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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 5,612,817 people in Liberia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 5,887,000 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 (23.2% growth), while Liberia has grown from 3.49M to 5.89M (68.6% growth).

Lesotho vs Liberia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Liberia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Liberia
2100 3,280,784 12,788,823
2099 3,286,697 12,776,207
2098 3,292,498 12,757,308
2097 3,298,102 12,728,620
2096 3,303,027 12,695,873
2095 3,307,947 12,671,037
2094 3,312,002 12,645,345
2093 3,315,757 12,607,806
2092 3,319,661 12,583,276
2091 3,322,573 12,557,861
2090 3,324,769 12,513,262
2089 3,326,847 12,461,083
2088 3,328,480 12,429,523
2087 3,329,964 12,394,685
2086 3,330,456 12,331,734
2085 3,331,259 12,266,313
2084 3,331,485 12,218,274
2083 3,331,492 12,163,782
2082 3,331,234 12,122,513
2081 3,330,412 12,055,108
2080 3,329,267 11,977,065
2079 3,327,166 11,899,224
2078 3,324,646 11,823,772
2077 3,321,422 11,746,009
2076 3,317,850 11,657,329
2075 3,314,237 11,571,881
2074 3,309,174 11,469,695
2073 3,303,860 11,373,802
2072 3,298,181 11,288,250
2071 3,291,492 11,187,594
2070 3,283,654 11,097,891
2069 3,275,244 11,002,270
2068 3,266,152 10,918,600
2067 3,256,626 10,814,021
2066 3,246,903 10,721,693
2065 3,237,153 10,617,436
2064 3,226,489 10,521,037
2063 3,215,103 10,416,221
2062 3,202,287 10,308,855
2061 3,188,933 10,200,557
2060 3,174,998 10,091,553
2059 3,160,204 9,960,069
2058 3,145,053 9,857,338
2057 3,129,261 9,745,295
2056 3,113,129 9,624,041
2055 3,095,904 9,506,843
2054 3,078,567 9,402,297
2053 3,060,152 9,284,854
2052 3,040,649 9,173,091
2051 3,020,109 9,060,243
2050 2,999,457 8,951,514
2049 2,978,037 8,828,384
2048 2,955,727 8,705,146
2047 2,932,688 8,581,923
2046 2,909,307 8,456,286
2045 2,885,537 8,342,861
2044 2,861,372 8,220,755
2043 2,836,777 8,106,429
2042 2,811,663 7,972,152
2041 2,786,147 7,829,310
2040 2,760,391 7,698,463
2039 2,734,400 7,554,021
2038 2,708,216 7,421,960
2037 2,681,863 7,291,328
2036 2,654,755 7,146,172
2035 2,627,701 7,010,827
2034 2,600,880 6,883,638
2033 2,574,065 6,750,553
2032 2,547,344 6,619,507
2031 2,520,831 6,492,799
2030 2,494,646 6,376,029
2029 2,468,268 6,247,795
2028 2,441,871 6,120,673
2027 2,415,830 5,981,051
2026 2,389,516 5,852,128
2025 2,363,516 5,732,938
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Liberia's population increased by 1,131,392 people (a 23.8% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Liberia will increase by 52.1% to 8,951,514 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 1.12% 2.14%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Liberia's population grew by 2.18%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Liberia
Current population
2396633
5887000
Population rank 143/197 116/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.07%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
4.39 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
3.09 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
11.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +328
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +119,786
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.18%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 43/197
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 - -5,107 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 84.2% of the population change in Lesotho is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people). In Liberia 87.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,202,387 people) and 12.3% is from migration (a loss of 168,316 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 (1960–2024, 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/lesotho/liberia | 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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