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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Latvia was 1,866,124 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Latvia's population is 1,829,763 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Lesotho's population is 1.31 times bigger than Latvia's.
  • Latvia is ranked the 149th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.05% of the world: 0.02% for Latvia vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Latvia has had an average growth rate of -0.68% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Latvia has decreased from 2.22M people to 1.83M (17.5% decline), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Latvia vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Latvia
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Latvia Lesotho
2100 923,408 3,280,784
2099 932,882 3,286,697
2098 942,357 3,292,498
2097 951,702 3,298,102
2096 961,114 3,303,027
2095 970,470 3,307,947
2094 979,811 3,312,002
2093 989,107 3,315,757
2092 998,497 3,319,661
2091 1,007,961 3,322,573
2090 1,017,465 3,324,769
2089 1,026,994 3,326,847
2088 1,036,657 3,328,480
2087 1,046,527 3,329,964
2086 1,056,483 3,330,456
2085 1,066,499 3,331,259
2084 1,076,818 3,331,485
2083 1,087,423 3,331,492
2082 1,098,154 3,331,234
2081 1,109,075 3,330,412
2080 1,120,211 3,329,267
2079 1,131,602 3,327,166
2078 1,143,002 3,324,646
2077 1,154,458 3,321,422
2076 1,166,122 3,317,850
2075 1,177,964 3,314,237
2074 1,189,889 3,309,174
2073 1,201,798 3,303,860
2072 1,213,804 3,298,181
2071 1,226,159 3,291,492
2070 1,238,635 3,283,654
2069 1,251,199 3,275,244
2068 1,264,197 3,266,152
2067 1,277,382 3,256,626
2066 1,290,492 3,246,903
2065 1,304,082 3,237,153
2064 1,317,729 3,226,489
2063 1,331,316 3,215,103
2062 1,344,939 3,202,287
2061 1,358,659 3,188,933
2060 1,372,730 3,174,998
2059 1,386,684 3,160,204
2058 1,400,736 3,145,053
2057 1,414,911 3,129,261
2056 1,429,035 3,113,129
2055 1,442,863 3,095,904
2054 1,456,686 3,078,567
2053 1,470,334 3,060,152
2052 1,483,843 3,040,649
2051 1,496,515 3,020,109
2050 1,509,248 2,999,457
2049 1,521,989 2,978,037
2048 1,534,656 2,955,727
2047 1,547,203 2,932,688
2046 1,559,641 2,909,307
2045 1,572,396 2,885,537
2044 1,584,822 2,861,372
2043 1,597,317 2,836,777
2042 1,609,668 2,811,663
2041 1,622,468 2,786,147
2040 1,635,132 2,760,391
2039 1,648,215 2,734,400
2038 1,661,175 2,708,216
2037 1,674,137 2,681,863
2036 1,687,461 2,654,755
2035 1,700,759 2,627,701
2034 1,714,411 2,600,880
2033 1,728,562 2,574,065
2032 1,742,976 2,547,344
2031 1,757,310 2,520,831
2030 1,772,264 2,494,646
2029 1,786,824 2,468,268
2028 1,801,228 2,441,871
2027 1,815,599 2,415,830
2026 1,829,763 2,389,516
2025 1,850,593 2,363,516
2024 1,866,124 2,337,423
2023 1,883,710 2,311,472
2022 1,879,383 2,286,110
2021 1,884,490 2,261,542
2020 1,900,449 2,235,727
2019 1,913,822 2,209,405
2018 1,927,174 2,183,603
2017 1,942,248 2,157,110
2016 1,959,537 2,130,422
2015 1,977,527 2,104,611
2014 1,993,782 2,080,089
2013 2,012,647 2,056,504
2012 2,034,319 2,034,354
2011 2,059,709 2,014,009
2010 2,097,555 1,996,251
2009 2,141,669 1,980,883
2008 2,177,322 1,966,541
2007 2,200,325 1,953,268
2006 2,218,357 1,945,063
2005 2,238,799 1,953,076
2004 2,263,122 1,971,129
2003 2,287,955 1,985,059
2002 2,310,173 1,994,679
2001 2,337,170 2,000,853
2000 2,367,550 2,003,913
1999 2,390,482 2,003,234
1998 2,410,019 1,998,049
1997 2,432,851 1,988,130
1996 2,457,222 1,972,418
1995 2,485,056 1,951,437
1994 2,520,742 1,927,707
1993 2,563,290 1,901,793
1992 2,614,338 1,873,274
1991 2,650,581 1,842,379
1990 2,663,151 1,809,696
1989 2,666,955 1,775,436
1988 2,653,434 1,739,841
1987 2,626,583 1,703,390
1986 2,599,892 1,666,138
1985 2,578,873 1,624,379
1984 2,562,047 1,578,986
1983 2,546,011 1,534,413
1982 2,531,080 1,490,732
1981 2,519,421 1,448,069
1980 2,511,701 1,406,521
1979 2,505,953 1,366,169
