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Population in Guinea-Bissau compared to Lesotho: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Guinea-Bissau was 2,201,352 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Guinea-Bissau's population is 2,311,915 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Lesotho's population is 1.04 times bigger than Guinea-Bissau's.
  • Guinea-Bissau is ranked the 146th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.03% for Guinea-Bissau vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Guinea-Bissau has had an average growth rate of +2.4% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Guinea-Bissau has increased from 1.42M people to 2.31M (63.4% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Guinea-Bissau vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Guinea-Bissau
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Guinea-Bissau Lesotho
2100 4,713,717 3,280,784
2099 4,706,710 3,286,697
2098 4,700,179 3,292,498
2097 4,692,465 3,298,102
2096 4,683,547 3,303,027
2095 4,675,216 3,307,947
2094 4,663,709 3,312,002
2093 4,652,393 3,315,757
2092 4,640,186 3,319,661
2091 4,629,025 3,322,573
2090 4,617,372 3,324,769
2089 4,605,435 3,326,847
2088 4,592,696 3,328,480
2087 4,579,003 3,329,964
2086 4,563,387 3,330,456
2085 4,547,611 3,331,259
2084 4,530,795 3,331,485
2083 4,515,144 3,331,492
2082 4,498,757 3,331,234
2081 4,482,173 3,330,412
2080 4,462,572 3,329,267
2079 4,441,414 3,327,166
2078 4,419,851 3,324,646
2077 4,396,170 3,321,422
2076 4,371,588 3,317,850
2075 4,344,499 3,314,237
2074 4,319,080 3,309,174
2073 4,291,330 3,303,860
2072 4,263,400 3,298,181
2071 4,235,126 3,291,492
2070 4,206,800 3,283,654
2069 4,177,044 3,275,244
2068 4,145,996 3,266,152
2067 4,114,778 3,256,626
2066 4,083,481 3,246,903
2065 4,049,028 3,237,153
2064 4,014,305 3,226,489
2063 3,978,845 3,215,103
2062 3,942,144 3,202,287
2061 3,904,704 3,188,933
2060 3,868,649 3,174,998
2059 3,829,775 3,160,204
2058 3,790,102 3,145,053
2057 3,750,628 3,129,261
2056 3,711,479 3,113,129
2055 3,670,706 3,095,904
2054 3,627,775 3,078,567
2053 3,586,800 3,060,152
2052 3,544,101 3,040,649
2051 3,499,300 3,020,109
2050 3,453,604 2,999,457
2049 3,406,207 2,978,037
2048 3,359,168 2,955,727
2047 3,310,573 2,932,688
2046 3,263,932 2,909,307
2045 3,215,095 2,885,537
2044 3,167,811 2,861,372
2043 3,120,502 2,836,777
2042 3,073,261 2,811,663
2041 3,026,226 2,786,147
2040 2,978,546 2,760,391
2039 2,929,745 2,734,400
2038 2,881,381 2,708,216
2037 2,833,162 2,681,863
2036 2,783,763 2,654,755
2035 2,736,596 2,627,701
2034 2,688,639 2,600,880
2033 2,638,770 2,574,065
2032 2,589,298 2,547,344
2031 2,540,343 2,520,831
2030 2,492,311 2,494,646
2029 2,444,595 2,468,268
2028 2,396,565 2,441,871
2027 2,347,456 2,415,830
2026 2,298,738 2,389,516
2025 2,249,807 2,363,516
2024 2,201,352 2,337,423
2023 2,153,339 2,311,472
2022 2,105,529 2,286,110
2021 2,058,841 2,261,542
2020 2,013,255 2,235,727
2019 1,967,696 2,209,405
2018 1,922,168 2,183,603
2017 1,877,072 2,157,110
2016 1,831,893 2,130,422
2015 1,786,457 2,104,611
2014 1,741,122 2,080,089
2013 1,695,973 2,056,504
2012 1,651,417 2,034,354
2011 1,608,076 2,014,009
2010 1,566,347 1,996,251
2009 1,526,377 1,980,883
2008 1,488,054 1,966,541
2007 1,450,986 1,953,268
2006 1,415,303 1,945,063
2005 1,381,585 1,953,076
2004 1,349,563 1,971,129
2003 1,318,806 1,985,059
2002 1,289,307 1,994,679
2001 1,261,273 2,000,853
2000 1,234,741 2,003,913
1999 1,210,206 2,003,234
1998 1,187,473 1,998,049
1997 1,165,545 1,988,130
1996 1,143,535 1,972,418
1995 1,119,949 1,951,437
1994 1,092,031 1,927,707
1993 1,058,745 1,901,793
1992 1,024,356 1,873,274
1991 994,639 1,842,379
1990 973,669 1,809,696
1989 957,789 1,775,436
1988 942,061 1,739,841
1987 926,862 1,703,390
1986 912,126 1,666,138
1985 897,697 1,624,379
1984 883,519 1,578,986
1983 869,592 1,534,413
