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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 585 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

China vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Lesotho
2100 633,320,628 3,280,784
2099 643,959,697 3,286,697
2098 654,691,595 3,292,498
2097 665,517,335 3,298,102
2096 676,438,150 3,303,027
2095 687,457,915 3,307,947
2094 698,589,897 3,312,002
2093 709,852,629 3,315,757
2092 721,251,520 3,319,661
2091 732,791,748 3,322,573
2090 744,501,355 3,324,769
2089 756,404,299 3,326,847
2088 768,478,316 3,328,480
2087 780,707,622 3,329,964
2086 793,081,006 3,330,456
2085 805,608,315 3,331,259
2084 818,268,277 3,331,485
2083 830,972,107 3,331,492
2082 843,721,746 3,331,234
2081 856,534,631 3,330,412
2080 869,351,919 3,329,267
2079 882,146,959 3,327,166
2078 894,889,246 3,324,646
2077 907,592,919 3,321,422
2076 920,280,380 3,317,850
2075 932,956,157 3,314,237
2074 945,631,173 3,309,174
2073 958,352,980 3,303,860
2072 971,115,895 3,298,181
2071 983,938,054 3,291,492
2070 996,853,418 3,283,654
2069 1,009,905,851 3,275,244
2068 1,023,081,790 3,266,152
2067 1,036,420,010 3,256,626
2066 1,049,887,382 3,246,903
2065 1,063,477,623 3,237,153
2064 1,077,206,695 3,226,489
2063 1,090,982,303 3,215,103
2062 1,104,833,556 3,202,287
2061 1,118,682,849 3,188,933
2060 1,132,504,136 3,174,998
2059 1,146,199,736 3,160,204
2058 1,159,714,746 3,145,053
2057 1,172,963,523 3,129,261
2056 1,185,938,083 3,113,129
2055 1,198,550,408 3,095,904
2054 1,210,749,681 3,078,567
2053 1,222,500,569 3,060,152
2052 1,233,808,926 3,040,649
2051 1,244,584,333 3,020,109
2050 1,254,824,040 2,999,457
2049 1,264,598,914 2,978,037
2048 1,273,885,471 2,955,727
2047 1,282,701,271 2,932,688
2046 1,291,133,690 2,909,307
2045 1,299,154,327 2,885,537
2044 1,306,805,350 2,861,372
2043 1,314,176,710 2,836,777
2042 1,321,319,298 2,811,663
2041 1,328,219,755 2,786,147
2040 1,334,857,481 2,760,391
2039 1,341,265,381 2,734,400
2038 1,347,407,165 2,708,216
2037 1,353,377,505 2,681,863
2036 1,359,133,287 2,654,755
2035 1,364,651,508 2,627,701
2034 1,369,940,557 2,600,880
2033 1,375,003,005 2,574,065
2032 1,379,784,204 2,547,344
2031 1,384,301,522 2,520,831
2030 1,388,520,533 2,494,646
2029 1,392,490,007 2,468,268
2028 1,396,163,778 2,441,871
2027 1,399,515,824 2,415,830
2026 1,402,578,808 2,389,516
2025 1,405,826,385 2,363,516
2024 1,408,975,000 2,337,423
2023 1,410,710,000 2,311,472
2022 1,412,175,000 2,286,110
2021 1,412,360,000 2,261,542
2020 1,411,100,000 2,235,727
2019 1,407,745,000 2,209,405
2018 1,402,760,000 2,183,603
2017 1,396,215,000 2,157,110
2016 1,387,790,000 2,130,422
2015 1,379,860,000 2,104,611
2014 1,371,860,000 2,080,089
2013 1,363,240,000 2,056,504
2012 1,354,190,000 2,034,354
2011 1,345,035,000 2,014,009
2010 1,337,705,000 1,996,251
2009 1,331,260,000 1,980,883
2008 1,324,655,000 1,966,541
2007 1,317,885,000 1,953,268
2006 1,311,020,000 1,945,063
2005 1,303,720,000 1,953,076
2004 1,296,075,000 1,971,129
2003 1,288,400,000 1,985,059
2002 1,280,400,000 1,994,679
2001 1,271,850,000 2,000,853
2000 1,262,645,000 2,003,913
1999 1,252,735,000 2,003,234
1998 1,241,935,000 1,998,049
1997 1,230,075,000 1,988,130
1996 1,217,550,000 1,972,418
1995 1,204,855,000 1,951,437
1994 1,191,835,000 1,927,707
1993 1,178,440,000 1,901,793
1992 1,164,970,000 1,873,274
1991 1,150,780,000 1,842,379
1990 1,135,185,000 1,809,696
1989 1,118,650,000 1,775,436
1988 1,101,630,000 1,739,841
1987 1,084,035,000 1,703,390
1986 1,066,790,000 1,666,138
1985 1,051,040,000 1,624,379
1984 1,036,825,000 1,578,986
1983 1,023,310,000 1,534,413
1982 1,008,630,000 1,490,732
1981 993,885,000 1,448,069
1980 981,235,000 1,406,521
1979 969,005,000 1,366,169
1978 956,165,000 1,327,240
1977 943,455,000 1,289,967
1976 930,685,000 1,253,214
1975 916,395,000 1,213,643
1974 900,350,000 1,172,420
1973 881,940,000 1,132,697
1972 862,030,000 1,094,063
1971 841,105,000 1,056,246
1970 818,315,000 1,019,273
1969 796,025,000 983,202
