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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 34,427,414 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 35,885,254 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 15 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.46% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.1% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 35.9M (55.7% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Ghana vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Lesotho
2100 68,131,252 3,280,784
2099 68,021,644 3,286,697
2098 67,902,002 3,292,498
2097 67,772,694 3,298,102
2096 67,638,801 3,303,027
2095 67,494,855 3,307,947
2094 67,339,471 3,312,002
2093 67,176,337 3,315,757
2092 67,005,259 3,319,661
2091 66,817,473 3,322,573
2090 66,618,611 3,324,769
2089 66,408,323 3,326,847
2088 66,186,701 3,328,480
2087 65,950,524 3,329,964
2086 65,712,980 3,330,456
2085 65,464,770 3,331,259
2084 65,209,090 3,331,485
2083 64,935,455 3,331,492
2082 64,651,183 3,331,234
2081 64,355,091 3,330,412
2080 64,047,069 3,329,267
2079 63,730,285 3,327,166
2078 63,397,338 3,324,646
2077 63,059,578 3,321,422
2076 62,711,928 3,317,850
2075 62,350,445 3,314,237
2074 61,987,133 3,309,174
2073 61,616,792 3,303,860
2072 61,239,369 3,298,181
2071 60,847,204 3,291,492
2070 60,454,501 3,283,654
2069 60,053,700 3,275,244
2068 59,639,035 3,266,152
2067 59,215,226 3,256,626
2066 58,786,613 3,246,903
2065 58,353,059 3,237,153
2064 57,904,896 3,226,489
2063 57,451,482 3,215,103
2062 56,986,329 3,202,287
2061 56,511,652 3,188,933
2060 56,031,122 3,174,998
2059 55,540,726 3,160,204
2058 55,042,478 3,145,053
2057 54,535,407 3,129,261
2056 54,018,018 3,113,129
2055 53,492,136 3,095,904
2054 52,959,604 3,078,567
2053 52,417,582 3,060,152
2052 51,869,801 3,040,649
2051 51,311,110 3,020,109
2050 50,740,453 2,999,457
2049 50,163,262 2,978,037
2048 49,577,819 2,955,727
2047 48,982,219 2,932,688
2046 48,383,052 2,909,307
2045 47,776,375 2,885,537
2044 47,163,926 2,861,372
2043 46,548,210 2,836,777
2042 45,925,724 2,811,663
2041 45,300,725 2,786,147
2040 44,669,515 2,760,391
2039 44,038,043 2,734,400
2038 43,402,009 2,708,216
2037 42,760,604 2,681,863
2036 42,120,700 2,654,755
2035 41,478,927 2,627,701
2034 40,831,962 2,600,880
2033 40,184,070 2,574,065
2032 39,540,131 2,547,344
2031 38,900,194 2,520,831
2030 38,258,832 2,494,646
2029 37,623,609 2,468,268
2028 36,986,250 2,441,871
2027 36,349,705 2,415,830
2026 35,713,042 2,389,516
2025 35,071,292 2,363,516
2024 34,427,414 2,337,423
2023 33,787,914 2,311,472
2022 33,149,152 2,286,110
2021 32,518,665 2,261,542
2020 31,887,809 2,235,727
2019 31,258,945 2,209,405
2018 30,637,585 2,183,603
2017 30,008,354 2,157,110
2016 29,356,742 2,130,422
2015 28,696,068 2,104,611
2014 28,041,592 2,080,089
2013 27,386,193 2,056,504
2012 26,734,268 2,034,354
2011 26,095,088 2,014,009
2010 25,474,995 1,996,251
2009 24,862,664 1,980,883
2008 24,249,946 1,966,541
2007 23,642,279 1,953,268
2006 23,040,702 1,945,063
2005 22,449,438 1,953,076
2004 21,868,298 1,971,129
2003 21,296,705 1,985,059
2002 20,729,388 1,994,679
2001 20,167,069 2,000,853
2000 19,637,087 2,003,913
1999 19,149,864 2,003,234
1998 18,688,036 1,998,049
1997 18,238,958 1,988,130
1996 17,810,181 1,972,418
1995 17,399,017 1,951,437
1994 16,993,190 1,927,707
1993 16,589,519 1,901,793
1992 16,184,855 1,873,274
1991 15,787,496 1,842,379
1990 15,394,648 1,809,696
1989 15,006,813 1,775,436
