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Population in El Salvador compared to Lesotho: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,365,503 in 2025 vs 2,363,325 people in Lesotho in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,404,781 people compared to 2,402,837 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • El Salvador's population is 2.67 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • El Salvador is ranked the 111th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.08% for El Salvador vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of +0.29% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.71% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.5% growth).

El Salvador vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador Lesotho
2100 5,105,420 3,280,518
2099 5,149,457 3,286,430
2098 5,194,156 3,292,231
2097 5,239,201 3,297,835
2096 5,285,584 3,302,758
2095 5,332,377 3,307,678
2094 5,379,380 3,311,734
2093 5,426,293 3,315,488
2092 5,473,168 3,319,391
2091 5,520,243 3,322,303
2090 5,567,316 3,324,499
2089 5,614,518 3,326,577
2088 5,661,216 3,328,210
2087 5,708,023 3,329,694
2086 5,754,535 3,330,185
2085 5,800,712 3,330,989
2084 5,846,470 3,331,214
2083 5,890,746 3,331,221
2082 5,933,965 3,330,964
2081 5,976,533 3,330,141
2080 6,018,220 3,328,997
2079 6,058,704 3,326,895
2078 6,097,568 3,324,376
2077 6,135,005 3,321,152
2076 6,171,552 3,317,581
2075 6,205,725 3,313,968
2074 6,238,209 3,308,905
2073 6,271,184 3,303,592
2072 6,300,399 3,297,913
2071 6,328,923 3,291,224
2070 6,356,884 3,283,387
2069 6,383,690 3,274,978
2068 6,409,808 3,265,887
2067 6,434,255 3,256,362
2066 6,457,592 3,246,639
2065 6,480,747 3,236,890
2064 6,502,689 3,226,227
2063 6,523,174 3,214,843
2062 6,541,955 3,202,027
2061 6,559,213 3,188,674
2060 6,576,220 3,174,740
2059 6,591,451 3,159,947
2058 6,605,091 3,144,797
2057 6,619,257 3,129,007
2056 6,632,447 3,112,877
2055 6,644,372 3,095,653
2054 6,655,028 3,078,317
2053 6,662,891 3,059,904
2052 6,669,204 3,040,402
2051 6,675,431 3,019,864
2050 6,678,745 2,999,214
2049 6,682,265 2,977,795
2048 6,683,689 2,955,487
2047 6,683,495 2,932,450
2046 6,682,835 2,909,071
2045 6,680,720 2,885,303
2044 6,678,277 2,861,140
2043 6,672,970 2,836,547
2042 6,666,915 2,811,435
2041 6,659,099 2,785,921
2040 6,649,797 2,760,167
2039 6,639,891 2,734,178
2038 6,627,081 2,707,996
2037 6,614,212 2,681,646
2036 6,599,632 2,654,540
2035 6,583,864 2,627,488
2034 6,567,581 2,600,669
2033 6,548,738 2,573,856
2032 6,529,775 2,547,137
2031 6,509,868 2,520,626
2030 6,489,300 2,494,444
2029 6,466,193 2,468,067
2028 6,442,242 2,441,673
2027 6,417,110 2,415,634
2026 6,391,761 2,389,322
2025 6,365,503 2,363,325
2024 6,338,193 2,337,423
2023 6,309,624 2,311,472
2022 6,280,319 2,286,110
2021 6,255,782 2,261,542
2020 6,234,673 2,235,727
2019 6,222,318 2,209,405
2018 6,219,807 2,183,603
2017 6,213,533 2,157,110
2016 6,200,800 2,130,422
2015 6,183,676 2,104,611
2014 6,162,955 2,080,089
2013 6,138,839 2,056,504
2012 6,113,975 2,034,354
2011 6,090,127 2,014,009
2010 6,068,249 1,996,251
2009 6,048,279 1,980,883
2008 6,029,297 1,966,541
2007 6,009,824 1,953,268
2006 6,002,319 1,945,063
2005 6,005,578 1,953,076
2004 6,004,671 1,971,129
2003 5,998,599 1,985,059
2002 5,986,631 1,994,679
2001 5,968,060 2,000,853
2000 5,943,366 2,003,913
1999 5,913,900 2,003,234
1998 5,880,781 1,998,049
1997 5,844,578 1,988,130
1996 5,805,286 1,972,418
1995 5,762,131 1,951,437
1994 5,714,129 1,927,707
1993 5,659,957 1,901,793
1992 5,585,609 1,873,274
1991 5,495,077 1,842,379
1990 5,399,726 1,809,696
1989 5,298,979 1,775,436
1988 5,195,833 1,739,841
1987 5,092,441 1,703,390
1986 4,992,769 1,666,138
1985 4,894,706 1,624,379
1984 4,798,003 1,578,986
1983 4,707,367 1,534,413
1982 4,622,477 1,490,732
1981 4,570,599 1,448,069
1980 4,540,382 1,406,521
1979 4,480,388 1,366,169
1978 4,394,114 1,327,240
1977 4,301,256 1,289,967
1976 4,210,310 1,253,214
1975 4,120,449 1,213,643
1974 4,029,671 1,172,420
1973 3,938,068 1,132,697
1972 3,846,830 1,094,063
1971 3,757,523 1,056,246
1970 3,668,796 1,019,273
1969 3,576,485 983,202
1968 3,480,773 948,105
1967 3,385,184 913,982
1966 3,290,961 881,870
1965 3,199,466 854,090
1964 3,111,883 829,437
1963 3,028,679 805,373
1962 2,949,204 781,814
1961 2,870,016 758,824
1960 2,791,459 736,500

