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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Greece was 10,405,134 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Greece's population is 10,181,414 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Greece's population is 4.25 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Greece is ranked the 96th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.12% for Greece vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Greece has had an average growth rate of -0.47% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Greece has decreased from 11M people to 10.2M (7.61% decline), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Greece vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Greece
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Greece Lesotho
2100 6,463,085 3,280,784
2099 6,505,287 3,286,697
2098 6,547,164 3,292,498
2097 6,589,081 3,298,102
2096 6,630,487 3,303,027
2095 6,671,006 3,307,947
2094 6,710,734 3,312,002
2093 6,749,510 3,315,757
2092 6,787,596 3,319,661
2091 6,824,775 3,322,573
2090 6,862,164 3,324,769
2089 6,900,089 3,326,847
2088 6,937,116 3,328,480
2087 6,973,450 3,329,964
2086 7,010,676 3,330,456
2085 7,048,751 3,331,259
2084 7,086,818 3,331,485
2083 7,124,743 3,331,492
2082 7,164,627 3,331,234
2081 7,205,487 3,330,412
2080 7,248,512 3,329,267
2079 7,292,836 3,327,166
2078 7,338,859 3,324,646
2077 7,387,671 3,321,422
2076 7,437,562 3,317,850
2075 7,489,139 3,314,237
2074 7,543,259 3,309,174
2073 7,600,155 3,303,860
2072 7,659,253 3,298,181
2071 7,719,672 3,291,492
2070 7,782,317 3,283,654
2069 7,847,153 3,275,244
2068 7,913,682 3,266,152
2067 7,980,659 3,256,626
2066 8,047,692 3,246,903
2065 8,114,348 3,237,153
2064 8,181,923 3,226,489
2063 8,250,274 3,215,103
2062 8,318,463 3,202,287
2061 8,386,919 3,188,933
2060 8,454,179 3,174,998
2059 8,522,250 3,160,204
2058 8,589,200 3,145,053
2057 8,655,428 3,129,261
2056 8,720,012 3,113,129
2055 8,783,558 3,095,904
2054 8,844,935 3,078,567
2053 8,903,834 3,060,152
2052 8,961,755 3,040,649
2051 9,018,494 3,020,109
2050 9,072,676 2,999,457
2049 9,126,801 2,978,037
2048 9,177,973 2,955,727
2047 9,228,605 2,932,688
2046 9,275,381 2,909,307
2045 9,321,349 2,885,537
2044 9,367,130 2,861,372
2043 9,411,608 2,836,777
2042 9,454,837 2,811,663
2041 9,499,098 2,786,147
2040 9,543,726 2,760,391
2039 9,588,298 2,734,400
2038 9,633,708 2,708,216
2037 9,679,362 2,681,863
2036 9,724,905 2,654,755
2035 9,771,397 2,627,701
2034 9,817,355 2,600,880
2033 9,863,589 2,574,065
2032 9,911,215 2,547,344
2031 9,956,924 2,520,831
2030 10,002,298 2,494,646
2029 10,047,641 2,468,268
2028 10,092,845 2,441,871
2027 10,137,354 2,415,830
2026 10,181,414 2,389,516
2025 10,223,023 2,363,516
2024 10,405,134 2,337,423
2023 10,407,351 2,311,472
2022 10,436,882 2,286,110
2021 10,569,207 2,261,542
2020 10,698,599 2,235,727
2019 10,721,582 2,209,405
2018 10,732,882 2,183,603
2017 10,754,679 2,157,110
2016 10,775,971 2,130,422
2015 10,820,883 2,104,611
2014 10,892,413 2,080,089
2013 10,965,211 2,056,504
2012 11,045,011 2,034,354
2011 11,104,899 2,014,009
2010 11,121,341 1,996,251
2009 11,107,017 1,980,883
2008 11,077,841 1,966,541
2007 11,048,473 1,953,268
2006 11,020,362 1,945,063
2005 10,987,314 1,953,076
2004 10,955,141 1,971,129
2003 10,928,070 1,985,059
2002 10,902,022 1,994,679
2001 10,862,132 2,000,853
2000 10,805,808 2,003,913
1999 10,761,698 2,003,234
1998 10,720,509 1,998,049
1997 10,661,259 1,988,130
1996 10,608,800 1,972,418
1995 10,562,153 1,951,437
1994 10,512,922 1,927,707
1993 10,460,415 1,901,793
1992 10,399,061 1,873,274
1991 10,319,927 1,842,379
1990 10,196,792 1,809,696
1989 10,089,498 1,775,436
1988 10,036,983 1,739,841
1987 10,000,595 1,703,390
1986 9,967,213 1,666,138
1985 9,934,300 1,624,379
1984 9,895,801 1,578,986
1983 9,846,627 1,534,413
1982 9,789,513 1,490,732
1981 9,729,350 1,448,069
