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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 32,740,678 people in Madagascar in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 33,936,132 in Madagascar.

Population statistics:

  • Madagascar's population is 14.1 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Madagascar is the 49th.
  • The countries together account for 0.44% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.41% for Madagascar.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.57% in Madagascar.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Madagascar has grown from 19.7M to 33.9M (72% growth).

Lesotho vs Madagascar: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Madagascar
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Madagascar
2100 3,280,518 86,179,580
2099 3,286,430 85,790,370
2098 3,292,231 85,386,169
2097 3,297,835 84,969,767
2096 3,302,758 84,541,363
2095 3,307,678 84,101,733
2094 3,311,734 83,648,271
2093 3,315,488 83,182,675
2092 3,319,391 82,705,710
2091 3,322,303 82,216,203
2090 3,324,499 81,717,468
2089 3,326,577 81,206,806
2088 3,328,210 80,683,320
2087 3,329,694 80,148,075
2086 3,330,185 79,603,046
2085 3,330,989 79,047,406
2084 3,331,214 78,482,616
2083 3,331,221 77,906,589
2082 3,330,964 77,321,070
2081 3,330,141 76,724,415
2080 3,328,997 76,117,046
2079 3,326,895 75,497,666
2078 3,324,376 74,865,716
2077 3,321,152 74,221,281
2076 3,317,581 73,566,810
2075 3,313,968 72,899,578
2074 3,308,905 72,220,039
2073 3,303,592 71,530,359
2072 3,297,913 70,828,530
2071 3,291,224 70,115,645
2070 3,283,387 69,394,756
2069 3,274,978 68,663,443
2068 3,265,887 67,921,934
2067 3,256,362 67,170,963
2066 3,246,639 66,411,266
2065 3,236,890 65,644,233
2064 3,226,227 64,867,634
2063 3,214,843 64,083,768
2062 3,202,027 63,292,113
2061 3,188,674 62,493,456
2060 3,174,740 61,688,314
2059 3,159,947 60,876,714
2058 3,144,797 60,061,091
2057 3,129,007 59,241,569
2056 3,112,877 58,416,388
2055 3,095,653 57,588,488
2054 3,078,317 56,757,952
2053 3,059,904 55,923,669
2052 3,040,402 55,086,396
2051 3,019,864 54,246,667
2050 2,999,214 53,403,817
2049 2,977,795 52,559,645
2048 2,955,487 51,714,462
2047 2,932,450 50,868,979
2046 2,909,071 50,023,282
2045 2,885,303 49,178,377
2044 2,861,140 48,333,861
2043 2,836,547 47,489,686
2042 2,811,435 46,646,849
2041 2,785,921 45,806,003
2040 2,760,167 44,966,710
2039 2,734,178 44,130,890
2038 2,707,996 43,296,592
2037 2,681,646 42,465,456
2036 2,654,540 41,636,814
2035 2,627,488 40,810,847
2034 2,600,669 39,989,445
2033 2,573,856 39,170,206
2032 2,547,137 38,353,879
2031 2,520,626 37,539,603
2030 2,494,444 36,729,526
2029 2,468,067 35,923,382
2028 2,441,673 35,120,762
2027 2,415,634 34,322,223
2026 2,389,322 33,528,352
2025 2,363,325 32,740,678
2024 2,337,423 31,964,956
2023 2,311,472 31,195,932
2022 2,286,110 30,437,261
2021 2,261,542 29,691,083
2020 2,235,727 28,953,556
2019 2,209,405 28,219,554
2018 2,183,603 27,494,926
2017 2,157,110 26,788,375
2016 2,130,422 26,099,952
2015 2,104,611 25,426,702
2014 2,080,089 24,764,348
2013 2,056,504 24,109,290
2012 2,034,354 23,462,438
2011 2,014,009 22,822,300
2010 1,996,251 22,183,340
2009 1,980,883 21,547,280
2008 1,966,541 20,923,840
2007 1,953,268 20,318,583
2006 1,945,063 19,730,909
2005 1,953,076 19,159,707
2004 1,971,129 18,606,608
2003 1,985,059 18,071,854
2002 1,994,679 17,549,913
2001 2,000,853 17,032,939
2000 2,003,913 16,516,338
1999 2,003,234 16,000,506
1998 1,998,049 15,489,364
1997 1,988,130 14,990,814
1996 1,972,418 14,510,711
1995 1,951,437 14,051,275
1994 1,927,707 13,613,850
1993 1,901,793 13,197,345
1992 1,873,274 12,800,870
1991 1,842,379 12,421,412
1990 1,809,696 12,055,639
1989 1,775,436 11,704,998
1988 1,739,841 11,369,462
1987 1,703,390 11,047,291
1986 1,666,138 10,736,857
1985 1,624,379 10,433,142
1984 1,578,986 10,134,550
1983 1,534,413 9,843,044
1982 1,490,732 9,557,671
1981 1,448,069 9,279,011
1980 1,406,521 9,006,032
1979 1,366,169 8,737,581
1978 1,327,240 8,475,864
1977 1,289,967 8,222,240
1976 1,253,214 7,976,831
1975 1,213,643 7,739,336
1974 1,172,420 7,509,726
1973 1,132,697 7,288,048
1972 1,094,063 7,074,398
1971 1,056,246 6,868,868
1970 1,019,273 6,672,003
1969 983,202 6,484,716
1968 948,105 6,306,493
1967 913,982 6,136,486
1966 881,870 5,974,279
1965 854,090 5,819,116
1964 829,437 5,669,863
1963 805,373 5,525,185
1962 781,814 5,384,150
1961 758,824 5,246,158
1960 736,500 5,111,029

