The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 7,458,555 people in Libya in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 7,580,693 in Libya.
Population statistics:
- Libya's population is 3.15 times bigger than Lesotho's.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Libya is the 105th.
- The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.09% for Libya.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.36% in Libya.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Libya has grown from 5.98M to 7.58M (26.8% growth).
Lesotho vs Libya: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Libya
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,518 | 9,844,693 |
| 2099 | 3,286,430 | 9,862,508 |
| 2098 | 3,292,231 | 9,883,625 |
| 2097 | 3,297,835 | 9,903,710 |
| 2096 | 3,302,758 | 9,920,429 |
| 2095 | 3,307,678 | 9,931,997 |
| 2094 | 3,311,734 | 9,943,491 |
| 2093 | 3,315,488 | 9,958,787 |
| 2092 | 3,319,391 | 9,973,472 |
| 2091 | 3,322,303 | 9,982,411 |
| 2090 | 3,324,499 | 9,998,616 |
| 2089 | 3,326,577 | 10,009,061 |
| 2088 | 3,328,210 | 10,019,752 |
| 2087 | 3,329,694 | 10,023,389 |
| 2086 | 3,330,185 | 10,023,004 |
| 2085 | 3,330,989 | 10,016,577 |
| 2084 | 3,331,214 | 10,009,921 |
| 2083 | 3,331,221 | 10,006,291 |
| 2082 | 3,330,964 | 9,997,812 |
| 2081 | 3,330,141 | 9,985,604 |
| 2080 | 3,328,997 | 9,975,637 |
| 2079 | 3,326,895 | 9,962,908 |
| 2078 | 3,324,376 | 9,958,732 |
| 2077 | 3,321,152 | 9,953,044 |
| 2076 | 3,317,581 | 9,940,245 |
| 2075 | 3,313,968 | 9,928,160 |
| 2074 | 3,308,905 | 9,917,050 |
| 2073 | 3,303,592 | 9,901,336 |
| 2072 | 3,297,913 | 9,879,817 |
| 2071 | 3,291,224 | 9,868,096 |
| 2070 | 3,283,387 | 9,850,939 |
| 2069 | 3,274,978 | 9,832,286 |
| 2068 | 3,265,887 | 9,812,577 |
| 2067 | 3,256,362 | 9,800,171 |
| 2066 | 3,246,639 | 9,782,627 |
| 2065 | 3,236,890 | 9,763,018 |
| 2064 | 3,226,227 | 9,740,878 |
| 2063 | 3,214,843 | 9,729,779 |
| 2062 | 3,202,027 | 9,707,751 |
| 2061 | 3,188,674 | 9,686,831 |
| 2060 | 3,174,740 | 9,667,507 |
| 2059 | 3,159,947 | 9,638,272 |
| 2058 | 3,144,797 | 9,610,912 |
| 2057 | 3,129,007 | 9,579,804 |
| 2056 | 3,112,877 | 9,554,897 |
| 2055 | 3,095,653 | 9,522,413 |
| 2054 | 3,078,317 | 9,478,216 |
| 2053 | 3,059,904 | 9,432,889 |
| 2052 | 3,040,402 | 9,383,615 |
| 2051 | 3,019,864 | 9,335,544 |
| 2050 | 2,999,214 | 9,283,143 |
| 2049 | 2,977,795 | 9,231,012 |
| 2048 | 2,955,487 | 9,173,472 |
| 2047 | 2,932,450 | 9,119,114 |
| 2046 | 2,909,071 | 9,063,424 |
| 2045 | 2,885,303 | 8,999,038 |
| 2044 | 2,861,140 | 8,934,909 |
| 2043 | 2,836,547 | 8,867,072 |
| 2042 | 2,811,435 | 8,798,655 |
| 2041 | 2,785,921 | 8,732,358 |
| 2040 | 2,760,167 | 8,661,540 |
| 2039 | 2,734,178 | 8,588,479 |
| 2038 | 2,707,996 | 8,514,257 |
| 2037 | 2,681,646 | 8,437,950 |
| 2036 | 2,654,540 | 8,364,991 |
| 2035 | 2,627,488 | 8,290,112 |
| 2034 | 2,600,669 | 8,209,497 |
| 2033 | 2,573,856 | 8,129,319 |
| 2032 | 2,547,137 | 8,052,378 |
| 2031 | 2,520,626 | 7,969,721 |
| 2030 | 2,494,444 | 7,884,898 |
| 2029 | 2,468,067 | 7,801,652 |
| 2028 | 2,441,673 | 7,713,258 |
| 2027 | 2,415,634 | 7,622,004 |
| 2026 | 2,389,322 | 7,537,063 |
| 2025 | 2,363,325 | 7,458,555 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 7,381,023 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 7,305,659 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 7,223,805 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 7,135,175 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 7,045,399 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 6,951,033 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 6,849,055 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 6,738,770 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 6,632,126 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 6,531,819 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 6,427,252 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 6,304,628 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 6,179,328 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 6,343,203 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 6,497,839 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 6,366,686 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 6,235,430 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 6,104,380 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 5,980,211 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 5,858,798 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 5,736,693 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 5,619,398 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 5,508,410 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 5,403,639 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 5,305,021 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 5,218,038 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 5,140,704 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 5,064,639 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 4,987,393 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 4,906,843 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 4,822,037 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 4,733,045 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 4,640,352 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 4,544,400 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 4,445,239 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 4,342,920 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 4,237,755 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 4,129,739 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 4,017,403 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 3,898,745 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 3,773,633 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 3,718,961 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 3,724,765 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 3,621,486 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 3,424,378 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 3,233,846 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 3,052,526 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 2,881,533 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 2,721,237 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 2,571,556 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 2,432,211 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 2,314,193 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 2,226,091 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 2,153,534 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 2,082,589 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 2,014,293 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 1,952,781 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 1,898,199 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 1,849,063 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 1,804,015 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 1,753,691 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 1,690,457 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 1,621,960 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 1,555,699 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 1,492,890 |
