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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of India was 1,450,935,791 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current India's population is 1,480,351,380 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • India's population is 618 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • India is ranked the 1st most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 17.9% of the world: 17.9% for India vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, India has had an average growth rate of +1.03% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of India has increased from 1.17B people to 1.48B (26.2% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

India vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

India
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
India Lesotho
2100 1,515,897,176 3,280,784
2099 1,523,583,618 3,286,697
2098 1,531,281,096 3,292,498
2097 1,538,914,978 3,298,102
2096 1,546,515,506 3,303,027
2095 1,554,100,337 3,307,947
2094 1,561,632,624 3,312,002
2093 1,569,112,481 3,315,757
2092 1,576,470,228 3,319,661
2091 1,583,793,450 3,322,573
2090 1,591,038,578 3,324,769
2089 1,598,165,996 3,326,847
2088 1,605,169,643 3,328,480
2087 1,612,023,916 3,329,964
2086 1,618,795,931 3,330,456
2085 1,625,424,591 3,331,259
2084 1,631,854,605 3,331,485
2083 1,638,132,423 3,331,492
2082 1,644,206,476 3,331,234
2081 1,650,106,942 3,330,412
2080 1,655,799,569 3,329,267
2079 1,661,261,962 3,327,166
2078 1,666,477,951 3,324,646
2077 1,671,444,317 3,321,422
2076 1,676,151,275 3,317,850
2075 1,680,606,119 3,314,237
2074 1,684,743,082 3,309,174
2073 1,688,579,113 3,303,860
2072 1,692,138,648 3,298,181
2071 1,695,351,098 3,291,492
2070 1,698,255,829 3,283,654
2069 1,700,813,392 3,275,244
2068 1,703,025,450 3,266,152
2067 1,704,872,725 3,256,626
2066 1,706,347,017 3,246,903
2065 1,707,540,131 3,237,153
2064 1,708,362,011 3,226,489
2063 1,708,845,280 3,215,103
2062 1,709,011,618 3,202,287
2061 1,708,866,368 3,188,933
2060 1,708,344,645 3,174,998
2059 1,707,488,768 3,160,204
2058 1,706,314,224 3,145,053
2057 1,704,805,210 3,129,261
2056 1,703,013,988 3,113,129
2055 1,700,890,479 3,095,904
2054 1,698,473,703 3,078,567
2053 1,695,661,388 3,060,152
2052 1,692,531,993 3,040,649
2051 1,689,057,795 3,020,109
2050 1,685,236,057 2,999,457
2049 1,681,083,344 2,978,037
2048 1,676,576,931 2,955,727
2047 1,671,678,054 2,932,688
