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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 5,731,206 people in Liberia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 5,916,561 in Liberia.

Population statistics:

  • Liberia's population is 2.46 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Liberia is the 116th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.07% for Liberia.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.09% in Liberia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Liberia has grown from 3.49M to 5.92M (69.5% growth).

Lesotho vs Liberia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Liberia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Liberia
2100 3,280,518 12,784,957
2099 3,286,430 12,772,345
2098 3,292,231 12,753,452
2097 3,297,835 12,724,773
2096 3,302,758 12,692,036
2095 3,307,678 12,667,207
2094 3,311,734 12,641,522
2093 3,315,488 12,603,995
2092 3,319,391 12,579,473
2091 3,322,303 12,554,066
2090 3,324,499 12,509,480
2089 3,326,577 12,457,316
2088 3,328,210 12,425,766
2087 3,329,694 12,390,938
2086 3,330,185 12,328,007
2085 3,330,989 12,262,605
2084 3,331,214 12,214,581
2083 3,331,221 12,160,106
2082 3,330,964 12,118,849
2081 3,330,141 12,051,465
2080 3,328,997 11,973,445
2079 3,326,895 11,895,628
2078 3,324,376 11,820,198
2077 3,321,152 11,742,459
2076 3,317,581 11,653,806
2075 3,313,968 11,568,384
2074 3,308,905 11,466,229
2073 3,303,592 11,370,364
2072 3,297,913 11,284,839
2071 3,291,224 11,184,212
2070 3,283,387 11,094,537
2069 3,274,978 10,998,944
2068 3,265,887 10,915,300
2067 3,256,362 10,810,752
2066 3,246,639 10,718,452
2065 3,236,890 10,614,227
2064 3,226,227 10,517,857
2063 3,214,843 10,413,073
2062 3,202,027 10,305,739
2061 3,188,674 10,197,474
2060 3,174,740 10,088,502
2059 3,159,947 9,957,059
2058 3,144,797 9,854,358
2057 3,129,007 9,742,349
2056 3,112,877 9,621,132
2055 3,095,653 9,503,970
2054 3,078,317 9,399,455
2053 3,059,904 9,282,047
2052 3,040,402 9,170,319
2051 3,019,864 9,057,504
2050 2,999,214 8,948,808
2049 2,977,795 8,825,716
2048 2,955,487 8,702,515
2047 2,932,450 8,579,329
2046 2,909,071 8,453,730
2045 2,885,303 8,340,339
2044 2,861,140 8,218,270
2043 2,836,547 8,103,979
2042 2,811,435 7,969,742
2041 2,785,921 7,826,944
2040 2,760,167 7,696,136
2039 2,734,178 7,551,738
2038 2,707,996 7,419,716
2037 2,681,646 7,289,124
2036 2,654,540 7,144,012
2035 2,627,488 7,008,708
2034 2,600,669 6,881,558
2033 2,573,856 6,748,513
2032 2,547,137 6,617,506
2031 2,520,626 6,490,837
2030 2,494,444 6,374,102
2029 2,468,067 6,245,907
2028 2,441,673 6,118,823
2027 2,415,634 5,979,243
2026 2,389,322 5,850,359
2025 2,363,325 5,731,206
2024 2,337,423 5,612,817
2023 2,311,472 5,493,031
2022 2,286,110 5,373,294
2021 2,261,542 5,259,323
2020 2,235,727 5,149,463
2019 2,209,405 5,043,721
2018 2,183,603 4,944,726
2017 2,157,110 4,848,925
2016 2,130,422 4,755,608
2015 2,104,611 4,659,431
2014 2,080,089 4,564,293
2013 2,056,504 4,470,239
2012 2,034,354 4,373,043
2011 2,014,009 4,221,178
2010 1,996,251 4,058,890
2009 1,980,883 3,943,028
2008 1,966,541 3,821,003
2007 1,953,268 3,669,050
2006 1,945,063 3,490,787
2005 1,953,076 3,301,015
2004 1,971,129 3,156,892
2003 1,985,059 3,119,532
2002 1,994,679 3,094,782
2001 2,000,853 3,015,338
2000 2,003,913 2,928,117
1999 2,003,234 2,821,684
1998 1,998,049 2,670,124
1997 1,988,130 2,412,989
1996 1,972,418 2,232,289
1995 1,951,437 2,169,162
1994 1,927,707 2,149,928
1993 1,901,793 2,155,126
1992 1,873,274 2,072,461
1991 1,842,379 1,956,518
1990 1,809,696 2,223,667
1989 1,775,436 2,517,858
1988 1,739,841 2,446,941
1987 1,703,390 2,377,229
1986 1,666,138 2,308,511
1985 1,624,379 2,240,539
1984 1,578,986 2,173,312
1983 1,534,413 2,107,113
1982 1,490,732 2,045,073
1981 1,448,069 1,986,867
1980 1,406,521 1,929,253
1979 1,366,169 1,872,713
1978 1,327,240 1,818,247
1977 1,289,967 1,766,019
1976 1,253,214 1,717,060
1975 1,213,643 1,670,913
1974 1,172,420 1,626,362
1973 1,132,697 1,583,588
1972 1,094,063 1,542,670
1971 1,056,246 1,504,077
1970 1,019,273 1,466,676
1969 983,202 1,429,605
1968 948,105 1,393,530
1967 913,982 1,358,435
1966 881,870 1,324,383
1965 854,090 1,291,156
1964 829,437 1,258,745
1963 805,373 1,227,414
1962 781,814 1,197,039
1961 758,824 1,167,717
1960 736,500 1,139,522

