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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 35,977,838 people in Malaysia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 36,600,906 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 15.2 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.45% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.6M (38.5% growth).

Lesotho vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Malaysia
2100 3,280,518 44,342,183
2099 3,286,430 44,456,013
2098 3,292,231 44,568,480
2097 3,297,835 44,684,459
2096 3,302,758 44,803,334
2095 3,307,678 44,920,823
2094 3,311,734 45,035,868
2093 3,315,488 45,153,485
2092 3,319,391 45,267,003
2091 3,322,303 45,378,303
2090 3,324,499 45,489,767
2089 3,326,577 45,598,290
2088 3,328,210 45,706,098
2087 3,329,694 45,811,274
2086 3,330,185 45,914,874
2085 3,330,989 46,008,880
2084 3,331,214 46,099,604
2083 3,331,221 46,190,377
2082 3,330,964 46,272,999
2081 3,330,141 46,347,751
2080 3,328,997 46,423,514
2079 3,326,895 46,484,118
2078 3,324,376 46,537,169
2077 3,321,152 46,582,178
2076 3,317,581 46,607,029
2075 3,313,968 46,631,092
2074 3,308,905 46,646,324
2073 3,303,592 46,658,819
2072 3,297,913 46,658,396
2071 3,291,224 46,648,409
2070 3,283,387 46,633,600
2069 3,274,978 46,611,221
2068 3,265,887 46,588,049
2067 3,256,362 46,557,261
2066 3,246,639 46,518,384
2065 3,236,890 46,469,909
2064 3,226,227 46,405,405
2063 3,214,843 46,338,727
2062 3,202,027 46,260,178
2061 3,188,674 46,166,190
2060 3,174,740 46,064,001
2059 3,159,947 45,946,872
2058 3,144,797 45,825,593
2057 3,129,007 45,695,432
2056 3,112,877 45,554,612
2055 3,095,653 45,407,246
2054 3,078,317 45,241,331
2053 3,059,904 45,057,472
2052 3,040,402 44,862,361
2051 3,019,864 44,657,253
2050 2,999,214 44,434,221
2049 2,977,795 44,206,196
2048 2,955,487 43,963,591
2047 2,932,450 43,701,058
2046 2,909,071 43,427,087
2045 2,885,303 43,146,785
2044 2,861,140 42,855,667
2043 2,836,547 42,546,972
2042 2,811,435 42,229,093
2041 2,785,921 41,911,573
2040 2,760,167 41,587,509
2039 2,734,178 41,260,315
2038 2,707,996 40,918,517
2037 2,681,646 40,574,312
2036 2,654,540 40,223,758
2035 2,627,488 39,866,097
2034 2,600,669 39,505,672
2033 2,573,856 39,141,994
2032 2,547,137 38,762,420
2031 2,520,626 38,376,399
2030 2,494,444 37,985,824
2029 2,468,067 37,597,060
2028 2,441,673 37,198,261
2027 2,415,634 36,797,098
2026 2,389,322 36,393,693
2025 2,363,325 35,977,838
2024 2,337,423 35,557,673
2023 2,311,472 35,126,298
2022 2,286,110 34,695,493
2021 2,261,542 34,282,399
2020 2,235,727 33,889,558
2019 2,209,405 33,440,596
2018 2,183,603 32,910,967
2017 2,157,110 32,355,644
2016 2,130,422 31,789,685
2015 2,104,611 31,232,798
2014 2,080,089 30,696,137
2013 2,056,504 30,174,265
2012 2,034,354 29,662,831
2011 2,014,009 29,162,039
2010 1,996,251 28,655,776
2009 1,980,883 28,124,778
2008 1,966,541 27,570,059
2007 1,953,268 26,998,389
2006 1,945,063 26,417,909
2005 1,953,076 25,836,071
2004 1,971,129 25,256,772
2003 1,985,059 24,679,602
2002 1,994,679 24,102,477
2001 2,000,853 23,526,538
2000 2,003,913 22,967,816
1999 2,003,234 22,435,531
1998 1,998,049 21,906,713
1997 1,988,130 21,375,218
1996 1,972,418 20,850,087
1995 1,951,437 20,330,599
1994 1,927,707 19,820,446
1993 1,901,793 19,322,664
1992 1,873,274 18,834,572
1991 1,842,379 18,342,464
