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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 9.58 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Lesotho vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Malawi
2100 3,280,784 59,786,744
2099 3,286,697 59,528,389
2098 3,292,498 59,275,876
2097 3,298,102 59,028,312
2096 3,303,027 58,761,888
2095 3,307,947 58,508,246
2094 3,312,002 58,240,422
2093 3,315,757 57,966,788
2092 3,319,661 57,672,738
2091 3,322,573 57,377,090
2090 3,324,769 57,060,476
2089 3,326,847 56,739,410
2088 3,328,480 56,397,330
2087 3,329,964 56,053,671
2086 3,330,456 55,706,928
2085 3,331,259 55,348,708
2084 3,331,485 54,997,097
2083 3,331,492 54,605,058
2082 3,331,234 54,206,477
2081 3,330,412 53,795,317
2080 3,329,267 53,372,779
2079 3,327,166 52,948,243
2078 3,324,646 52,521,908
2077 3,321,422 52,063,931
2076 3,317,850 51,600,404
2075 3,314,237 51,141,728
2074 3,309,174 50,684,368
2073 3,303,860 50,229,762
2072 3,298,181 49,769,904
2071 3,291,492 49,287,139
2070 3,283,654 48,797,935
2069 3,275,244 48,301,644
2068 3,266,152 47,792,308
2067 3,256,626 47,277,473
2066 3,246,903 46,752,024
2065 3,237,153 46,228,139
2064 3,226,489 45,701,844
2063 3,215,103 45,179,322
2062 3,202,287 44,638,764
2061 3,188,933 44,076,711
2060 3,174,998 43,508,702
2059 3,160,204 42,916,694
2058 3,145,053 42,344,863
2057 3,129,261 41,762,060
2056 3,113,129 41,184,161
2055 3,095,904 40,584,950
2054 3,078,567 39,994,696
2053 3,060,152 39,377,622
2052 3,040,649 38,766,890
2051 3,020,109 38,153,322
2050 2,999,457 37,545,865
2049 2,978,037 36,936,275
2048 2,955,727 36,339,833
2047 2,932,688 35,725,127
2046 2,909,307 35,107,179
2045 2,885,537 34,491,916
2044 2,861,372 33,862,279
2043 2,836,777 33,247,804
2042 2,811,663 32,636,511
2041 2,786,147 32,019,447
2040 2,760,391 31,402,305
2039 2,734,400 30,782,479
2038 2,708,216 30,166,708
2037 2,681,863 29,527,821
2036 2,654,755 28,896,515
2035 2,627,701 28,267,970
2034 2,600,880 27,643,367
2033 2,574,065 27,018,105
2032 2,547,344 26,404,071
2031 2,520,831 25,795,897
2030 2,494,646 25,181,820
2029 2,468,268 24,566,478
2028 2,441,871 23,968,071
2027 2,415,830 23,374,588
2026 2,389,516 22,791,601
2025 2,363,516 22,220,885
2024 2,337,423 21,655,286
2023 2,311,472 21,104,482
2022 2,286,110 20,568,728
2021 2,261,542 20,047,258
2020 2,235,727 19,533,888
2019 2,209,405 19,025,752
2018 2,183,603 18,528,081
2017 2,157,110 18,039,715
2016 2,130,422 17,557,739
2015 2,104,611 17,085,587
2014 2,080,089 16,621,538
2013 2,056,504 16,161,816
2012 2,034,354 15,709,577
2011 2,014,009 15,265,022
2010 1,996,251 14,826,463
2009 1,980,883 14,395,788
2008 1,966,541 13,976,417
2007 1,953,268 13,576,343
2006 1,945,063 13,198,701
2005 1,953,076 12,840,031
2004 1,971,129 12,500,737
2003 1,985,059 12,181,574
2002 1,994,679 11,880,440
2001 2,000,853 11,593,058
2000 2,003,913 11,315,942
1999 2,003,234 11,047,804
1998 1,998,049 10,792,876
1997 1,988,130 10,562,035
1996 1,972,418 10,352,228
1995 1,951,437 10,150,117
1994 1,927,707 10,164,894
1993 1,901,793 10,284,024
1992 1,873,274 10,135,079
1991 1,842,379 9,844,227
1990 1,809,696 9,545,852
1989 1,775,436 9,176,220
