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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 24.6 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.74% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.08% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Kenya vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya Lesotho
2100 105,238,162 3,280,784
2099 105,257,438 3,286,697
2098 105,257,489 3,292,498
2097 105,250,948 3,298,102
2096 105,220,085 3,303,027
2095 105,175,623 3,307,947
2094 105,118,372 3,312,002
2093 105,046,907 3,315,757
2092 104,955,024 3,319,661
2091 104,846,805 3,322,573
2090 104,718,130 3,324,769
2089 104,573,271 3,326,847
2088 104,414,197 3,328,480
2087 104,243,505 3,329,964
2086 104,056,143 3,330,456
2085 103,854,891 3,331,259
2084 103,640,244 3,331,485
2083 103,407,124 3,331,492
2082 103,158,580 3,331,234
2081 102,889,291 3,330,412
2080 102,594,978 3,329,267
2079 102,286,967 3,327,166
2078 101,961,280 3,324,646
2077 101,613,181 3,321,422
2076 101,239,843 3,317,850
2075 100,849,423 3,314,237
2074 100,436,632 3,309,174
2073 100,001,277 3,303,860
2072 99,533,234 3,298,181
2071 99,042,264 3,291,492
2070 98,529,166 3,283,654
2069 97,992,232 3,275,244
2068 97,428,138 3,266,152
2067 96,842,744 3,256,626
2066 96,230,345 3,246,903
2065 95,598,937 3,237,153
2064 94,942,874 3,226,489
2063 94,266,124 3,215,103
2062 93,561,519 3,202,287
2061 92,837,768 3,188,933
2060 92,098,717 3,174,998
2059 91,343,602 3,160,204
2058 90,569,828 3,145,053
2057 89,783,087 3,129,261
2056 88,994,126 3,113,129
2055 88,192,182 3,095,904
2054 87,379,992 3,078,567
2053 86,552,281 3,060,152
2052 85,710,403 3,040,649
2051 84,850,558 3,020,109
2050 83,976,685 2,999,457
2049 83,090,517 2,978,037
2048 82,191,119 2,955,727
2047 81,274,836 2,932,688
2046 80,340,592 2,909,307
2045 79,389,433 2,885,537
2044 78,414,158 2,861,372
2043 77,418,567 2,836,777
2042 76,399,781 2,811,663
2041 75,363,853 2,786,147
2040 74,308,480 2,760,391
2039 73,241,028 2,734,400
2038 72,153,876 2,708,216
2037 71,058,753 2,681,863
2036 69,949,421 2,654,755
2035 68,831,151 2,627,701
2034 67,705,051 2,600,880
2033 66,569,532 2,574,065
2032 65,431,402 2,547,344
2031 64,289,540 2,520,831
2030 63,153,520 2,494,646
2029 62,021,378 2,468,268
2028 60,894,078 2,441,871
2027 59,770,115 2,415,830
2026 58,653,621 2,389,516
2025 57,540,609 2,363,516
2024 56,432,944 2,337,423
2023 55,339,003 2,311,472
2022 54,252,461 2,286,110
2021 53,219,166 2,261,542
2020 52,217,334 2,235,727
2019 51,202,827 2,209,405
2018 50,207,107 2,183,603
2017 49,197,766 2,157,110
2016 48,139,687 2,130,422
2015 47,088,526 2,104,611
2014 46,051,440 2,080,089
2013 44,986,791 2,056,504
2012 43,888,303 2,034,354
2011 42,758,461 2,014,009
2010 41,598,567 1,996,251
2009 40,408,891 1,980,883
2008 39,206,351 1,966,541
2007 38,036,349 1,953,268
2006 36,904,008 1,945,063
2005 35,796,484 1,953,076
2004 34,713,455 1,971,129
2003 33,652,223 1,985,059
2002 32,629,808 1,994,679
2001 31,619,170 2,000,853
2000 30,642,890 2,003,913
1999 29,733,408 2,003,234
1998 28,888,057 1,998,049
1997 28,101,768 1,988,130
1996 27,344,211 1,972,418
1995 26,601,751 1,951,437
1994 25,857,130 1,927,707
1993 25,117,188 1,901,793
1992 24,382,460 1,873,274
1991 23,646,514 1,842,379
1990 22,892,651 1,809,696
1989 22,118,434 1,775,436
1988 21,356,219 1,739,841
1987 20,616,096 1,703,390
1986 19,901,646 1,666,138
1985 19,201,768 1,624,379
1984 18,514,906 1,578,986
1983 17,846,374 1,534,413
1982 17,206,175 1,490,732
1981 16,601,507 1,448,069
