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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 51.2 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.51% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Japan vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Lesotho
2100 76,978,998 3,280,784
2099 77,363,458 3,286,697
2098 77,742,445 3,292,498
2097 78,118,375 3,298,102
2096 78,498,614 3,303,027
2095 78,875,245 3,307,947
2094 79,250,325 3,312,002
2093 79,628,057 3,315,757
2092 80,007,967 3,319,661
2091 80,383,529 3,322,573
2090 80,760,724 3,324,769
2089 81,140,553 3,326,847
2088 81,521,696 3,328,480
2087 81,908,373 3,329,964
2086 82,304,497 3,330,456
2085 82,709,534 3,331,259
2084 83,123,058 3,331,485
2083 83,544,006 3,331,492
2082 83,980,325 3,331,234
2081 84,429,305 3,330,412
2080 84,899,768 3,329,267
2079 85,387,247 3,327,166
2078 85,897,934 3,324,646
2077 86,434,291 3,321,422
2076 86,993,007 3,317,850
2075 87,577,777 3,314,237
2074 88,190,392 3,309,174
2073 88,834,763 3,303,860
2072 89,499,356 3,298,181
2071 90,184,464 3,291,492
2070 90,899,136 3,283,654
2069 91,625,421 3,275,244
2068 92,367,969 3,266,152
2067 93,113,499 3,256,626
2066 93,869,240 3,246,903
2065 94,633,430 3,237,153
2064 95,391,433 3,226,489
2063 96,148,081 3,215,103
2062 96,902,907 3,202,287
2061 97,654,031 3,188,933
2060 98,400,894 3,174,998
2059 99,144,216 3,160,204
2058 99,868,968 3,145,053
2057 100,585,601 3,129,261
2056 101,295,868 3,113,129
2055 101,989,736 3,095,904
2054 102,683,462 3,078,567
2053 103,359,083 3,060,152
2052 104,036,901 3,040,649
2051 104,706,698 3,020,109
2050 105,377,283 2,999,457
2049 106,053,011 2,978,037
2048 106,731,207 2,955,727
2047 107,419,237 2,932,688
2046 108,115,358 2,909,307
2045 108,820,982 2,885,537
2044 109,529,333 2,861,372
2043 110,245,586 2,836,777
2042 110,968,174 2,811,663
2041 111,704,629 2,786,147
2040 112,438,759 2,760,391
2039 113,175,948 2,734,400
2038 113,915,783 2,708,216
2037 114,662,374 2,681,863
2036 115,410,956 2,654,755
2035 116,162,381 2,627,701
2034 116,911,001 2,600,880
2033 117,652,676 2,574,065
2032 118,393,188 2,547,344
2031 119,127,425 2,520,831
2030 119,856,131 2,494,646
2029 120,574,242 2,468,268
2028 121,287,543 2,441,871
2027 121,989,133 2,415,830
2026 122,677,250 2,389,516
2025 123,339,586 2,363,516
2024 123,975,371 2,337,423
2023 124,516,650 2,311,472
2022 125,124,989 2,286,110
2021 125,681,593 2,261,542
2020 126,261,000 2,235,727
2019 126,633,000 2,209,405
2018 126,811,000 2,183,603
2017 126,972,000 2,157,110
2016 127,076,000 2,130,422
2015 127,141,000 2,104,611
2014 127,276,000 2,080,089
2013 127,445,000 2,056,504
2012 127,629,000 2,034,354
2011 127,833,000 2,014,009
2010 128,070,000 1,996,251
2009 128,047,000 1,980,883
2008 128,063,000 1,966,541
2007 128,001,000 1,953,268
2006 127,854,000 1,945,063
2005 127,773,000 1,953,076
2004 127,761,000 1,971,129
2003 127,718,000 1,985,059
2002 127,445,000 1,994,679
2001 127,149,000 2,000,853
2000 126,843,000 2,003,913
1999 126,631,000 2,003,234
1998 126,400,000 1,998,049
1997 126,057,000 1,988,130
1996 125,757,000 1,972,418
1995 125,472,000 1,951,437
1994 125,178,000 1,927,707
1993 124,829,000 1,901,793
1992 124,425,000 1,873,274
1991 123,964,000 1,842,379
1990 123,478,000 1,809,696
1989 123,069,000 1,775,436
1988 122,578,000 1,739,841
1987 122,069,000 1,703,390
1986 121,482,000 1,666,138
1985 120,837,000 1,624,379
1984 120,083,000 1,578,986
1983 119,307,000 1,534,413
1982 118,480,000 1,490,732
