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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,897,263 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 5,100,145 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Kuwait's population is 2.13 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.09% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 5.1M (115.7% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Kuwait vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait Lesotho
2100 9,589,440 3,280,784
2099 9,513,152 3,286,697
2098 9,437,521 3,292,498
2097 9,362,225 3,298,102
2096 9,287,200 3,303,027
2095 9,212,523 3,307,947
2094 9,138,210 3,312,002
2093 9,064,241 3,315,757
2092 8,990,676 3,319,661
2091 8,917,547 3,322,573
2090 8,844,888 3,324,769
2089 8,772,503 3,326,847
2088 8,700,563 3,328,480
2087 8,629,117 3,329,964
2086 8,558,199 3,330,456
2085 8,487,764 3,331,259
2084 8,417,828 3,331,485
2083 8,348,353 3,331,492
2082 8,279,354 3,331,234
2081 8,210,772 3,330,412
2080 8,142,636 3,329,267
2079 8,075,101 3,327,166
2078 8,008,036 3,324,646
2077 7,941,463 3,321,422
2076 7,875,406 3,317,850
2075 7,809,930 3,314,237
2074 7,745,028 3,309,174
2073 7,680,639 3,303,860
2072 7,616,806 3,298,181
2071 7,553,744 3,291,492
2070 7,491,390 3,283,654
2069 7,429,571 3,275,244
2068 7,368,423 3,266,152
2067 7,307,932 3,256,626
2066 7,248,116 3,246,903
2065 7,188,899 3,237,153
2064 7,130,298 3,226,489
2063 7,072,099 3,215,103
2062 7,014,494 3,202,287
2061 6,957,511 3,188,933
2060 6,901,153 3,174,998
2059 6,845,293 3,160,204
2058 6,789,909 3,145,053
2057 6,734,955 3,129,261
2056 6,680,523 3,113,129
2055 6,626,403 3,095,904
2054 6,572,580 3,078,567
2053 6,518,885 3,060,152
2052 6,465,284 3,040,649
2051 6,411,692 3,020,109
2050 6,358,029 2,999,457
2049 6,304,394 2,978,037
2048 6,250,650 2,955,727
2047 6,196,914 2,932,688
2046 6,143,120 2,909,307
2045 6,089,197 2,885,537
2044 6,035,156 2,861,372
2043 5,981,241 2,836,777
2042 5,927,307 2,811,663
2041 5,873,587 2,786,147
2040 5,820,161 2,760,391
2039 5,767,029 2,734,400
2038 5,714,211 2,708,216
2037 5,661,929 2,681,863
2036 5,610,194 2,654,755
2035 5,559,069 2,627,701
2034 5,508,623 2,600,880
2033 5,458,935 2,574,065
2032 5,410,081 2,547,344
2031 5,362,063 2,520,831
2030 5,314,935 2,494,646
2029 5,265,492 2,468,268
2028 5,212,438 2,441,871
2027 5,152,065 2,415,830
2026 5,080,894 2,389,516
2025 4,998,262 2,363,516
2024 4,897,263 2,337,423
2023 4,853,420 2,311,472
2022 4,589,643 2,286,110
2021 4,360,865 2,261,542
2020 4,400,267 2,235,727
2019 4,442,316 2,209,405
2018 4,323,515 2,183,603
2017 4,154,812 2,157,110
2016 4,004,096 2,130,422
2015 3,834,574 2,104,611
2014 3,665,876 2,080,089
2013 3,507,844 2,056,504
2012 3,337,109 2,034,354
2011 3,132,814 2,014,009
2010 2,943,372 1,996,251
2009 2,795,484 1,980,883
2008 2,651,421 1,966,541
2007 2,507,887 1,953,268
2006 2,364,733 1,945,063
2005 2,236,788 1,953,076
2004 2,157,320 1,971,129
2003 2,109,881 1,985,059
2002 2,059,974 1,994,679
2001 2,008,121 2,000,853
2000 1,954,709 2,003,913
1999 1,900,030 2,003,234
1998 1,844,302 1,998,049
1997 1,787,683 1,988,130
1996 1,730,246 1,972,418
1995 1,681,513 1,951,437
1994 1,664,361 1,927,707
1993 1,672,151 1,901,793
1992 1,634,961 1,873,274
1991 1,351,399 1,842,379
1990 1,684,819 1,809,696
1989 2,217,468 1,775,436
1988 2,134,707 1,739,841
1987 2,052,994 1,703,390
1986 1,972,520 1,666,138
1985 1,894,242 1,624,379
1984 1,820,688 1,578,986
1983 1,744,295 1,534,413
1982 1,662,480 1,490,732
1981 1,583,426 1,448,069
1980 1,504,782 1,406,521
1979 1,423,514 1,366,169
1978 1,340,319 1,327,240
1977 1,258,023 1,289,967
