Skip to content

Population in the Dominican Republic compared to Lesotho: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Dominican Republic was 11,520,487 in 2025 vs 2,363,325 people in Lesotho in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Dominican Republic's population is 11,656,588 people compared to 2,402,837 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • The Dominican Republic's population is 4.85 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • The Dominican Republic is ranked the 85th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.14% for the Dominican Republic vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, the Dominican Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.01% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Dominican Republic has increased from 9.34M people to 11.7M (24.8% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.5% growth).

Dominican Republic vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Dominican Republic
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Dominican Republic Lesotho
2100 11,752,784 3,280,518
2099 11,815,252 3,286,430
2098 11,877,117 3,292,231
2097 11,937,719 3,297,835
2096 11,997,841 3,302,758
2095 12,057,342 3,307,678
2094 12,115,914 3,311,734
2093 12,173,845 3,315,488
2092 12,230,436 3,319,391
2091 12,286,064 3,322,303
2090 12,340,658 3,324,499
2089 12,394,314 3,326,577
2088 12,446,122 3,328,210
2087 12,497,009 3,329,694
2086 12,546,890 3,330,185
2085 12,595,176 3,330,989
2084 12,641,964 3,331,214
2083 12,686,626 3,331,221
2082 12,730,579 3,330,964
2081 12,772,531 3,330,141
2080 12,813,012 3,328,997
2079 12,851,452 3,326,895
2078 12,887,954 3,324,376
2077 12,923,053 3,321,152
2076 12,955,793 3,317,581
2075 12,986,456 3,313,968
2074 13,015,960 3,308,905
2073 13,043,173 3,303,592
2072 13,068,464 3,297,913
2071 13,091,361 3,291,224
2070 13,112,865 3,283,387
2069 13,131,909 3,274,978
2068 13,149,031 3,265,887
2067 13,163,707 3,256,362
2066 13,176,149 3,246,639
2065 13,187,108 3,236,890
2064 13,195,655 3,226,227
2063 13,201,391 3,214,843
2062 13,204,648 3,202,027
2061 13,205,517 3,188,674
2060 13,203,471 3,174,740
2059 13,199,071 3,159,947
2058 13,190,969 3,144,797
2057 13,180,617 3,129,007
2056 13,168,370 3,112,877
2055 13,153,175 3,095,653
2054 13,135,187 3,078,317
2053 13,114,225 3,059,904