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/madagascar | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Madagascar gained 6,369,043 people (a 32.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Madagascar's population increased by 7,836,180 people (a 30% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Madagascar was ranked 57th in 2006 and ranked 49th 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 Madagascar will increase by 57.4% to 53,403,817 people and rank change from 49th to 37th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 86.2M people in 2100 for Madagascar.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Madagascar
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Madagascar
2100 -0.18% 0.45%
2099 -0.18% 0.47%
2098 -0.17% 0.49%
2097 -0.15% 0.51%
2096 -0.15% 0.52%
2095 -0.12% 0.54%
2094 -0.11% 0.56%
2093 -0.12% 0.58%
2092 -0.09% 0.6%
2091 -0.07% 0.61%
2090 -0.06% 0.63%
2089 -0.05% 0.65%
2088 -0.04% 0.67%
2087 -0.01% 0.68%
2086 -0.02% 0.7%
2085 -0.007% 0.72%
2084 -0% 0.74%
2083 0.008% 0.76%
2082 0.02% 0.78%
2081 0.03% 0.8%
2080 0.06% 0.82%
2079 0.08% 0.84%
2078 0.1% 0.87%
2077 0.11% 0.89%
2076 0.11% 0.92%
2075 0.15% 0.94%
2074 0.16% 0.96%
2073 0.17% 0.99%
2072 0.2% 1.02%
2071 0.24% 1.04%
2070 0.26% 1.07%
2069 0.28% 1.09%
2068 0.29% 1.12%
2067 0.3% 1.14%
2066 0.3% 1.17%
2065 0.33% 1.2%
2064 0.35% 1.22%
2063 0.4% 1.25%
2062 0.42% 1.28%
2061 0.44% 1.31%
2060 0.47% 1.33%
2059 0.48% 1.36%
2058 0.5% 1.38%
2057 0.52% 1.41%
2056 0.56% 1.44%
2055 0.56% 1.46%
2054 0.6% 1.49%
2053 0.64% 1.52%
2052 0.68% 1.55%
2051 0.69% 1.58%
2050 0.72% 1.61%
2049 0.75% 1.63%
2048 0.79% 1.66%
2047 0.8% 1.69%
2046 0.82% 1.72%
2045 0.84% 1.75%
2044 0.87% 1.78%
2043 0.89% 1.81%
2042 0.92% 1.84%
2041 0.93% 1.87%
2040 0.95% 1.89%
2039 0.97% 1.93%
2038 0.98% 1.96%
2037 1.02% 1.99%
2036 1.03% 2.02%
2035 1.03% 2.05%
2034 1.04% 2.09%
2033 1.05% 2.13%
2032 1.05% 2.17%
2031 1.05% 2.21%
2030 1.07% 2.24%
2029 1.08% 2.29%
2028 1.08% 2.33%
2027 1.1% 2.37%
2026 1.1% 2.41%
2025 1.11% 2.43%
2024 1.12% 2.47%
2023 1.11% 2.49%
2022 1.09% 2.51%
2021 1.15% 2.55%
2020 1.19% 2.6%
2019 1.18% 2.64%
2018 1.23% 2.64%
2017 1.25% 2.64%
2016 1.23% 2.65%
2015 1.18% 2.67%
2014 1.15% 2.72%
2013 1.09% 2.76%
2012 1.01% 2.8%
2011 0.89% 2.88%
2010 0.78% 2.95%
2009 0.73% 2.98%
2008 0.68% 2.98%
2007 0.42% 2.98%
2006 -0.41% 2.98%
2005 -0.92% 2.97%
2004 -0.7% 2.96%
2003 -0.48% 2.97%
2002 -0.31% 3.04%
2001 -0.15% 3.13%
2000 0.03% 3.22%
1999 0.26% 3.3%
1998 0.5% 3.33%
1997 0.8% 3.31%
1996 1.08% 3.27%
1995 1.23% 3.21%
1994 1.36% 3.16%
1993 1.52% 3.1%
1992 1.68% 3.05%
1991 1.81% 3.03%
1990 1.93% 3%
1989 2.05% 2.95%
1988 2.14% 2.92%
1987 2.24% 2.89%
1986 2.57% 2.91%
1985 2.87% 2.95%
1984 2.9% 2.96%
1983 2.93% 2.99%
1982 2.95% 3%
1981 2.95% 3.03%
1980 2.95% 3.07%
1979 2.93% 3.09%
1978 2.89% 3.08%
1977 2.93% 3.08%
1976 3.26% 3.07%
1975 3.52% 3.06%
1974 3.51% 3.04%
1973 3.53% 3.02%
1972 3.58% 2.99%
1971 3.63% 2.95%
1970 3.67% 2.89%
1969 3.7% 2.83%
1968 3.73% 2.77%
1967 3.64% 2.72%
1966 3.25% 2.67%
1965 2.97% 2.63%
1964 2.99% 2.62%
1963 3.01% 2.62%
1962 3.03% 2.63%
1961 3.03% 2.64%