1976 1,178,711 1,253,214
1975 1,104,863 1,213,643
1974 1,038,346 1,172,420
1973 977,654 1,132,697
1972 920,352 1,094,063
1971 865,076 1,056,246
1970 809,114 1,019,273
1969 749,452 983,202
1968 687,716 948,105
1967 628,089 913,982
1966 572,590 881,870
1965 521,174 854,090
1964 473,115 829,437
1963 427,694 805,373
1962 384,995 781,814
1961 345,945 758,824
1960 311,060 736,500

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/kuwait/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kuwait increased by 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kuwait gained 1,096,049 people (a 27.4% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th 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) Kuwait's population will grow by 24.7% to 6,358,029 people with a rank change from 127th to 117th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.59M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kuwait Lesotho
2100 0.8% -0.18%
2099 0.8% -0.18%
2098 0.8% -0.17%
2097 0.81% -0.15%
2096 0.81% -0.15%
2095 0.81% -0.12%
2094 0.82% -0.11%
2093 0.82% -0.12%
2092 0.82% -0.09%
2091 0.82% -0.07%
2090 0.83% -0.06%
2089 0.83% -0.05%
2088 0.83% -0.04%
2087 0.83% -0.01%
2086 0.83% -0.02%
2085 0.83% -0.007%
2084 0.83% -0%
2083 0.83% 0.008%
2082 0.84% 0.02%
2081 0.84% 0.03%
2080 0.84% 0.06%
2079 0.84% 0.08%
2078 0.84% 0.1%
2077 0.84% 0.11%
2076 0.84% 0.11%
2075 0.84% 0.15%
2074 0.84% 0.16%
2073 0.84% 0.17%
2072 0.83% 0.2%
2071 0.83% 0.24%
2070 0.83% 0.26%
2069 0.83% 0.28%
2068 0.83% 0.29%
2067 0.83% 0.3%
2066 0.82% 0.3%
2065 0.82% 0.33%
2064 0.82% 0.35%
2063 0.82% 0.4%
2062 0.82% 0.42%
2061 0.82% 0.44%
2060 0.82% 0.47%
2059 0.82% 0.48%
2058 0.82% 0.5%
2057 0.81% 0.52%
2056 0.82% 0.56%
2055 0.82% 0.56%
2054 0.82% 0.6%
2053 0.83% 0.64%
2052 0.84% 0.68%
2051 0.84% 0.69%
2050 0.85% 0.72%
2049 0.86% 0.75%
2048 0.87% 0.79%
2047 0.88% 0.8%
2046 0.89% 0.82%
2045 0.9% 0.84%
2044 0.9% 0.87%
2043 0.91% 0.89%
2042 0.91% 0.92%
2041 0.92% 0.93%
2040 0.92% 0.95%
2039 0.92% 0.97%
2038 0.92% 0.98%
2037 0.92% 1.02%
2036 0.92% 1.03%
2035 0.92% 1.03%
2034 0.91% 1.04%
2033 0.9% 1.05%
2032 0.9% 1.05%
2031 0.89% 1.05%
2030 0.94% 1.07%
2029 1.02% 1.08%
2028 1.17% 1.08%
2027 1.4% 1.1%
2026 1.65% 1.1%
2025 2.06% 1.12%
2024 0.9% 1.12%
2023 5.75% 1.11%
2022 5.25% 1.09%
2021 -0.9% 1.15%
2020 -0.95% 1.19%
2019 2.75% 1.18%
2018 4.06% 1.23%
2017 3.76% 1.25%
2016 4.42% 1.23%
2015 4.6% 1.18%
2014 4.51% 1.15%
2013 5.12% 1.09%
2012 6.52% 1.01%
2011 6.44% 0.89%
2010 5.29% 0.78%
2009 5.43% 0.73%
2008 5.72% 0.68%
2007 6.05% 0.42%
2006 5.72% -0.41%
2005 3.68% -0.92%
2004 2.25% -0.7%
2003 2.42% -0.48%
2002 2.58% -0.31%
2001 2.73% -0.15%
2000 2.88% 0.03%
1999 3.02% 0.26%
1998 3.17% 0.5%
1997 3.32% 0.8%
1996 2.9% 1.08%
1995 1.03% 1.23%
1994 -0.47% 1.36%
1993 2.27% 1.52%
1992 21% 1.68%
1991 -19.8% 1.81%
1990 -24% 1.93%
1989 3.88% 2.05%
1988 3.98% 2.14%
1987 4.08% 2.24%
1986 4.13% 2.57%
1985 4.04% 2.87%
1984 4.38% 2.9%
1983 4.92% 2.93%
1982 4.99% 2.95%
1981 5.23% 2.95%
1980 5.71% 2.95%
1979 6.21% 2.93%
1978 6.54% 2.89%
1977 6.73% 2.93%
1976 6.68% 3.26%
1975 6.41% 3.52%
1974 6.21% 3.51%
1973 6.23% 3.53%
1972 6.39% 3.58%
1971 6.92% 3.63%
1970 7.96% 3.67%
1969 8.98% 3.7%
1968 9.49% 3.73%
1967 9.69% 3.64%
1966 9.87% 3.25%
1965 10.2% 2.97%
1964 10.6% 2.99%
1963 11.1% 3.01%
1962 11.3% 3.03%
1961 11.2% 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/kuwait/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kuwait grew by 0.9%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Kuwait Lesotho
Current population
5100145
2396633
Population rank 127/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.03%