2046 1,666,371,707 2,909,307
2045 1,660,667,112 2,885,537
2044 1,654,556,840 2,861,372
2043 1,648,067,988 2,836,777
2042 1,641,136,901 2,811,663
2041 1,633,771,970 2,786,147
2040 1,625,990,392 2,760,391
2039 1,617,818,911 2,734,400
2038 1,609,238,166 2,708,216
2037 1,600,212,760 2,681,863
2036 1,590,731,970 2,654,755
2035 1,580,864,963 2,627,701
2034 1,570,629,033 2,600,880
2033 1,560,043,145 2,574,065
2032 1,549,098,676 2,547,344
2031 1,537,810,507 2,520,831
2030 1,526,192,552 2,494,646
2029 1,514,274,850 2,468,268
2028 1,502,102,657 2,441,871
2027 1,489,628,314 2,415,830
2026 1,476,911,618 2,389,516
2025 1,463,993,377 2,363,516
2024 1,450,935,791 2,337,423
2023 1,438,069,596 2,311,472
2022 1,425,423,212 2,286,110
2021 1,414,203,896 2,261,542
2020 1,402,617,695 2,235,727
2019 1,389,030,312 2,209,405
2018 1,374,659,064 2,183,603
2017 1,359,657,400 2,157,110
2016 1,343,944,296 2,130,422
2015 1,328,024,498 2,104,611
2014 1,312,277,191 2,080,089
2013 1,295,829,511 2,056,504
2012 1,278,674,502 2,034,354
2011 1,261,224,954 2,014,009
2010 1,243,481,564 1,996,251
2009 1,225,524,753 1,980,883
2008 1,207,930,964 1,966,541
2007 1,190,676,021 1,953,268
2006 1,172,878,890 1,945,063
2005 1,154,676,322 1,953,076
2004 1,135,991,513 1,971,129
2003 1,116,803,006 1,985,059
2002 1,097,600,380 1,994,679
2001 1,077,898,575 2,000,853
2000 1,057,922,733 2,003,913
1999 1,038,225,823 2,003,234
1998 1,018,665,080 1,998,049
1997 999,133,762 1,988,130
1996 979,678,458 1,972,418
1995 960,301,044 1,951,437
1994 941,163,767 1,927,707
1993 922,118,387 1,901,793
1992 902,957,070 1,873,274
1991 883,927,600 1,842,379
1990 864,972,221 1,809,696
1989 846,039,529 1,775,436
1988 827,342,990 1,739,841
1987 808,931,270 1,703,390
1986 790,689,978 1,666,138
1985 772,647,793 1,624,379
1984 754,875,449 1,578,986
1983 737,372,681 1,534,413
1982 720,313,473 1,490,732
1981 703,696,250 1,448,069
1980 687,354,025 1,406,521
1979 671,155,747 1,366,169
1978 655,728,229 1,327,240
1977 640,801,103 1,289,967
1976 625,861,883 1,253,214
1975 611,309,535 1,213,643
1974 597,041,391 1,172,420
1973 583,465,598 1,132,697
1972 570,482,142 1,094,063
1971 558,096,387 1,056,246
1970 545,864,268 1,019,273
1969 533,880,544 983,202
1968 522,716,889 948,105
1967 511,606,372 913,982
1966 500,740,247 881,870
1965 490,140,146 854,090
1964 479,229,598 829,437
1963 468,138,575 805,373
1962 457,283,090 781,814
1961 446,564,729 758,824
1960 435,990,338 736,500

