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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ecuador was 18,135,478 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ecuador's population is 18,487,749 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Ecuador's population is 7.71 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Ecuador is ranked the 71st most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.22% for Ecuador vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Ecuador has had an average growth rate of +1.26% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ecuador has increased from 14.1M people to 18.5M (31.2% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Ecuador vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Ecuador
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ecuador Lesotho
2100 19,229,713 3,280,784
2099 19,341,033 3,286,697
2098 19,451,634 3,292,498
2097 19,561,648 3,298,102
2096 19,670,931 3,303,027
2095 19,779,419 3,307,947
2094 19,887,014 3,312,002
2093 19,993,637 3,315,757
2092 20,099,245 3,319,661
2091 20,203,483 3,322,573
2090 20,306,051 3,324,769
2089 20,406,878 3,326,847
2088 20,505,637 3,328,480
2087 20,602,336 3,329,964
2086 20,696,910 3,330,456
2085 20,788,583 3,331,259
2084 20,877,503 3,331,485
2083 20,963,515 3,331,492
2082 21,046,396 3,331,234
2081 21,126,142 3,330,412
2080 21,202,360 3,329,267
2079 21,275,051 3,327,166
2078 21,343,714 3,324,646
2077 21,408,164 3,321,422
2076 21,468,178 3,317,850
2075 21,523,680 3,314,237
2074 21,575,092 3,309,174
2073 21,621,989 3,303,860
2072 21,664,137 3,298,181
2071 21,701,599 3,291,492
2070 21,734,495 3,283,654
2069 21,762,453 3,275,244
2068 21,785,682 3,266,152
2067 21,804,316 3,256,626
2066 21,818,306 3,246,903
2065 21,828,156 3,237,153
2064 21,833,185 3,226,489
2063 21,833,449 3,215,103
2062 21,828,963 3,202,287
2061 21,819,781 3,188,933
2060 21,805,954 3,174,998
2059 21,787,357 3,160,204
2058 21,764,005 3,145,053
2057 21,735,561 3,129,261
2056 21,702,294 3,113,129
2055 21,664,097 3,095,904
2054 21,620,873 3,078,567
2053 21,572,669 3,060,152
2052 21,519,295 3,040,649
2051 21,460,703 3,020,109
2050 21,396,494 2,999,457
2049 21,326,969 2,978,037
2048 21,251,792 2,955,727
2047 21,171,429 2,932,688
2046 21,085,795 2,909,307
2045 20,994,872 2,885,537
2044 20,898,682 2,861,372
2043 20,797,349 2,836,777
2042 20,691,071 2,811,663
2041 20,579,788 2,786,147
2040 20,463,641 2,760,391
2039 20,342,868 2,734,400
2038 20,217,211 2,708,216
2037 20,087,384 2,681,863
2036 19,953,661 2,654,755
2035 19,816,154 2,627,701
2034 19,674,920 2,600,880
2033 19,529,719 2,574,065
2032 19,381,178 2,547,344
2031 19,229,060 2,520,831
2030 19,073,682 2,494,646
2029 18,916,480 2,468,268
2028 18,758,598 2,441,871
2027 18,601,326 2,415,830
2026 18,445,637 2,389,516
2025 18,290,781 2,363,516
2024 18,135,478 2,337,423
2023 17,980,083 2,311,472
2022 17,823,897 2,286,110
2021 17,682,454 2,261,542
2020 17,546,065 2,235,727
2019 17,340,021 2,209,405
2018 17,049,547 2,183,603
2017 16,759,519 2,157,110
2016 16,505,139 2,130,422
2015 16,266,225 2,104,611
2014 16,035,124 2,080,089
2013 15,807,128 2,056,504
2012 15,572,194 2,034,354
2011 15,326,227 2,014,009
2010 15,076,695 1,996,251
2009 14,825,954 1,980,883
2008 14,575,202 1,966,541
2007 14,328,773 1,953,268
2006 14,086,131 1,945,063
2005 13,846,163 1,953,076
2004 13,608,701 1,971,129
2003 13,372,306 1,985,059
2002 13,138,472 1,994,679
2001 12,910,740 2,000,853
2000 12,689,206 2,003,913
1999 12,470,795 2,003,234
1998 12,251,184 1,998,049
1997 12,031,127 1,988,130
1996 11,810,950 1,972,418
1995 11,590,514 1,951,437
1994 11,372,197 1,927,707
1993 11,154,274 1,901,793
1992 10,930,128 1,873,274
1991 10,702,380 1,842,379
1990 10,473,673 1,809,696
1989 10,241,852 1,775,436
1988 10,010,808 1,739,841
1987 9,779,290 1,703,390
1986 9,545,998 1,666,138
1985 9,311,154 1,624,379
1984 9,074,782 1,578,986
1983 8,840,417 1,534,413
