The latest officially reported population of Eswatini was 1,242,822 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eswatini's population is 1,273,390 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.
Population statistics:
- Lesotho's population is 1.88 times bigger than Eswatini's.
- Eswatini is ranked the 156th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
- The countries together account for 0.04% of the world: 0.02% for Eswatini vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
- For the last 10 years, Eswatini has had an average growth rate of +0.87% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
- Since 2006, the population of Eswatini has increased from 1.08M people to 1.27M (17.4% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).
Eswatini vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Eswatini
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 2100 | 1,352,404 | 3,280,784 |
| 2099 | 1,361,498 | 3,286,697 |
| 2098 | 1,369,861 | 3,292,498 |
| 2097 | 1,378,017 | 3,298,102 |
| 2096 | 1,386,191 | 3,303,027 |
| 2095 | 1,394,405 | 3,307,947 |
| 2094 | 1,402,538 | 3,312,002 |
| 2093 | 1,410,423 | 3,315,757 |
| 2092 | 1,418,137 | 3,319,661 |
| 2091 | 1,426,097 | 3,322,573 |
| 2090 | 1,433,623 | 3,324,769 |
| 2089 | 1,441,192 | 3,326,847 |
| 2088 | 1,448,332 | 3,328,480 |
| 2087 | 1,455,333 | 3,329,964 |
| 2086 | 1,462,398 | 3,330,456 |
| 2085 | 1,469,660 | 3,331,259 |
| 2084 | 1,476,745 | 3,331,485 |
| 2083 | 1,483,271 | 3,331,492 |
| 2082 | 1,489,551 | 3,331,234 |
| 2081 | 1,494,969 | 3,330,412 |
| 2080 | 1,500,315 | 3,329,267 |
| 2079 | 1,505,309 | 3,327,166 |
| 2078 | 1,509,779 | 3,324,646 |
| 2077 | 1,514,574 | 3,321,422 |
| 2076 | 1,519,452 | 3,317,850 |
| 2075 | 1,523,845 | 3,314,237 |
| 2074 | 1,528,267 | 3,309,174 |
| 2073 | 1,531,967 | 3,303,860 |
| 2072 | 1,535,206 | 3,298,181 |
| 2071 | 1,538,333 | 3,291,492 |
| 2070 | 1,540,715 | 3,283,654 |
| 2069 | 1,543,234 | 3,275,244 |
| 2068 | 1,545,288 | 3,266,152 |
| 2067 | 1,547,029 | 3,256,626 |
| 2066 | 1,547,862 | 3,246,903 |
| 2065 | 1,548,678 | 3,237,153 |
| 2064 | 1,549,121 | 3,226,489 |
| 2063 | 1,549,274 | 3,215,103 |
| 2062 | 1,548,873 | 3,202,287 |
| 2061 | 1,548,072 | 3,188,933 |
| 2060 | 1,547,285 | 3,174,998 |
| 2059 | 1,545,426 | 3,160,204 |
| 2058 | 1,542,799 | 3,145,053 |
| 2057 | 1,540,085 | 3,129,261 |
| 2056 | 1,537,270 | 3,113,129 |
| 2055 | 1,534,161 | 3,095,904 |
| 2054 | 1,530,631 | 3,078,567 |
| 2053 | 1,526,357 | 3,060,152 |
| 2052 | 1,521,506 | 3,040,649 |
| 2051 | 1,515,982 | 3,020,109 |
| 2050 | 1,510,547 | 2,999,457 |
| 2049 | 1,504,126 | 2,978,037 |
| 2048 | 1,497,656 | 2,955,727 |
| 2047 | 1,491,001 | 2,932,688 |
| 2046 | 1,483,817 | 2,909,307 |
| 2045 | 1,475,974 | 2,885,537 |
| 2044 | 1,468,200 | 2,861,372 |
| 2043 | 1,460,050 | 2,836,777 |
| 2042 | 1,451,433 | 2,811,663 |
| 2041 | 1,441,822 | 2,786,147 |
