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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Eritrea's population is 1.54 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Eritrea vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Lesotho
2100 8,514,681 3,280,784
2099 8,489,924 3,286,697
2098 8,466,983 3,292,498
2097 8,444,468 3,298,102
2096 8,422,323 3,303,027
2095 8,396,086 3,307,947
2094 8,370,114 3,312,002
2093 8,344,405 3,315,757
2092 8,309,034 3,319,661
2091 8,278,860 3,322,573
2090 8,243,905 3,324,769
2089 8,209,883 3,326,847
2088 8,172,664 3,328,480
2087 8,136,016 3,329,964
2086 8,093,065 3,330,456
2085 8,046,814 3,331,259
2084 7,999,706 3,331,485
2083 7,956,385 3,331,492
2082 7,911,764 3,331,234
2081 7,871,753 3,330,412
2080 7,815,766 3,329,267
2079 7,765,677 3,327,166
2078 7,711,886 3,324,646
2077 7,656,307 3,321,422
2076 7,600,951 3,317,850
2075 7,538,912 3,314,237
2074 7,484,322 3,309,174
2073 7,420,571 3,303,860
2072 7,358,500 3,298,181
2071 7,296,109 3,291,492
2070 7,231,198 3,283,654
2069 7,164,883 3,275,244
2068 7,094,530 3,266,152
2067 7,026,000 3,256,626
2066 6,952,514 3,246,903
2065 6,884,323 3,237,153
2064 6,814,893 3,226,489
2063 6,733,263 3,215,103
2062 6,659,531 3,202,287
2061 6,580,923 3,188,933
2060 6,500,944 3,174,998
2059 6,422,305 3,160,204
2058 6,343,070 3,145,053
2057 6,265,450 3,129,261
2056 6,194,123 3,113,129
2055 6,114,099 3,095,904
2054 6,039,801 3,078,567
2053 5,957,339 3,060,152
2052 5,871,954 3,040,649
2051 5,791,096 3,020,109
2050 5,711,061 2,999,457
2049 5,632,165 2,978,037
2048 5,549,890 2,955,727
2047 5,468,518 2,932,688
2046 5,387,267 2,909,307
2045 5,300,511 2,885,537
2044 5,215,831 2,861,372
2043 5,131,686 2,836,777
2042 5,044,262 2,811,663
2041 4,960,422 2,786,147
2040 4,870,981 2,760,391
2039 4,782,316 2,734,400
2038 4,693,015 2,708,216
2037 4,599,752 2,681,863
2036 4,506,879 2,654,755
2035 4,420,367 2,627,701
2034 4,332,828 2,600,880
2033 4,248,272 2,574,065
2032 4,165,241 2,547,344
2031 4,083,762 2,520,831
2030 3,998,903 2,494,646
2029 3,917,775 2,468,268
2028 3,836,693 2,441,871
2027 3,756,696 2,415,830
2026 3,679,782 2,389,516
2025 3,603,902 2,363,516
2024 3,535,603 2,337,423
2023 3,470,390 2,311,472
2022 3,409,447 2,286,110
2021 3,350,183 2,261,542
2020 3,291,271 2,235,727
2019 3,240,194 2,209,405
2018 3,192,760 2,183,603
2017 3,150,347 2,157,110
2016 3,124,698 2,130,422
2015 3,105,546 2,104,611
2014 3,095,173 2,080,089
2013 3,074,360 2,056,504
2012 3,036,988 2,034,354
2011 2,998,485 2,014,009
2010 2,945,186 1,996,251
2009 2,887,885 1,980,883
2008 2,816,327 1,966,541
2007 2,743,222 1,953,268
2006 2,703,502 1,945,063
2005 2,661,215 1,953,076
2004 2,598,284 1,971,129
2003 2,493,903 1,985,059
2002 2,392,978 1,994,679
2001 2,312,079 2,000,853
2000 2,247,031 2,003,913
1999 2,212,780 2,003,234
1998 2,180,419 1,998,049
1997 2,152,135 1,988,130
1996 2,128,464 1,972,418
1995 2,025,267 1,951,437
1994 1,913,915 1,927,707
1993 1,856,006 1,901,793
1992 1,798,748 1,873,274
1991 1,919,571 1,842,379
1990 2,032,737 1,809,696
1989 1,987,017 1,775,436
1988 1,938,255 1,739,841
1987 1,888,669 1,703,390
1986 1,845,164 1,666,138
1985 1,807,816 1,624,379
