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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Italy was 58,952,704 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Italy's population is 58,562,681 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Italy's population is 24.4 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Italy is ranked the 26th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.74% of the world: 0.71% for Italy vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Italy has had an average growth rate of -0.21% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Italy has increased from 58.4M people to 58.6M (0.28% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Italy vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Italy
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Italy Lesotho
2100 35,208,261 3,280,784
2099 35,444,989 3,286,697
2098 35,676,340 3,292,498
2097 35,914,345 3,298,102
2096 36,150,501 3,303,027
2095 36,386,787 3,307,947
2094 36,619,396 3,312,002
2093 36,850,181 3,315,757
2092 37,089,746 3,319,661
2091 37,323,400 3,322,573
2090 37,560,976 3,324,769
2089 37,802,157 3,326,847
2088 38,040,056 3,328,480
2087 38,280,439 3,329,964
2086 38,517,279 3,330,456
2085 38,761,126 3,331,259
2084 39,008,873 3,331,485
2083 39,255,273 3,331,492
2082 39,509,964 3,331,234
2081 39,767,732 3,330,412
2080 40,030,977 3,329,267
2079 40,302,924 3,327,166
2078 40,579,648 3,324,646
2077 40,860,952 3,321,422
2076 41,151,772 3,317,850
2075 41,455,646 3,314,237
2074 41,779,503 3,309,174
2073 42,111,664 3,303,860
2072 42,459,257 3,298,181
2071 42,814,908 3,291,492
2070 43,187,953 3,283,654
2069 43,571,469 3,275,244
2068 43,964,515 3,266,152
2067 44,361,273 3,256,626
2066 44,771,926 3,246,903
2065 45,197,177 3,237,153
2064 45,628,630 3,226,489
2063 46,066,216 3,215,103
2062 46,517,561 3,202,287
2061 46,971,598 3,188,933
2060 47,424,830 3,174,998
2059 47,879,711 3,160,204
2058 48,332,818 3,145,053
2057 48,778,066 3,129,261
2056 49,222,515 3,113,129
2055 49,653,326 3,095,904
2054 50,073,600 3,078,567
2053 50,488,203 3,060,152
2052 50,886,354 3,040,649
2051 51,276,616 3,020,109
2050 51,663,176 2,999,457
2049 52,034,983 2,978,037
2048 52,392,012 2,955,727
2047 52,745,310 2,932,688
2046 53,080,828 2,909,307
2045 53,408,660 2,885,537
2044 53,723,325 2,861,372
2043 54,042,322 2,836,777
2042 54,342,628 2,811,663
2041 54,629,496 2,786,147
2040 54,916,374 2,760,391
2039 55,205,078 2,734,400
2038 55,481,637 2,708,216
2037 55,757,394 2,681,863
2036 56,025,224 2,654,755
2035 56,295,613 2,627,701
2034 56,562,648 2,600,880
2033 56,822,364 2,574,065
2032 57,078,534 2,547,344
2031 57,345,322 2,520,831
2030 57,606,120 2,494,646
2029 57,851,091 2,468,268
2028 58,091,760 2,441,871
2027 58,333,039 2,415,830
2026 58,562,681 2,389,516
2025 58,769,653 2,363,516
2024 58,952,704 2,337,423
2023 58,984,216 2,311,472
2022 59,013,667 2,286,110
2021 59,133,173 2,261,542
2020 59,438,851 2,235,727
2019 59,729,081 2,209,405
2018 60,148,658 2,183,603
2017 60,002,252 2,157,110
2016 60,115,223 2,130,422
2015 60,229,605 2,104,611
2014 60,320,707 2,080,089
2013 60,311,613 2,056,504
2012 60,191,247 2,034,354
2011 60,026,841 2,014,009
2010 59,819,407 1,996,251
2009 59,555,454 1,980,883
2008 59,211,181 1,966,541
2007 58,756,247 1,953,268
2006 58,399,861 1,945,063
2005 58,166,682 1,953,076
2004 57,828,179 1,971,129
2003 57,399,184 1,985,059
2002 57,089,824 1,994,679
2001 56,976,981 2,000,853
2000 56,942,108 2,003,913
1999 56,916,317 2,003,234
1998 56,906,744 1,998,049
1997 56,890,372 1,988,130
1996 56,860,281 1,972,418
1995 56,844,303 1,951,437
1994 56,843,400 1,927,707
1993 56,831,821 1,901,793
1992 56,797,087 1,873,274
1991 56,758,521 1,842,379
1990 56,719,240 1,809,696
1989 56,671,781 1,775,436
1988 56,629,288 1,739,841
1987 56,601,931 1,703,390
1986 56,596,155 1,666,138
1985 56,593,071 1,624,379
1984 56,576,718 1,578,986
1983 56,564,074 1,534,413