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/madagascar | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Madagascar's population grew by 2.43%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Madagascar
Current population
2402837
33936132
Population rank 143/197 49/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.41%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
40.8 seconds
One birth every
9.46 minutes
31.1 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
2.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +2,125
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +775,722
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +2.43%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 28/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
3.94 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 -2,227
Net migration rank 117/196 100/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 38,625
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 158/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.1%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 193/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Madagascar
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Madagascar
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -2,227
2024 31,050 -5,107 774,926 -1,795
2023 31,115 -5,168 766,391 -1,487
2022 30,803 -6,023 753,931 -1,487
2021 27,806 -3,449 741,416 -1,480
2020 30,721 -3,449 736,607 -1,480
2019 32,279 -6,896 735,853 -2,976
2018 33,112 -6,892 719,267 -2,887
2017 33,601 -6,850 699,498 -2,784
2016 33,390 -6,766 682,801 -2,687
2015 32,087 -7,087 668,977 -2,594
2014 30,922 -6,877 660,837 -2,522
2013 29,789 -6,659 654,230 -2,445
2012 27,592 -6,425 644,255 -2,334
2011 25,647 -6,118 640,577 -2,219
2010 21,877 -5,886 641,543 -1,979
2009 20,335 -5,599 634,008 -1,429
2008 19,349 -5,392 615,580 -1,255
2007 17,763 -5,179 597,772 -1,563
2006 15,234 -11,416 581,489 -2,336
2005 15,831 -35,679 568,143 -4,869
2004 17,271 -33,530 556,319 -13,393
2003 20,133 -31,723 544,903 -18,345
2002 22,274 -29,924 535,518 -18,209
2001 23,190 -27,874 529,656 -13,014
2000 24,786 -26,220 520,860 -4,298
1999 27,393 -24,610 516,976 -1,891
1998 30,889 -23,299 508,408 -1,222
1997 34,637 -22,396 490,905 -986
1996 36,228 -17,042 471,453 -1,161
1995 37,370 -14,588 450,259 -1,670
1994 38,629 -13,953 428,169 -1,905
1993 40,505 -13,347 408,801 -2,063
1992 42,579 -12,707 388,430 -2,216
1991 44,026 -12,114 375,040 -2,330
1990 45,060 -11,598 360,621 -1,777
1989 46,264 -11,207 344,279 -1,848
1988 47,158 -11,028 330,510 -1,883
1987 47,718 -10,946 317,621 -1,896
1986 45,232 -7,501 307,074 -1,914
1985 44,575 1,222 304,199 -1,947
1984 43,785 1,199 296,892 -1,965
1983 42,899 1,253 290,085 -1,979
1982 41,941 1,281 284,733 -2,093
1981 40,808 1,307 277,535 -2,864
1980 39,617 1,361 275,287 -4,005
1979 38,440 1,285 270,752 -5,126
1978 37,084 1,047 263,684 -5,874
1977 35,654 746 255,399 -5,957
1976 34,117 2,986 247,026 -5,655
1975 32,311 9,723 238,774 -5,173
1974 30,444 9,972 230,233 -4,607
1973 28,859 10,183 221,768 -4,037
1972 27,841 10,386 213,138 -3,583
1971 26,838 10,563 204,617 -3,118
1970 25,935 10,605 194,889 -2,658
1969 25,137 10,465 184,562 -2,216
1968 24,490 10,108 175,869 -1,766
1967 23,911 9,734 167,287 -1,383
1966 23,326 7,248 159,483 -964
1965 22,755 2,239 152,362 -550
1964 22,116 2,198 146,894 -204
1963 21,585 2,220 142,666 0
1962 21,132 2,172 139,412 0
1961 20,581 2,100 136,578 0
1960 19,981 1,989 133,684 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/madagascar | 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 Madagascar 99.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,279,667 people) and 0.3% is from migration (a loss of 21,657 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 38,625 people or 0.1% in Madagascar.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Madagascar
City Population
Antananarivo 1.28M
Antsirabe 265K
Toamasina 225K
Toliara 169K

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/madagascar | 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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