| 2040 | 1,432,811 | 2,760,391 |
| 2039 | 1,423,063 | 2,734,400 |
| 2038 | 1,412,806 | 2,708,216 |
| 2037 | 1,402,845 | 2,681,863 |
| 2036 | 1,392,117 | 2,654,755 |
| 2035 | 1,381,258 | 2,627,701 |
| 2034 | 1,369,883 | 2,600,880 |
| 2033 | 1,357,906 | 2,574,065 |
| 2032 | 1,346,063 | 2,547,344 |
| 2031 | 1,334,330 | 2,520,831 |
| 2030 | 1,321,430 | 2,494,646 |
| 2029 | 1,309,060 | 2,468,268 |
| 2028 | 1,296,535 | 2,441,871 |
| 2027 | 1,283,434 | 2,415,830 |
| 2026 | 1,269,667 | 2,389,516 |
| 2025 | 1,255,921 | 2,363,516 |
| 2024 | 1,242,822 | 2,337,423 |
| 2023 | 1,230,506 | 2,311,472 |
| 2022 | 1,218,917 | 2,286,110 |
| 2021 | 1,206,593 | 2,261,542 |
| 2020 | 1,192,729 | 2,235,727 |
| 2019 | 1,179,874 | 2,209,405 |
| 2018 | 1,168,929 | 2,183,603 |
| 2017 | 1,158,195 | 2,157,110 |
| 2016 | 1,149,507 | 2,130,422 |
| 2015 | 1,142,813 | 2,104,611 |
| 2014 | 1,136,299 | 2,080,089 |
| 2013 | 1,129,990 | 2,056,504 |
| 2012 | 1,123,863 | 2,034,354 |
| 2011 | 1,117,833 | 2,014,009 |
| 2010 | 1,111,650 | 1,996,251 |
| 2009 | 1,105,153 | 1,980,883 |
| 2008 | 1,098,091 | 1,966,541 |
| 2007 | 1,090,705 | 1,953,268 |
| 2006 | 1,084,436 | 1,945,063 |
| 2005 | 1,079,022 | 1,953,076 |
| 2004 | 1,073,159 | 1,971,129 |
| 2003 | 1,066,700 | 1,985,059 |
| 2002 | 1,059,441 | 1,994,679 |
| 2001 | 1,051,064 | 2,000,853 |
| 2000 | 1,041,414 | 2,003,913 |
| 1999 | 1,030,782 | 2,003,234 |
| 1998 | 1,019,653 | 1,998,049 |
| 1997 | 1,006,635 | 1,988,130 |
| 1996 | 989,841 | 1,972,418 |
| 1995 | 970,433 | 1,951,437 |
| 1994 | 971,212 | 1,927,707 |
| 1993 | 971,318 | 1,901,793 |
| 1992 | 943,416 | 1,873,274 |
| 1991 | 908,189 | 1,842,379 |
| 1990 | 872,428 | 1,809,696 |
| 1989 | 837,800 | 1,775,436 |
| 1988 | 799,798 | 1,739,841 |
| 1987 | 763,811 | 1,703,390 |
| 1986 | 734,732 | 1,666,138 |
| 1985 | 706,196 | 1,624,379 |
| 1984 | 680,783 | 1,578,986 |
| 1983 | 658,957 | 1,534,413 |
| 1982 | 637,652 | 1,490,732 |
| 1981 | 616,808 | 1,448,069 |
| 1980 | 596,644 | 1,406,521 |
| 1979 | 577,199 | 1,366,169 |
| 1978 | 558,446 | 1,327,240 |
| 1977 | 540,348 | 1,289,967 |
| 1976 | 523,330 | 1,253,214 |
| 1975 | 507,673 | 1,213,643 |
| 1974 | 492,988 | 1,172,420 |
| 1973 | 479,038 | 1,132,697 |
| 1972 | 465,788 | 1,094,063 |
| 1971 | 453,183 | 1,056,246 |
| 1970 | 441,216 | 1,019,273 |
| 1969 | 429,875 | 983,202 |
| 1968 | 419,147 | 948,105 |
| 1967 | 409,031 | 913,982 |
| 1966 | 398,766 | 881,870 |
| 1965 | 388,336 | 854,090 |
| 1964 | 378,656 | 829,437 |
| 1963 | 369,759 | 805,373 |
| 1962 | 361,365 | 781,814 |
| 1961 | 353,264 | 758,824 |
| 1960 | 345,337 | 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/eswatini/lesotho | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eswatini increased by 65,071 people (a 6% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eswatini gained 123,883 people (a 10.8% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).