1982 56,543,548 1,490,732
1981 56,501,675 1,448,069
1980 56,433,883 1,406,521
1979 56,317,749 1,366,169
1978 56,155,143 1,327,240
1977 55,955,411 1,289,967
1976 55,718,260 1,253,214
1975 55,441,001 1,213,643
1974 55,110,868 1,172,420
1973 54,751,406 1,132,697
1972 54,381,345 1,094,063
1971 54,073,490 1,056,246
1970 53,821,850 1,019,273
1969 53,537,950 983,202
1968 53,235,750 948,105
1967 52,900,500 913,982
1966 52,519,000 881,870
1965 52,112,350 854,090
1964 51,675,350 829,437
1963 51,252,000 805,373
1962 50,879,450 781,814
1961 50,536,350 758,824
1960 50,199,700 736,500

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/italy/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Italy increased by 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Italy lost 1,552,542 people (a 2.58% decline), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Italy was ranked 23rd most populous country in 2006 and is 26th 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) Italy's population will shrink by 11.8% to 51,663,176 people with a rank change from 26th to 40th. 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 Italy's population already peaked in 2014 at 60.3M people and is projected to decrease to 35.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Italy
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Italy Lesotho
2100 -0.67% -0.18%
2099 -0.65% -0.18%
2098 -0.66% -0.17%
2097 -0.65% -0.15%
2096 -0.65% -0.15%
2095 -0.64% -0.12%
2094 -0.63% -0.11%
2093 -0.65% -0.12%
2092 -0.63% -0.09%
2091 -0.63% -0.07%
2090 -0.64% -0.06%
2089 -0.63% -0.05%
2088 -0.63% -0.04%
2087 -0.61% -0.01%
2086 -0.63% -0.02%
2085 -0.64% -0.007%
2084 -0.63% -0%
2083 -0.64% 0.008%
2082 -0.65% 0.02%
2081 -0.66% 0.03%
2080 -0.67% 0.06%
2079 -0.68% 0.08%
2078 -0.69% 0.1%
2077 -0.71% 0.11%
2076 -0.73% 0.11%
2075 -0.78% 0.15%
2074 -0.79% 0.16%
2073 -0.82% 0.17%
2072 -0.83% 0.2%
2071 -0.86% 0.24%
2070 -0.88% 0.26%
2069 -0.89% 0.28%
2068 -0.89% 0.29%
2067 -0.92% 0.3%
2066 -0.94% 0.3%
2065 -0.95% 0.33%
2064 -0.95% 0.35%
2063 -0.97% 0.4%
2062 -0.97% 0.42%
2061 -0.96% 0.44%
2060 -0.95% 0.47%
2059 -0.94% 0.48%
2058 -0.91% 0.5%
2057 -0.9% 0.52%
2056 -0.87% 0.56%
2055 -0.84% 0.56%
2054 -0.82% 0.6%
2053 -0.78% 0.64%
2052 -0.76% 0.68%
2051 -0.75% 0.69%
2050 -0.71% 0.72%
2049 -0.68% 0.75%
2048 -0.67% 0.79%
2047 -0.63% 0.8%
2046 -0.61% 0.82%
2045 -0.59% 0.84%
2044 -0.59% 0.87%
2043 -0.55% 0.89%
2042 -0.53% 0.92%
2041 -0.52% 0.93%
2040 -0.52% 0.95%
2039 -0.5% 0.97%
2038 -0.49% 0.98%
2037 -0.48% 1.02%
2036 -0.48% 1.03%
2035 -0.47% 1.03%
2034 -0.46% 1.04%
2033 -0.45% 1.05%
2032 -0.47% 1.05%
2031 -0.45% 1.05%
2030 -0.42% 1.07%
2029 -0.41% 1.08%
2028 -0.41% 1.08%
2027 -0.39% 1.1%
2026 -0.35% 1.1%
2025 -0.31% 1.12%
2024 -0.05% 1.12%
2023 -0.05% 1.11%
2022 -0.2% 1.09%
2021 -0.51% 1.15%
2020 -0.49% 1.19%
2019 -0.7% 1.18%
2018 0.24% 1.23%
2017 -0.19% 1.25%
2016 -0.19% 1.23%
2015 -0.15% 1.18%
2014 0.02% 1.15%
2013 0.2% 1.09%
2012 0.27% 1.01%
2011 0.35% 0.89%
2010 0.44% 0.78%
2009 0.58% 0.73%
2008 0.77% 0.68%
2007 0.61% 0.42%
2006 0.4% -0.41%
2005 0.59% -0.92%
2004 0.75% -0.7%
2003 0.54% -0.48%
2002 0.2% -0.31%
2001 0.06% -0.15%
2000 0.05% 0.03%
1999 0.02% 0.26%
1998 0.03% 0.5%
1997 0.05% 0.8%
1996 0.03% 1.08%
1995 0.002% 1.23%
1994 0.02% 1.36%
1993 0.06% 1.52%
1992 0.07% 1.68%
1991 0.07% 1.81%
1990 0.08% 1.93%
1989 0.08% 2.05%
1988 0.05% 2.14%
1987 0.01% 2.24%
1986 0.005% 2.57%
1985 0.03% 2.87%
1984 0.02% 2.9%
1983 0.04% 2.93%
1982 0.07% 2.95%
1981 0.12% 2.95%
1980 0.21% 2.95%
1979 0.29% 2.93%
1978 0.36% 2.89%
1977 0.43% 2.93%
1976 0.5% 3.26%
1975 0.6% 3.52%
1974 0.66% 3.51%
1973 0.68% 3.53%
1972 0.57% 3.58%
1971 0.47% 3.63%
1970 0.53% 3.67%
1969 0.57% 3.7%
1968 0.63% 3.73%
1967 0.73% 3.64%
1966 0.78% 3.25%
1965 0.85% 2.97%
1964 0.83% 2.99%
1963 0.73% 3.01%
1962 0.68% 3.03%
1961 0.67% 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/italy/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Italy declined by 0.05%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Italy Lesotho
