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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 9.61 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 +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Lesotho vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Malawi
2100 3,280,518 59,773,923
2099 3,286,430 59,515,624
2098 3,292,231 59,263,165
2097 3,297,835 59,015,654
2096 3,302,758 58,749,288
2095 3,307,678 58,495,699
2094 3,311,734 58,227,933
2093 3,315,488 57,954,358
2092 3,319,391 57,660,371
2091 3,322,303 57,364,786
2090 3,324,499 57,048,240
2089 3,326,577 56,727,243
2088 3,328,210 56,385,237
2087 3,329,694 56,041,651
2086 3,330,185 55,694,983
2085 3,330,989 55,336,839
2084 3,331,214 54,985,304
2083 3,331,221 54,593,349
2082 3,330,964 54,194,853
2081 3,330,141 53,783,781
2080 3,328,997 53,361,334
2079 3,326,895 52,936,889
2078 3,324,376 52,510,645
2077 3,321,152 52,052,767
2076 3,317,581 51,589,339
2075 3,313,968 51,130,762
2074 3,308,905 50,673,499
2073 3,303,592 50,218,991
2072 3,297,913 49,759,232
2071 3,291,224 49,276,570
2070 3,283,387 48,787,471
2069 3,274,978 48,291,287
2068 3,265,887 47,782,059
2067 3,256,362 47,267,335
2066 3,246,639 46,741,998
2065 3,236,890 46,218,226
2064 3,226,227 45,692,044
2063 3,214,843 45,169,634
2062 3,202,027 44,629,192
2061 3,188,674 44,067,259
2060 3,174,740 43,499,372
2059 3,159,947 42,907,491
2058 3,144,797 42,335,782
2057 3,129,007 41,753,105
2056 3,112,877 41,175,330
2055 3,095,653 40,576,247
2054 3,078,317 39,986,120
2053 3,059,904 39,369,178
2052 3,040,402 38,758,577
2051 3,019,864 38,145,141
2050 2,999,214 37,537,814
2049 2,977,795 36,928,354
2048 2,955,487 36,332,040
2047 2,932,450 35,717,466
2046 2,909,071 35,099,651
2045 2,885,303 34,484,520
2044 2,861,140 33,855,018
2043 2,836,547 33,240,675
2042 2,811,435 32,629,513
2041 2,785,921 32,012,581
2040 2,760,167 31,395,572
2039 2,734,178 30,775,878
2038 2,707,996 30,160,239
2037 2,681,646 29,521,489
2036 2,654,540 28,890,318
2035 2,627,488 28,261,909
2034 2,600,669 27,637,439
2033 2,573,856 27,012,311
2032 2,547,137 26,398,409
2031 2,520,626 25,790,366
2030 2,494,444 25,176,420
2029 2,468,067 24,561,210
2028 2,441,673 23,962,931
2027 2,415,634 23,369,575
2026 2,389,322 22,786,713
2025 2,363,325 22,216,120
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% 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 24.8% to 2,999,214 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 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 1.11% 2.59%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Malawi
Current population
2402837
23086106
Population rank 143/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.28%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
56.4 seconds
One birth every
9.46 minutes
46.8 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 23/197
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 31,050 -5,107 559,811 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,106,786 people) and 0.49% is from migration (a loss of 24,958 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
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
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 (1960–2025, 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/malawi | 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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