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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Latvia was 1,847,785 in 2025 vs 2,363,325 people in Lesotho in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Latvia's population is 1,826,986 people compared to 2,402,837 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Lesotho's population is 1.32 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 -0.69% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Latvia has decreased from 2.22M people to 1.83M (17.6% decline), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.5% growth).

Latvia vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Latvia
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Latvia Lesotho
2100 922,007 3,280,518
2099 931,466 3,286,430
2098 940,927 3,292,231
2097 950,258 3,297,835
2096 959,655 3,302,758
2095 968,997 3,307,678
2094 978,324 3,311,734
2093 987,606 3,315,488
2092 996,982 3,319,391
2091 1,006,431 3,322,303
2090 1,015,921 3,324,499
2089 1,025,435 3,326,577
2088 1,035,083 3,328,210
2087 1,044,938 3,329,694
2086 1,054,879 3,330,185
2085 1,064,880 3,330,989
2084 1,075,183 3,331,214
2083 1,085,772 3,331,221
2082 1,096,487 3,330,964
2081 1,107,392 3,330,141
2080 1,118,511 3,328,997
2079 1,129,885 3,326,895
2078 1,141,268 3,324,376
2077 1,152,706 3,321,152
2076 1,164,352 3,317,581
2075 1,176,176 3,313,968
2074 1,188,082 3,308,905
2073 1,199,974 3,303,592
2072 1,211,961 3,297,913
2071 1,224,298 3,291,224
2070 1,236,755 3,283,387
2069 1,249,300 3,274,978
2068 1,262,278 3,265,887
2067 1,275,443 3,256,362
2066 1,288,533 3,246,639
2065 1,302,103 3,236,890
2064 1,315,729 3,226,227
2063 1,329,295 3,214,843
2062 1,342,898 3,202,027
2061 1,356,597 3,188,674
2060 1,370,646 3,174,740
2059 1,384,579 3,159,947
2058 1,398,610 3,144,797
2057 1,412,764 3,129,007
2056 1,426,866 3,112,877
2055 1,440,673 3,095,653
2054 1,454,475 3,078,317
2053 1,468,103 3,059,904
2052 1,481,591 3,040,402
2051 1,494,244 3,019,864
2050 1,506,958 2,999,214
2049 1,519,679 2,977,795
2048 1,532,326 2,955,487
2047 1,544,855 2,932,450
2046 1,557,274 2,909,071
2045 1,570,010 2,885,303
2044 1,582,416 2,861,140
2043 1,594,893 2,836,547
2042 1,607,225 2,811,435
2041 1,620,006 2,785,921
2040 1,632,650 2,760,167
2039 1,645,713 2,734,178
2038 1,658,653 2,707,996
2037 1,671,596 2,681,646
2036 1,684,899 2,654,540
2035 1,698,177 2,627,488
2034 1,711,808 2,600,669
2033 1,725,938 2,573,856
2032 1,740,330 2,547,137
2031 1,754,642 2,520,626
2030 1,769,574 2,494,444
2029 1,784,112 2,468,067
2028 1,798,494 2,441,673
2027 1,812,843 2,415,634
2026 1,826,986 2,389,322
2025 1,847,785 2,363,325
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 132,551 people (a 6.76% decline), while Lesotho's population increased by 272,415 people (a 12.8% 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 1,506,958 people with a rank change from 149th to 155th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 24.8% to 2,999,214 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 922K 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 -0.98% 1.11%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Latvia declined by 0.98%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.11%.

Live population counters

Latvia Lesotho
Current population
1826986
2402837
Population rank 149/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.03%
One net population change
28.7 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
40.8 minutes
9.46 minutes
One death every
19.7 minutes
21.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline -50 +71
Annual growth/decline -18,339 +25,902
Annual growth/decline rate -0.98% +1.11%
Population growth rate rank 193/197 94/197
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 -13,809 -2,225 31,050 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 88% of the population change in Latvia is from natural causes (a loss of 110,741 people) and 12% is from migration (a loss of 15,067 people). In Lesotho 84.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,964 people) and 15.4% is from migration (a loss of 57,687 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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