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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 31,964,956 people in Madagascar in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 33,750,171 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 +2.6% in Madagascar.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Madagascar has grown from 19.7M to 33.8M (71.1% growth).

Lesotho vs Madagascar: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Madagascar
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Madagascar
2100 3,280,784 86,197,674
2099 3,286,697 85,808,382
2098 3,292,498 85,404,097
2097 3,298,102 84,987,607
2096 3,303,027 84,559,113
2095 3,307,947 84,119,392
2094 3,312,002 83,665,834
2093 3,315,757 83,200,140
2092 3,319,661 82,723,075
2091 3,322,573 82,233,465
2090 3,324,769 81,734,626
2089 3,326,847 81,223,857
2088 3,328,480 80,700,261
2087 3,329,964 80,164,903
2086 3,330,456 79,619,760
2085 3,331,259 79,064,003
2084 3,331,485 78,499,094
2083 3,331,492 77,922,946
2082 3,331,234 77,337,305
2081 3,330,412 76,740,524
2080 3,329,267 76,133,028
2079 3,327,166 75,513,518
2078 3,324,646 74,881,435
2077 3,321,422 74,236,865
2076 3,317,850 73,582,256
2075 3,314,237 72,914,884
2074 3,309,174 72,235,202
2073 3,303,860 71,545,378
2072 3,298,181 70,843,401
2071 3,291,492 70,130,366
2070 3,283,654 69,409,326
2069 3,275,244 68,677,859
2068 3,266,152 67,936,195
2067 3,256,626 67,185,066
2066 3,246,903 66,425,210
2065 3,237,153 65,658,016
2064 3,226,489 64,881,253
2063 3,215,103 64,097,223
2062 3,202,287 63,305,402
2061 3,188,933 62,506,578
2060 3,174,998 61,701,267
2059 3,160,204 60,889,495
2058 3,145,053 60,073,702
2057 3,129,261 59,254,008
2056 3,113,129 58,428,653
2055 3,095,904 57,600,579
2054 3,078,567 56,769,869
2053 3,060,152 55,935,411
2052 3,040,649 55,097,962
2051 3,020,109 54,258,057
2050 2,999,457 53,415,029
2049 2,978,037 52,570,680
2048 2,955,727 51,725,320
2047 2,932,688 50,879,659
2046 2,909,307 50,033,785
2045 2,885,537 49,188,703
2044 2,861,372 48,344,009
2043 2,836,777 47,499,657
2042 2,811,663 46,656,643
2041 2,786,147 45,815,621
2040 2,760,391 44,976,152
2039 2,734,400 44,140,155
2038 2,708,216 43,305,683
2037 2,681,863 42,474,372
2036 2,654,755 41,645,556
2035 2,627,701 40,819,415
2034 2,600,880 39,997,842
2033 2,574,065 39,178,430
2032 2,547,344 38,361,932
2031 2,520,831 37,547,484
2030 2,494,646 36,737,238
2029 2,468,268 35,930,925
2028 2,441,871 35,128,136
2027 2,415,830 34,329,429
2026 2,389,516 33,535,391
2025 2,363,516 32,747,552
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Madagascar's population increased by 7,650,219 people (a 29.3% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Madagascar will increase by 58.3% to 53,415,029 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 1.12% 2.45%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Madagascar's population grew by 2.47%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Madagascar
Current population
2396633
33750171
Population rank 143/197 49/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.41%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
41 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
31.5 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.24 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +2,107
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +769,024
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.47%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 29/197
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 - -5,107 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/madagascar | 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 Madagascar 99.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,165,578 people) and 0.31% is from migration (a loss of 22,384 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 (1960–2024, 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/madagascar | 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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