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Population in Burkina Faso compared to Lesotho: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Burkina Faso was 23,548,781 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Burkina Faso's population is 24,756,783 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Burkina Faso's population is 10.3 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Burkina Faso is ranked the 59th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.3% for Burkina Faso vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Burkina Faso has had an average growth rate of +2.63% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Burkina Faso has increased from 14.4M people to 24.8M (72.2% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Burkina Faso vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Burkina Faso
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Burkina Faso Lesotho
2100 50,408,328 3,280,784
2099 50,383,919 3,286,697
2098 50,352,973 3,292,498
2097 50,313,705 3,298,102
2096 50,266,628 3,303,027
2095 50,218,948 3,307,947
2094 50,162,122 3,312,002
2093 50,097,256 3,315,757
2092 50,020,865 3,319,661
2091 49,941,829 3,322,573
2090 49,849,369 3,324,769
2089 49,746,842 3,326,847
2088 49,633,009 3,328,480
2087 49,506,797 3,329,964
2086 49,374,214 3,330,456
2085 49,231,459 3,331,259
2084 49,078,733 3,331,485
2083 48,912,839 3,331,492
2082 48,738,088 3,331,234
2081 48,550,361 3,330,412
2080 48,350,756 3,329,267
2079 48,139,621 3,327,166
2078 47,915,623 3,324,646
2077 47,674,670 3,321,422
2076 47,421,548 3,317,850
2075 47,161,253 3,314,237
2074 46,887,164 3,309,174
2073 46,596,755 3,303,860
2072 46,296,320 3,298,181
2071 45,987,906 3,291,492
2070 45,669,374 3,283,654
2069 45,339,502 3,275,244
2068 45,000,338 3,266,152
2067 44,651,960 3,256,626
2066 44,295,017 3,246,903
2065 43,931,890 3,237,153
2064 43,554,812 3,226,489
2063 43,171,791 3,215,103
2062 42,781,734 3,202,287
2061 42,378,127 3,188,933
2060 41,969,941 3,174,998
2059 41,556,223 3,160,204
2058 41,132,214 3,145,053
2057 40,699,958 3,129,261
2056 40,263,674 3,113,129
2055 39,819,396 3,095,904
2054 39,368,928 3,078,567
2053 38,908,013 3,060,152
2052 38,440,539 3,040,649
2051 37,966,813 3,020,109
2050 37,484,179 2,999,457
2049 36,994,052 2,978,037
2048 36,499,739 2,955,727
2047 35,993,831 2,932,688
2046 35,483,039 2,909,307
2045 34,962,697 2,885,537
2044 34,435,436 2,861,372
2043 33,904,610 2,836,777
2042 33,368,223 2,811,663
2041 32,828,377 2,786,147
2040 32,285,754 2,760,391
2039 31,738,667 2,734,400
2038 31,188,815 2,708,216
2037 30,636,433 2,681,863
2036 30,081,085 2,654,755
2035 29,523,750 2,627,701
2034 28,963,008 2,600,880
2033 28,405,067 2,574,065
2032 27,853,260 2,547,344
2031 27,304,165 2,520,831
2030 26,759,978 2,494,646
2029 26,220,635 2,468,268
2028 25,682,620 2,441,871
2027 25,146,586 2,415,830
2026 24,612,250 2,389,516
2025 24,080,445 2,363,516
2024 23,548,781 2,337,423
2023 23,025,776 2,311,472
2022 22,509,038 2,286,110
2021 21,995,243 2,261,542
2020 21,478,690 2,235,727
2019 20,961,952 2,209,405
2018 20,438,288 2,183,603
2017 19,894,407 2,157,110
2016 19,334,856 2,130,422
2015 18,777,487 2,104,611
2014 18,229,461 2,080,089
2013 17,695,409 2,056,504
2012 17,172,287 2,034,354
2011 16,661,908 2,014,009
2010 16,176,498 1,996,251
2009 15,710,066 1,980,883
2008 15,258,093 1,966,541
2007 14,816,307 1,953,268
2006 14,373,707 1,945,063
2005 13,932,123 1,953,076
2004 13,500,533 1,971,129
2003 13,082,532 1,985,059
2002 12,680,897 1,994,679
2001 12,295,001 2,000,853
2000 11,925,546 2,003,913
1999 11,574,928 2,003,234
1998 11,240,664 1,998,049
1997 10,934,223 1,988,130
1996 10,655,942 1,972,418
1995 10,386,722 1,951,437
1994 10,123,798 1,927,707
1993 9,871,713 1,901,793
1992 9,629,275 1,873,274
1991 9,394,632 1,842,379
1990 9,159,356 1,809,696
1989 8,921,175 1,775,436
1988 8,687,435 1,739,841
1987 8,457,109 1,703,390
1986 8,228,847 1,666,138
1985 7,999,935 1,624,379
1984 7,772,256 1,578,986