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/lesotho/liberia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Liberia gained 1,264,821 people (a 36.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Liberia's population increased by 1,160,953 people (a 24.4% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Liberia was ranked 126th in 2006 and ranked 116th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Lesotho's population will grow by 24.8% to 2,999,214 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Liberia will increase by 51.3% to 8,948,808 people and rank change from 116th to 107th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 12.8M people in 2100 for Liberia.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Liberia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Liberia
2100 -0.18% 0.1%
2099 -0.18% 0.15%
2098 -0.17% 0.23%
2097 -0.15% 0.26%
2096 -0.15% 0.2%
2095 -0.12% 0.2%
2094 -0.11% 0.3%
2093 -0.12% 0.19%
2092 -0.09% 0.2%
2091 -0.07% 0.36%
2090 -0.06% 0.42%
2089 -0.05% 0.25%
2088 -0.04% 0.28%
2087 -0.01% 0.51%
2086 -0.02% 0.53%
2085 -0.007% 0.39%
2084 -0% 0.45%
2083 0.008% 0.34%
2082 0.02% 0.56%
2081 0.03% 0.65%
2080 0.06% 0.65%
2079 0.08% 0.64%
2078 0.1% 0.66%
2077 0.11% 0.76%
2076 0.11% 0.74%
2075 0.15% 0.89%
2074 0.16% 0.84%
2073 0.17% 0.76%
2072 0.2% 0.9%
2071 0.24% 0.81%
2070 0.26% 0.87%
2069 0.28% 0.77%
2068 0.29% 0.97%
2067 0.3% 0.86%
2066 0.3% 0.98%
2065 0.33% 0.92%
2064 0.35% 1.01%
2063 0.4% 1.04%
2062 0.42% 1.06%
2061 0.44% 1.08%
2060 0.47% 1.32%
2059 0.48% 1.04%
2058 0.5% 1.15%
2057 0.52% 1.26%
2056 0.56% 1.23%
2055 0.56% 1.11%
2054 0.6% 1.26%
2053 0.64% 1.22%
2052 0.68% 1.25%
2051 0.69% 1.21%
2050 0.72% 1.39%
2049 0.75% 1.42%
2048 0.79% 1.44%
2047 0.8% 1.49%
2046 0.82% 1.36%
2045 0.84% 1.49%
2044 0.87% 1.41%
2043 0.89% 1.68%
2042 0.92% 1.82%
2041 0.93% 1.7%
2040 0.95% 1.91%
2039 0.97% 1.78%
2038 0.98% 1.79%
2037 1.02% 2.03%
2036 1.03% 1.93%
2035 1.03% 1.85%
2034 1.04% 1.97%
2033 1.05% 1.98%
2032 1.05% 1.95%
2031 1.05% 1.83%
2030 1.07% 2.05%
2029 1.08% 2.08%
2028 1.08% 2.33%
2027 1.1% 2.2%
2026 1.1% 2.08%
2025 1.11% 2.11%
2024 1.12% 2.18%
2023 1.11% 2.23%
2022 1.09% 2.17%
2021 1.15% 2.13%
2020 1.19% 2.1%
2019 1.18% 2%
2018 1.23% 1.98%
2017 1.25% 1.96%
2016 1.23% 2.06%
2015 1.18% 2.08%
2014 1.15% 2.1%
2013 1.09% 2.22%
2012 1.01% 3.6%
2011 0.89% 4%
2010 0.78% 2.94%
2009 0.73% 3.19%
2008 0.68% 4.14%
2007 0.42% 5.11%
2006 -0.41% 5.75%
2005 -0.92% 4.57%
2004 -0.7% 1.2%
2003 -0.48% 0.8%
2002 -0.31% 2.63%
2001 -0.15% 2.98%
2000 0.03% 3.77%
1999 0.26% 5.68%
1998 0.5% 10.7%
1997 0.8% 8.09%
1996 1.08% 2.91%
1995 1.23% 0.89%
1994 1.36% -0.24%
1993 1.52% 3.99%
1992 1.68% 5.93%
1991 1.81% -12%
1990 1.93% -11.7%
1989 2.05% 2.9%
1988 2.14% 2.93%
1987 2.24% 2.98%
1986 2.57% 3.03%
1985 2.87% 3.09%
1984 2.9% 3.14%
1983 2.93% 3.03%
1982 2.95% 2.93%
1981 2.95% 2.99%
1980 2.95% 3.02%
1979 2.93% 3%
1978 2.89% 2.96%
1977 2.93% 2.85%
1976 3.26% 2.76%
1975 3.52% 2.74%
1974 3.51% 2.7%
1973 3.53% 2.65%
1972 3.58% 2.57%
1971 3.63% 2.55%
1970 3.67% 2.59%
1969 3.7% 2.59%
1968 3.73% 2.58%
1967 3.64% 2.57%
1966 3.25% 2.57%
1965 2.97% 2.57%
1964 2.99% 2.55%
1963 3.01% 2.54%
1962 3.03% 2.51%
1961 3.03% 2.47%

