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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Burundi was 14,047,786 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Burundi's population is 14,833,763 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Burundi's population is 6.19 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Burundi is ranked the 78th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.18% for Burundi vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Burundi has had an average growth rate of +2.74% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Burundi has increased from 7.87M people to 14.8M (88.6% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Burundi vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Burundi
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Burundi Lesotho
2100 38,293,853 3,280,784
2099 38,174,358 3,286,697
2098 38,032,126 3,292,498
2097 37,893,681 3,298,102
2096 37,756,449 3,303,027
2095 37,614,540 3,307,947
2094 37,436,871 3,312,002
2093 37,274,132 3,315,757
2092 37,108,508 3,319,661
2091 36,942,857 3,322,573
2090 36,771,082 3,324,769
2089 36,563,987 3,326,847
2088 36,355,008 3,328,480
2087 36,164,606 3,329,964
2086 35,954,669 3,330,456
2085 35,713,632 3,331,259
2084 35,484,958 3,331,485
2083 35,263,538 3,331,492
2082 35,009,446 3,331,234
2081 34,736,107 3,330,412
2080 34,490,976 3,329,267
2079 34,213,139 3,327,166
2078 33,926,177 3,324,646
2077 33,614,120 3,321,422
2076 33,328,275 3,317,850
2075 33,008,877 3,314,237
2074 32,701,037 3,309,174
2073 32,376,989 3,303,860
2072 32,052,692 3,298,181
2071 31,745,266 3,291,492
2070 31,397,738 3,283,654
2069 31,057,284 3,275,244
2068 30,714,517 3,266,152
2067 30,354,696 3,256,626
2066 30,003,347 3,246,903
2065 29,629,671 3,237,153
2064 29,285,762 3,226,489
2063 28,949,355 3,215,103
2062 28,601,048 3,202,287
2061 28,250,749 3,188,933
2060 27,902,252 3,174,998
2059 27,548,599 3,160,204
2058 27,202,405 3,145,053
2057 26,854,783 3,129,261
2056 26,488,466 3,113,129
2055 26,128,941 3,095,904
2054 25,749,289 3,078,567
2053 25,370,938 3,060,152
2052 24,991,164 3,040,649
2051 24,616,398 3,020,109
2050 24,248,417 2,999,457
2049 23,841,324 2,978,037
2048 23,457,774 2,955,727
2047 23,054,780 2,932,688
2046 22,680,495 2,909,307
2045 22,268,462 2,885,537
2044 21,845,832 2,861,372
2043 21,428,437 2,836,777
2042 20,996,812 2,811,663
2041 20,590,106 2,786,147
2040 20,174,211 2,760,391
2039 19,754,227 2,734,400
2038 19,337,942 2,708,216
2037 18,919,404 2,681,863
2036 18,507,313 2,654,755
2035 18,115,077 2,627,701
2034 17,727,651 2,600,880
2033 17,339,180 2,574,065
2032 16,953,330 2,547,344
2031 16,569,289 2,520,831
2030 16,198,007 2,494,646
2029 15,827,843 2,468,268
2028 15,445,059 2,441,871
2027 15,084,625 2,415,830
2026 14,740,747 2,389,516
2025 14,397,864 2,363,516
2024 14,047,786 2,337,423
2023 13,689,450 2,311,472
2022 13,321,097 2,286,110
2021 12,965,481 2,261,542
2020 12,617,036 2,235,727
2019 12,255,336 2,209,405
2018 11,859,446 2,183,603
2017 11,506,762 2,157,110
2016 11,239,451 2,130,422
2015 11,047,580 2,104,611
2014 10,799,785 2,080,089
2013 10,439,341 2,056,504
2012 10,071,028 2,034,354
2011 9,717,978 2,014,009
2010 9,376,444 1,996,251
2009 8,947,646 1,980,883
2008 8,505,637 1,966,541
2007 8,161,874 1,953,268
2006 7,865,547 1,945,063
2005 7,587,299 1,953,076
2004 7,310,656 1,971,129
2003 7,043,154 1,985,059
2002 6,824,132 1,994,679
2001 6,634,365 2,000,853
2000 6,470,194 2,003,913
1999 6,337,155 2,003,234
1998 6,187,108 1,998,049
1997 6,070,042 1,988,130
1996 6,070,506 1,972,418
1995 6,066,316 1,951,437
1994 5,713,854 1,927,707
1993 5,676,843 1,901,793
1992 5,858,407 1,873,274
1991 5,703,857 1,842,379
1990 5,587,052 1,809,696
1989 5,471,706 1,775,436
1988 5,365,327 1,739,841
1987 5,247,787 1,703,390
1986 5,129,414 1,666,138
1985 5,034,042 1,624,379