1988 14,636,568 1,739,841
1987 14,289,108 1,703,390
1986 13,965,217 1,666,138
1985 13,661,229 1,624,379
1984 13,370,590 1,578,986
1983 13,029,836 1,534,413
1982 12,643,819 1,490,732
1981 12,281,712 1,448,069
1980 11,941,448 1,406,521
1979 11,597,255 1,366,169
1978 11,248,450 1,327,240
1977 10,911,871 1,289,967
1976 10,594,913 1,253,214
1975 10,294,308 1,213,643
1974 10,000,523 1,172,420
1973 9,714,617 1,132,697
1972 9,438,187 1,094,063
1971 9,176,264 1,056,246
1970 8,925,813 1,019,273
1969 8,690,383 983,202
1968 8,475,729 948,105
1967 8,271,913 913,982
1966 8,074,521 881,870
1965 7,882,606 854,090
1964 7,695,739 829,437
1963 7,514,714 805,373
1962 7,337,375 781,814
1961 7,162,667 758,824
1960 6,961,215 736,500

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/ghana/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th 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) Ghana's population will grow by 41.4% to 50,740,453 people with a rank change from 46th to 42nd. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Lesotho
2100 0.16% -0.18%
2099 0.18% -0.18%
2098 0.19% -0.17%
2097 0.2% -0.15%
2096 0.21% -0.15%
2095 0.23% -0.12%
2094 0.24% -0.11%
2093 0.26% -0.12%
2092 0.28% -0.09%
2091 0.3% -0.07%
2090 0.32% -0.06%
2089 0.33% -0.05%
2088 0.36% -0.04%
2087 0.36% -0.01%
2086 0.38% -0.02%
2085 0.39% -0.007%
2084 0.42% -0%
2083 0.44% 0.008%
2082 0.46% 0.02%
2081 0.48% 0.03%
2080 0.5% 0.06%
2079 0.53% 0.08%
2078 0.54% 0.1%
2077 0.55% 0.11%
2076 0.58% 0.11%
2075 0.59% 0.15%
2074 0.6% 0.16%
2073 0.62% 0.17%
2072 0.64% 0.2%
2071 0.65% 0.24%
2070 0.67% 0.26%
2069 0.7% 0.28%
2068 0.72% 0.29%
2067 0.73% 0.3%
2066 0.74% 0.3%
2065 0.77% 0.33%
2064 0.79% 0.35%
2063 0.82% 0.4%
2062 0.84% 0.42%
2061 0.86% 0.44%
2060 0.88% 0.47%
2059 0.91% 0.48%
2058 0.93% 0.5%
2057 0.96% 0.52%
2056 0.98% 0.56%
2055 1.01% 0.56%
2054 1.03% 0.6%
2053 1.06% 0.64%
2052 1.09% 0.68%
2051 1.12% 0.69%
2050 1.15% 0.72%
2049 1.18% 0.75%
2048 1.22% 0.79%
2047 1.24% 0.8%
2046 1.27% 0.82%
2045 1.3% 0.84%
2044 1.32% 0.87%
2043 1.36% 0.89%
2042 1.38% 0.92%
2041 1.41% 0.93%
2040 1.43% 0.95%
2039 1.47% 0.97%
2038 1.5% 0.98%
2037 1.52% 1.02%
2036 1.55% 1.03%
2035 1.58% 1.03%
2034 1.61% 1.04%
2033 1.63% 1.05%
2032 1.65% 1.05%
2031 1.68% 1.05%
2030 1.69% 1.07%
2029 1.72% 1.08%
2028 1.75% 1.08%
2027 1.78% 1.1%
2026 1.83% 1.1%
2025 1.87% 1.12%
2024 1.89% 1.12%
2023 1.93% 1.11%
2022 1.94% 1.09%
2021 1.98% 1.15%
2020 2.01% 1.19%
2019 2.03% 1.18%
2018 2.1% 1.23%
2017 2.22% 1.25%
2016 2.3% 1.23%
2015 2.33% 1.18%
2014 2.39% 1.15%
2013 2.44% 1.09%
2012 2.45% 1.01%
2011 2.43% 0.89%
2010 2.46% 0.78%
2009 2.53% 0.73%
2008 2.57% 0.68%
2007 2.61% 0.42%
2006 2.63% -0.41%
2005 2.66% -0.92%
2004 2.68% -0.7%
2003 2.74% -0.48%
2002 2.79% -0.31%
2001 2.7% -0.15%
2000 2.54% 0.03%
1999 2.47% 0.26%
1998 2.46% 0.5%
1997 2.41% 0.8%
1996 2.36% 1.08%
1995 2.39% 1.23%
1994 2.43% 1.36%
1993 2.5% 1.52%
1992 2.52% 1.68%
1991 2.55% 1.81%
1990 2.58% 1.93%
1989 2.53% 2.05%
1988 2.43% 2.14%
1987 2.32% 2.24%
1986 2.23% 2.57%
1985 2.17% 2.87%
1984 2.62% 2.9%
1983 3.05% 2.93%
1982 2.95% 2.95%
1981 2.85% 2.95%
1980 2.97% 2.95%
1979 3.1% 2.93%
1978 3.08% 2.89%
1977 2.99% 2.93%
1976 2.92% 3.26%
1975 2.94% 3.52%
1974 2.94% 3.51%
1973 2.93% 3.53%
1972 2.85% 3.58%
1971 2.81% 3.63%
1970 2.71% 3.67%
1969 2.53% 3.7%
1968 2.46% 3.73%
1967 2.44% 3.64%
1966 2.43% 3.25%
1965 2.43% 2.97%
1964 2.41% 2.99%
1963 2.42% 3.01%
1962 2.44% 3.03%