1984 1,771,730 1,578,986
1983 1,736,160 1,534,413
1982 1,695,461 1,490,732
1981 1,649,939 1,448,069
1980 1,605,797 1,406,521
1979 1,563,332 1,366,169
1978 1,522,378 1,327,240
1977 1,482,565 1,289,967
1976 1,443,807 1,253,214
1975 1,408,210 1,213,643
1974 1,375,688 1,172,420
1973 1,342,669 1,132,697
1972 1,309,235 1,094,063
1971 1,276,154 1,056,246
1970 1,243,453 1,019,273
1969 1,212,005 983,202
1968 1,181,737 948,105
1967 1,152,339 913,982
1966 1,124,957 881,870
1965 1,098,335 854,090
1964 1,071,287 829,437
1963 1,045,092 805,373
1962 1,019,788 781,814
1961 995,573 758,824
1960 972,547 736,500

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/eritrea/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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) Eritrea's population will grow by 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Lesotho
2100 0.29% -0.18%
2099 0.27% -0.18%
2098 0.27% -0.17%
2097 0.26% -0.15%
2096 0.31% -0.15%
2095 0.31% -0.12%
2094 0.31% -0.11%
2093 0.43% -0.12%
2092 0.36% -0.09%
2091 0.42% -0.07%
2090 0.41% -0.06%
2089 0.46% -0.05%
2088 0.45% -0.04%
2087 0.53% -0.01%
2086 0.57% -0.02%
2085 0.59% -0.007%
2084 0.54% -0%
2083 0.56% 0.008%
2082 0.51% 0.02%
2081 0.72% 0.03%
2080 0.65% 0.06%
2079 0.7% 0.08%
2078 0.73% 0.1%
2077 0.73% 0.11%
2076 0.82% 0.11%
2075 0.73% 0.15%
2074 0.86% 0.16%
2073 0.84% 0.17%
2072 0.86% 0.2%
2071 0.9% 0.24%
2070 0.93% 0.26%
2069 0.99% 0.28%
2068 0.98% 0.29%
2067 1.06% 0.3%
2066 0.99% 0.3%
2065 1.02% 0.33%
2064 1.21% 0.35%
2063 1.11% 0.4%
2062 1.19% 0.42%
2061 1.23% 0.44%
2060 1.22% 0.47%
2059 1.25% 0.48%
2058 1.24% 0.5%
2057 1.15% 0.52%
2056 1.31% 0.56%
2055 1.23% 0.56%
2054 1.38% 0.6%
2053 1.45% 0.64%
2052 1.4% 0.68%
2051 1.4% 0.69%
2050 1.4% 0.72%
2049 1.48% 0.75%
2048 1.49% 0.79%
2047 1.51% 0.8%
2046 1.64% 0.82%
2045 1.62% 0.84%
2044 1.64% 0.87%
2043 1.73% 0.89%
2042 1.69% 0.92%
2041 1.84% 0.93%
2040 1.85% 0.95%
2039 1.9% 0.97%
2038 2.03% 0.98%
2037 2.06% 1.02%
2036 1.96% 1.03%
2035 2.02% 1.03%
2034 1.99% 1.04%
2033 1.99% 1.05%
2032 2% 1.05%
2031 2.12% 1.05%
2030 2.07% 1.07%
2029 2.11% 1.08%
2028 2.13% 1.08%
2027 2.09% 1.1%
2026 2.11% 1.1%
2025 1.93% 1.12%
2024 1.88% 1.12%
2023 1.79% 1.11%
2022 1.77% 1.09%
2021 1.79% 1.15%
2020 1.58% 1.19%
2019 1.49% 1.18%
2018 1.35% 1.23%
2017 0.82% 1.25%
2016 0.62% 1.23%
2015 0.34% 1.18%
2014 0.68% 1.15%
2013 1.23% 1.09%
2012 1.28% 1.01%
2011 1.81% 0.89%
2010 1.98% 0.78%
2009 2.54% 0.73%
2008 2.66% 0.68%
2007 1.47% 0.42%
2006 1.59% -0.41%
2005 2.42% -0.92%
2004 4.19% -0.7%
2003 4.22% -0.48%
2002 3.5% -0.31%
2001 2.89% -0.15%
2000 1.55% 0.03%
1999 1.48% 0.26%
1998 1.31% 0.5%
1997 1.11% 0.8%
1996 5.1% 1.08%
1995 5.82% 1.23%
1994 3.12% 1.36%
1993 3.18% 1.52%
1992 -6.29% 1.68%
1991 -5.57% 1.81%
1990 2.3% 1.93%
1989 2.52% 2.05%
1988 2.63% 2.14%
1987 2.36% 2.24%
1986 2.07% 2.57%
1985 2.04% 2.87%
1984 2.05% 2.9%
1983 2.4% 2.93%
1982 2.76% 2.95%
1981 2.75% 2.95%
1980 2.72% 2.95%
1979 2.69% 2.93%
1978 2.69% 2.89%
1977 2.68% 2.93%
1976 2.53% 3.26%
1975 2.36% 3.52%
1974 2.46% 3.51%
1973 2.55% 3.53%
1972 2.59% 3.58%
1971 2.63% 3.63%
1970 2.59% 3.67%
1969 2.56% 3.7%
1968 2.55% 3.73%
1967 2.43% 3.64%
1966 2.42% 3.25%