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/libya | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Libya gained 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Libya's population increased by 948,567 people (a 14.3% growth).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Libya was ranked 103rd in 2006 and ranked 105th 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 Libya will increase by 22.5% to 9,283,143 people and will still be ranked 105th.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 10M people in 2087 for Libya.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Libya
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | -0.18% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | -0.21% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | -0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | -0.17% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | -0.12% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | -0.12% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | -0.15% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | -0.15% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | -0.09% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | -0.16% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | -0.1% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | -0.11% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | -0.04% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | 0.004% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | 0.06% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | 0.07% |
| 2084 | -0% | 0.04% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | 0.08% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | 0.12% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | 0.1% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | 0.13% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | 0.06% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | 0.13% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | 0.12% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | 0.11% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | 0.16% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | 0.22% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | 0.12% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | 0.17% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 0.19% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | 0.2% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | 0.13% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | 0.18% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | 0.23% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | 0.11% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | 0.23% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | 0.22% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | 0.2% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 0.3% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | 0.28% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 0.32% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | 0.26% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | 0.34% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | 0.47% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | 0.48% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | 0.53% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | 0.51% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | 0.56% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | 0.56% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | 0.63% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | 0.6% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | 0.61% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | 0.72% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | 0.72% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | 0.77% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | 0.78% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | 0.76% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | 0.82% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | 0.85% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | 0.87% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | 0.9% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | 0.87% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | 0.9% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | 0.98% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | 0.99% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | 0.96% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | 1.04% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | 1.08% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | 1.07% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | 1.15% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | 1.2% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | 1.13% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | 1.05% |
| 2025 | 1.11% | 1.05% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | 1.03% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | 1.13% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | 1.24% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | 1.27% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | 1.36% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 1.49% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 1.64% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 1.54% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 1.63% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 1.94% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | 2.03% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | -2.58% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | -2.38% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 2.06% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 2.11% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 2.15% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | 2.08% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 2.07% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 2.13% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 2.09% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 2.01% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 1.94% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 1.86% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | 1.67% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | 1.5% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 1.5% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 1.55% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 1.64% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 1.76% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 1.88% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 2% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 2.11% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 2.23% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | 2.36% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 2.48% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | 2.62% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 2.8% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 3.04% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 3.32% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 1.47% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | -0.16% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 2.85% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 5.76% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | 5.89% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | 5.94% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | 5.93% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | 5.89% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | 5.82% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | 5.73% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 5.1% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 3.96% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 3.37% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 3.41% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | 3.39% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | 3.15% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | 2.88% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | 2.66% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 2.5% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 2.87% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 3.74% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 4.22% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 4.26% |