1990 1,809,696 17,833,171
1989 1,775,436 17,314,997
1988 1,739,841 16,796,605
1987 1,703,390 16,276,737
1986 1,666,138 15,760,419
1985 1,624,379 15,252,258
1984 1,578,986 14,759,009
1983 1,534,413 14,285,907
1982 1,490,732 13,832,798
1981 1,448,069 13,399,203
1980 1,406,521 12,983,363
1979 1,366,169 12,627,862
1978 1,327,240 12,328,157
1977 1,289,967 12,035,713
1976 1,253,214 11,750,097
1975 1,213,643 11,471,914
1974 1,172,420 11,200,906
1973 1,132,697 10,935,621
1972 1,094,063 10,676,835
1971 1,056,246 10,423,453
1970 1,019,273 10,178,802
1969 983,202 9,947,597
1968 948,105 9,725,281
1967 913,982 9,507,099
1966 881,870 9,284,688
1965 854,090 9,056,408
1964 829,437 8,828,406
1963 805,373 8,602,160
1962 781,814 8,380,172
1961 758,824 8,164,443
1960 736,500 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.4% to 44,434,221 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Malaysia
2100 -0.18% -0.26%
2099 -0.18% -0.25%
2098 -0.17% -0.26%
2097 -0.15% -0.27%
2096 -0.15% -0.26%
2095 -0.12% -0.26%
2094 -0.11% -0.26%
2093 -0.12% -0.25%
2092 -0.09% -0.25%
2091 -0.07% -0.25%
2090 -0.06% -0.24%
2089 -0.05% -0.24%
2088 -0.04% -0.23%
2087 -0.01% -0.23%
2086 -0.02% -0.2%
2085 -0.007% -0.2%
2084 -0% -0.2%
2083 0.008% -0.18%
2082 0.02% -0.16%
2081 0.03% -0.16%
2080 0.06% -0.13%
2079 0.08% -0.11%
2078 0.1% -0.1%
2077 0.11% -0.05%
2076 0.11% -0.05%
2075 0.15% -0.03%
2074 0.16% -0.03%
2073 0.17% 0.001%
2072 0.2% 0.02%
2071 0.24% 0.03%
2070 0.26% 0.05%
2069 0.28% 0.05%
2068 0.29% 0.07%
2067 0.3% 0.08%
2066 0.3% 0.1%
2065 0.33% 0.14%
2064 0.35% 0.14%
2063 0.4% 0.17%
2062 0.42% 0.2%
2061 0.44% 0.22%
2060 0.47% 0.25%
2059 0.48% 0.26%
2058 0.5% 0.28%
2057 0.52% 0.31%
2056 0.56% 0.32%
2055 0.56% 0.37%
2054 0.6% 0.41%
2053 0.64% 0.43%
2052 0.68% 0.46%
2051 0.69% 0.5%
2050 0.72% 0.52%
2049 0.75% 0.55%
2048 0.79% 0.6%
2047 0.8% 0.63%
2046 0.82% 0.65%
2045 0.84% 0.68%
2044 0.87% 0.73%
2043 0.89% 0.75%
2042 0.92% 0.76%
2041 0.93% 0.78%
2040 0.95% 0.79%
2039 0.97% 0.84%
2038 0.98% 0.85%
2037 1.02% 0.87%
2036 1.03% 0.9%
2035 1.03% 0.91%
2034 1.04% 0.93%
2033 1.05% 0.98%
2032 1.05% 1.01%
2031 1.05% 1.03%
2030 1.07% 1.03%
2029 1.08% 1.07%
2028 1.08% 1.09%
2027 1.1% 1.11%
2026 1.1% 1.16%
2025 1.11% 1.18%
2024 1.12% 1.23%
2023 1.11% 1.24%
2022 1.09% 1.2%
2021 1.15% 1.16%
2020 1.19% 1.34%
2019 1.18% 1.61%
2018 1.23% 1.72%
2017 1.25% 1.78%
2016 1.23% 1.78%
2015 1.18% 1.75%
2014 1.15% 1.73%
2013 1.09% 1.72%
2012 1.01% 1.72%
2011 0.89% 1.77%
2010 0.78% 1.89%
2009 0.73% 2.01%
2008 0.68% 2.12%
2007 0.42% 2.2%
2006 -0.41% 2.25%
2005 -0.92% 2.29%
2004 -0.7% 2.34%
2003 -0.48% 2.39%
2002 -0.31% 2.45%
2001 -0.15% 2.43%
2000 0.03% 2.37%
1999 0.26% 2.41%
1998 0.5% 2.49%
1997 0.8% 2.52%
1996 1.08% 2.56%
1995 1.23% 2.57%
1994 1.36% 2.58%
1993 1.52% 2.59%
1992 1.68% 2.68%
1991 1.81% 2.86%
1990 1.93% 2.99%
1989 2.05% 3.09%
1988 2.14% 3.19%
1987 2.24% 3.28%
1986 2.57% 3.33%
1985 2.87% 3.34%
1984 2.9% 3.31%
1983 2.93% 3.28%
1982 2.95% 3.24%
1981 2.95% 3.2%
1980 2.95% 2.82%
1979 2.93% 2.43%
1978 2.89% 2.43%
1977 2.93% 2.43%
1976 3.26% 2.42%
1975 3.52% 2.42%
1974 3.51% 2.43%
1973 3.53% 2.42%
1972 3.58% 2.43%
1971 3.63% 2.4%
1970 3.67% 2.32%
1969 3.7% 2.29%
1968 3.73% 2.29%
1967 3.64% 2.4%
1966 3.25% 2.52%
1965 2.97% 2.58%
1964 2.99% 2.63%
1963 3.01% 2.65%
1962 3.03% 2.64%