2052 13,090,209 3,040,402
2051 13,063,047 3,019,864
2050 13,032,286 2,999,214
2049 12,999,890 2,977,795
2048 12,964,676 2,955,487
2047 12,927,592 2,932,450
2046 12,887,813 2,909,071
2045 12,845,519 2,885,303
2044 12,800,765 2,861,140
2043 12,754,444 2,836,547
2042 12,705,845 2,811,435
2041 12,655,390 2,785,921
2040 12,602,701 2,760,167
2039 12,548,652 2,734,178
2038 12,491,254 2,707,996
2037 12,431,970 2,681,646
2036 12,370,131 2,654,540
2035 12,305,889 2,627,488
2034 12,239,008 2,600,669
2033 12,170,158 2,573,856
2032 12,098,734 2,547,137
2031 12,024,555 2,520,626
2030 11,947,536 2,494,444
2029 11,867,856 2,468,067
2028 11,785,130 2,441,673
2027 11,699,216 2,415,634
2026 11,611,567 2,389,322
2025 11,520,487 2,363,325
2024 11,427,557 2,337,423
2023 11,331,265 2,311,472
2022 11,230,734 2,286,110
2021 11,123,476 2,261,542
2020 11,008,300 2,235,727
2019 10,894,043 2,209,405
2018 10,782,053 2,183,603
2017 10,666,843 2,157,110
2016 10,551,430 2,130,422
2015 10,434,829 2,104,611
2014 10,315,528 2,080,089
2013 10,193,833 2,056,504
2012 10,070,411 2,034,354
2011 9,945,621 2,014,009
2010 9,820,175 1,996,251
2009 9,695,265 1,980,883
2008 9,573,130 1,966,541
2007 9,455,658 1,953,268
2006 9,341,183 1,945,063
2005 9,225,034 1,953,076
2004 9,104,892 1,971,129
2003 8,980,620 1,985,059
2002 8,852,235 1,994,679
2001 8,720,283 2,000,853
2000 8,584,190 2,003,913
1999 8,446,208 2,003,234
1998 8,310,362 1,998,049
1997 8,174,078 1,988,130
1996 8,032,894 1,972,418
1995 7,888,115 1,951,437
1994 7,741,694 1,927,707
1993 7,594,572 1,901,793
1992 7,447,474 1,873,274
1991 7,299,853 1,842,379
1990 7,151,166 1,809,696
1989 7,002,295 1,775,436
1988 6,855,734 1,739,841
1987 6,712,515 1,703,390
1986 6,571,208 1,666,138
1985 6,430,404 1,624,379
1984 6,289,040 1,578,986
1983 6,147,248 1,534,413
1982 6,007,114 1,490,732
1981 5,868,453 1,448,069
1980 5,729,037 1,406,521
1979 5,589,690 1,366,169
1978 5,451,882 1,327,240
1977 5,315,443 1,289,967
1976 5,180,404 1,253,214
1975 5,046,776 1,213,643
1974 4,914,197 1,172,420
1973 4,782,227 1,132,697
1972 4,651,883 1,094,063
1971 4,524,234 1,056,246
1970 4,399,290 1,019,273
1969 4,277,035 983,202
1968 4,157,189 948,105
1967 4,038,928 913,982
1966 3,921,847 881,870
1965 3,808,963 854,090
1964 3,698,559 829,437
1963 3,588,287 805,373
1962 3,479,936 781,814
1961 3,373,233 758,824
1960 3,268,336 736,500