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/el-salvador/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of El Salvador increased by 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, El Salvador gained 203,981 people (a 3.29% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 102nd most populous country in 2006 and is 111th 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) El Salvador's population will grow by 4.28% to 6,678,745 people with a rank change from 111th to 116th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 24.8% to 2,999,214 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
El Salvador Lesotho
2100 -0.86% -0.18%
2099 -0.86% -0.18%
2098 -0.86% -0.17%
2097 -0.88% -0.15%
2096 -0.88% -0.15%
2095 -0.87% -0.12%
2094 -0.86% -0.11%
2093 -0.86% -0.12%
2092 -0.85% -0.09%
2091 -0.85% -0.07%
2090 -0.84% -0.06%
2089 -0.82% -0.05%
2088 -0.82% -0.04%
2087 -0.81% -0.01%
2086 -0.8% -0.02%
2085 -0.78% -0.007%
2084 -0.75% -0%
2083 -0.73% 0.008%
2082 -0.71% 0.02%
2081 -0.69% 0.03%
2080 -0.67% 0.06%
2079 -0.64% 0.08%
2078 -0.61% 0.1%
2077 -0.59% 0.11%
2076 -0.55% 0.11%
2075 -0.52% 0.15%
2074 -0.53% 0.16%
2073 -0.46% 0.17%
2072 -0.45% 0.2%
2071 -0.44% 0.24%
2070 -0.42% 0.26%
2069 -0.41% 0.28%
2068 -0.38% 0.29%
2067 -0.36% 0.3%
2066 -0.36% 0.3%
2065 -0.34% 0.33%
2064 -0.31% 0.35%
2063 -0.29% 0.4%
2062 -0.26% 0.42%
2061 -0.26% 0.44%
2060 -0.23% 0.47%
2059 -0.21% 0.48%
2058 -0.21% 0.5%
2057 -0.2% 0.52%
2056 -0.18% 0.56%
2055 -0.16% 0.56%
2054 -0.12% 0.6%
2053 -0.09% 0.64%
2052 -0.09% 0.68%
2051 -0.05% 0.69%
2050 -0.05% 0.72%
2049 -0.02% 0.75%
2048 0.003% 0.79%
2047 0.01% 0.8%
2046 0.03% 0.82%
2045 0.04% 0.84%
2044 0.08% 0.87%
2043 0.09% 0.89%
2042 0.12% 0.92%
2041 0.14% 0.93%
2040 0.15% 0.95%
2039 0.19% 0.97%
2038 0.19% 0.98%
2037 0.22% 1.02%
2036 0.24% 1.03%
2035 0.25% 1.03%
2034 0.29% 1.04%
2033 0.29% 1.05%
2032 0.31% 1.05%
2031 0.32% 1.05%
2030 0.36% 1.07%
2029 0.37% 1.08%
2028 0.39% 1.08%
2027 0.4% 1.1%
2026 0.41% 1.1%
2025 0.43% 1.11%
2024 0.45% 1.12%
2023 0.47% 1.11%
2022 0.39% 1.09%
2021 0.34% 1.15%
2020 0.2% 1.19%
2019 0.04% 1.18%
2018 0.1% 1.23%
2017 0.21% 1.25%
2016 0.28% 1.23%
2015 0.34% 1.18%
2014 0.39% 1.15%
2013 0.41% 1.09%
2012 0.39% 1.01%
2011 0.36% 0.89%
2010 0.33% 0.78%
2009 0.31% 0.73%
2008 0.32% 0.68%
2007 0.13% 0.42%
2006 -0.05% -0.41%
2005 0.02% -0.92%
2004 0.1% -0.7%
2003 0.2% -0.48%
2002 0.31% -0.31%
2001 0.42% -0.15%
2000 0.5% 0.03%
1999 0.56% 0.26%
1998 0.62% 0.5%
1997 0.68% 0.8%
1996 0.75% 1.08%
1995 0.84% 1.23%
1994 0.96% 1.36%
1993 1.33% 1.52%
1992 1.65% 1.68%
1991 1.77% 1.81%
1990 1.9% 1.93%
1989 1.99% 2.05%
1988 2.03% 2.14%
1987 2% 2.24%
1986 2% 2.57%
1985 2.02% 2.87%
1984 1.93% 2.9%
1983 1.84% 2.93%
1982 1.14% 2.95%
1981 0.67% 2.95%
1980 1.34% 2.95%
1979 1.96% 2.93%
1978 2.16% 2.89%
1977 2.16% 2.93%
1976 2.18% 3.26%
1975 2.25% 3.52%
1974 2.33% 3.51%
1973 2.37% 3.53%
1972 2.38% 3.58%
1971 2.42% 3.63%
1970 2.58% 3.67%
1969 2.75% 3.7%
1968 2.82% 3.73%
1967 2.86% 3.64%
1966 2.86% 3.25%
1965 2.81% 2.97%
1964 2.75% 2.99%
1963 2.69% 3.01%
1962 2.76% 3.03%
1961 2.81% 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/el-salvador/lesotho | CC BY