1961 3.03% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.18%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Malaysia
Current population
2402837
36600906
Population rank 143/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.44%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.25 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
1.2 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
2.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,151
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +420,165
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +1.18%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 89/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +166,615
Net migration rank 117/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 166,615
2024 31,050 -5,107 252,068 174,770
2023 31,115 -5,168 254,806 181,071
2022 30,803 -6,023 237,560 188,154
2021 27,806 -3,449 212,002 188,506
2020 30,721 -3,449 283,282 101,907
2019 32,279 -6,896 309,426 203,284
2018 33,112 -6,892 324,568 221,965
2017 33,601 -6,850 336,434 227,677
2016 33,390 -6,766 345,681 222,141
2015 32,087 -7,087 358,302 187,663
2014 30,922 -6,877 367,587 159,791
2013 29,789 -6,659 366,738 149,637
2012 27,592 -6,425 371,497 134,975
2011 25,647 -6,118 372,836 122,269
2010 21,877 -5,886 360,260 157,164
2009 20,335 -5,599 366,157 178,410
2008 19,349 -5,392 362,380 202,481
2007 17,763 -5,179 348,711 229,784
2006 15,234 -11,416 349,509 232,971
2005 15,831 -35,679 355,324 225,864
2004 17,271 -33,530 365,138 212,278
2003 20,133 -31,723 377,425 199,510
2002 22,274 -29,924 381,084 196,227
2001 23,190 -27,874 400,939 173,613
2000 24,786 -26,220 417,371 125,499
1999 27,393 -24,610 432,355 89,335
1998 30,889 -23,299 436,316 99,639
1997 34,637 -22,396 447,768 79,266
1996 36,228 -17,042 450,174 73,040
1995 37,370 -14,588 443,349 72,393
1994 38,629 -13,953 437,873 66,685
1993 40,505 -13,347 429,910 61,079
1992 42,579 -12,707 418,900 66,286
1991 44,026 -12,114 401,938 97,111
1990 45,060 -11,598 384,518 135,020
1989 46,264 -11,207 373,277 143,544
1988 47,158 -11,028 386,507 133,478
1987 47,718 -10,946 381,999 137,759
1986 45,232 -7,501 385,799 127,081
1985 44,575 1,222 383,243 120,215
1984 43,785 1,199 376,797 106,248
1983 42,899 1,253 365,290 97,862
1982 41,941 1,281 353,138 89,942
1981 40,808 1,307 339,991 84,142
1980 39,617 1,361 326,947 80,617
1979 38,440 1,285 317,439 -13,980
1978 37,084 1,047 311,027 -15,059
1977 35,654 746 305,515 -16,601
1976 34,117 2,986 300,615 -18,316
1975 32,311 9,723 294,541 -20,480
1974 30,444 9,972 289,880 -21,919
1973 28,859 10,183 284,611 -21,995
1972 27,841 10,386 276,263 -21,305
1971 26,838 10,563 272,323 -20,535
1970 25,935 10,605 269,341 -31,839
1969 25,137 10,465 264,327 -39,420
1968 24,490 10,108 260,705 -40,996
1967 23,911 9,734 258,764 -42,108
1966 23,326 7,248 262,162 -33,993
1965 22,755 2,239 264,836 -36,456
1964 22,116 2,198 266,406 -38,785
1963 21,585 2,220 265,815 -40,952
1962 21,132 2,172 262,140 -43,033
1961 20,581 2,100 257,270 -44,916
1960 19,981 1,989 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 60.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,914,129 people) and 39.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,897,138 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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