Eswatini was ranked 152nd most populous country in 2006 and is 156th 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) Eswatini's population will grow by 18.6% to 1,510,547 people with a rank change from 156th to 154th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.
Eswatini is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 1.55M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eswatini
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 2100 | -0.67% | -0.18% |
| 2099 | -0.61% | -0.18% |
| 2098 | -0.59% | -0.17% |
| 2097 | -0.59% | -0.15% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | -0.15% |
| 2095 | -0.58% | -0.12% |
| 2094 | -0.56% | -0.11% |
| 2093 | -0.54% | -0.12% |
| 2092 | -0.56% | -0.09% |
| 2091 | -0.52% | -0.07% |
| 2090 | -0.53% | -0.06% |
| 2089 | -0.49% | -0.05% |
| 2088 | -0.48% | -0.04% |
| 2087 | -0.48% | -0.01% |
| 2086 | -0.49% | -0.02% |
| 2085 | -0.48% | -0.007% |
| 2084 | -0.44% | -0% |
| 2083 | -0.42% | 0.008% |
| 2082 | -0.36% | 0.02% |
| 2081 | -0.36% | 0.03% |
| 2080 | -0.33% | 0.06% |
| 2079 | -0.3% | 0.08% |
| 2078 | -0.32% | 0.1% |
| 2077 | -0.32% | 0.11% |
| 2076 | -0.29% | 0.11% |
| 2075 | -0.29% | 0.15% |
| 2074 | -0.24% | 0.16% |
| 2073 | -0.21% | 0.17% |
| 2072 | -0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2071 | -0.15% | 0.24% |
| 2070 | -0.16% | 0.26% |
| 2069 | -0.13% | 0.28% |
| 2068 | -0.11% | 0.29% |
| 2067 | -0.05% | 0.3% |
| 2066 | -0.05% | 0.3% |
| 2065 | -0.03% | 0.33% |
| 2064 | -0.01% | 0.35% |
| 2063 | 0.03% | 0.4% |
| 2062 | 0.05% | 0.42% |
| 2061 | 0.05% | 0.44% |
| 2060 | 0.12% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | 0.17% | 0.48% |
| 2058 | 0.18% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | 0.18% | 0.52% |
| 2056 | 0.2% | 0.56% |
| 2055 | 0.23% | 0.56% |
| 2054 | 0.28% | 0.6% |
| 2053 | 0.32% | 0.64% |
| 2052 | 0.36% | 0.68% |
| 2051 | 0.36% | 0.69% |
| 2050 | 0.43% | 0.72% |
| 2049 | 0.43% | 0.75% |
| 2048 | 0.45% | 0.79% |
| 2047 | 0.48% | 0.8% |
| 2046 | 0.53% | 0.82% |
| 2045 | 0.53% | 0.84% |
| 2044 | 0.56% | 0.87% |
| 2043 | 0.59% | 0.89% |
| 2042 | 0.67% | 0.92% |
| 2041 | 0.63% | 0.93% |
| 2040 | 0.68% | 0.95% |
| 2039 | 0.73% | 0.97% |
| 2038 | 0.71% | 0.98% |
| 2037 | 0.77% | 1.02% |
| 2036 | 0.79% | 1.03% |
| 2035 | 0.83% | 1.03% |
| 2034 | 0.88% | 1.04% |
| 2033 | 0.88% | 1.05% |
| 2032 | 0.88% | 1.05% |
| 2031 | 0.98% | 1.05% |
| 2030 | 0.94% | 1.07% |
| 2029 | 0.97% | 1.08% |
| 2028 | 1.02% | 1.08% |
| 2027 | 1.08% | 1.1% |
| 2026 | 1.09% | 1.1% |
| 2025 | 1.05% | 1.12% |
| 2024 | 1% | 1.12% |
| 2023 | 0.95% | 1.11% |
| 2022 | 1.02% | 1.09% |
| 2021 | 1.16% | 1.15% |
| 2020 | 1.09% | 1.19% |
| 2019 | 0.94% | 1.18% |
| 2018 | 0.93% | 1.23% |
| 2017 | 0.76% | 1.25% |
| 2016 | 0.59% | 1.23% |
| 2015 | 0.57% | 1.18% |
| 2014 | 0.56% | 1.15% |
| 2013 | 0.55% | 1.09% |
| 2012 | 0.54% | 1.01% |
| 2011 | 0.56% | 0.89% |
| 2010 | 0.59% | 0.78% |
| 2009 | 0.64% | 0.73% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 0.68% |
| 2007 | 0.58% | 0.42% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | -0.41% |
| 2005 | 0.55% | -0.92% |
| 2004 | 0.61% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 0.69% | -0.48% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | -0.31% |