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dominican-republic/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Dominican Republic increased by 1,210,247 people (a 13% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Dominican Republic gained 1,105,158 people (a 10.5% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth).

The Dominican Republic was ranked 85th most populous country in 2006 and is still 85th 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) the Dominican Republic's population will grow by 11.8% to 13,032,286 people with a rank change from 85th to 90th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 24.8% to 2,999,214 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

The Dominican Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2061 at 13.2M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Dominican Republic
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Dominican Republic Lesotho
2100 -0.53% -0.18%
2099 -0.52% -0.18%
2098 -0.51% -0.17%
2097 -0.5% -0.15%
2096 -0.49% -0.15%
2095 -0.48% -0.12%
2094 -0.48% -0.11%
2093 -0.46% -0.12%
2092 -0.45% -0.09%
2091 -0.44% -0.07%
2090 -0.43% -0.06%
2089 -0.42% -0.05%
2088 -0.41% -0.04%
2087 -0.4% -0.01%
2086 -0.38% -0.02%
2085 -0.37% -0.007%
2084 -0.35% -0%
2083 -0.35% 0.008%
2082 -0.33% 0.02%
2081 -0.32% 0.03%
2080 -0.3% 0.06%
2079 -0.28% 0.08%
2078 -0.27% 0.1%
2077 -0.25% 0.11%
2076 -0.24% 0.11%
2075 -0.23% 0.15%
2074 -0.21% 0.16%
2073 -0.19% 0.17%
2072 -0.17% 0.2%
2071 -0.16% 0.24%
2070 -0.15% 0.26%
2069 -0.13% 0.28%
2068 -0.11% 0.29%
2067 -0.09% 0.3%
2066 -0.08% 0.3%
2065 -0.06% 0.33%
2064 -0.04% 0.35%
2063 -0.02% 0.4%
2062 -0.007% 0.42%
2061 0.02% 0.44%
2060 0.03% 0.47%
2059 0.06% 0.48%
2058 0.08% 0.5%
2057 0.09% 0.52%
2056 0.12% 0.56%
2055 0.14% 0.56%
2054 0.16% 0.6%
2053 0.18% 0.64%
2052 0.21% 0.68%
2051 0.24% 0.69%
2050 0.25% 0.72%
2049 0.27% 0.75%
2048 0.29% 0.79%
2047 0.31% 0.8%
2046 0.33% 0.82%
2045 0.35% 0.84%
2044 0.36% 0.87%
2043 0.38% 0.89%
2042 0.4% 0.92%
2041 0.42% 0.93%
2040 0.43% 0.95%
2039 0.46% 0.97%
2038 0.48% 0.98%
2037 0.5% 1.02%
2036 0.52% 1.03%
2035 0.55% 1.03%
2034 0.57% 1.04%
2033 0.59% 1.05%
2032 0.62% 1.05%
2031 0.64% 1.05%
2030 0.67% 1.07%
2029 0.7% 1.08%
2028 0.73% 1.08%
2027 0.75% 1.1%
2026 0.79% 1.1%
2025 0.81% 1.11%
2024 0.85% 1.12%
2023 0.9% 1.11%
2022 0.96% 1.09%
2021 1.05% 1.15%
2020 1.05% 1.19%
2019 1.04% 1.18%
2018 1.08% 1.23%
2017 1.09% 1.25%
2016 1.12% 1.23%
2015 1.16% 1.18%
2014 1.19% 1.15%
2013 1.23% 1.09%
2012 1.25% 1.01%
2011 1.28% 0.89%
2010 1.29% 0.78%
2009 1.28% 0.73%
2008 1.24% 0.68%
2007 1.23% 0.42%
2006 1.26% -0.41%
2005 1.32% -0.92%
2004 1.38% -0.7%
2003 1.45% -0.48%
2002 1.51% -0.31%
2001 1.59% -0.15%
2000 1.63% 0.03%
1999 1.63% 0.26%
1998 1.67% 0.5%
1997 1.76% 0.8%
1996 1.84% 1.08%
1995 1.89% 1.23%
1994 1.94% 1.36%
1993 1.98% 1.52%
1992 2.02% 1.68%
1991 2.08% 1.81%
1990 2.13% 1.93%
1989 2.14% 2.05%
1988 2.13% 2.14%
1987 2.15% 2.24%
1986 2.19% 2.57%
1985 2.25% 2.87%
1984 2.31% 2.9%
1983 2.33% 2.93%
1982 2.36% 2.95%
1981 2.43% 2.95%
1980 2.49% 2.95%
1979 2.53% 2.93%
1978 2.57% 2.89%
1977 2.61% 2.93%
1976 2.65% 3.26%
1975 2.7% 3.52%
1974 2.76% 3.51%
1973 2.8% 3.53%
1972 2.82% 3.58%
1971 2.84% 3.63%
1970 2.86% 3.67%
1969 2.88% 3.7%
1968 2.93% 3.73%
1967 2.99% 3.64%
1966 2.96% 3.25%
1965 2.99% 2.97%
1964 3.07% 2.99%
1963 3.11% 3.01%
1962 3.16% 3.03%
1961 3.21% 3.03%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dominican-republic/lesotho | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Dominican Republic grew by 0.81%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.11%.