1978 2,497,921 1,327,240
1977 2,485,073 1,289,967
1976 2,470,989 1,253,214
1975 2,456,130 1,213,643
1974 2,437,186 1,172,420
1973 2,415,819 1,132,697
1972 2,395,674 1,094,063
1971 2,376,389 1,056,246
1970 2,359,164 1,019,273
1969 2,343,173 983,202
1968 2,323,619 948,105
1967 2,301,220 913,982
1966 2,283,217 881,870
1965 2,265,919 854,090
1964 2,240,623 829,437
1963 2,210,919 805,373
1962 2,181,586 781,814
1961 2,152,681 758,824
1960 2,120,979 736,500

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/latvia/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Latvia decreased by 258,820 people (a 11.7% decline), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Latvia lost 129,774 people (a 6.62% decline), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Latvia was ranked 140th most populous country in 2006 and is 149th 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) Latvia's population will shrink by 17.5% to 1,509,248 people with a rank change from 149th to 155th. 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 Latvia's population already peaked in 1989 at 2.67M people and is projected to decrease to 923K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Latvia
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Latvia Lesotho
2100 -1.02% -0.18%
2099 -1.01% -0.18%
2098 -0.98% -0.17%
2097 -0.98% -0.15%
2096 -0.96% -0.15%
2095 -0.95% -0.12%
2094 -0.94% -0.11%
2093 -0.94% -0.12%
2092 -0.94% -0.09%
2091 -0.93% -0.07%
2090 -0.93% -0.06%
2089 -0.93% -0.05%
2088 -0.94% -0.04%
2087 -0.94% -0.01%
2086 -0.94% -0.02%
2085 -0.96% -0.007%
2084 -0.98% -0%
2083 -0.98% 0.008%
2082 -0.98% 0.02%
2081 -0.99% 0.03%
2080 -1.01% 0.06%
2079 -1% 0.08%
2078 -0.99% 0.1%
2077 -1% 0.11%
2076 -1.01% 0.11%
2075 -1% 0.15%
2074 -0.99% 0.16%
2073 -0.99% 0.17%
2072 -1.01% 0.2%
2071 -1.01% 0.24%
2070 -1% 0.26%
2069 -1.03% 0.28%
2068 -1.03% 0.29%
2067 -1.02% 0.3%
2066 -1.04% 0.3%
2065 -1.04% 0.33%
2064 -1.02% 0.35%
2063 -1.01% 0.4%
2062 -1.01% 0.42%
2061 -1.03% 0.44%
2060 -1.01% 0.47%
2059 -1% 0.48%
2058 -1% 0.5%
2057 -0.99% 0.52%
2056 -0.96% 0.56%
2055 -0.95% 0.56%
2054 -0.93% 0.6%
2053 -0.91% 0.64%
2052 -0.85% 0.68%
2051 -0.84% 0.69%
2050 -0.84% 0.72%
2049 -0.83% 0.75%
2048 -0.81% 0.79%
2047 -0.8% 0.8%
2046 -0.81% 0.82%
2045 -0.78% 0.84%
2044 -0.78% 0.87%
2043 -0.77% 0.89%
2042 -0.79% 0.92%
2041 -0.77% 0.93%
2040 -0.79% 0.95%
2039 -0.78% 0.97%
2038 -0.77% 0.98%
2037 -0.79% 1.02%
2036 -0.78% 1.03%
2035 -0.8% 1.03%
2034 -0.82% 1.04%
2033 -0.83% 1.05%
2032 -0.82% 1.05%
2031 -0.84% 1.05%
2030 -0.81% 1.07%
2029 -0.8% 1.08%
2028 -0.79% 1.08%
2027 -0.77% 1.1%
2026 -1.13% 1.1%
2025 -0.83% 1.12%
2024 -0.93% 1.12%
2023 0.23% 1.11%
2022 -0.27% 1.09%
2021 -0.84% 1.15%
2020 -0.7% 1.19%
2019 -0.69% 1.18%
2018 -0.78% 1.23%
2017 -0.88% 1.25%
2016 -0.91% 1.23%
2015 -0.82% 1.18%
2014 -0.94% 1.15%
2013 -1.07% 1.09%
2012 -1.23% 1.01%
2011 -1.8% 0.89%
2010 -2.06% 0.78%
2009 -1.64% 0.73%
2008 -1.05% 0.68%
2007 -0.81% 0.42%
2006 -0.91% -0.41%
2005 -1.07% -0.92%
2004 -1.09% -0.7%
2003 -0.96% -0.48%
2002 -1.16% -0.31%
2001 -1.28% -0.15%
2000 -0.96% 0.03%
1999 -0.81% 0.26%
1998 -0.94% 0.5%
1997 -0.99% 0.8%
1996 -1.12% 1.08%
1995 -1.42% 1.23%
1994 -1.66% 1.36%
1993 -1.95% 1.52%
1992 -1.37% 1.68%
1991 -0.47% 1.81%
1990 -0.14% 1.93%
1989 0.51% 2.05%
1988 1.02% 2.14%
1987 1.03% 2.24%
1986 0.82% 2.57%
1985 0.66% 2.87%
1984 0.63% 2.9%
1983 0.59% 2.93%
1982 0.46% 2.95%
1981 0.31% 2.95%
1980 0.23% 2.95%
1979 0.32% 2.93%
1978 0.52% 2.89%
1977 0.57% 2.93%
1976 0.6% 3.26%
1975 0.78% 3.52%
1974 0.88% 3.51%
1973 0.84% 3.53%
1972 0.81% 3.58%
1971 0.73% 3.63%
1970 0.68% 3.67%
1969 0.84% 3.7%
1968 0.97% 3.73%
1967 0.79% 3.64%
1966 0.76% 3.25%
1965 1.13% 2.97%
1964 1.34% 2.99%
1963 1.34% 3.01%
1962 1.34% 3.03%
1961 1.49% 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/latvia/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Latvia declined by 0.93%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Latvia Lesotho