| 1961 | 3.03% | 4.21% |
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/libya | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Libya's population grew by 1.05%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Libya
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2402837
|
7580693
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 105/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.09% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
6.8 minutes
|
| One birth every |
9.46 minutes
|
4.32 minutes
|
| One death every |
21.5 minutes
|
10.9 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | +212 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,902 | +77,532 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.11% | +1.05% |
| Population growth rate rank | 94/197 | 96/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
2.13 days
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | -172 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 83/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 897,751 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 63/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 12.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 56/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Libya
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | -172 |
| 2024 | 31,050 | -5,107 | 73,522 | 3,448 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 75,760 | -2,001 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | 91,951 | -2,001 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | 88,005 | -694 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 92,950 | -694 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 97,842 | -1,352 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 101,619 | 5,841 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 103,891 | 9,208 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 105,265 | -5,081 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 108,096 | -7,660 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 110,420 | -1,716 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 110,772 | 25,755 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 108,855 | 5,211 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 121,016 | -562,827 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 122,926 | 9,611 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 118,102 | 11,670 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 117,481 | 15,260 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 116,704 | 12,640 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 115,645 | 3,351 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 112,823 | 11,024 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 107,144 | 13,222 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 102,144 | 12,073 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 97,598 | 10,152 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 93,370 | 8,420 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 89,814 | 5,634 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 88,743 | -10,206 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 87,613 | -11,479 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 86,899 | -10,907 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 86,945 | -8,446 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 87,661 | -5,068 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 88,765 | -1,755 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 90,553 | 426 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 93,568 | 843 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 96,582 | 902 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 99,898 | 946 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 102,823 | 981 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 105,469 | 1,053 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 107,761 | 1,740 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 109,325 | 5,844 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 110,194 | 11,962 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 110,028 | 18,039 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 122,183 | -140,904 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 133,511 | -126,400 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 130,233 | 69,211 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 128,034 | 66,739 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 121,469 | 64,821 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 114,669 | 61,684 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 107,769 | 57,867 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 101,146 | 53,813 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 94,862 | 49,544 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 89,337 | 44,946 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 81,256 | 20,498 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 77,864 | -3,418 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 74,934 | -4,265 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 70,488 | 745 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 66,782 | -1,418 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 63,971 | -6,323 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 61,889 | -10,384 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 60,394 | -13,619 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 59,134 | -15,810 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 55,227 | 2,084 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 50,421 | 18,740 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 46,252 | 21,589 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 42,167 | 22,504 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 38,391 | 22,559 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/libya | 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 Libya 99.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 938,901 people) and 0.1% is from migration (a loss of 986 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 897,751 people or 12.2% in Libya.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Lesotho and Libya
|
Lesotho
|
Libya
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 75.2 years |
| Average age | 26 years | 31 years |
| Median age | 22.9 years | 28.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.8:51.2 | 50.8:49.2 |
| Fertility rate | 2.66 births per woman | 2.3 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 11.1 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/libya | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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