1988 1,739,841 8,753,262
1987 1,703,390 8,293,174
1986 1,666,138 7,906,480
1985 1,624,379 7,620,508
1984 1,578,986 7,332,810
1983 1,534,413 7,051,709
1982 1,490,732 6,778,879
1981 1,448,069 6,516,454
1980 1,406,521 6,265,529
1979 1,366,169 6,028,749
1978 1,327,240 5,810,132
1977 1,289,967 5,614,983
1976 1,253,214 5,443,384
1975 1,213,643 5,287,367
1974 1,172,420 5,141,337
1973 1,132,697 5,003,938
1972 1,094,063 4,874,475
1971 1,056,246 4,751,434
1970 1,019,273 4,633,944
1969 983,202 4,521,184
1968 948,105 4,411,054
1967 913,982 4,303,012
1966 881,870 4,197,926
1965 854,090 4,096,157
1964 829,437 3,997,305
1963 805,373 3,900,506
1962 781,814 3,806,307
1961 758,824 3,715,534
1960 736,500 3,628,134

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/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Malawi was ranked 69th in 2006 and ranked 61st 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 Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Malawi
2100 -0.18% 0.43%
2099 -0.18% 0.43%
2098 -0.17% 0.42%
2097 -0.15% 0.45%
2096 -0.15% 0.43%
2095 -0.12% 0.46%
2094 -0.11% 0.47%
2093 -0.12% 0.51%
2092 -0.09% 0.52%
2091 -0.07% 0.55%
2090 -0.06% 0.57%
2089 -0.05% 0.61%
2088 -0.04% 0.61%
2087 -0.01% 0.62%
2086 -0.02% 0.65%
2085 -0.007% 0.64%
2084 -0% 0.72%
2083 0.008% 0.74%
2082 0.02% 0.76%
2081 0.03% 0.79%
2080 0.06% 0.8%
2079 0.08% 0.81%
2078 0.1% 0.88%
2077 0.11% 0.9%
2076 0.11% 0.9%
2075 0.15% 0.9%
2074 0.16% 0.91%
2073 0.17% 0.92%
2072 0.2% 0.98%
2071 0.24% 1%
2070 0.26% 1.03%
2069 0.28% 1.07%
2068 0.29% 1.09%
2067 0.3% 1.12%
2066 0.3% 1.13%
2065 0.33% 1.15%
2064 0.35% 1.16%
2063 0.4% 1.21%
2062 0.42% 1.28%
2061 0.44% 1.31%
2060 0.47% 1.38%
2059 0.48% 1.35%
2058 0.5% 1.4%
2057 0.52% 1.4%
2056 0.56% 1.48%
2055 0.56% 1.48%
2054 0.6% 1.57%
2053 0.64% 1.58%
2052 0.68% 1.61%
2051 0.69% 1.62%
2050 0.72% 1.65%
2049 0.75% 1.64%
2048 0.79% 1.72%
2047 0.8% 1.76%
2046 0.82% 1.78%
2045 0.84% 1.86%
2044 0.87% 1.85%
2043 0.89% 1.87%
2042 0.92% 1.93%
2041 0.93% 1.97%
2040 0.95% 2.01%
2039 0.97% 2.04%
2038 0.98% 2.16%
2037 1.02% 2.18%
2036 1.03% 2.22%
2035 1.03% 2.26%
2034 1.04% 2.31%
2033 1.05% 2.33%
2032 1.05% 2.36%
2031 1.05% 2.44%
2030 1.07% 2.5%
2029 1.08% 2.5%
2028 1.08% 2.54%
2027 1.1% 2.56%
2026 1.1% 2.57%
2025 1.12% 2.61%
2024 1.12% 2.61%
2023 1.11% 2.6%
2022 1.09% 2.6%
2021 1.15% 2.63%
2020 1.19% 2.67%
2019 1.18% 2.69%
2018 1.23% 2.71%
2017 1.25% 2.75%
2016 1.23% 2.76%
2015 1.18% 2.79%
2014 1.15% 2.84%
2013 1.09% 2.88%
2012 1.01% 2.91%
2011 0.89% 2.96%
2010 0.78% 2.99%
2009 0.73% 3%
2008 0.68% 2.95%
2007 0.42% 2.86%
2006 -0.41% 2.79%
2005 -0.92% 2.71%
2004 -0.7% 2.62%
2003 -0.48% 2.53%
2002 -0.31% 2.48%
2001 -0.15% 2.45%
2000 0.03% 2.43%
1999 0.26% 2.36%
1998 0.5% 2.19%
1997 0.8% 2.03%
1996 1.08% 1.99%
1995 1.23% -0.15%
1994 1.36% -1.16%
1993 1.52% 1.47%
1992 1.68% 2.95%
1991 1.81% 3.13%
1990 1.93% 4.03%
1989 2.05% 4.83%
1988 2.14% 5.55%
1987 2.24% 4.89%
1986 2.57% 3.75%
1985 2.87% 3.92%
1984 2.9% 3.99%
1983 2.93% 4.02%
1982 2.95% 4.03%
1981 2.95% 4%
1980 2.95% 3.93%
1979 2.93% 3.76%
1978 2.89% 3.48%
1977 2.93% 3.15%
1976 3.26% 2.95%
1975 3.52% 2.84%
1974 3.51% 2.75%
1973 3.53% 2.66%