1984 4,926,465 1,578,986
1983 4,808,528 1,534,413
1982 4,681,390 1,490,732
1981 4,566,014 1,448,069
1980 4,383,706 1,406,521
1979 4,203,530 1,366,169
1978 4,100,338 1,327,240
1977 3,983,582 1,289,967
1976 3,882,626 1,253,214
1975 3,796,612 1,213,643
1974 3,703,590 1,172,420
1973 3,611,991 1,132,697
1972 3,617,128 1,094,063
1971 3,617,289 1,056,246
1970 3,530,432 1,019,273
1969 3,454,590 983,202
1968 3,380,387 948,105
1967 3,300,690 913,982
1966 3,217,960 881,870
1965 3,141,367 854,090
1964 3,055,650 829,437
1963 2,969,841 805,373
1962 2,907,943 781,814
1961 2,835,119 758,824
1960 2,764,258 736,500

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/burundi/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Burundi increased by 3,373,904 people (a 42.9% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Burundi gained 3,594,312 people (a 32% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Burundi was ranked 93rd most populous country in 2006 and is 78th 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) Burundi's population will grow by 63.5% to 24,248,417 people with a rank change from 78th to 69th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Burundi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 38.3M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Burundi
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Burundi Lesotho
2100 0.31% -0.18%
2099 0.37% -0.18%
2098 0.37% -0.17%
2097 0.36% -0.15%
2096 0.38% -0.15%
2095 0.47% -0.12%
2094 0.44% -0.11%
2093 0.45% -0.12%
2092 0.45% -0.09%
2091 0.47% -0.07%
2090 0.57% -0.06%
2089 0.57% -0.05%
2088 0.53% -0.04%
2087 0.58% -0.01%
2086 0.67% -0.02%
2085 0.64% -0.007%
2084 0.63% -0%
2083 0.73% 0.008%
2082 0.79% 0.02%
2081 0.71% 0.03%
2080 0.81% 0.06%
2079 0.85% 0.08%
2078 0.93% 0.1%
2077 0.86% 0.11%
2076 0.97% 0.11%
2075 0.94% 0.15%
2074 1% 0.16%
2073 1.01% 0.17%
2072 0.97% 0.2%
2071 1.11% 0.24%
2070 1.1% 0.26%
2069 1.12% 0.28%
2068 1.19% 0.29%
2067 1.17% 0.3%
2066 1.26% 0.3%
2065 1.17% 0.33%
2064 1.16% 0.35%
2063 1.22% 0.4%
2062 1.24% 0.42%
2061 1.25% 0.44%
2060 1.28% 0.47%
2059 1.27% 0.48%
2058 1.29% 0.5%
2057 1.38% 0.52%
2056 1.38% 0.56%
2055 1.47% 0.56%
2054 1.49% 0.6%
2053 1.52% 0.64%
2052 1.52% 0.68%
2051 1.52% 0.69%
2050 1.71% 0.72%
2049 1.64% 0.75%
2048 1.75% 0.79%
2047 1.65% 0.8%
2046 1.85% 0.82%
2045 1.93% 0.84%
2044 1.95% 0.87%
2043 2.06% 0.89%
2042 1.98% 0.92%
2041 2.06% 0.93%
2040 2.13% 0.95%
2039 2.15% 0.97%
2038 2.21% 0.98%
2037 2.23% 1.02%
2036 2.17% 1.03%
2035 2.19% 1.03%
2034 2.24% 1.04%
2033 2.28% 1.05%
2032 2.32% 1.05%
2031 2.29% 1.05%
2030 2.34% 1.07%
2029 2.48% 1.08%
2028 2.39% 1.08%
2027 2.33% 1.1%
2026 2.38% 1.1%
2025 2.49% 1.12%
2024 2.62% 1.12%
2023 2.77% 1.11%
2022 2.74% 1.09%
2021 2.76% 1.15%
2020 2.95% 1.19%
2019 3.34% 1.18%
2018 3.07% 1.23%
2017 2.38% 1.25%
2016 1.74% 1.23%
2015 2.29% 1.18%
2014 3.45% 1.15%
2013 3.66% 1.09%
2012 3.63% 1.01%
2011 3.64% 0.89%
2010 4.79% 0.78%
2009 5.2% 0.73%
2008 4.21% 0.68%
2007 3.77% 0.42%
2006 3.67% -0.41%
2005 3.78% -0.92%
2004 3.8% -0.7%
2003 3.21% -0.48%
2002 2.86% -0.31%
2001 2.54% -0.15%
2000 2.1% 0.03%
1999 2.43% 0.26%
1998 1.93% 0.5%
1997 -0.008% 0.8%
1996 0.07% 1.08%
1995 6.17% 1.23%
1994 0.65% 1.36%
1993 -3.1% 1.52%
1992 2.71% 1.68%
1991 2.09% 1.81%
1990 2.11% 1.93%
1989 1.98% 2.05%
1988 2.24% 2.14%
1987 2.31% 2.24%
1986 1.89% 2.57%
1985 2.18% 2.87%
1984 2.45% 2.9%
1983 2.72% 2.93%
1982 2.53% 2.95%
1981 4.16% 2.95%
1980 4.29% 2.95%
1979 2.52% 2.93%
1978 2.93% 2.89%
1977 2.6% 2.93%
1976 2.27% 3.26%
1975 2.51% 3.52%
1974 2.54% 3.51%
1973 -0.14% 3.53%
1972 -0.004% 3.58%
1971 2.46% 3.63%
1970 2.2% 3.67%
1969 2.2% 3.7%
1968 2.41% 3.73%
1967 2.57% 3.64%
1966 2.44% 3.25%
1965 2.81% 2.97%
1964 2.89% 2.99%
1963 2.13% 3.01%
1962 2.57% 3.03%