1982 8,611,298 1,490,732
1981 8,386,910 1,448,069
1980 8,165,877 1,406,521
1979 7,948,869 1,366,169
1978 7,736,167 1,327,240
1977 7,526,819 1,289,967
1976 7,320,912 1,253,214
1975 7,118,251 1,213,643
1974 6,918,573 1,172,420
1973 6,722,033 1,132,697
1972 6,529,034 1,094,063
1971 6,340,052 1,056,246
1970 6,155,387 1,019,273
1969 5,975,236 983,202
1968 5,799,680 948,105
1967 5,629,057 913,982
1966 5,463,748 881,870
1965 5,303,963 854,090
1964 5,149,918 829,437
1963 5,001,716 805,373
1962 4,859,269 781,814
1961 4,722,331 758,824
1960 4,590,891 736,500

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/ecuador/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ecuador increased by 2,419,008 people (a 17.2% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ecuador gained 1,982,610 people (a 12% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Ecuador was ranked 65th most populous country in 2006 and is 71st 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) Ecuador's population will grow by 15.7% to 21,396,494 people with a rank change from 71st to 74th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Ecuador is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 21.8M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Ecuador
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ecuador Lesotho
2100 -0.58% -0.18%
2099 -0.57% -0.18%
2098 -0.56% -0.17%
2097 -0.56% -0.15%
2096 -0.55% -0.15%
2095 -0.54% -0.12%
2094 -0.53% -0.11%
2093 -0.53% -0.12%
2092 -0.52% -0.09%
2091 -0.51% -0.07%
2090 -0.49% -0.06%
2089 -0.48% -0.05%
2088 -0.47% -0.04%
2087 -0.46% -0.01%
2086 -0.44% -0.02%
2085 -0.43% -0.007%
2084 -0.41% -0%
2083 -0.39% 0.008%
2082 -0.38% 0.02%
2081 -0.36% 0.03%
2080 -0.34% 0.06%
2079 -0.32% 0.08%
2078 -0.3% 0.1%
2077 -0.28% 0.11%
2076 -0.26% 0.11%
2075 -0.24% 0.15%
2074 -0.22% 0.16%
2073 -0.19% 0.17%
2072 -0.17% 0.2%
2071 -0.15% 0.24%
2070 -0.13% 0.26%
2069 -0.11% 0.28%
2068 -0.09% 0.29%
2067 -0.06% 0.3%
2066 -0.05% 0.3%
2065 -0.02% 0.33%
2064 -0.001% 0.35%
2063 0.02% 0.4%
2062 0.04% 0.42%
2061 0.06% 0.44%
2060 0.09% 0.47%
2059 0.11% 0.48%
2058 0.13% 0.5%
2057 0.15% 0.52%
2056 0.18% 0.56%
2055 0.2% 0.56%
2054 0.22% 0.6%
2053 0.25% 0.64%
2052 0.27% 0.68%
2051 0.3% 0.69%
2050 0.33% 0.72%
2049 0.35% 0.75%
2048 0.38% 0.79%
2047 0.41% 0.8%
2046 0.43% 0.82%
2045 0.46% 0.84%
2044 0.49% 0.87%
2043 0.51% 0.89%
2042 0.54% 0.92%
2041 0.57% 0.93%
2040 0.59% 0.95%
2039 0.62% 0.97%
2038 0.65% 0.98%
2037 0.67% 1.02%
2036 0.69% 1.03%
2035 0.72% 1.03%
2034 0.74% 1.04%
2033 0.77% 1.05%
2032 0.79% 1.05%
2031 0.81% 1.05%
2030 0.83% 1.07%
2029 0.84% 1.08%
2028 0.85% 1.08%
2027 0.84% 1.1%
2026 0.85% 1.1%
2025 0.86% 1.12%
2024 0.86% 1.12%
2023 0.88% 1.11%
2022 0.8% 1.09%
2021 0.78% 1.15%
2020 1.19% 1.19%
2019 1.7% 1.18%
2018 1.73% 1.23%
2017 1.54% 1.25%
2016 1.47% 1.23%
2015 1.44% 1.18%
2014 1.44% 1.15%
2013 1.51% 1.09%
2012 1.6% 1.01%
2011 1.66% 0.89%
2010 1.69% 0.78%
2009 1.72% 0.73%
2008 1.72% 0.68%
2007 1.72% 0.42%
2006 1.73% -0.41%
2005 1.74% -0.92%
2004 1.77% -0.7%
2003 1.78% -0.48%
2002 1.76% -0.31%
2001 1.75% -0.15%
2000 1.75% 0.03%
1999 1.79% 0.26%
1998 1.83% 0.5%
1997 1.86% 0.8%
1996 1.9% 1.08%
1995 1.92% 1.23%
1994 1.95% 1.36%
1993 2.05% 1.52%
1992 2.13% 1.68%
1991 2.18% 1.81%
1990 2.26% 1.93%
1989 2.31% 2.05%
1988 2.37% 2.14%
1987 2.44% 2.24%
1986 2.52% 2.57%
1985 2.6% 2.87%
1984 2.65% 2.9%
1983 2.66% 2.93%
1982 2.68% 2.95%
1981 2.71% 2.95%
1980 2.73% 2.95%
1979 2.75% 2.93%
1978 2.78% 2.89%
1977 2.81% 2.93%
1976 2.85% 3.26%
1975 2.89% 3.52%
1974 2.92% 3.51%
1973 2.96% 3.53%
1972 2.98% 3.58%
1971 3% 3.63%
1970 3.01% 3.67%
1969 3.03% 3.7%
1968 3.03% 3.73%
1967 3.03% 3.64%
1966 3.01% 3.25%
1965 2.99% 2.97%
1964 2.96% 2.99%
1963 2.93% 3.01%
1962 2.9% 3.03%
1961 2.86% 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/ecuador/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ecuador grew by 0.86%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Ecuador Lesotho