Current population
1829763
2396633
Population rank 149/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.03%
One net population change
29.9 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
36.2 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
18.7 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline -48 +71
Annual growth/decline -17,586 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate -0.93% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 193/197 93/197
One migration net change every
1.2 hours
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -7,330 -5,192
Net migration rank 125/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 220,471 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 108/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 11.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 57/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Latvia
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Latvia Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,330 - -5,192
2024 - -2,225 - -5,107
2023 -13,563 7,966 31,115 -5,168
2022 -14,847 22,027 30,803 -6,023
2021 -17,337 -280 27,806 -3,449
2020 -11,402 -3,147 30,721 -3,449
2019 -8,995 -3,416 32,279 -6,896
2018 -9,636 -4,972 33,112 -6,892
2017 -7,963 -7,867 33,601 -6,850
2016 -6,663 -12,327 33,390 -6,766
2015 -6,526 -10,826 32,087 -7,087
2014 -6,779 -8,799 30,922 -6,877
2013 -8,252 -14,386 29,789 -6,659
2012 -9,154 -11,914 27,592 -6,425
2011 -9,886 -20,202 25,647 -6,118
2010 -10,278 -36,128 21,877 -5,886
2009 -7,924 -34,807 20,335 -5,599
2008 -6,531 -22,445 19,349 -5,392
2007 -9,021 -8,027 17,763 -5,179
2006 -10,204 -9,211 15,234 -11,416
2005 -10,746 -11,134 15,831 -35,679
2004 -11,542 -15,136 17,271 -33,530
2003 -11,439 -11,422 20,133 -31,723
2002 -12,475 -9,160 22,274 -29,924
2001 -13,322 -18,634 23,190 -27,874
2000 -11,838 -15,679 24,786 -26,220
1999 -13,387 -3,229 27,393 -24,610
1998 -15,906 -5,504 30,889 -23,299
1997 -14,841 -9,183 34,637 -22,396
1996 -14,498 -9,888 36,228 -17,042
1995 -17,396 -13,288 37,370 -14,588
1994 -17,645 -21,446 38,629 -13,953
1993 -12,560 -32,914 40,505 -13,347
1992 -3,660 -52,180 42,579 -12,707
1991 0 -12,020 44,026 -12,114
1990 2,929 -13,196 45,060 -11,598
1989 6,401 -4,960 46,264 -11,207
1988 9,022 15,784 47,158 -11,028
1987 9,981 19,249 47,718 -10,946
1986 10,660 13,972 45,232 -7,501
1985 5,673 12,037 44,575 1,222
1984 7,430 8,847 43,785 1,199
1983 8,147 8,115 42,899 1,253
1982 6,327 8,116 41,941 1,281
1981 3,779 6,536 40,808 1,307
1980 3,265 3,099 39,617 1,361
1979 2,506 3,661 38,440 1,285
1978 2,997 7,399 37,084 1,047
1977 3,480 11,992 35,654 746
1976 4,200 8,870 34,117 2,986
1975 4,913 12,166 32,311 9,723
1974 6,824 14,420 30,444 9,972
1973 6,040 15,997 28,859 10,183
1972 7,666 11,077 27,841 10,386
1971 8,793 10,846 26,838 10,563
1970 7,785 12,494 25,935 10,605
1969 6,561 13,718 25,137 10,465
1968 7,668 13,465 24,490 10,108
1967 7,825 14,177 23,911 9,734
1966 8,677 13,465 23,326 7,248
1965 8,384 13,218 22,755 2,239
1964 12,100 13,010 22,116 2,198
1963 11,055 12,308 21,585 2,220
1962 11,562 12,344 21,132 2,172
1961 14,207 12,364 20,581 2,100
1960 14,211 11,420 19,981 1,989

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 82.7% of the population change in Latvia is from natural causes (a loss of 103,711 people) and 17.3% is from migration (a loss of 21,641 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, 220,471 residents or 11.8% of the population were not native-born in Latvia, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
Ventspils 32.7K
Rezekne 26.4K
Valmiera 22.8K
Ogre 22.8K
Jekabpils 21K
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/latvia/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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