| 2001 | 0.93% | -0.15% |
| 2000 | 1.03% | 0.03% |
| 1999 | 1.09% | 0.26% |
| 1998 | 1.29% | 0.5% |
| 1997 | 1.7% | 0.8% |
| 1996 | 2% | 1.08% |
| 1995 | -0.08% | 1.23% |
| 1994 | -0.01% | 1.36% |
| 1993 | 2.96% | 1.52% |
| 1992 | 3.88% | 1.68% |
| 1991 | 4.1% | 1.81% |
| 1990 | 4.13% | 1.93% |
| 1989 | 4.75% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 4.71% | 2.14% |
| 1987 | 3.96% | 2.24% |
| 1986 | 4.04% | 2.57% |
| 1985 | 3.73% | 2.87% |
| 1984 | 3.31% | 2.9% |
| 1983 | 3.34% | 2.93% |
| 1982 | 3.38% | 2.95% |
| 1981 | 3.38% | 2.95% |
| 1980 | 3.37% | 2.95% |
| 1979 | 3.36% | 2.93% |
| 1978 | 3.35% | 2.89% |
| 1977 | 3.25% | 2.93% |
| 1976 | 3.08% | 3.26% |
| 1975 | 2.98% | 3.52% |
| 1974 | 2.91% | 3.51% |
| 1973 | 2.84% | 3.53% |
| 1972 | 2.78% | 3.58% |
| 1971 | 2.71% | 3.63% |
| 1970 | 2.64% | 3.67% |
| 1969 | 2.56% | 3.7% |
| 1968 | 2.47% | 3.73% |
| 1967 | 2.57% | 3.64% |
| 1966 | 2.69% | 3.25% |
| 1965 | 2.56% | 2.97% |
| 1964 | 2.41% | 2.99% |
| 1963 | 2.32% | 3.01% |
| 1962 | 2.29% | 3.03% |
| 1961 | 2.3% | 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/eswatini/lesotho | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Eswatini grew by 1%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.
Live population counters
|
Eswatini
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
1273390
|
2396633
|
| Population rank | 156/197 | 143/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| One net population change |
42.7 minutes
|
20.3 minutes
|
| One birth every |
17.7 minutes
|
9.43 minutes
|
| One death every |
55.5 minutes
|
21.4 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +34 | +71 |
| Annual growth/decline | +12,316 | +25,951 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1% | +1.12% |
| Population growth rate rank | 101/197 | 93/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.52 hours
|
1.69 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -5,775 | -5,192 |
| Net migration rank | 121/196 | 117/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 33,268 | 15,039 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 161/195 | 173/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 2.7% | 0.6% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 121/195 | 170/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Eswatini
|
Lesotho
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,775 | - | -5,192 |
| 2024 | - | -6,754 | - | -5,107 |
| 2023 | 20,147 | -8,549 | 31,115 | -5,168 |
| 2022 | 20,125 | -8,549 | 30,803 | -6,023 |
| 2021 | 17,314 | -4,242 | 27,806 | -3,449 |
| 2020 | 18,899 | -4,242 | 30,721 | -3,449 |
| 2019 | 19,488 | -8,439 | 32,279 | -6,896 |
| 2018 | 19,392 | -8,546 | 33,112 | -6,892 |
| 2017 | 19,278 | -8,658 | 33,601 | -6,850 |
| 2016 | 19,233 | -12,481 | 33,390 | -6,766 |
| 2015 | 19,223 | -12,582 | 32,087 | -7,087 |
| 2014 | 19,107 | -12,724 | 30,922 | -6,877 |
| 2013 | 18,903 | -12,664 | 29,789 | -6,659 |
| 2012 | 18,308 | -12,294 | 27,592 | -6,425 |
| 2011 | 17,645 | -11,596 | 25,647 | -6,118 |
| 2010 | 17,652 | -11,334 | 21,877 | -5,886 |
| 2009 | 17,656 | -10,989 | 20,335 | -5,599 |