1968 774,510,000 948,105
1967 754,550,000 913,982
1966 735,400,000 881,870
1965 715,185,000 854,090
1964 698,355,000 829,437
1963 682,335,000 805,373
1962 665,770,000 781,814
1961 660,330,000 758,824
1960 667,070,000 736,500

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/china/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd 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) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Lesotho
2100 -1.65% -0.18%
2099 -1.64% -0.18%
2098 -1.63% -0.17%
2097 -1.61% -0.15%
2096 -1.6% -0.15%
2095 -1.59% -0.12%
2094 -1.59% -0.11%
2093 -1.58% -0.12%
2092 -1.57% -0.09%
2091 -1.57% -0.07%
2090 -1.57% -0.06%
2089 -1.57% -0.05%
2088 -1.57% -0.04%
2087 -1.56% -0.01%
2086 -1.56% -0.02%
2085 -1.55% -0.007%
2084 -1.53% -0%
2083 -1.51% 0.008%
2082 -1.5% 0.02%
2081 -1.47% 0.03%
2080 -1.45% 0.06%
2079 -1.42% 0.08%
2078 -1.4% 0.1%
2077 -1.38% 0.11%
2076 -1.36% 0.11%
2075 -1.34% 0.15%
2074 -1.33% 0.16%
2073 -1.31% 0.17%
2072 -1.3% 0.2%
2071 -1.3% 0.24%
2070 -1.29% 0.26%
2069 -1.29% 0.28%
2068 -1.29% 0.29%
2067 -1.28% 0.3%
2066 -1.28% 0.3%
2065 -1.27% 0.33%
2064 -1.26% 0.35%
2063 -1.25% 0.4%
2062 -1.24% 0.42%
2061 -1.22% 0.44%
2060 -1.19% 0.47%
2059 -1.17% 0.48%
2058 -1.13% 0.5%
2057 -1.09% 0.52%
2056 -1.05% 0.56%
2055 -1.01% 0.56%
2054 -0.96% 0.6%
2053 -0.92% 0.64%
2052 -0.87% 0.68%
2051 -0.82% 0.69%
2050 -0.77% 0.72%
2049 -0.73% 0.75%
2048 -0.69% 0.79%
2047 -0.65% 0.8%
2046 -0.62% 0.82%
2045 -0.59% 0.84%
2044 -0.56% 0.87%
2043 -0.54% 0.89%
2042 -0.52% 0.92%
2041 -0.5% 0.93%
2040 -0.48% 0.95%
2039 -0.46% 0.97%
2038 -0.44% 0.98%
2037 -0.42% 1.02%
2036 -0.4% 1.03%
2035 -0.39% 1.03%
2034 -0.37% 1.04%
2033 -0.35% 1.05%
2032 -0.33% 1.05%
2031 -0.3% 1.05%
2030 -0.29% 1.07%
2029 -0.26% 1.08%
2028 -0.24% 1.08%
2027 -0.22% 1.1%
2026 -0.23% 1.1%
2025 -0.22% 1.12%
2024 -0.12% 1.12%
2023 -0.1% 1.11%
2022 -0.01% 1.09%
2021 0.09% 1.15%
2020 0.24% 1.19%
2019 0.36% 1.18%
2018 0.47% 1.23%
2017 0.61% 1.25%
2016 0.57% 1.23%
2015 0.58% 1.18%
2014 0.63% 1.15%
2013 0.67% 1.09%
2012 0.68% 1.01%
2011 0.55% 0.89%
2010 0.48% 0.78%
2009 0.5% 0.73%
2008 0.51% 0.68%
2007 0.52% 0.42%
2006 0.56% -0.41%
2005 0.59% -0.92%
2004 0.6% -0.7%
2003 0.62% -0.48%
2002 0.67% -0.31%
2001 0.73% -0.15%
2000 0.79% 0.03%
1999 0.87% 0.26%
1998 0.96% 0.5%
1997 1.03% 0.8%
1996 1.05% 1.08%
1995 1.09% 1.23%
1994 1.14% 1.36%
1993 1.16% 1.52%
1992 1.23% 1.68%
1991 1.37% 1.81%
1990 1.48% 1.93%
1989 1.54% 2.05%
1988 1.62% 2.14%
1987 1.62% 2.24%
1986 1.5% 2.57%
1985 1.37% 2.87%
1984 1.32% 2.9%
1983 1.46% 2.93%
1982 1.48% 2.95%
1981 1.29% 2.95%
1980 1.26% 2.95%
1979 1.34% 2.93%
1978 1.35% 2.89%
1977 1.37% 2.93%
1976 1.56% 3.26%
1975 1.78% 3.52%
1974 2.09% 3.51%
1973 2.31% 3.53%
1972 2.49% 3.58%
1971 2.78% 3.63%
1970 2.8% 3.67%
1969 2.78% 3.7%
1968 2.65% 3.73%
1967 2.6% 3.64%
1966 2.83% 3.25%
1965 2.41% 2.97%
1964 2.35% 2.99%
1963 2.49% 3.01%
1962 0.82% 3.03%
1961 -1.01% 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/china/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

China Lesotho
Current population
1402578808
2396633
Population rank 2/197 143/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.03%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +71
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 93/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 -5,192
Net migration rank 189/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -5,192
2024 - -318,992 - -5,107
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 31,115 -5,168
2022 -847,305 -293,846 30,803 -6,023
2021 480,203 -379,749 27,806 -3,449
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 30,721 -3,449
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 32,279 -6,896
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 33,112 -6,892
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 33,601 -6,850
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 33,390 -6,766
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 32,087 -7,087
