107
2023 103,974 140,232 31,115 -5,168
2022 111,881 140,972 30,803 -6,023
2021 138,701 116,768 27,806 -3,449
2020 133,376 44,447 30,721 -3,449
2019 136,808 207,142 32,279 -6,896
2018 157,269 226,412 33,112 -6,892
2017 150,015 255,023 33,601 -6,850
2016 152,403 254,648 33,390 -6,766
2015 150,041 212,350 32,087 -7,087
2014 154,940 200,177 30,922 -6,877
2013 159,584 215,823 29,789 -6,659
2012 161,408 235,776 27,592 -6,425
2011 156,380 197,657 25,647 -6,118
2010 158,628 166,752 21,877 -5,886
2009 160,518 235,628 20,335 -5,599
2008 155,119 275,773 19,349 -5,392
2007 154,124 249,873 17,763 -5,179
2006 132,931 191,985 15,234 -11,416
2005 129,132 131,371 15,831 -35,679
2004 115,610 110,072 17,271 -33,530
2003 118,325 104,437 20,133 -31,723
2002 116,971 108,852 22,274 -29,924
2001 117,575 117,552 23,190 -27,874
2000 119,882 111,186 24,786 -26,220
1999 118,517 92,900 27,393 -24,610
1998 120,949 81,310 30,889 -23,299
1997 121,592 67,661 34,637 -22,396
1996 125,751 82,965 36,228 -17,042
1995 131,436 80,456 37,370 -14,588
1994 131,761 51,941 38,629 -13,953
1993 137,551 23,833 40,505 -13,347
1992 139,829 40,767 42,579 -12,707
1991 138,273 68,847 44,026 -12,114
1990 143,347 100,093 45,060 -11,598
1989 127,789 144,042 46,264 -11,207
1988 127,298 153,330 47,158 -11,028
1987 128,484 136,421 47,718 -10,946
1986 123,342 113,061 45,232 -7,501
1985 143,674 98,327 44,575 1,222
1984 123,077 79,617 43,785 1,199
1983 130,844 73,251 42,899 1,253
1982 126,030 111,722 41,941 1,281
1981 125,356 121,921 40,808 1,307
1980 117,536 89,189 39,617 1,361
1979 116,112 52,137 38,440 1,285
1978 116,299 45,832 37,084 1,047
1977 117,793 44,946 35,654 746
1976 115,070 32,792 34,117 2,986
1975 123,648 25,336 32,311 9,723
1974 128,996 56,167 30,444 9,972
1973 136,476 62,928 28,859 10,183
1972 155,488 54,895 27,841 10,386
1971 165,593 223,991 26,838 10,563
1970 145,081 256,295 25,935 10,605
1969 143,477 108,770 25,137 10,465
1968 132,099 100,963 24,490 10,108
1967 126,249 80,904 23,911 9,734
1966 126,996 110,864 23,326 7,248
1965 122,990 118,891 22,755 2,239
1964 128,420 91,588 22,116 2,198
1963 140,161 73,237 21,585 2,220
1962 143,943 58,315 21,132 2,172
1961 150,955 64,495 20,581 2,100
1960 141,816 85,707 19,981 1,989

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/lesotho | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 43.6% of the population change in Australia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,389,408 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,798,171 people). In Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).

As of 2024, 8,111,404 residents or 30.4% of the population were not native-born in Australia, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Australia
City Population
Sydney 5.45M
Melbourne 5.35M
Brisbane 2.71M
Perth 2.14M
Adelaide 1.39M
Gold Coast 608K
Canberra 381K
Sunshine Coast 284K
Wollongong 262K
Ipswich 233K
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/lesotho | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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