1982 855,891 1,490,732
1981 842,432 1,448,069
1980 829,303 1,406,521
1979 819,867 1,366,169
1978 791,694 1,327,240
1977 741,789 1,289,967
1976 694,191 1,253,214
1975 650,966 1,213,643
1974 613,338 1,172,420
1973 592,808 1,132,697
1972 586,620 1,094,063
1971 586,221 1,056,246
1970 584,403 1,019,273
1969 581,610 983,202
1968 578,170 948,105
1967 569,011 913,982
1966 566,908 881,870
1965 575,005 854,090
1964 588,543 829,437
1963 594,418 805,373
1962 589,474 781,814
1961 582,532 758,824
1960 577,633 736,500

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/guinea-bissau/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Guinea-Bissau increased by 416,590 people (a 29.4% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Guinea-Bissau gained 480,022 people (a 26.2% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Guinea-Bissau was ranked 148th most populous country in 2006 and is 146th 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) Guinea-Bissau's population will grow by 49.4% to 3,453,604 people with a rank change from 146th to 136th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Guinea-Bissau is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 4.71M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Guinea-Bissau
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Guinea-Bissau Lesotho
2100 0.15% -0.18%
2099 0.14% -0.18%
2098 0.16% -0.17%
2097 0.19% -0.15%
2096 0.18% -0.15%
2095 0.25% -0.12%
2094 0.24% -0.11%
2093 0.26% -0.12%
2092 0.24% -0.09%
2091 0.25% -0.07%
2090 0.26% -0.06%
2089 0.28% -0.05%
2088 0.3% -0.04%
2087 0.34% -0.01%
2086 0.35% -0.02%
2085 0.37% -0.007%
2084 0.35% -0%
2083 0.36% 0.008%
2082 0.37% 0.02%
2081 0.44% 0.03%
2080 0.48% 0.06%
2079 0.49% 0.08%
2078 0.54% 0.1%
2077 0.56% 0.11%
2076 0.62% 0.11%
2075 0.59% 0.15%
2074 0.65% 0.16%
2073 0.66% 0.17%
2072 0.67% 0.2%
2071 0.67% 0.24%
2070 0.71% 0.26%
2069 0.75% 0.28%
2068 0.76% 0.29%
2067 0.77% 0.3%
2066 0.85% 0.3%
2065 0.86% 0.33%
2064 0.89% 0.35%
2063 0.93% 0.4%
2062 0.96% 0.42%
2061 0.93% 0.44%
2060 1.02% 0.47%
2059 1.05% 0.48%
2058 1.05% 0.5%
2057 1.05% 0.52%
2056 1.11% 0.56%
2055 1.18% 0.56%
2054 1.14% 0.6%
2053 1.2% 0.64%
2052 1.28% 0.68%
2051 1.32% 0.69%
2050 1.39% 0.72%
2049 1.4% 0.75%
2048 1.47% 0.79%
2047 1.43% 0.8%
2046 1.52% 0.82%
2045 1.49% 0.84%
2044 1.52% 0.87%
2043 1.54% 0.89%
2042 1.55% 0.92%
2041 1.6% 0.93%
2040 1.67% 0.95%
2039 1.68% 0.97%
2038 1.7% 0.98%
2037 1.77% 1.02%
2036 1.72% 1.03%
2035 1.78% 1.03%
2034 1.89% 1.04%
2033 1.91% 1.05%
2032 1.93% 1.05%
2031 1.93% 1.05%
2030 1.95% 1.07%
2029 2% 1.08%
2028 2.09% 1.08%
2027 2.12% 1.1%
2026 2.17% 1.1%
2025 2.2% 1.12%
2024 2.23% 1.12%
2023 2.27% 1.11%
2022 2.27% 1.09%
2021 2.26% 1.15%
2020 2.32% 1.19%
2019 2.37% 1.18%
2018 2.4% 1.23%
2017 2.47% 1.25%
2016 2.54% 1.23%
2015 2.6% 1.18%
2014 2.66% 1.15%
2013 2.7% 1.09%
2012 2.7% 1.01%
2011 2.66% 0.89%
2010 2.62% 0.78%
2009 2.58% 0.73%
2008 2.55% 0.68%
2007 2.52% 0.42%
2006 2.44% -0.41%
2005 2.37% -0.92%
2004 2.33% -0.7%
2003 2.29% -0.48%
2002 2.22% -0.31%
2001 2.15% -0.15%
2000 2.03% 0.03%
1999 1.91% 0.26%
1998 1.88% 0.5%
1997 1.92% 0.8%
1996 2.11% 1.08%
1995 2.56% 1.23%
1994 3.14% 1.36%
1993 3.36% 1.52%
1992 2.99% 1.68%
1991 2.15% 1.81%
1990 1.66% 1.93%
1989 1.67% 2.05%
1988 1.64% 2.14%
1987 1.62% 2.24%
1986 1.61% 2.57%
1985 1.6% 2.87%
1984 1.6% 2.9%
1983 1.6% 2.93%
1982 1.6% 2.95%
1981 1.58% 2.95%
1980 1.15% 2.95%
1979 3.56% 2.93%
1978 6.73% 2.89%
1977 6.86% 2.93%
1976 6.64% 3.26%
1975 6.13% 3.52%
1974 3.46% 3.51%
1973 1.05% 3.53%
1972 0.07% 3.58%
1971 0.31% 3.63%
1970 0.48% 3.67%
1969 0.59% 3.7%
1968 1.61% 3.73%
1967 0.37% 3.64%
1966 -1.41% 3.25%
1965 -2.3% 2.97%
1964 -0.99% 2.99%
1963 0.84% 3.01%
1962 1.19% 3.03%
1961 0.85% 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/guinea-bissau/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Guinea-Bissau grew by 2.23%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Guinea-Bissau Lesotho