1980 9,642,505 1,406,521
1979 9,548,258 1,366,169
1978 9,429,959 1,327,240
1977 9,308,479 1,289,967
1976 9,188,150 1,253,214
1975 9,046,541 1,213,643
1974 8,962,022 1,172,420
1973 8,929,086 1,132,697
1972 8,888,628 1,094,063
1971 8,831,036 1,056,246
1970 8,792,806 1,019,273
1969 8,772,764 983,202
1968 8,740,765 948,105
1967 8,684,088 913,982
1966 8,613,651 881,870
1965 8,550,333 854,090
1964 8,510,429 829,437
1963 8,479,625 805,373
1962 8,448,233 781,814
1961 8,398,050 758,824
1960 8,331,725 736,500

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/greece/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Greece decreased by 244,391 people (a 2.22% decline), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Greece lost 594,557 people (a 5.52% decline), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Greece was ranked 74th most populous country in 2006 and is 96th 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) Greece's population will shrink by 10.9% to 9,072,676 people with a rank change from 96th to 106th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Greece's population already peaked in 2010 at 11.1M people and is projected to decrease to 6.46M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Greece
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Greece Lesotho
2100 -0.65% -0.18%
2099 -0.64% -0.18%
2098 -0.64% -0.17%
2097 -0.62% -0.15%
2096 -0.61% -0.15%
2095 -0.59% -0.12%
2094 -0.57% -0.11%
2093 -0.56% -0.12%
2092 -0.54% -0.09%
2091 -0.54% -0.07%
2090 -0.55% -0.06%
2089 -0.53% -0.05%
2088 -0.52% -0.04%
2087 -0.53% -0.01%
2086 -0.54% -0.02%
2085 -0.54% -0.007%
2084 -0.53% -0%
2083 -0.56% 0.008%
2082 -0.57% 0.02%
2081 -0.59% 0.03%
2080 -0.61% 0.06%
2079 -0.63% 0.08%
2078 -0.66% 0.1%
2077 -0.67% 0.11%
2076 -0.69% 0.11%
2075 -0.72% 0.15%
2074 -0.75% 0.16%
2073 -0.77% 0.17%
2072 -0.78% 0.2%
2071 -0.8% 0.24%
2070 -0.83% 0.26%
2069 -0.84% 0.28%
2068 -0.84% 0.29%
2067 -0.83% 0.3%
2066 -0.82% 0.3%
2065 -0.83% 0.33%
2064 -0.83% 0.35%
2063 -0.82% 0.4%
2062 -0.82% 0.42%
2061 -0.8% 0.44%
2060 -0.8% 0.47%
2059 -0.78% 0.48%
2058 -0.77% 0.5%
2057 -0.74% 0.52%
2056 -0.72% 0.56%
2055 -0.69% 0.56%
2054 -0.66% 0.6%
2053 -0.65% 0.64%
2052 -0.63% 0.68%
2051 -0.6% 0.69%
2050 -0.59% 0.72%
2049 -0.56% 0.75%
2048 -0.55% 0.79%
2047 -0.5% 0.8%
2046 -0.49% 0.82%
2045 -0.49% 0.84%
2044 -0.47% 0.87%
2043 -0.46% 0.89%
2042 -0.47% 0.92%
2041 -0.47% 0.93%
2040 -0.46% 0.95%
2039 -0.47% 0.97%
2038 -0.47% 0.98%
2037 -0.47% 1.02%
2036 -0.48% 1.03%
2035 -0.47% 1.03%
2034 -0.47% 1.04%
2033 -0.48% 1.05%
2032 -0.46% 1.05%
2031 -0.45% 1.05%
2030 -0.45% 1.07%
2029 -0.45% 1.08%
2028 -0.44% 1.08%
2027 -0.43% 1.1%
2026 -0.41% 1.1%
2025 -1.75% 1.12%
2024 -0.02% 1.12%
2023 -0.28% 1.11%
2022 -1.25% 1.09%
2021 -1.21% 1.15%
2020 -0.21% 1.19%
2019 -0.11% 1.18%
2018 -0.2% 1.23%
2017 -0.2% 1.25%
2016 -0.42% 1.23%
2015 -0.66% 1.18%
2014 -0.66% 1.15%
2013 -0.72% 1.09%
2012 -0.54% 1.01%
2011 -0.15% 0.89%
2010 0.13% 0.78%
2009 0.26% 0.73%
2008 0.27% 0.68%
2007 0.26% 0.42%
2006 0.3% -0.41%
2005 0.29% -0.92%
2004 0.25% -0.7%
2003 0.24% -0.48%
2002 0.37% -0.31%
2001 0.52% -0.15%
2000 0.41% 0.03%
1999 0.38% 0.26%
1998 0.56% 0.5%
1997 0.49% 0.8%
1996 0.44% 1.08%
1995 0.47% 1.23%
1994 0.5% 1.36%
1993 0.59% 1.52%
1992 0.77% 1.68%
1991 1.21% 1.81%
1990 1.06% 1.93%
1989 0.52% 2.05%
1988 0.36% 2.14%
1987 0.33% 2.24%
1986 0.33% 2.57%
1985 0.39% 2.87%
1984 0.5% 2.9%
1983 0.58% 2.93%
1982 0.62% 2.95%
1981 0.9% 2.95%
1980 0.99% 2.95%
1979 1.25% 2.93%
1978 1.31% 2.89%
1977 1.31% 2.93%
1976 1.57% 3.26%
1975 0.94% 3.52%
1974 0.37% 3.51%
1973 0.46% 3.53%
1972 0.65% 3.58%
1971 0.43% 3.63%
1970 0.23% 3.67%
1969 0.37% 3.7%
1968 0.65% 3.73%
1967 0.82% 3.64%
1966 0.74% 3.25%
1965 0.47% 2.97%
1964 0.36% 2.99%
1963 0.37% 3.01%
1962 0.6% 3.03%
1961 0.8% 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/greece/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Greece declined by 0.02%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Greece Lesotho