1965 2.52% 2.97%
1964 2.51% 2.99%
1963 2.48% 3.01%
1962 2.43% 3.03%
1961 2.37% 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/eritrea/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Lesotho
Current population
3700586
2396633
Population rank 130/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.03%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +71
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 93/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -6,698 -5,192
Net migration rank 122/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -5,192
2024 - -12,696 - -5,107
2023 78,073 -15,284 31,115 -5,168
2022 76,221 -17,134 30,803 -6,023
2021 74,394 -14,966 27,806 -3,449
2020 73,362 -14,967 30,721 -3,449
2019 73,572 -29,818 32,279 -6,896
2018 72,511 -21,403 33,112 -6,892
2017 72,291 -38,579 33,601 -6,850
2016 73,002 -55,431 33,390 -6,766
2015 73,682 -52,965 32,087 -7,087
2014 75,729 -75,696 30,922 -6,877
2013 75,562 -33,974 29,789 -6,659
2012 76,416 -43,269 27,592 -6,425
2011 76,806 -32,949 25,647 -6,118
2010 76,098 -13,361 21,877 -5,886
2009 76,206 -24,348 20,335 -5,599
2008 73,391 17,855 19,349 -5,392
2007 73,101 -18,131 17,763 -5,179
2006 74,470 -49,998 15,234 -11,416
2005 72,930 -12,835 15,831 -35,679
2004 72,147 -6,374 17,271 -33,530
2003 66,291 76,703 20,133 -31,723
2002 65,436 -6,574 22,274 -29,924
2001 61,180 41,760 23,190 -27,874
2000 60,274 -33,133 24,786 -26,220
1999 45,120 -3,769 27,393 -24,610
1998 55,332 -31,951 30,889 -23,299
1997 63,953 -30,768 34,637 -22,396
1996 66,557 -52,421 36,228 -17,042
1995 56,157 136,105 37,370 -14,588
1994 56,288 -25,841 38,629 -13,953
1993 51,679 33,688 40,505 -13,347
1992 51,443 -22,293 42,579 -12,707
1991 57,741 -328,546 44,026 -12,114
1990 56,903 -12,425 45,060 -11,598
1989 54,299 -7,330 46,264 -11,207
1988 54,163 -3,612 47,158 -11,028
1987 52,229 -3,613 47,718 -10,946
1986 39,470 -1,073 45,232 -7,501
1985 37,362 -1,073 44,575 1,222
1984 35,101 772 43,785 1,199
1983 33,420 1,853 42,899 1,253
1982 44,146 1,985 41,941 1,281
1981 42,924 1,985 40,808 1,307
1980 41,392 1,985 39,617 1,361
1979 39,577 1,985 38,440 1,285
1978 38,353 1,985 37,084 1,047
1977 37,295 1,985 35,654 746
1976 36,250 1,985 34,117 2,986
1975 30,971 1,985 32,311 9,723
1974 30,111 1,985 30,444 9,972
1973 31,969 1,985 28,859 10,183
1972 30,951 1,953 27,841 10,386
1971 31,490 1,758 26,838 10,563
1970 30,686 1,480 25,935 10,605
1969 29,535 1,199 25,137 10,465
1968 28,777 1,013 24,490 10,108
1967 27,992 1,004 23,911 9,734
1966 24,713 1,063 23,326 7,248
1965 26,285 1,188 22,755 2,239
1964 25,327 1,300 22,116 2,198
1963 24,393 1,368 21,585 2,220
1962 23,478 1,364 21,132 2,172
1961 22,351 1,235 20,581 2,100
1960 21,424 1,045 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 68.8% of the population change in Eritrea is from natural causes (a gain of 742,837 people) and 31.2% is from migration (a loss of 336,243 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, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
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/eritrea/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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