| 2008 | 17,275 | -9,822 | 19,349 | -5,392 |
| 2007 | 16,595 | -9,271 | 17,763 | -5,179 |
| 2006 | 16,133 | -10,923 | 15,234 | -11,416 |
| 2005 | 15,945 | -10,330 | 15,831 | -35,679 |
| 2004 | 15,979 | -9,863 | 17,271 | -33,530 |
| 2003 | 16,396 | -9,595 | 20,133 | -31,723 |
| 2002 | 16,924 | -9,209 | 22,274 | -29,924 |
| 2001 | 17,824 | -8,788 | 23,190 | -27,874 |
| 2000 | 18,830 | -8,563 | 24,786 | -26,220 |
| 1999 | 19,420 | -8,421 | 27,393 | -24,610 |
| 1998 | 19,762 | -8,505 | 30,889 | -23,299 |
| 1997 | 20,686 | -5,911 | 34,637 | -22,396 |
| 1996 | 21,858 | -3,049 | 36,228 | -17,042 |
| 1995 | 23,029 | -3,023 | 37,370 | -14,588 |
| 1994 | 26,703 | -48,259 | 38,629 | -13,953 |
| 1993 | 28,046 | -6,692 | 40,505 | -13,347 |
| 1992 | 28,446 | 6,011 | 42,579 | -12,707 |
| 1991 | 28,497 | 7,496 | 44,026 | -12,114 |
| 1990 | 28,349 | 7,169 | 45,060 | -11,598 |
| 1989 | 28,257 | 5,477 | 46,264 | -11,207 |
| 1988 | 27,396 | 14,879 | 47,158 | -11,028 |
| 1987 | 27,285 | 2,417 | 47,718 | -10,946 |
| 1986 | 27,096 | 1,353 | 45,232 | -7,501 |
| 1985 | 26,835 | 1,792 | 44,575 | 1,222 |
| 1984 | 26,149 | -3,949 | 43,785 | 1,199 |
| 1983 | 24,883 | -3,429 | 42,899 | 1,253 |
| 1982 | 24,742 | -3,574 | 41,941 | 1,281 |
| 1981 | 23,973 | -3,464 | 40,808 | 1,307 |
| 1980 | 23,153 | -3,350 | 39,617 | 1,361 |
| 1979 | 22,299 | -3,210 | 38,440 | 1,285 |
| 1978 | 21,466 | -3,040 | 37,084 | 1,047 |
| 1977 | 20,609 | -2,838 | 35,654 | 746 |
| 1976 | 19,734 | -3,469 | 34,117 | 2,986 |
| 1975 | 18,849 | -3,794 | 32,311 | 9,723 |
| 1974 | 17,971 | -3,665 | 30,444 | 9,972 |
| 1973 | 17,145 | -3,555 | 28,859 | 10,183 |
| 1972 | 16,353 | -3,435 | 27,841 | 10,386 |
| 1971 | 15,615 | -3,325 | 26,838 | 10,563 |
| 1970 | 14,873 | -3,230 | 25,935 | 10,605 |
| 1969 | 14,164 | -3,127 | 25,137 | 10,465 |
| 1968 | 13,449 | -3,029 | 24,490 | 10,108 |
| 1967 | 12,773 | -2,964 | 23,911 | 9,734 |
| 1966 | 12,282 | -1,557 | 23,326 | 7,248 |
| 1965 | 11,719 | -1,578 | 22,755 | 2,239 |
| 1964 | 11,266 | -2,049 | 22,116 | 2,198 |
| 1963 | 10,929 | -2,358 | 21,585 | 2,220 |
| 1962 | 10,601 | -2,390 | 21,132 | 2,172 |
| 1961 | 10,262 | -2,270 | 20,581 | 2,100 |
| 1960 | 9,947 | -2,082 | 19,981 | 1,989 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/eswatini/lesotho | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 68.3% of the population change in Eswatini is from natural causes (a gain of 192,206 people) and 31.7% is from migration (a loss of 89,012 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, 33,268 residents or 2.7% of the population were not native-born in Eswatini, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Eswatini and Lesotho
|
Eswatini
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 64.5 years | 58.6 years |
| Average age | 26.5 years | 25.8 years |
| Median age | 23.2 years | 22.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.1:50.9 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 2.75 births per woman | 2.69 births per woman |
| Population density | 191.2 ppl/mi² | 203.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/eswatini/lesotho | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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