Current population
10181414
2396633
Population rank 96/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.12% 0.03%
One net population change
3.95 hours
20.3 minutes
One birth every
7.43 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
4.14 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6 +71
Annual growth/decline -2,217 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate -0.02% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 165/197 93/197
One migration net change every
31.7 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change +16,636 -5,192
Net migration rank 37/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 1,423,964 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 46/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 47/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Greece
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Greece Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 16,636 - -5,192
2024 - -122,772 - -5,107
2023 -56,200 -159,430 31,115 -5,168
2022 -63,665 -53,997 30,803 -6,023
2021 -58,131 -160,277 27,806 -3,449
2020 -46,004 6,353 30,721 -3,449
2019 -41,814 36,762 32,279 -6,896
2018 -33,272 17,938 33,112 -6,892
2017 -36,566 10,483 33,601 -6,850
2016 -25,862 10,484 33,390 -6,766
2015 -29,216 -43,462 32,087 -7,087
2014 -20,696 -46,678 30,922 -6,877
2013 -17,545 -59,323 29,789 -6,659
2012 -16,568 -65,364 27,592 -6,425
2011 -4,441 -31,786 25,647 -6,118
2010 5,560 2,001 21,877 -5,886
2009 8,886 18,182 20,335 -5,599
2008 11,077 27,081 19,349 -5,392
2007 2,210 25,400 17,763 -5,179
2006 6,612 27,621 15,234 -11,416
2005 2,197 33,297 15,831 -35,679
2004 0 29,039 17,271 -33,530
2003 -1,093 25,323 20,133 -31,723
2002 0 25,692 22,274 -29,924
2001 0 60,387 23,190 -27,874
2000 -1,081 54,661 24,786 -26,220
1999 -2,153 49,930 27,393 -24,610
1998 -2,144 47,856 30,889 -23,299
1997 2,133 45,671 34,637 -22,396
1996 0 43,444 36,228 -17,042
1995 1,056 42,674 37,370 -14,588
1994 6,307 42,897 38,629 -13,953
1993 4,185 39,829 40,505 -13,347
1992 6,239 41,000 42,579 -12,707
1991 6,192 37,917 44,026 -12,114
1990 8,157 26,294 45,060 -11,598
1989 9,080 18,862 46,264 -11,207
1988 15,055 20,557 47,158 -11,028
1987 10,001 19,005 47,718 -10,946
1986 20,931 19,064 45,232 -7,501
1985 22,849 16,093 44,575 1,222
1984 37,604 19,767 43,785 1,199
1983 42,341 18,655 42,899 1,253
1982 50,906 19,675 41,941 1,281
1981 54,484 25,061 40,808 1,307
1980 60,748 47,460 39,617 1,361
1979 65,882 72,184 38,440 1,285
1978 64,124 60,775 37,084 1,047
1977 59,574 19,193 35,654 746
1976 65,236 89,601 34,117 2,986
1975 61,516 61,265 32,311 9,723
1974 68,111 -22,590 30,444 9,972
1973 59,824 -42,387 28,859 10,183
1972 64,887 -3,589 27,841 10,386
1971 67,116 -12,747 26,838 10,563
1970 71,222 -54,166 25,935 10,605
1969 82,464 -118,544 25,137 10,465
1968 87,408 -429 24,490 10,108
1967 91,183 -55,853 23,911 9,734
1966 86,998 21,206 23,326 7,248
1965 83,793 -81,576 22,755 2,239
1964 83,402 -76,678 22,116 2,198
1963 81,404 -77,345 21,585 2,220
1962 85,327 -74,972 21,132 2,172
1961 86,500 -61,102 20,581 2,100
1960 96,648 -15,996 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 51.9% of the population change in Greece is from natural causes (a loss of 411,426 people) and 48.1% is from migration (a loss of 381,824 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, 1,423,964 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Greece, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Greece
City Population
Athens 643K
Crete 623K
Thessaloniki 310K
Patras 174K
Piraeus 168K
Larissa 146K
Heraklion 145K
Peristeri 134K
Kallithea 97.6K
Glyfada 89.6K
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/greece/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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