1972 3.58% 2.59%
1971 3.63% 2.54%
1970 3.67% 2.49%
1969 3.7% 2.5%
1968 3.73% 2.51%
1967 3.64% 2.5%
1966 3.25% 2.48%
1965 2.97% 2.47%
1964 2.99% 2.48%
1963 3.01% 2.47%
1962 3.03% 2.44%
1961 3.03% 2.41%

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/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Malawi
Current population
2396633
22949294
Population rank 143/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.28%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
57.3 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
47.6 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 26/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 -5,628
Net migration rank 117/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -5,628
2024 - -5,107 - -1,507
2023 31,115 -5,168 549,096 -5,811
2022 30,803 -6,023 533,450 -5,231
2021 27,806 -3,449 517,400 -2,666
2020 30,721 -3,449 514,659 -2,655
2019 32,279 -6,896 506,104 -1,837
2018 33,112 -6,892 494,348 -3,267
2017 33,601 -6,850 484,655 982
2016 33,390 -6,766 474,779 3,505
2015 32,087 -7,087 472,484 -6,471
2014 30,922 -6,877 472,418 -10,317
2013 29,789 -6,659 470,293 -12,934
2012 27,592 -6,425 460,684 -13,561
2011 25,647 -6,118 454,149 -12,170
2010 21,877 -5,886 444,468 -9,327
2009 20,335 -5,599 434,811 -8,590
2008 19,349 -5,392 421,781 -9,264
2007 17,763 -5,179 410,290 -22,680
2006 15,234 -11,416 397,123 -29,450
2005 15,831 -35,679 381,130 -31,462
2004 17,271 -33,530 361,133 -32,221
2003 20,133 -31,723 341,133 -31,729
2002 22,274 -29,924 322,863 -30,013
2001 23,190 -27,874 310,833 -28,933
2000 24,786 -26,220 300,439 -28,098
1999 27,393 -24,610 295,629 -31,686
1998 30,889 -23,299 285,407 -39,491
1997 34,637 -22,396 277,433 -61,646
1996 36,228 -17,042 270,048 -66,212
1995 37,370 -14,588 266,745 -66,366
1994 38,629 -13,953 275,439 -505,365
1993 40,505 -13,347 276,538 -284,867
1992 42,579 -12,707 269,066 37,142
1991 44,026 -12,114 260,193 15,291
1990 45,060 -11,598 250,159 71,111
1989 46,264 -11,207 237,967 180,031
1988 47,158 -11,028 226,911 201,011
1987 47,718 -10,946 220,566 271,693
1986 45,232 -7,501 218,519 62,615
1985 44,575 1,222 216,179 74,625
1984 43,785 1,199 212,146 72,435
1983 42,899 1,253 209,422 68,197
1982 41,941 1,281 205,386 62,661
1981 40,808 1,307 199,436 57,376
1980 39,617 1,361 192,746 52,294
1979 38,440 1,285 182,123 46,388
1978 37,084 1,047 172,503 36,225
1977 35,654 746 161,930 19,638
1976 34,117 2,986 153,422 8,206
1975 32,311 9,723 145,254 5,162
1974 30,444 9,972 137,819 3,833
1973 28,859 10,183 131,529 1,623
1972 27,841 10,386 125,728 48
1971 26,838 10,563 121,015 -710
1970 25,935 10,605 116,822 -2,147
1969 25,137 10,465 113,120 -2,266
1968 24,490 10,108 110,329 -924
1967 23,911 9,734 106,668 0
1966 23,326 7,248 103,512 0
1965 22,755 2,239 100,040 0
1964 22,116 2,198 97,658 0
1963 21,585 2,220 95,933 0
1962 21,132 2,172 92,463 0
1961 20,581 2,100 89,091 0
1960 19,981 1,989 85,718 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K

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/malawi | 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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