1980 16,018,459 1,406,521
1979 15,460,666 1,366,169
1978 14,934,126 1,327,240
1977 14,428,819 1,289,967
1976 13,957,623 1,253,214
1975 13,511,671 1,213,643
1974 13,070,078 1,172,420
1973 12,634,835 1,132,697
1972 12,206,060 1,094,063
1971 11,788,904 1,056,246
1970 11,368,791 1,019,273
1969 10,939,695 983,202
1968 10,518,823 948,105
1967 10,111,057 913,982
1966 9,717,816 881,870
1965 9,338,078 854,090
1964 8,973,535 829,437
1963 8,627,971 805,373
1962 8,299,308 781,814
1961 7,987,770 758,824
1960 7,695,307 736,500

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/kenya/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th 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) Kenya's population will grow by 42.4% to 83,976,685 people with a rank change from 25th to 22nd. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya Lesotho
2100 -0.02% -0.18%
2099 -0% -0.18%
2098 0.006% -0.17%
2097 0.03% -0.15%
2096 0.04% -0.15%
2095 0.05% -0.12%
2094 0.07% -0.11%
2093 0.09% -0.12%
2092 0.1% -0.09%
2091 0.12% -0.07%
2090 0.14% -0.06%
2089 0.15% -0.05%
2088 0.16% -0.04%
2087 0.18% -0.01%
2086 0.19% -0.02%
2085 0.21% -0.007%
2084 0.23% -0%
2083 0.24% 0.008%
2082 0.26% 0.02%
2081 0.29% 0.03%
2080 0.3% 0.06%
2079 0.32% 0.08%
2078 0.34% 0.1%
2077 0.37% 0.11%
2076 0.39% 0.11%
2075 0.41% 0.15%
2074 0.44% 0.16%
2073 0.47% 0.17%
2072 0.5% 0.2%
2071 0.52% 0.24%
2070 0.55% 0.26%
2069 0.58% 0.28%
2068 0.6% 0.29%
2067 0.64% 0.3%
2066 0.66% 0.3%
2065 0.69% 0.33%
2064 0.72% 0.35%
2063 0.75% 0.4%
2062 0.78% 0.42%
2061 0.8% 0.44%
2060 0.83% 0.47%
2059 0.85% 0.48%
2058 0.88% 0.5%
2057 0.89% 0.52%
2056 0.91% 0.56%
2055 0.93% 0.56%
2054 0.96% 0.6%
2053 0.98% 0.64%
2052 1.01% 0.68%
2051 1.04% 0.69%
2050 1.07% 0.72%
2049 1.09% 0.75%
2048 1.13% 0.79%
2047 1.16% 0.8%
2046 1.2% 0.82%
2045 1.24% 0.84%
2044 1.29% 0.87%
2043 1.33% 0.89%
2042 1.37% 0.92%
2041 1.42% 0.93%
2040 1.46% 0.95%
2039 1.51% 0.97%
2038 1.54% 0.98%
2037 1.59% 1.02%
2036 1.62% 1.03%
2035 1.66% 1.03%
2034 1.71% 1.04%
2033 1.74% 1.05%
2032 1.78% 1.05%
2031 1.8% 1.05%
2030 1.83% 1.07%
2029 1.85% 1.08%
2028 1.88% 1.08%
2027 1.9% 1.1%
2026 1.93% 1.1%
2025 1.96% 1.12%
2024 1.98% 1.12%
2023 2% 1.11%
2022 1.94% 1.09%
2021 1.92% 1.15%
2020 1.98% 1.19%
2019 1.98% 1.18%
2018 2.05% 1.23%
2017 2.2% 1.25%
2016 2.23% 1.23%
2015 2.25% 1.18%
2014 2.37% 1.15%
2013 2.5% 1.09%
2012 2.64% 1.01%
2011 2.79% 0.89%
2010 2.94% 0.78%
2009 3.07% 0.73%
2008 3.08% 0.68%
2007 3.07% 0.42%
2006 3.09% -0.41%
2005 3.12% -0.92%
2004 3.15% -0.7%
2003 3.13% -0.48%
2002 3.2% -0.31%
2001 3.19% -0.15%
2000 3.06% 0.03%
1999 2.93% 0.26%
1998 2.8% 0.5%
1997 2.77% 0.8%
1996 2.79% 1.08%
1995 2.88% 1.23%
1994 2.95% 1.36%
1993 3.01% 1.52%
1992 3.11% 1.68%
1991 3.29% 1.81%
1990 3.5% 1.93%
1989 3.57% 2.05%
1988 3.59% 2.14%
1987 3.59% 2.24%
1986 3.64% 2.57%
1985 3.71% 2.87%
1984 3.75% 2.9%
1983 3.72% 2.93%
1982 3.64% 2.95%
1981 3.64% 2.95%
1980 3.61% 2.95%
1979 3.53% 2.93%
1978 3.5% 2.89%
1977 3.38% 2.93%
1976 3.3% 3.26%
1975 3.38% 3.52%
1974 3.44% 3.51%
1973 3.51% 3.53%
1972 3.54% 3.58%
1971 3.7% 3.63%
1970 3.92% 3.67%
1969 4% 3.7%
1968 4.03% 3.73%
1967 4.05% 3.64%
1966 4.07% 3.25%
1965 4.06% 2.97%
1964 4.01% 2.99%
1963 3.96% 3.01%
1962 3.9% 3.03%
1961 3.8% 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/kenya/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Kenya Lesotho
Current population
58955623
2396633
Population rank 25/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.03%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