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 30,922 -6,877
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 29,789 -6,659
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 27,592 -6,425
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 25,647 -6,118
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 21,877 -5,886
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 20,335 -5,599
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 19,349 -5,392
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 17,763 -5,179
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 15,234 -11,416
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 15,831 -35,679
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 17,271 -33,530
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 20,133 -31,723
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 22,274 -29,924
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 23,190 -27,874
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 24,786 -26,220
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 27,393 -24,610
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 30,889 -23,299
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 34,637 -22,396
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 36,228 -17,042
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 37,370 -14,588
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 38,629 -13,953
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 40,505 -13,347
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 42,579 -12,707
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 44,026 -12,114
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 45,060 -11,598
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 46,264 -11,207
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 47,158 -11,028
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 47,718 -10,946
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 45,232 -7,501
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 44,575 1,222
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 43,785 1,199
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 42,899 1,253
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 41,941 1,281
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 40,808 1,307
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 39,617 1,361
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 38,440 1,285
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 37,084 1,047
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 35,654 746
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 34,117 2,986
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 32,311 9,723
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 30,444 9,972
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 28,859 10,183
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 27,841 10,386
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 26,838 10,563
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 25,935 10,605
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 25,137 10,465
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 24,490 10,108
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 23,911 9,734
1966 19,282,187 4,165 23,326 7,248
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 22,755 2,239
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 22,116 2,198
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 21,585 2,220
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 21,132 2,172
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 20,581 2,100
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 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, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
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/china/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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