1961 2.89% 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/ghana/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ghana grew by 1.89%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Ghana Lesotho
Current population
35885254
2396633
Population rank 46/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.03%
One net population change
49.3 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
35.5 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
2.21 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,752 +71
Annual growth/decline +639,500 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +1.89% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 93/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -17,079 -5,192
Net migration rank 150/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - -5,192
2024 - -13,114 - -5,107
2023 651,094 -10,003 31,115 -5,168
2022 646,441 -10,003 30,803 -6,023
2021 635,805 -11,259 27,806 -3,449
2020 637,469 -291 30,721 -3,449
2019 642,403 -21,857 32,279 -6,896
2018 641,551 -19,375 33,112 -6,892
2017 641,218 -4,913 33,601 -6,850
2016 659,910 7,009 33,390 -6,766
2015 667,729 -13,306 32,087 -7,087
2014 660,829 -6,312 30,922 -6,877
2013 658,638 -2,377 29,789 -6,659
2012 646,595 1,005 27,592 -6,425
2011 631,501 -720 25,647 -6,118
2010 613,133 -3,726 21,877 -5,886
2009 592,825 22,416 20,335 -5,599
2008 579,695 30,506 19,349 -5,392
2007 572,332 32,813 17,763 -5,179
2006 569,474 28,536 15,234 -11,416
2005 563,234 21,272 15,831 -35,679
2004 543,339 34,433 17,271 -33,530
2003 536,656 28,768 20,133 -31,723
2002 528,620 40,573 22,274 -29,924
2001 519,382 36,050 23,190 -27,874
2000 508,738 -4,206 24,786 -26,220
1999 487,210 -17,304 27,393 -24,610
1998 471,313 -17,564 30,889 -23,299
1997 459,822 -15,409 34,637 -22,396
1996 450,259 -37,113 36,228 -17,042
1995 451,748 -42,558 37,370 -14,588
1994 449,589 -47,120 38,629 -13,953
1993 454,669 -49,792 40,505 -13,347
1992 452,156 -47,736 42,579 -12,707
1991 448,159 -57,878 44,026 -12,114
1990 442,211 -46,789 45,060 -11,598
1989 432,541 -52,293 46,264 -11,207
1988 425,031 -64,810 47,158 -11,028
1987 419,328 -84,648 47,718 -10,946
1986 411,191 -98,099 45,232 -7,501
1985 401,722 -106,855 44,575 1,222
1984 392,053 -105,655 43,785 1,199
1983 379,846 15,276 42,899 1,253
1982 369,061 7,863 41,941 1,281
1981 359,572 -12,296 40,808 1,307
1980 346,816 -13,564 39,617 1,361
1979 334,848 20,291 38,440 1,285
1978 324,428 18,041 37,084 1,047
1977 315,429 15,243 35,654 746
1976 305,769 -2,528 34,117 2,986
1975 298,267 -292 32,311 9,723
1974 290,796 -1,197 30,444 9,972
1973 283,385 -1,168 28,859 10,183
1972 275,236 -4,589 27,841 10,386
1971 265,442 -12,238 26,838 10,563
1970 257,938 -10,233 25,935 10,605
1969 251,925 -28,752 25,137 10,465
1968 242,821 -36,683 24,490 10,108
1967 237,156 -35,666 23,911 9,734
1966 231,440 -38,143 23,326 7,248
1965 229,061 -38,519 22,755 2,239
1964 226,685 -43,480 22,116 2,198
1963 225,367 -46,516 21,585 2,220
1962 223,842 -48,017 21,132 2,172
1961 222,372 -48,777 20,581 2,100
1960 217,134 12,181 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.6% of the population change in Ghana is from natural causes (a gain of 6,484,449 people) and 1.37% is from migration (a loss of 90,310 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, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K
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/ghana/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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