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/lesotho/liberia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Liberia's population grew by 2.11%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Liberia
Current population
2402837
5916561
Population rank 143/197 116/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.07%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
4.45 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
3.06 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
11.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +324
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +118,389
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +2.11%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 44/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
53.4 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -9,870
Net migration rank 117/196 132/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 72,423
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 142/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1.3%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 148/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Liberia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Liberia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -9,870
2024 31,050 -5,107 126,631 -7,779
2023 31,115 -5,168 125,730 -5,002
2022 30,803 -6,023 123,747 -5,003
2021 27,806 -3,449 121,038 -11,852
2020 30,721 -3,449 120,632 -10,107
2019 32,279 -6,896 120,635 -19,678
2018 33,112 -6,892 120,231 -23,199
2017 33,601 -6,850 119,376 -24,807
2016 33,390 -6,766 118,852 -26,796
2015 32,087 -7,087 115,479 -15,182
2014 30,922 -6,877 116,667 -26,690
2013 29,789 -6,659 120,138 -22,010
2012 27,592 -6,425 121,973 -25,710
2011 25,647 -6,118 115,496 91,981
2010 21,877 -5,886 114,249 2,850
2009 20,335 -5,599 113,429 1,187
2008 19,349 -5,392 112,032 17,404
2007 17,763 -5,179 109,165 65,306
2006 15,234 -11,416 104,099 77,946
2005 15,831 -35,679 96,478 101,019
2004 17,271 -33,530 91,755 -1,001
2003 20,133 -31,723 87,534 -103,564
2002 22,274 -29,924 88,643 -23,110
2001 23,190 -27,874 86,217 7,142
2000 24,786 -26,220 83,143 -2,060
1999 27,393 -24,610 78,130 53,643
1998 30,889 -23,299 72,146 99,203
1997 34,637 -22,396 61,444 281,480
1996 36,228 -17,042 56,392 -37,922
1995 37,370 -14,588 53,407 54,372
1994 38,629 -13,953 52,101 -121,407
1993 40,505 -13,347 51,609 7,300
1992 42,579 -12,707 50,204 56,210
1991 44,026 -12,114 47,426 78,052
1990 45,060 -11,598 52,770 -712,544
1989 46,264 -11,207 63,238 8,156
1988 47,158 -11,028 62,703 7,734
1987 47,718 -10,946 62,147 6,840
1986 45,232 -7,501 61,924 6,534
1985 44,575 1,222 59,988 7,487
1984 43,785 1,199 59,460 7,513
1983 42,899 1,253 57,562 7,861
1982 41,941 1,281 56,127 2,530
1981 40,808 1,307 55,003 2,757
1980 39,617 1,361 53,452 4,016
1979 38,440 1,285 52,125 3,500
1978 37,084 1,047 49,813 3,500
1977 35,654 746 47,582 3,555
1976 34,117 2,986 45,528 1,246
1975 32,311 9,723 43,478 2,037
1974 30,444 9,972 41,499 2,086
1973 28,859 10,183 39,694 2,272
1972 27,841 10,386 37,860 2,018
1971 26,838 10,563 36,015 1,293
1970 25,935 10,605 35,196 2,285
1969 25,137 10,465 34,677 1,982
1968 24,490 10,108 33,536 1,964
1967 23,911 9,734 32,519 2,177
1966 23,326 7,248 31,454 1,953
1965 22,755 2,239 30,618 2,431
1964 22,116 2,198 29,592 2,189
1963 21,585 2,220 28,708 2,165
1962 21,132 2,172 27,679 2,189
1961 20,581 2,100 26,670 2,115
1960 19,981 1,989 25,713 1,886

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 84.6% of the population change in Lesotho is from natural causes (a gain of 315,964 people) and 15.4% is from migration (a loss of 57,687 people). In Liberia 89% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,212,351 people) and 11% is from migration (a loss of 149,405 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 72,423 people or 1.3% in Liberia.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Liberia
City Population
Monrovia 1.02M
Sanniquellie 47.1K
Kakata 33.9K
Greenville 17.6K
Yekepa 11K

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/lesotho/liberia | 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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