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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 92,417,681 in 2025 vs 2,363,325 people in Lesotho in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,580,141 people compared to 2,402,837 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 38.9 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.16% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.15% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.6M (27.5% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.5% growth).

Iran vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Lesotho
2100 80,660,972 3,280,518
2099 81,193,582 3,286,430
2098 81,717,474 3,292,231
2097 82,241,892 3,297,835
2096 82,764,411 3,302,758
2095 83,283,942 3,307,678
2094 83,799,806 3,311,734
2093 84,316,389 3,315,488
2092 84,833,108 3,319,391
2091 85,354,240 3,322,303
2090 85,878,473 3,324,499
2089 86,409,859 3,326,577
2088 86,947,263 3,328,210
2087 87,492,427 3,329,694
2086 88,047,949 3,330,185
2085 88,610,339 3,330,989
2084 89,181,346 3,331,214
2083 89,758,453 3,331,221
2082 90,343,413 3,330,964
2081 90,936,310 3,330,141
2080 91,535,218 3,328,997
2079 92,136,544 3,326,895
2078 92,740,467 3,324,376
2077 93,344,865 3,321,152
2076 93,946,187 3,317,581
2075 94,544,733 3,313,968
2074 95,135,317 3,308,905
2073 95,721,351 3,303,592
2072 96,292,835 3,297,913
2071 96,851,951 3,291,224
2070 97,397,073 3,283,387
2069 97,924,812 3,274,978
2068 98,432,509 3,265,887
2067 98,913,776 3,256,362
2066 99,374,357 3,246,639
2065 99,812,137 3,236,890
2064 100,223,387 3,226,227
2063 100,602,361 3,214,843
2062 100,951,282 3,202,027
2061 101,266,537 3,188,674
2060 101,545,806 3,174,740
2059 101,792,315 3,159,947
2058 101,994,395 3,144,797
2057 102,161,227 3,129,007
2056 102,291,323 3,112,877
2055 102,382,089 3,095,653
2054 102,431,558 3,078,317
2053 102,441,204 3,059,904
2052 102,413,350 3,040,402
2051 102,350,865 3,019,864
2050 102,251,999 2,999,214
2049 102,122,983 2,977,795
2048 101,957,508 2,955,487
2047 101,765,614 2,932,450
2046 101,547,098 2,909,071
2045 101,305,486 2,885,303
2044 101,038,874 2,861,140
2043 100,752,109 2,836,547
2042 100,446,296 2,811,435
2041 100,122,690 2,785,921
2040 99,784,572 2,760,167
2039 99,436,793 2,734,178
2038 99,072,548 2,707,996
2037 98,694,577 2,681,646
2036 98,302,279 2,654,540
2035 97,899,013 2,627,488
2034 97,482,352 2,600,669
2033 97,054,589 2,573,856
2032 96,608,216 2,547,137
2031 96,141,200 2,520,626
2030 95,656,003 2,494,444
2029 95,133,736 2,468,067
2028 94,561,150 2,441,673
2027 93,925,792 2,415,634
2026 93,215,072 2,389,322
2025 92,417,681 2,363,325
2024 91,567,738 2,337,423
2023 90,608,707 2,311,472
2022 89,524,246 2,286,110
2021 88,455,488 2,261,542
2020 87,723,443 2,235,727
2019 87,051,648 2,209,405
2018 86,117,998 2,183,603
2017 85,026,754 2,157,110
2016 83,812,228 2,130,422
2015 82,619,362 2,104,611
2014 81,502,045 2,080,089
2013 80,414,686 2,056,504
2012 79,370,580 2,034,354
2011 78,383,598 2,014,009
2010 77,420,842 1,996,251
2009 76,457,825 1,980,883
2008 75,514,204 1,966,541
2007 74,602,648 1,953,268
2006 73,392,747 1,945,063
2005 71,828,455 1,953,076
2004 70,256,316 1,971,129
2003 68,769,340 1,985,059
2002 68,011,317 1,994,679
2001 67,452,005 2,000,853
2000 66,418,659 2,003,913
1999 65,445,391 2,003,234
1998 64,519,859 1,998,049
1997 63,639,638 1,988,130
1996 62,881,300 1,972,418
1995 62,205,567 1,951,437
1994 61,520,598 1,927,707
1993 61,403,543 1,901,793
1992 61,184,983 1,873,274
1991 59,986,931 1,842,379
1990 58,380,092 1,809,696
1989 56,704,914 1,775,436
1988 55,072,694 1,739,841
1987 53,323,493 1,703,390
1986 51,446,045 1,666,138
1985 49,582,289 1,624,379
1984 47,793,998 1,578,986
1983 46,029,535 1,534,413
1982 44,272,141 1,490,732
1981 41,989,312 1,448,069
1980 39,842,324 1,406,521
1979 38,424,952 1,366,169
1978 37,126,535 1,327,240
1977 35,933,181 1,289,967
1976 34,837,271 1,253,214
1975 33,802,973 1,213,643
1974 32,796,463 1,172,420
1973 31,839,838 1,132,697
1972 30,921,179 1,094,063
1971 30,029,071 1,056,246
1970 29,145,100 1,019,273
1969 28,273,482 983,202
1968 27,437,391 948,105
1967 26,628,432 913,982
1966 25,829,270 881,870
1965 25,036,978 854,090
1964 24,262,859 829,437
1963 23,519,005 805,373
1962 22,807,907 781,814
1961 22,125,726 758,824
1960 21,470,434 736,500