21 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
1.32 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 +71
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 93/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -27,330 -5,192
Net migration rank 160/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - -5,192
2024 - -19,781 - -5,107
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 31,115 -5,168
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 30,803 -6,023
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 27,806 -3,449
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 30,721 -3,449
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 32,279 -6,896
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 33,112 -6,892
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 33,601 -6,850
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 33,390 -6,766
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 32,087 -7,087
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 30,922 -6,877
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 29,789 -6,659
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 27,592 -6,425
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 25,647 -6,118
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 21,877 -5,886
2009 1,193,598 7,096 20,335 -5,599
2008 1,174,818 29,612 19,349 -5,392
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 17,763 -5,179
2006 1,113,357 15,767 15,234 -11,416
2005 1,080,446 5,501 15,831 -35,679
2004 1,048,590 31,525 17,271 -33,530
2003 1,018,182 24,175 20,133 -31,723
2002 992,044 10,431 22,274 -29,924
2001 963,721 55,052 23,190 -27,874
2000 928,357 5,407 24,786 -26,220
1999 898,484 -13,257 27,393 -24,610
1998 875,511 -70,023 30,889 -23,299
1997 847,493 -80,443 34,637 -22,396
1996 827,326 -79,276 36,228 -17,042
1995 812,391 -75,506 37,370 -14,588
1994 792,702 -40,367 38,629 -13,953
1993 788,579 -61,054 40,505 -13,347
1992 785,018 -43,085 42,579 -12,707
1991 790,030 -60,087 44,026 -12,114
1990 789,087 -11,338 45,060 -11,598
1989 795,622 -24,949 46,264 -11,207
1988 785,652 -31,894 47,158 -11,028
1987 775,124 -48,633 47,718 -10,946
1986 755,606 -53,183 45,232 -7,501
1985 732,739 -35,400 44,575 1,222
1984 709,639 -33,253 43,785 1,199
1983 684,587 -23,905 42,899 1,253
1982 663,109 -43,382 41,941 1,281
1981 642,379 -52,761 40,808 1,307
1980 616,390 -39,920 39,617 1,361
1979 595,390 -56,280 38,440 1,285
1978 574,695 -60,718 37,084 1,047
1977 554,124 -57,493 35,654 746
1976 536,740 -90,990 34,117 2,986
1975 517,579 -71,421 32,311 9,723
1974 500,008 -62,973 30,444 9,972
1973 485,556 -52,102 28,859 10,183
1972 472,557 -48,466 27,841 10,386
1971 459,897 -49,671 26,838 10,563
1970 443,065 -13,064 25,935 10,605
1969 427,819 369 25,137 10,465
1968 411,948 1,611 24,490 10,108
1967 396,920 5,060 23,911 9,734
1966 382,891 1,616 23,326 7,248
1965 366,444 8,524 22,755 2,239
1964 349,322 4,788 22,116 2,198
1963 332,763 4,246 21,585 2,220
1962 315,797 4,521 21,132 2,172
1961 298,463 4,296 20,581 2,100
1960 280,032 2,134 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.3% of the population change in Kenya is from natural causes (a gain of 10,892,362 people) and 4.67% is from migration (a loss of 533,876 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, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
Meru 42.7K
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/kenya/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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