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/india/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of India increased by 171,065,406 people (a 14.6% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, India gained 136,407,084 people (a 10.1% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

India was ranked 2nd most populous country in 2006 and is 1st 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) India's population will grow by 13.8% to 1,685,236,057 people and will still be ranked 1st. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

India is projected to reach its peak in 2062 at 1.71B people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

India
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
India Lesotho
2100 -0.5% -0.18%
2099 -0.5% -0.18%
2098 -0.5% -0.17%
2097 -0.49% -0.15%
2096 -0.49% -0.15%
2095 -0.48% -0.12%
2094 -0.48% -0.11%
2093 -0.47% -0.12%
2092 -0.46% -0.09%
2091 -0.46% -0.07%
2090 -0.45% -0.06%
2089 -0.44% -0.05%
2088 -0.43% -0.04%
2087 -0.42% -0.01%
2086 -0.41% -0.02%
2085 -0.39% -0.007%
2084 -0.38% -0%
2083 -0.37% 0.008%
2082 -0.36% 0.02%
2081 -0.34% 0.03%
2080 -0.33% 0.06%
2079 -0.31% 0.08%
2078 -0.3% 0.1%
2077 -0.28% 0.11%
2076 -0.27% 0.11%
2075 -0.25% 0.15%
2074 -0.23% 0.16%
2073 -0.21% 0.17%
2072 -0.19% 0.2%
2071 -0.17% 0.24%
2070 -0.15% 0.26%
2069 -0.13% 0.28%
2068 -0.11% 0.29%
2067 -0.09% 0.3%
2066 -0.07% 0.3%
2065 -0.05% 0.33%
2064 -0.03% 0.35%
2063 -0.01% 0.4%
2062 0.008% 0.42%
2061 0.03% 0.44%
2060 0.05% 0.47%
2059 0.07% 0.48%
2058 0.09% 0.5%
2057 0.11% 0.52%
2056 0.12% 0.56%
2055 0.14% 0.56%
2054 0.17% 0.6%
2053 0.18% 0.64%
2052 0.21% 0.68%
2051 0.23% 0.69%
2050 0.25% 0.72%
2049 0.27% 0.75%
2048 0.29% 0.79%
2047 0.32% 0.8%
2046 0.34% 0.82%
2045 0.37% 0.84%
2044 0.39% 0.87%
2043 0.42% 0.89%
2042 0.45% 0.92%
2041 0.48% 0.93%
2040 0.51% 0.95%
2039 0.53% 0.97%
2038 0.56% 0.98%
2037 0.6% 1.02%
2036 0.62% 1.03%
2035 0.65% 1.03%
2034 0.68% 1.04%
2033 0.71% 1.05%
2032 0.73% 1.05%
2031 0.76% 1.05%
2030 0.79% 1.07%
2029 0.81% 1.08%
2028 0.84% 1.08%
2027 0.86% 1.1%
2026 0.88% 1.1%
2025 0.9% 1.12%
2024 0.89% 1.12%
2023 0.89% 1.11%
2022 0.79% 1.09%
2021 0.83% 1.15%
2020 0.98% 1.19%
2019 1.05% 1.18%
2018 1.1% 1.23%
2017 1.17% 1.25%
2016 1.2% 1.23%
2015 1.2% 1.18%
2014 1.27% 1.15%
2013 1.34% 1.09%
2012 1.38% 1.01%
2011 1.43% 0.89%
2010 1.47% 0.78%
2009 1.46% 0.73%
2008 1.45% 0.68%
2007 1.52% 0.42%
2006 1.58% -0.41%
2005 1.64% -0.92%
2004 1.72% -0.7%
2003 1.75% -0.48%
2002 1.83% -0.31%
2001 1.89% -0.15%
2000 1.9% 0.03%
1999 1.92% 0.26%
1998 1.95% 0.5%
1997 1.99% 0.8%
1996 2.02% 1.08%
1995 2.03% 1.23%
1994 2.07% 1.36%
1993 2.12% 1.52%
1992 2.15% 1.68%
1991 2.19% 1.81%
1990 2.24% 1.93%
1989 2.26% 2.05%
1988 2.28% 2.14%
1987 2.31% 2.24%
1986 2.34% 2.57%
1985 2.35% 2.87%
1984 2.37% 2.9%
1983 2.37% 2.93%
1982 2.36% 2.95%
1981 2.38% 2.95%
1980 2.41% 2.95%
1979 2.35% 2.93%
1978 2.33% 2.89%
1977 2.39% 2.93%
1976 2.38% 3.26%
1975 2.39% 3.52%
1974 2.33% 3.51%
1973 2.28% 3.53%
1972 2.22% 3.58%
1971 2.24% 3.63%
1970 2.24% 3.67%
1969 2.14% 3.7%
1968 2.17% 3.73%
1967 2.17% 3.64%
1966 2.16% 3.25%
1965 2.28% 2.97%
1964 2.37% 2.99%
1963 2.37% 3.01%
1962 2.4% 3.03%
1961 2.43% 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/india/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of India grew by 0.89%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

India Lesotho
Current population
1480351380
2396633
Population rank 1/197 143/197
Percent of world population 17.9% 0.03%
One net population change
2.45 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
1.36 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
3.32 seconds
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +35,250 +71
Annual growth/decline +12,866,195 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +0.89% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 107/197 93/197
One migration net change every
1.06 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -495,753 -5,192
Net migration rank 195/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 4,796,255 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 15/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 181/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