1983 7,551,129 1,534,413
1982 7,340,197 1,490,732
1981 7,140,271 1,448,069
1980 6,947,900 1,406,521
1979 6,763,903 1,366,169
1978 6,590,984 1,327,240
1977 6,428,734 1,289,967
1976 6,280,635 1,253,214
1975 6,147,569 1,213,643
1974 6,024,904 1,172,420
1973 5,911,927 1,132,697
1972 5,807,234 1,094,063
1971 5,707,999 1,056,246
1970 5,610,304 1,019,273
1969 5,513,177 983,202
1968 5,418,644 948,105
1967 5,326,348 913,982
1966 5,237,933 881,870
1965 5,152,833 854,090
1964 5,071,034 829,437
1963 4,993,623 805,373
1962 4,919,672 781,814
1961 4,848,224 758,824
1960 4,778,621 736,500

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/burkina-faso/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Burkina Faso increased by 4,961,149 people (a 34.5% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Burkina Faso gained 5,421,927 people (a 28% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Burkina Faso was ranked 63rd most populous country in 2006 and is 59th 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) Burkina Faso's population will grow by 51.4% to 37,484,179 people with a rank change from 59th to 56th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Burkina Faso is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 50.4M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Burkina Faso
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Burkina Faso Lesotho
2100 0.05% -0.18%
2099 0.06% -0.18%
2098 0.08% -0.17%
2097 0.09% -0.15%
2096 0.09% -0.15%
2095 0.11% -0.12%
2094 0.13% -0.11%
2093 0.15% -0.12%
2092 0.16% -0.09%
2091 0.19% -0.07%
2090 0.21% -0.06%
2089 0.23% -0.05%
2088 0.25% -0.04%
2087 0.27% -0.01%
2086 0.29% -0.02%
2085 0.31% -0.007%
2084 0.34% -0%
2083 0.36% 0.008%
2082 0.39% 0.02%
2081 0.41% 0.03%
2080 0.44% 0.06%
2079 0.47% 0.08%
2078 0.51% 0.1%
2077 0.53% 0.11%
2076 0.55% 0.11%
2075 0.58% 0.15%
2074 0.62% 0.16%
2073 0.65% 0.17%
2072 0.67% 0.2%
2071 0.7% 0.24%
2070 0.73% 0.26%
2069 0.75% 0.28%
2068 0.78% 0.29%
2067 0.81% 0.3%
2066 0.83% 0.3%
2065 0.87% 0.33%
2064 0.89% 0.35%
2063 0.91% 0.4%
2062 0.95% 0.42%
2061 0.97% 0.44%
2060 1% 0.47%
2059 1.03% 0.48%
2058 1.06% 0.5%
2057 1.08% 0.52%
2056 1.12% 0.56%
2055 1.14% 0.56%
2054 1.18% 0.6%
2053 1.22% 0.64%
2052 1.25% 0.68%
2051 1.29% 0.69%
2050 1.32% 0.72%
2049 1.35% 0.75%
2048 1.41% 0.79%
2047 1.44% 0.8%
2046 1.49% 0.82%
2045 1.53% 0.84%
2044 1.57% 0.87%
2043 1.61% 0.89%
2042 1.64% 0.92%
2041 1.68% 0.93%
2040 1.72% 0.95%
2039 1.76% 0.97%
2038 1.8% 0.98%
2037 1.85% 1.02%
2036 1.89% 1.03%
2035 1.94% 1.03%
2034 1.96% 1.04%
2033 1.98% 1.05%
2032 2.01% 1.05%
2031 2.03% 1.05%
2030 2.06% 1.07%
2029 2.09% 1.08%
2028 2.13% 1.08%
2027 2.17% 1.1%
2026 2.21% 1.1%
2025 2.26% 1.12%
2024 2.27% 1.12%
2023 2.3% 1.11%
2022 2.34% 1.09%
2021 2.4% 1.15%
2020 2.47% 1.19%
2019 2.56% 1.18%
2018 2.73% 1.23%
2017 2.89% 1.25%
2016 2.97% 1.23%
2015 3.01% 1.18%
2014 3.02% 1.15%
2013 3.05% 1.09%
2012 3.06% 1.01%
2011 3% 0.89%
2010 2.97% 0.78%
2009 2.96% 0.73%
2008 2.98% 0.68%
2007 3.08% 0.42%
2006 3.17% -0.41%
2005 3.2% -0.92%
2004 3.2% -0.7%
2003 3.17% -0.48%
2002 3.14% -0.31%
2001 3.1% -0.15%
2000 3.03% 0.03%
1999 2.97% 0.26%
1998 2.8% 0.5%
1997 2.61% 0.8%
1996 2.59% 1.08%
1995 2.6% 1.23%
1994 2.55% 1.36%
1993 2.52% 1.52%
1992 2.5% 1.68%
1991 2.57% 1.81%
1990 2.67% 1.93%
1989 2.69% 2.05%
1988 2.72% 2.14%
1987 2.77% 2.24%
1986 2.86% 2.57%
1985 2.93% 2.87%
1984 2.93% 2.9%
1983 2.87% 2.93%
1982 2.8% 2.95%
1981 2.77% 2.95%
1980 2.72% 2.95%
1979 2.62% 2.93%
1978 2.52% 2.89%
1977 2.36% 2.93%
1976 2.16% 3.26%
1975 2.04% 3.52%
1974 1.91% 3.51%
1973 1.8% 3.53%
1972 1.74% 3.58%
1971 1.74% 3.63%
1970 1.76% 3.67%
1969 1.74% 3.7%
1968 1.73% 3.73%
1967 1.69% 3.64%
1966 1.65% 3.25%
1965 1.61% 2.97%
1964 1.55% 2.99%
1963 1.5% 3.01%
1962 1.47% 3.03%
1961 1.46% 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/burkina-faso/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Burkina Faso grew by 2.27%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Burkina Faso Lesotho
Current population
24756783