Current population
58562681
2396633
Population rank 26/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.03%
One net population change
16.7 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
1.39 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
47.7 seconds
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline -86 +71
Annual growth/decline -31,512 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate -0.05% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 170/197 93/197
One migration net change every
6.99 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change +75,448 -5,192
Net migration rank 19/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 6,553,671 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 12/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 11% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 59/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Italy
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Italy Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 75,448 - -5,192
2024 - 95,246 - -5,107
2023 -283,125 150,189 31,115 -5,168
2022 -318,674 231,228 30,803 -6,023
2021 -301,579 157,327 27,806 -3,449
2020 -338,801 85,281 30,721 -3,449
2019 -215,025 46,634 32,279 -6,896
2018 -192,475 83,686 33,112 -6,892
2017 -192,007 95,147 33,601 -6,850
2016 -138,265 84,568 33,390 -6,766
2015 -162,620 39,389 32,087 -7,087
2014 -96,513 52,679 30,922 -6,877
2013 -90,468 158,090 29,789 -6,659
2012 -78,248 252,524 27,592 -6,425
2011 -48,021 198,544 25,647 -6,118
2010 -23,928 274,387 21,877 -5,886
2009 -17,866 283,676 20,335 -5,599
2008 -11,842 422,534 19,349 -5,392
2007 -5,876 495,092 17,763 -5,179
2006 0 215,995 15,234 -11,416
2005 -17,450 258,702 15,831 -35,679
2004 11,566 417,970 17,271 -33,530
2003 -40,179 478,578 20,133 -31,723
2002 -22,836 223,861 22,274 -29,924
2001 -11,396 48,903 23,190 -27,874
2000 -17,082 56,065 24,786 -26,220
1999 -22,766 54,405 27,393 -24,610
1998 -39,835 67,985 30,889 -23,299
1997 -22,756 50,539 34,637 -22,396
1996 -22,744 53,450 36,228 -17,042
1995 -34,107 -460,287 37,370 -14,588
1994 -17,053 502,750 38,629 -13,953
1993 0 24,321 40,505 -13,347
1992 22,718 51,747 42,579 -12,707
1991 11,352 19,721 44,026 -12,114
1990 22,688 35,317 45,060 -11,598
1989 28,336 19,540 46,264 -11,207
1988 33,977 18,553 47,158 -11,028
1987 16,980 7,825 47,718 -10,946
1986 11,319 -6,206 45,232 -7,501
1985 28,297 6,911 44,575 1,222
1984 50,919 203 43,785 1,199
1983 33,939 -3,733 42,899 1,253
1982 79,161 -24,223 41,941 1,281
1981 73,452 7,182 40,808 1,307
1980 84,650 295,642 39,617 1,361
1979 129,531 42,637 38,440 1,285
1978 168,465 43,932 37,084 1,047
1977 190,248 42,246 35,654 746
1976 228,445 40,885 34,117 2,986
1975 271,660 43,051 32,311 9,723
1974 336,176 42,487 30,444 9,972
1973 328,508 41,631 28,859 10,183
1972 364,355 43,182 27,841 10,386
1971 383,922 -58,627 26,838 10,563
1970 376,753 -62,216 25,935 10,605
1969 390,827 -45,346 25,137 10,465
1968 399,268 -50,149 24,490 10,108
1967 439,074 -37,992 23,911 9,734
1966 488,427 -35,352 23,326 7,248
1965 474,222 -36,267 22,755 2,239
1964 527,089 -27,368 22,116 2,198
1963 440,767 -28,198 21,585 2,220
1962 427,387 -25,840 21,132 2,172
1961 459,880 -129,761 20,581 2,100
1960 426,697 -140,765 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 68.6% of the population change in Italy is from natural causes (a loss of 2,239,084 people) and 31.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,026,128 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, 6,553,671 residents or 11% of the population were not native-born in Italy, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K
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/italy/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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