In 2025, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.43%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.11%.

Live population counters

El Salvador Lesotho
Current population
6404781
2402837
Population rank 111/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.03%
One net population change
19.3 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
5.32 minutes
9.46 minutes
One death every
11.1 minutes
21.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +75 +71
Annual growth/decline +27,310 +25,902
Annual growth/decline rate +0.43% +1.11%
Population growth rate rank 137/197 94/197
One migration net change every
22 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -23,934 -5,192
Net migration rank 155/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 43,342 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 155/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 164/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

El Salvador
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
El Salvador Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,934 - -5,192
2024 51,510 -23,102 31,050 -5,107
2023 51,985 -23,253 31,115 -5,168
2022 53,138 -23,255 30,803 -6,023
2021 46,530 -27,343 27,806 -3,449
2020 48,244 -25,213 30,721 -3,449
2019 56,816 -55,144 32,279 -6,896
2018 57,509 -54,163 33,112 -6,892
2017 59,824 -50,608 33,601 -6,850
2016 63,751 -47,491 33,390 -6,766
2015 69,263 -51,278 32,087 -7,087
2014 72,581 -49,126 30,922 -6,877
2013 73,869 -49,087 29,789 -6,659
2012 75,495 -50,546 27,592 -6,425
2011 76,182 -53,433 25,647 -6,118
2010 75,695 -54,688 21,877 -5,886
2009 74,908 -55,966 20,335 -5,599
2008 75,107 -56,086 19,349 -5,392
2007 76,776 -56,857 17,763 -5,179
2006 80,887 -85,789 15,234 -11,416
2005 84,883 -86,501 15,831 -35,679
2004 90,905 -87,466 17,271 -33,530
2003 97,849 -89,146 20,133 -31,723
2002 106,137 -90,908 22,274 -29,924
2001 114,313 -92,389 23,190 -27,874
2000 122,315 -94,861 24,786 -26,220
1999 128,947 -97,475 27,393 -24,610
1998 134,065 -99,293 30,889 -23,299
1997 134,448 -96,820 34,637 -22,396
1996 136,929 -95,977 36,228 -17,042
1995 138,268 -92,912 37,370 -14,588
1994 137,974 -87,318 38,629 -13,953
1993 138,432 -80,736 40,505 -13,347
1992 139,221 -48,232 42,579 -12,707
1991 140,691 -50,622 44,026 -12,114
1990 140,311 -39,689 45,060 -11,598
1989 139,093 -38,211 46,264 -11,207
1988 136,230 -30,806 47,158 -11,028
1987 133,667 -32,308 47,718 -10,946
1986 130,177 -32,181 45,232 -7,501
1985 127,248 -29,111 44,575 1,222
1984 125,036 -29,767 43,785 1,199
1983 121,700 -35,694 42,899 1,253
1982 120,938 -37,159 41,941 1,281
1981 117,346 -97,365 40,808 1,307
1980 111,771 -71,318 39,617 1,361
1979 123,838 -44,302 38,440 1,285
1978 124,468 -31,463 37,084 1,047
1977 121,446 -28,742 35,654 746
1976 120,511 -31,317 34,117 2,986
1975 116,737 -26,198 32,311 9,723
1974 113,846 -22,844 30,444 9,972
1973 111,546 -19,347 28,859 10,183
1972 107,604 -17,317 27,841 10,386
1971 104,714 -16,389 26,838 10,563
1970 100,499 -11,367 25,935 10,605
1969 99,848 -4,355 25,137 10,465
1968 98,851 -2,919 24,490 10,108
1967 98,424 -3,192 23,911 9,734
1966 97,156 -3,945 23,326 7,248
1965 95,341 -5,560 22,755 2,239
1964 93,328 -7,937 22,116 2,198
1963 90,794 -9,774 21,585 2,220
1962 88,237 -10,307 21,132 2,172
1961 84,614 -4,159 20,581 2,100
1960 81,544 -4,885 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/lesotho | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 59.5% of the population change in El Salvador is from natural causes (a gain of 558,570 people) and 40.5% is from migration (a loss of 380,850 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, 43,342 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in El Salvador, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K
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/el-salvador/lesotho | CC BY

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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)

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