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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 36,512,221 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 +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Lesotho vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Malaysia
2100 3,280,784 44,353,615
2099 3,286,697 44,467,475
2098 3,292,498 44,579,971
2097 3,298,102 44,695,979
2096 3,303,027 44,814,885
2095 3,307,947 44,932,404
2094 3,312,002 45,047,479
2093 3,315,757 45,165,126
2092 3,319,661 45,278,674
2091 3,322,573 45,390,002
2090 3,324,769 45,501,495
2089 3,326,847 45,610,046
2088 3,328,480 45,717,882
2087 3,329,964 45,823,085
2086 3,330,456 45,926,712
2085 3,331,259 46,020,742
2084 3,331,485 46,111,490
2083 3,331,492 46,202,286
2082 3,331,234 46,284,929
2081 3,330,412 46,359,700
2080 3,329,267 46,435,482
2079 3,327,166 46,496,102
2078 3,324,646 46,549,167
2077 3,321,422 46,594,188
2076 3,317,850 46,619,045
2075 3,314,237 46,643,115
2074 3,309,174 46,658,350
2073 3,303,860 46,670,848
2072 3,298,181 46,670,426
2071 3,291,492 46,660,436
2070 3,283,654 46,645,623
2069 3,275,244 46,623,238
2068 3,266,152 46,600,060
2067 3,256,626 46,569,264
2066 3,246,903 46,530,377
2065 3,237,153 46,481,890
2064 3,226,489 46,417,369
2063 3,215,103 46,350,674
2062 3,202,287 46,272,105
2061 3,188,933 46,178,092
2060 3,174,998 46,075,877
2059 3,160,204 45,958,718
2058 3,145,053 45,837,407
2057 3,129,261 45,707,213
2056 3,113,129 45,566,357
2055 3,095,904 45,418,953
2054 3,078,567 45,252,995
2053 3,060,152 45,069,089
2052 3,040,649 44,873,927
2051 3,020,109 44,668,767
2050 2,999,457 44,445,677
2049 2,978,037 44,217,593
2048 2,955,727 43,974,925
2047 2,932,688 43,712,325
2046 2,909,307 43,438,283
2045 2,885,537 43,157,909
2044 2,861,372 42,866,716
2043 2,836,777 42,557,941
2042 2,811,663 42,239,980
2041 2,786,147 41,922,379
2040 2,760,391 41,598,231
2039 2,734,400 41,270,953
2038 2,708,216 40,929,067
2037 2,681,863 40,584,773
2036 2,654,755 40,234,128
2035 2,627,701 39,876,375
2034 2,600,880 39,515,857
2033 2,574,065 39,152,086
2032 2,547,344 38,772,414
2031 2,520,831 38,386,293
2030 2,494,646 37,995,617
2029 2,468,268 37,606,753
2028 2,441,871 37,207,852
2027 2,415,830 36,806,585
2026 2,389,516 36,403,076
2025 2,363,516 35,987,113
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 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 1.12% 1.21%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Malaysia
Current population
2396633
36512221
Population rank 143/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.44%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.22 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 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 - -5,107 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 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 (1960–2024, 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/malaysia | 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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