Current population
2311915
2396633
Population rank 146/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.03%
One net population change
10.9 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
8.13 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
34.6 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +132 +71
Annual growth/decline +48,013 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +2.23% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 42/197 93/197
One migration net change every
6.4 hours
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -1,373 -5,192
Net migration rank 96/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 15,064 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 172/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 165/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Guinea-Bissau
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Guinea-Bissau Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,373 - -5,192
2024 - -1,712 - -5,107
2023 49,498 -1,400 31,115 -5,168
2022 48,920 -1,400 30,803 -6,023
2021 47,242 -1,395 27,806 -3,449
2020 46,718 -1,394 30,721 -3,449
2019 47,196 -1,395 32,279 -6,896
2018 46,659 -1,396 33,112 -6,892
2017 46,318 -1,398 33,601 -6,850
2016 46,814 -1,392 33,390 -6,766
2015 46,846 -1,393 32,087 -7,087
2014 46,615 -1,393 30,922 -6,877
2013 46,472 -1,395 29,789 -6,659
2012 45,480 -1,442 27,592 -6,425
2011 44,405 -1,760 25,647 -6,118
2010 43,067 -2,257 21,877 -5,886
2009 41,950 -2,821 20,335 -5,599
2008 40,841 -3,313 19,349 -5,392
2007 40,288 -3,676 17,763 -5,179
2006 38,886 -4,142 15,234 -11,416
2005 37,347 -4,662 15,831 -35,679
2004 36,495 -5,144 17,271 -33,530
2003 35,649 -5,487 20,133 -31,723
2002 34,561 -5,712 22,274 -29,924
2001 33,461 -6,239 23,190 -27,874
2000 32,816 -6,971 24,786 -26,220
1999 30,916 -7,686 27,393 -24,610
1998 30,390 -8,163 30,889 -23,299
1997 29,792 -8,176 34,637 -22,396
1996 29,778 -7,369 36,228 -17,042
1995 29,142 -4,376 37,370 -14,588
1994 27,895 3,174 38,629 -13,953
1993 26,943 8,562 40,505 -13,347
1992 25,747 7,531 42,579 -12,707
1991 24,527 1,621 44,026 -12,114
1990 23,936 -8,151 45,060 -11,598
1989 24,286 -8,296 46,264 -11,207
1988 23,940 -8,473 47,158 -11,028
1987 23,549 -8,622 47,718 -10,946
1986 23,301 -8,748 45,232 -7,501
1985 23,116 -8,812 44,575 1,222
1984 22,861 -8,812 43,785 1,199
1983 22,542 -8,729 42,899 1,253
1982 22,131 -8,539 41,941 1,281
1981 21,611 -8,291 40,808 1,307
1980 21,024 -8,086 39,617 1,361
1979 19,736 -13,801 38,440 1,285
1978 17,468 32,936 37,084 1,047
1977 15,484 33,922 35,654 746
1976 13,688 32,113 34,117 2,986
1975 11,998 28,645 32,311 9,723
1974 10,321 24,290 30,444 9,972
1973 8,430 -1,985 28,859 10,183
1972 7,911 -1,985 27,841 10,386
1971 8,183 -13,302 26,838 10,563
1970 7,632 1,123 25,935 10,605
1969 7,857 -11,033 25,137 10,465
1968 7,289 2,769 24,490 10,108
1967 6,742 1,516 23,911 9,734
1966 6,955 -11,006 23,326 7,248
1965 7,789 -19,928 22,755 2,239
1964 8,989 -23,936 22,116 2,198
1963 9,190 -5,993 21,585 2,220
1962 10,662 -3,960 21,132 2,172
1961 10,756 -3,575 20,581 2,100
1960 10,618 -8,007 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/guinea-bissau/lesotho | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 97.1% of the population change in Guinea-Bissau is from natural causes (a gain of 472,826 people) and 2.87% is from migration (a loss of 13,956 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, 15,064 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Guinea-Bissau, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Guinea-Bissau
City Population
Bissau 492K
Bafata 29.6K
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/guinea-bissau/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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