1981 117,661,000 1,448,069
1980 116,807,000 1,406,521
1979 115,890,000 1,366,169
1978 114,913,000 1,327,240
1977 113,872,000 1,289,967
1976 112,775,000 1,253,214
1975 111,573,000 1,213,643
1974 110,162,000 1,172,420
1973 108,707,000 1,132,697
1972 107,188,000 1,094,063
1971 105,697,000 1,056,246
1970 103,403,000 1,019,273
1969 102,219,000 983,202
1968 101,011,000 948,105
1967 99,879,000 913,982
1966 98,851,000 881,870
1965 97,952,000 854,090
1964 96,903,000 829,437
1963 95,900,000 805,373
1962 94,933,000 781,814
1961 94,055,000 758,824
1960 93,216,000 736,500

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/japan/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th 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) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. 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 Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Lesotho
2100 -0.5% -0.18%
2099 -0.49% -0.18%
2098 -0.48% -0.17%
2097 -0.48% -0.15%
2096 -0.48% -0.15%
2095 -0.47% -0.12%
2094 -0.47% -0.11%
2093 -0.47% -0.12%
2092 -0.47% -0.09%
2091 -0.47% -0.07%
2090 -0.47% -0.06%
2089 -0.47% -0.05%
2088 -0.47% -0.04%
2087 -0.48% -0.01%
2086 -0.49% -0.02%
2085 -0.5% -0.007%
2084 -0.5% -0%
2083 -0.52% 0.008%
2082 -0.53% 0.02%
2081 -0.55% 0.03%
2080 -0.57% 0.06%
2079 -0.59% 0.08%
2078 -0.62% 0.1%
2077 -0.64% 0.11%
2076 -0.67% 0.11%
2075 -0.69% 0.15%
2074 -0.73% 0.16%
2073 -0.74% 0.17%
2072 -0.76% 0.2%
2071 -0.79% 0.24%
2070 -0.79% 0.26%
2069 -0.8% 0.28%
2068 -0.8% 0.29%
2067 -0.81% 0.3%
2066 -0.81% 0.3%
2065 -0.79% 0.33%
2064 -0.79% 0.35%
2063 -0.78% 0.4%
2062 -0.77% 0.42%
2061 -0.76% 0.44%
2060 -0.75% 0.47%
2059 -0.73% 0.48%
2058 -0.71% 0.5%
2057 -0.7% 0.52%
2056 -0.68% 0.56%
2055 -0.68% 0.56%
2054 -0.65% 0.6%
2053 -0.65% 0.64%
2052 -0.64% 0.68%
2051 -0.64% 0.69%
2050 -0.64% 0.72%
2049 -0.64% 0.75%
2048 -0.64% 0.79%
2047 -0.64% 0.8%
2046 -0.65% 0.82%
2045 -0.65% 0.84%
2044 -0.65% 0.87%
2043 -0.65% 0.89%
2042 -0.66% 0.92%
2041 -0.65% 0.93%
2040 -0.65% 0.95%
2039 -0.65% 0.97%
2038 -0.65% 0.98%
2037 -0.65% 1.02%
2036 -0.65% 1.03%
2035 -0.64% 1.03%
2034 -0.63% 1.04%
2033 -0.63% 1.05%
2032 -0.62% 1.05%
2031 -0.61% 1.05%
2030 -0.6% 1.07%
2029 -0.59% 1.08%
2028 -0.58% 1.08%
2027 -0.56% 1.1%
2026 -0.54% 1.1%
2025 -0.51% 1.12%
2024 -0.43% 1.12%
2023 -0.49% 1.11%
2022 -0.44% 1.09%
2021 -0.46% 1.15%
2020 -0.29% 1.19%
2019 -0.14% 1.18%
2018 -0.13% 1.23%
2017 -0.08% 1.25%
2016 -0.05% 1.23%
2015 -0.11% 1.18%
2014 -0.13% 1.15%
2013 -0.14% 1.09%
2012 -0.16% 1.01%
2011 -0.19% 0.89%
2010 0.02% 0.78%
2009 -0.01% 0.73%
2008 0.05% 0.68%
2007 0.11% 0.42%
2006 0.06% -0.41%
2005 0.009% -0.92%
2004 0.03% -0.7%
2003 0.21% -0.48%
2002 0.23% -0.31%
2001 0.24% -0.15%
2000 0.17% 0.03%
1999 0.18% 0.26%
1998 0.27% 0.5%
1997 0.24% 0.8%
1996 0.23% 1.08%
1995 0.23% 1.23%
1994 0.28% 1.36%
1993 0.32% 1.52%
1992 0.37% 1.68%
1991 0.39% 1.81%
1990 0.33% 1.93%
1989 0.4% 2.05%
1988 0.42% 2.14%
1987 0.48% 2.24%
1986 0.53% 2.57%
1985 0.63% 2.87%
1984 0.65% 2.9%
1983 0.7% 2.93%
1982 0.7% 2.95%
1981 0.73% 2.95%
1980 0.79% 2.95%
1979 0.85% 2.93%
1978 0.91% 2.89%
1977 0.97% 2.93%
1976 1.08% 3.26%
1975 1.28% 3.52%
1974 1.34% 3.51%
1973 1.42% 3.53%
1972 1.41% 3.58%
1971 2.22% 3.63%
1970 1.16% 3.67%
1969 1.2% 3.7%
1968 1.13% 3.73%
1967 1.04% 3.64%
1966 0.92% 3.25%
1965 1.08% 2.97%
1964 1.05% 2.99%
1963 1.02% 3.01%
1962 0.93% 3.03%
1961 0.9% 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/japan/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Japan Lesotho