Live population counters

Dominican Republic Lesotho
Current population
11656588
2402837
Population rank 85/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.03%
One net population change
5.67 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
2.61 minutes
9.46 minutes
One death every
7.36 minutes
21.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +255 +71
Annual growth/decline +92,930 +25,902
Annual growth/decline rate +0.81% +1.11%
Population growth rate rank 111/197 94/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -35,306 -5,192
Net migration rank 170/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 738,667 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 69/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.5% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 81/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Dominican Republic
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Dominican Republic Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -35,306 - -5,192
2024 129,943 -34,806 31,050 -5,107
2023 132,360 -34,915 31,115 -5,168
2022 138,767 -35,153 30,803 -6,023
2021 128,866 -17,957 27,806 -3,449
2020 137,417 -17,957 30,721 -3,449
2019 144,869 -35,797 32,279 -6,896
2018 150,852 -35,934 33,112 -6,892
2017 151,565 -36,069 33,601 -6,850
2016 151,550 -36,219 33,390 -6,766
2015 154,258 -36,375 32,087 -7,087
2014 157,260 -36,543 30,922 -6,877
2013 159,330 -36,673 29,789 -6,659
2012 160,915 -36,737 27,592 -6,425
2011 162,094 -36,687 25,647 -6,118
2010 162,072 -36,587 21,877 -5,886
2009 160,893 -36,561 20,335 -5,599
2008 156,664 -36,723 19,349 -5,392
2007 152,066 -37,076 17,763 -5,179
2006 151,122 -37,170 15,234 -11,416
2005 155,405 -37,063 15,831 -35,679
2004 158,789 -36,851 17,271 -33,530
2003 163,267 -36,657 20,133 -31,723
2002 166,740 -36,575 22,274 -29,924
2001 170,193 -36,441 23,190 -27,874
2000 171,684 -33,256 24,786 -26,220
1999 167,742 -30,228 27,393 -24,610
1998 164,287 -30,108 30,889 -23,299
1997 168,419 -30,034 34,637 -22,396
1996 174,008 -30,018 36,228 -17,042
1995 175,439 -29,873 37,370 -14,588
1994 176,882 -29,610 38,629 -13,953
1993 177,691 -30,719 40,505 -13,347
1992 177,481 -30,262 42,579 -12,707
1991 177,371 -29,351 44,026 -12,114
1990 176,748 -27,397 45,060 -11,598
1989 175,365 -26,984 46,264 -11,207
1988 171,291 -26,552 47,158 -11,028
1987 167,552 -25,850 47,718 -10,946
1986 165,674 -24,772 45,232 -7,501
1985 164,091 -23,388 44,575 1,222
1984 164,263 -22,239 43,785 1,199
1983 163,136 -21,582 42,899 1,253
1982 159,597 -20,886 41,941 1,281
1981 158,419 -19,809 40,808 1,307
1980 157,697 -17,485 39,617 1,361
1979 154,779 -16,296 38,440 1,285
1978 154,043 -16,909 37,084 1,047
1977 152,825 -17,077 35,654 746
1976 151,201 -16,866 34,117 2,986
1975 149,339 -16,425 32,311 9,723
1974 147,652 -15,402 30,444 9,972
1973 146,283 -14,594 28,859 10,183
1972 143,255 -14,262 27,841 10,386
1971 140,473 -14,156 26,838 10,563
1970 137,835 -14,255 25,935 10,605
1969 135,445 -14,531 25,137 10,465
1968 133,666 -14,901 24,490 10,108
1967 133,091 -15,324 23,911 9,734
1966 132,096 -15,701 23,326 7,248
1965 125,345 -15,978 22,755 2,239
1964 127,504 -16,059 22,116 2,198
1963 124,994 -15,889 21,585 2,220
1962 122,977 -15,389 21,132 2,172
1961 120,316 -14,511 20,581 2,100
1960 117,346 -13,344 19,981 1,989

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dominican-republic/lesotho | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 81.6% of the population change in the Dominican Republic is from natural causes (a gain of 1,420,447 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 321,182 people). In Lesotho 84.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,964 people) and 15.4% is from migration (a loss of 57,687 people).

As of 2024, 738,667 residents or 6.5% of the population were not native-born in the Dominican Republic, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Dominican Republic
City Population
Santo Domingo 2.2M
Santiago de los Caballeros 1.34M
Puerto Plata 338K
La Vega 282K
Higuey 251K
San Cristobal 233K
San Pedro de Macoris 217K
San Francisco de Macoris 188K
San Juan de la Maguana 169K
Bonao 158K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dominican-republic/lesotho | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.