1961 2.56% 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/burundi/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Burundi grew by 2.62%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Burundi Lesotho
Current population
14833763
2396633
Population rank 78/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.03%
One net population change
1.47 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
1.14 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
5.72 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +982 +71
Annual growth/decline +358,336 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 93/197
One migration net change every
15.2 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -34,727 -5,192
Net migration rank 169/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 387,101 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 90/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 119/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Burundi
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Burundi Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -34,727 - -5,192
2024 - -27,074 - -5,107
2023 368,917 1,995 31,115 -5,168
2022 363,786 1,995 30,803 -6,023
2021 359,844 -14,415 27,806 -3,449
2020 361,654 -10,189 30,721 -3,449
2019 357,672 14,253 32,279 -6,896
2018 351,704 68,141 33,112 -6,892
2017 353,879 -68,349 33,601 -6,850
2016 358,393 -109,296 33,390 -6,766
2015 370,856 -236,207 32,087 -7,087
2014 367,797 -6,856 30,922 -6,877
2013 362,224 -2,285 29,789 -6,659
2012 354,068 22,617 27,592 -6,425
2011 348,934 -19,513 25,647 -6,118
2010 341,808 11,845 21,877 -5,886
2009 319,583 184,359 20,335 -5,599
2008 300,750 79,319 19,349 -5,392
2007 285,323 22,129 17,763 -5,179
2006 269,874 15,322 15,234 -11,416
2005 253,401 17,905 15,831 -35,679
2004 234,891 47,091 17,271 -33,530
2003 216,295 36,719 20,133 -31,723
2002 201,892 -16,871 22,274 -29,924
2001 184,541 9,967 23,190 -27,874
2000 173,867 -40,032 24,786 -26,220
1999 166,699 -34,465 27,393 -24,610
1998 154,010 13,840 30,889 -23,299
1997 150,404 -84,126 34,637 -22,396
1996 158,920 -226,317 36,228 -17,042
1995 160,284 -84,697 37,370 -14,588
1994 112,968 516,373 38,629 -13,953
1993 128,898 -684,261 40,505 -13,347
1992 156,420 35,769 42,579 -12,707
1991 156,148 -39,236 44,026 -12,114
1990 156,617 -39,926 45,060 -11,598
1989 157,547 -43,561 46,264 -11,207
1988 145,234 -46,464 47,158 -11,028
1987 157,481 -21,179 47,718 -10,946
1986 156,170 -55,742 45,232 -7,501
1985 156,896 -66,574 44,575 1,222
1984 154,366 -29,534 43,785 1,199
1983 152,801 -41,756 42,899 1,253
1982 147,090 -3,844 41,941 1,281
1981 146,231 -58,723 40,808 1,307
1980 127,746 149,361 39,617 1,361
1979 123,377 -40,126 38,440 1,285
1978 114,884 8,247 37,084 1,047
1977 108,488 1,884 35,654 746
1976 104,396 -12,848 34,117 2,986
1975 101,172 -20,693 32,311 9,723
1974 95,486 10,065 30,444 9,972
1973 74,805 2,843 28,859 10,183
1972 30,532 -118,457 27,841 10,386
1971 95,153 -7,569 26,838 10,563
1970 92,476 -6,346 25,935 10,605
1969 90,852 -25,292 25,137 10,465
1968 88,765 -5,917 24,490 10,108
1967 86,373 -9,821 23,911 9,734
1966 83,651 5,262 23,326 7,248
1965 78,208 -13,947 22,755 2,239
1964 77,528 29,639 22,116 2,198
1963 75,962 -11,502 21,585 2,220
1962 74,710 -15,378 21,132 2,172
1961 71,216 15,094 20,581 2,100
1960 70,032 -14,620 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 91% of the population change in Burundi is from natural causes (a gain of 3,614,502 people) and 9.03% is from migration (a loss of 358,928 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, 387,101 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Burundi, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Ngozi 39.9K
Bubanza 20K
Muyinga 9.61K
Makamba 9.4K
Ruyigi 7.14K
Rutana 5.86K
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/burundi/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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