Current population
18487749
2396633
Population rank 71/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.03%
One net population change
3.38 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
1.94 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
5.7 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +426 +71
Annual growth/decline +155,395 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +0.86% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 109/197 93/197
One migration net change every
30.6 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -17,219 -5,192
Net migration rank 151/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 747,749 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 67/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 104/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ecuador
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ecuador Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,219 - -5,192
2024 - -19,704 - -5,107
2023 178,093 -21,948 31,115 -5,168
2022 179,308 -23,090 30,803 -6,023
2021 155,146 -28,503 27,806 -3,449
2020 156,458 -10,320 30,721 -3,449
2019 211,045 54,921 32,279 -6,896
2018 219,513 95,482 33,112 -6,892
2017 211,355 53,707 33,601 -6,850
2016 208,245 35,461 33,390 -6,766
2015 219,399 14,724 32,087 -7,087
2014 225,790 2,273 30,922 -6,877
2013 234,103 -6,182 29,789 -6,659
2012 249,825 -7,883 27,592 -6,425
2011 258,171 -8,167 25,647 -6,118
2010 257,404 -8,330 21,877 -5,886
2009 260,892 -8,491 20,335 -5,599
2008 257,894 -8,799 19,349 -5,392
2007 253,419 -9,644 17,763 -5,179
2006 254,184 -12,679 15,234 -11,416
2005 255,295 -16,855 15,831 -35,679
2004 257,436 -20,940 17,271 -33,530
2003 258,928 -22,641 20,133 -31,723
2002 259,446 -28,090 22,274 -29,924
2001 259,376 -35,275 23,190 -27,874
2000 259,837 -40,859 24,786 -26,220
1999 261,650 -43,813 27,393 -24,610
1998 263,927 -42,550 30,889 -23,299
1997 266,020 -47,287 34,637 -22,396
1996 267,695 -46,082 36,228 -17,042
1995 264,449 -45,201 37,370 -14,588
1994 261,788 -44,399 38,629 -13,953
1993 260,330 -41,867 40,505 -13,347
1992 259,787 -29,958 42,579 -12,707
1991 257,713 -32,064 44,026 -12,114
1990 252,919 -21,164 45,060 -11,598
1989 248,129 -16,240 46,264 -11,207
1988 241,191 -10,977 47,158 -11,028
1987 237,724 -4,886 47,718 -10,946
1986 237,084 -3,345 45,232 -7,501
1985 236,438 -494 44,575 1,222
1984 236,543 249 43,785 1,199
1983 231,336 578 42,899 1,253
1982 227,606 -1,282 41,941 1,281
1981 224,073 -1,605 40,808 1,307
1980 220,120 -517 39,617 1,361
1979 216,162 -1,749 38,440 1,285
1978 212,497 -1,518 37,084 1,047
1977 209,095 -1,377 35,654 746
1976 205,366 -1,264 34,117 2,986
1975 202,407 -1,189 32,311 9,723
1974 199,276 -1,133 30,444 9,972
1973 196,028 -1,090 28,859 10,183
1972 192,136 -1,078 27,841 10,386
1971 187,995 -1,096 26,838 10,563
1970 183,517 -1,091 25,935 10,605
1969 178,403 -518 25,137 10,465
1968 173,828 -582 24,490 10,108
1967 168,629 -623 23,911 9,734
1966 163,317 -710 23,326 7,248
1965 157,915 -957 22,755 2,239
1964 152,263 -1,130 22,116 2,198
1963 146,531 -1,254 21,585 2,220
1962 140,943 -1,315 21,132 2,172
1961 135,573 -1,317 20,581 2,100
1960 130,368 -1,746 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 91.9% of the population change in Ecuador is from natural causes (a gain of 1,964,352 people) and 8.08% is from migration (a gain of 172,707 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, 747,749 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in Ecuador, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Ecuador
City Population
Guayaquil 2.65M
Quito 1.76M
Cuenca 362K
Santo Domingo 335K
Duran 295K
Machala 288K
Manta 259K
Portoviejo 244K
Loja 203K
Quevedo 178K
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/ecuador/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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