One net population change
12 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
10.5 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
1.18 hours
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +120 +71
Annual growth/decline +43,843 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +0.9% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 106/197 93/197
One migration net change every
12.3 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change +42,775 -5,192
Net migration rank 24/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 3,323,191 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 20/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 67.3% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 5/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kuwait
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kuwait Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 42,775 - -5,192
2024 - 61,624 - -5,107
2023 42,568 50,008 31,115 -5,168
2022 41,752 368,560 30,803 -6,023
2021 42,057 19,678 27,806 -3,449
2020 41,083 -168,379 30,721 -3,449
2019 46,268 181 32,279 -6,896
2018 47,222 145,973 33,112 -6,892
2017 51,498 92,717 33,601 -6,850
2016 51,397 105,818 33,390 -6,766
2015 52,127 129,695 32,087 -7,087
2014 54,673 100,891 30,922 -6,877
2013 52,666 107,821 29,789 -6,659
2012 53,181 127,777 27,592 -6,425
2011 50,733 176,732 25,647 -6,118
2010 49,838 101,566 21,877 -5,886
2009 48,879 95,483 20,335 -5,599
2008 47,505 96,268 19,349 -5,392
2007 46,539 96,765 17,763 -5,179
2006 45,911 97,087 15,234 -11,416
2005 45,243 67,638 15,831 -35,679
2004 44,341 1,713 17,271 -33,530
2003 42,934 5,895 20,133 -31,723
2002 41,651 9,335 22,274 -29,924
2001 40,662 12,055 23,190 -27,874
2000 39,811 14,296 24,786 -26,220
1999 39,342 15,912 27,393 -24,610
1998 39,324 16,878 30,889 -23,299
1997 39,581 17,457 34,637 -22,396
1996 39,920 17,914 36,228 -17,042
1995 39,198 438 37,370 -14,588
1994 36,533 -41,862 38,629 -13,953
1993 33,239 -43,501 40,505 -13,347
1992 32,016 52,620 42,579 -12,707
1991 21,867 460,628 44,026 -12,114
1990 46,720 -1,196,050 45,060 -11,598
1989 49,390 34,643 46,264 -11,207
1988 50,037 31,455 47,158 -11,028
1987 50,690 31,243 47,718 -10,946
1986 51,824 27,187 45,232 -7,501
1985 51,772 25,777 44,575 1,222
1984 52,539 17,020 43,785 1,199
1983 51,460 31,758 42,899 1,253
1982 49,981 30,437 41,941 1,281
1981 48,098 29,600 40,808 1,307
1980 47,096 32,483 39,617 1,361
1979 45,569 37,383 38,440 1,285
1978 44,277 39,159 37,084 1,047
1977 42,922 38,225 35,654 746
1976 41,439 36,050 34,117 2,986
1975 39,295 30,909 32,311 9,723
1974 37,425 25,398 30,444 9,972
1973 35,741 22,830 28,859 10,183
1972 34,045 21,984 27,841 10,386
1971 32,339 22,182 26,838 10,563
1970 30,789 26,614 25,935 10,605
1969 28,774 33,143 25,137 10,465
1968 26,161 35,399 24,490 10,108
1967 23,520 34,177 23,911 9,734
1966 20,914 32,383 23,326 7,248
1965 18,952 30,580 22,755 2,239
1964 17,064 29,537 22,116 2,198
1963 15,357 28,889 21,585 2,220
1962 13,730 27,417 21,132 2,172
1961 12,327 24,618 20,581 2,100
1960 11,054 21,769 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 35.8% of the population change in Kuwait is from natural causes (a gain of 470,645 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 845,142 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, 3,323,191 residents or 67.3% of the population were not native-born in Kuwait, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K
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/kuwait/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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