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,767,913 people (a 11.7% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th 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) Iran's population will grow by 9.27% to 102,251,999 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 24.8% to 2,999,214 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 102M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran Lesotho
2100 -0.66% -0.18%
2099 -0.64% -0.18%
2098 -0.64% -0.17%
2097 -0.63% -0.15%
2096 -0.62% -0.15%
2095 -0.62% -0.12%
2094 -0.61% -0.11%
2093 -0.61% -0.12%
2092 -0.61% -0.09%
2091 -0.61% -0.07%
2090 -0.61% -0.06%
2089 -0.62% -0.05%
2088 -0.62% -0.04%
2087 -0.63% -0.01%
2086 -0.63% -0.02%
2085 -0.64% -0.007%
2084 -0.64% -0%
2083 -0.65% 0.008%
2082 -0.65% 0.02%
2081 -0.65% 0.03%
2080 -0.65% 0.06%
2079 -0.65% 0.08%
2078 -0.65% 0.1%
2077 -0.64% 0.11%
2076 -0.63% 0.11%
2075 -0.62% 0.15%
2074 -0.61% 0.16%
2073 -0.59% 0.17%
2072 -0.58% 0.2%
2071 -0.56% 0.24%
2070 -0.54% 0.26%
2069 -0.52% 0.28%
2068 -0.49% 0.29%
2067 -0.46% 0.3%
2066 -0.44% 0.3%
2065 -0.41% 0.33%
2064 -0.38% 0.35%
2063 -0.35% 0.4%
2062 -0.31% 0.42%
2061 -0.28% 0.44%
2060 -0.24% 0.47%
2059 -0.2% 0.48%
2058 -0.16% 0.5%
2057 -0.13% 0.52%
2056 -0.09% 0.56%
2055 -0.05% 0.56%
2054 -0.009% 0.6%
2053 0.03% 0.64%
2052 0.06% 0.68%
2051 0.1% 0.69%
2050 0.13% 0.72%
2049 0.16% 0.75%
2048 0.19% 0.79%
2047 0.22% 0.8%
2046 0.24% 0.82%
2045 0.26% 0.84%
2044 0.28% 0.87%
2043 0.3% 0.89%
2042 0.32% 0.92%
2041 0.34% 0.93%
2040 0.35% 0.95%
2039 0.37% 0.97%
2038 0.38% 0.98%
2037 0.4% 1.02%
2036 0.41% 1.03%
2035 0.43% 1.03%
2034 0.44% 1.04%
2033 0.46% 1.05%
2032 0.49% 1.05%
2031 0.51% 1.05%
2030 0.55% 1.07%
2029 0.61% 1.08%
2028 0.68% 1.08%
2027 0.76% 1.1%
2026 0.86% 1.1%
2025 0.93% 1.11%
2024 1.06% 1.12%
2023 1.21% 1.11%
2022 1.21% 1.09%
2021 0.83% 1.15%
2020 0.77% 1.19%
2019 1.08% 1.18%
2018 1.28% 1.23%
2017 1.45% 1.25%
2016 1.44% 1.23%
2015 1.37% 1.18%
2014 1.35% 1.15%
2013 1.32% 1.09%
2012 1.26% 1.01%
2011 1.24% 0.89%
2010 1.26% 0.78%
2009 1.25% 0.73%
2008 1.22% 0.68%
2007 1.65% 0.42%
2006 2.18% -0.41%
2005 2.24% -0.92%
2004 2.16% -0.7%
2003 1.11% -0.48%
2002 0.83% -0.31%
2001 1.56% -0.15%
2000 1.49% 0.03%
1999 1.43% 0.26%
1998 1.38% 0.5%
1997 1.21% 0.8%
1996 1.09% 1.08%
1995 1.11% 1.23%
1994 0.19% 1.36%
1993 0.36% 1.52%
1992 2% 1.68%
1991 2.75% 1.81%
1990 2.95% 1.93%
1989 2.96% 2.05%
1988 3.28% 2.14%
1987 3.65% 2.24%
1986 3.76% 2.57%
1985 3.74% 2.87%
1984 3.83% 2.9%
1983 3.97% 2.93%
1982 5.44% 2.95%
1981 5.39% 2.95%
1980 3.69% 2.95%
1979 3.5% 2.93%
1978 3.32% 2.89%
1977 3.15% 2.93%
1976 3.06% 3.26%
1975 3.07% 3.52%
1974 3% 3.51%
1973 2.97% 3.53%
1972 2.97% 3.58%
1971 3.03% 3.63%
1970 3.08% 3.67%
1969 3.05% 3.7%
1968 3.04% 3.73%
1967 3.09% 3.64%
1966 3.16% 3.25%
1965 3.19% 2.97%
1964 3.16% 2.99%
1963 3.12% 3.01%
1962 3.08% 3.03%
1961 3.05% 3.03%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Iran grew by 0.93%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.11%.