2396633
Population rank 59/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.3% 0.03%
One net population change
1 minute
20.3 minutes
One birth every
43.3 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
2.87 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,433 +71
Annual growth/decline +523,005 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +2.27% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 39/197 93/197
One migration net change every
19.4 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -27,130 -5,192
Net migration rank 158/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 739,820 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 68/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 115/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Burkina Faso
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Burkina Faso Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,130 - -5,192
2024 - -25,807 - -5,107
2023 545,227 -24,957 31,115 -5,168
2022 538,146 -24,960 30,803 -6,023
2021 527,468 -13,079 27,806 -3,449
2020 524,359 -5,661 30,721 -3,449
2019 540,001 -25,240 32,279 -6,896
2018 556,493 -23,938 33,112 -6,892
2017 569,975 -14,780 33,601 -6,850
2016 571,519 -7,598 33,390 -6,766
2015 570,554 -19,726 32,087 -7,087
2014 563,218 -17,984 30,922 -6,877
2013 556,096 -33,212 29,789 -6,659
2012 544,293 -20,930 27,592 -6,425
2011 530,765 -33,391 25,647 -6,118
2010 515,480 -42,055 21,877 -5,886
2009 499,596 -40,148 20,335 -5,599
2008 485,223 -40,725 19,349 -5,392
2007 467,277 -28,202 17,763 -5,179
2006 450,357 -4,218 15,234 -11,416
2005 427,243 9,795 15,831 -35,679
2004 408,567 17,570 17,271 -33,530
2003 394,516 15,359 20,133 -31,723
2002 377,333 16,076 22,274 -29,924
2001 367,731 10,654 23,190 -27,874
2000 356,657 3,877 24,786 -26,220
1999 342,630 -1,922 27,393 -24,610
1998 333,196 -5,367 30,889 -23,299
1997 322,253 -37,200 34,637 -22,396
1996 315,820 -44,314 36,228 -17,042
1995 305,878 -38,943 37,370 -14,588
1994 296,465 -37,554 38,629 -13,953
1993 289,044 -43,784 40,505 -13,347
1992 284,622 -45,003 42,579 -12,707
1991 280,111 -50,451 44,026 -12,114
1990 273,846 -32,970 45,060 -11,598
1989 267,314 -31,843 46,264 -11,207
1988 262,065 -30,068 47,158 -11,028
1987 257,730 -29,081 47,718 -10,946
1986 252,922 -25,051 45,232 -7,501
1985 246,574 -16,623 44,575 1,222
1984 237,838 -12,445 43,785 1,199
1983 228,467 -11,618 42,899 1,253
1982 220,896 -15,879 41,941 1,281
1981 212,623 -17,797 40,808 1,307
1980 205,248 -15,345 39,617 1,361
1979 196,647 -18,559 38,440 1,285
1978 187,019 -19,274 37,084 1,047
1977 175,672 -18,914 35,654 746
1976 165,224 -25,786 34,117 2,986
1975 157,174 -30,484 32,311 9,723
1974 149,231 -30,599 30,444 9,972
1973 141,751 -34,452 28,859 10,183
1972 135,756 -33,679 27,841 10,386
1971 130,924 -34,524 26,838 10,563
1970 127,814 -28,832 25,935 10,605
1969 123,666 -28,406 25,137 10,465
1968 121,264 -27,461 24,490 10,108
1967 117,223 -26,444 23,911 9,734
1966 113,344 -27,301 23,326 7,248
1965 109,544 -25,398 22,755 2,239
1964 105,741 -26,307 22,116 2,198
1963 101,760 -26,382 21,585 2,220
1962 98,561 -26,040 21,132 2,172
1961 95,059 -24,687 20,581 2,100
1960 92,055 -23,220 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/burkina-faso/lesotho | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.9% of the population change in Burkina Faso is from natural causes (a gain of 5,506,960 people) and 3.13% is from migration (a loss of 177,923 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, 739,820 residents or 3.1% of the population were not native-born in Burkina Faso, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Burkina Faso
City Population
Ouagadougou 2.45M
Bobo-Dioulasso 904K
Koudougou 160K
Ouahigouya 125K
Fada N'gourma 73.2K
Dedougou 63.6K
Leo 51.7K
Dori 46.5K
Nouna 32.4K
Manga 28.6K
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/burkina-faso/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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