India
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
India Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -495,753 - -5,192
2024 - -630,830 - -5,107
2023 13,711,993 -979,179 31,115 -5,168
2022 13,912,130 -1,353,478 30,803 -6,023
2021 10,227,523 -348,916 27,806 -3,449
2020 13,366,946 -73,806 30,721 -3,449
2019 14,859,846 -978,969 32,279 -6,896
2018 15,451,168 -589,794 33,112 -6,892
2017 15,394,041 -251,642 33,601 -6,850
2016 16,202,593 81,248 33,390 -6,766
2015 16,211,195 -655,085 32,087 -7,087
2014 16,165,943 -227,263 30,922 -6,877
2013 17,107,541 -151,372 29,789 -6,659
2012 17,552,365 -198,935 27,592 -6,425
2011 17,793,362 -247,017 25,647 -6,118
2010 17,991,935 -50,905 21,877 -5,886
2009 18,286,055 -312,905 20,335 -5,599
2008 18,234,926 -1,020,047 19,349 -5,392
2007 18,331,648 -1,037,200 17,763 -5,179
2006 18,641,737 -342,177 15,234 -11,416
2005 19,034,839 -929,454 15,831 -35,679
2004 19,469,758 -206,660 17,271 -33,530
2003 19,720,507 -606,970 20,133 -31,723
2002 20,024,621 -732,419 22,274 -29,924
2001 20,182,573 -70,346 23,190 -27,874
2000 19,984,160 -143,960 24,786 -26,220
1999 19,648,424 -95,320 27,393 -24,610
1998 19,569,575 -1,049 30,889 -23,299
1997 19,494,098 880 34,637 -22,396
1996 19,442,699 -26,388 36,228 -17,042
1995 19,396,161 -57,297 37,370 -14,588
1994 19,310,798 -375,253 38,629 -13,953
1993 19,152,399 2,364 40,505 -13,347
1992 19,132,757 35,155 42,579 -12,707
1991 19,049,524 -157,911 44,026 -12,114
1990 18,893,588 125,514 45,060 -11,598
1989 18,848,915 -2,907 46,264 -11,207
1988 18,702,916 -155,676 47,158 -11,028
1987 18,496,213 -219,150 47,718 -10,946
1986 18,455,495 -249,545 45,232 -7,501
1985 17,968,697 -89,991 44,575 1,222
1984 17,698,810 -32,313 43,785 1,199
1983 17,219,127 119,694 42,899 1,253
1982 16,790,507 -10,687 41,941 1,281
1981 16,422,159 33,243 40,808 1,307
1980 16,018,786 210,914 39,617 1,361
1979 15,392,957 774,094 38,440 1,285
1978 14,898,145 -210,444 37,084 1,047
1977 14,575,662 590,626 35,654 746
1976 14,435,504 275,984 34,117 2,986
1975 13,958,642 434,205 32,311 9,723
1974 13,795,836 347,869 30,444 9,972
1973 13,412,707 -404,743 28,859 10,183
1972 13,041,792 -82,816 27,841 10,386
1971 12,787,104 -974,574 26,838 10,563
1970 12,417,866 233,782 25,935 10,605
1969 12,167,671 -851,844 25,137 10,465
1968 12,006,807 -995,416 24,490 10,108
1967 11,279,897 -70,314 23,911 9,734
1966 11,089,894 -566,982 23,326 7,248
1965 10,925,714 -248,299 22,755 2,239
1964 11,285,378 -141,916 22,116 2,198
1963 11,016,705 21,640 21,585 2,220
1962 10,743,409 -70,514 21,132 2,172
1961 10,468,816 295,177 20,581 2,100
1960 10,237,489 146,955 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 96.4% of the population change in India is from natural causes (a gain of 145,503,378 people) and 3.56% is from migration (a loss of 5,376,884 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, 4,796,255 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in India, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

India
City Population
Delhi 26.5M
Mumbai 15.4M
Bangalore 12.3M
Hyderabad 9.3M
Ahmedabad 7.64M
Chennai 6.6M
Pune 5.94M
Surat 5.94M
Kolkata 4.5M
Lucknow 3.38M
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/india/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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