Current population
122677250
2396633
Population rank 12/197 143/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.03%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
42.2 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
19.5 seconds
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +71
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 93/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change +140,579 -5,192
Net migration rank 10/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -5,192
2024 - 153,357 - -5,107
2023 -871,617 175,003 31,115 -5,168
2022 -825,825 175,003 30,803 -6,023
2021 -640,976 -34,996 27,806 -3,449
2020 -542,923 42,001 30,721 -3,449
2019 -531,858 318,190 32,279 -6,896
2018 -456,520 320,601 33,112 -6,892
2017 -406,310 322,564 33,601 -6,850
2016 -343,106 314,732 33,390 -6,766
2015 -292,424 168,896 32,087 -7,087
2014 -267,279 58,109 30,922 -6,877
2013 -242,146 66,449 29,789 -6,659
2012 -229,733 67,904 27,592 -6,425
2011 -204,533 97,720 25,647 -6,118
2010 -128,070 131,860 21,877 -5,886
2009 -76,828 125,450 20,335 -5,599
2008 -51,225 142,605 19,349 -5,392
2007 -25,600 138,024 17,763 -5,179
2006 12,785 130,065 15,234 -11,416
2005 -25,554 113,017 15,831 -35,679
2004 76,656 69,014 17,271 -33,530
2003 114,946 74,875 20,133 -31,723
2002 178,423 60,864 22,274 -29,924
2001 203,438 59,563 23,190 -27,874
2000 228,317 23,468 24,786 -26,220
1999 202,610 56,901 27,393 -24,610
1998 265,440 45,912 30,889 -23,299
1997 277,325 43,366 34,637 -22,396
1996 314,392 25,030 36,228 -17,042
1995 276,039 87,714 37,370 -14,588
1994 363,017 154,214 38,629 -13,953
1993 312,073 168,836 40,505 -13,347
1992 360,833 170,878 42,579 -12,707
1991 396,685 161,331 44,026 -12,114
1990 407,478 124,582 45,060 -11,598
1989 467,662 31,202 46,264 -11,207
1988 527,085 51,154 47,158 -11,028
1987 598,138 28,001 47,718 -10,946
1986 631,706 27,987 45,232 -7,501
1985 676,687 -141,323 44,575 1,222
1984 756,523 -273,686 43,785 1,199
1983 775,495 -269,755 42,899 1,253
1982 805,664 -288,550 41,941 1,281
1981 811,861 -278,525 40,808 1,307
1980 864,372 -92,314 39,617 1,361
1979 950,298 -57,692 38,440 1,285
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 37,084 1,047
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 35,654 746
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 34,117 2,986
1975 1,204,989 107 32,311 9,723
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 30,444 9,972
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 28,859 10,183
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 27,841 10,386
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 26,838 10,563
1970 1,230,496 33,731 25,935 10,605
1969 1,195,962 49,447 25,137 10,465
1968 1,191,930 43,593 24,490 10,108
1967 1,258,475 29,632 23,911 9,734
1966 682,072 68,934 23,326 7,248
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 22,755 2,239
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 22,116 2,198
1963 987,770 -100,742 21,585 2,220
1962 901,864 -57,075 21,132 2,172
1961 893,522 -58,882 20,581 2,100
1960 894,874 -150,371 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 73.6% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 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, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M
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/japan/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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