Live population counters

Iran Lesotho
Current population
93580141
2402837
Population rank 17/197 143/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.03%
One net population change
37.2 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
27.4 seconds
9.46 minutes
One death every
1.21 minutes
21.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,329 +71
Annual growth/decline +849,943 +25,902
Annual growth/decline rate +0.93% +1.11%
Population growth rate rank 103/197 94/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change +116,786 -5,192
Net migration rank 14/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - -5,192
2024 715,785 190,156 31,050 -5,107
2023 750,150 262,044 31,115 -5,168
2022 753,525 403,190 30,803 -6,023
2021 645,725 334,967 27,806 -3,449
2020 663,978 -180,680 30,721 -3,449
2019 893,063 -32,794 32,279 -6,896
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 33,112 -6,892
2017 1,140,549 34,849 33,601 -6,850
2016 1,186,949 66,630 33,390 -6,766
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 32,087 -7,087
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 30,922 -6,877
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 29,789 -6,659
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 27,592 -6,425
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 25,647 -6,118
2010 980,380 -12,849 21,877 -5,886
2009 958,322 211 20,335 -5,599
2008 940,983 -12,184 19,349 -5,392
2007 919,254 -24,950 17,763 -5,179
2006 884,529 640,932 15,234 -11,416
2005 837,305 765,873 15,831 -35,679
2004 801,203 739,996 17,271 -33,530
2003 732,600 700,222 20,133 -31,723
2002 752,205 -668,962 22,274 -29,924
2001 743,658 291,692 23,190 -27,874
2000 731,203 300,133 24,786 -26,220
1999 723,237 191,988 27,393 -24,610
1998 717,655 218,171 30,889 -23,299
1997 726,574 98,009 34,637 -22,396
1996 784,508 -92,435 36,228 -17,042
1995 879,648 -220,258 37,370 -14,588
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 38,629 -13,953
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 40,505 -13,347
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 42,579 -12,707
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 44,026 -12,114
1990 1,530,434 200,711 45,060 -11,598
1989 1,609,739 9,460 46,264 -11,207
1988 1,614,512 30,688 47,158 -11,028
1987 1,639,644 213,524 47,718 -10,946
1986 1,659,289 242,411 45,232 -7,501
1985 1,661,750 163,999 44,575 1,222
1984 1,653,051 97,748 43,785 1,199
1983 1,573,612 204,544 42,899 1,253
1982 1,514,240 222,390 41,941 1,281
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 40,808 1,307
1980 1,361,293 103,674 39,617 1,361
1979 1,294,306 75,451 38,440 1,285
1978 1,156,974 70,088 37,084 1,047
1977 1,091,542 68,093 35,654 746
1976 1,013,347 18,825 34,117 2,986
1975 929,481 106,921 32,311 9,723
1974 873,369 103,252 30,444 9,972
1973 831,880 104,779 28,859 10,183
1972 804,043 96,614 27,841 10,386
1971 805,830 77,717 26,838 10,563
1970 794,612 89,757 25,935 10,605
1969 780,660 78,196 25,137 10,465
1968 743,992 69,342 24,490 10,108
1967 727,276 77,313 23,911 9,734
1966 695,040 98,709 23,326 7,248
1965 663,029 127,808 22,755 2,239
1964 635,589 121,817 22,116 2,198
1963 620,126 110,190 21,585 2,220
1962 595,538 96,332 21,132 2,172
1961 594,674 77,811 20,581 2,100
1960 584,060 54,041 19,981 1,989

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 89.9% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 8,963,093 people) and 10.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,004,177 people). In Lesotho 84.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,964 people) and 15.4% is from migration (a loss of 57,687 people).

As of 2024, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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