The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 527,799 people in Maldives in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 532,057 in Maldives.
Population statistics:
- Lesotho's population is 4.5 times bigger than Maldives'.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Maldives is the 168th.
- The countries together account for 0.04% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.006% for Maldives.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.56% in Maldives.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Maldives has grown from 314K to 532K (69.5% growth).
Lesotho vs Maldives: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Maldives
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,784 | 476,505 |
| 2099 | 3,286,697 | 477,920 |
| 2098 | 3,292,498 | 479,417 |
| 2097 | 3,298,102 | 481,109 |
| 2096 | 3,303,027 | 482,965 |
| 2095 | 3,307,947 | 484,925 |
| 2094 | 3,312,002 | 487,060 |
| 2093 | 3,315,757 | 489,462 |
| 2092 | 3,319,661 | 492,137 |
| 2091 | 3,322,573 | 494,900 |
| 2090 | 3,324,769 | 498,054 |
| 2089 | 3,326,847 | 501,304 |
| 2088 | 3,328,480 | 504,978 |
| 2087 | 3,329,964 | 508,740 |
| 2086 | 3,330,456 | 512,752 |
| 2085 | 3,331,259 | 516,863 |
| 2084 | 3,331,485 | 521,065 |
| 2083 | 3,331,492 | 525,345 |
| 2082 | 3,331,234 | 529,631 |
| 2081 | 3,330,412 | 534,118 |
| 2080 | 3,329,267 | 538,568 |
| 2079 | 3,327,166 | 543,030 |
| 2078 | 3,324,646 | 547,552 |
| 2077 | 3,321,422 | 551,886 |
| 2076 | 3,317,850 | 556,016 |
| 2075 | 3,314,237 | 560,031 |
| 2074 | 3,309,174 | 563,862 |
| 2073 | 3,303,860 | 567,654 |
| 2072 | 3,298,181 | 571,178 |
| 2071 | 3,291,492 | 574,604 |
| 2070 | 3,283,654 | 577,819 |
| 2069 | 3,275,244 | 580,792 |
| 2068 | 3,266,152 | 583,580 |
| 2067 | 3,256,626 | 586,194 |
| 2066 | 3,246,903 | 588,512 |
| 2065 | 3,237,153 | 590,500 |
| 2064 | 3,226,489 | 592,344 |
| 2063 | 3,215,103 | 594,011 |
| 2062 | 3,202,287 | 595,405 |
| 2061 | 3,188,933 | 596,482 |
| 2060 | 3,174,998 | 597,051 |
| 2059 | 3,160,204 | 597,623 |
| 2058 | 3,145,053 | 597,874 |
| 2057 | 3,129,261 | 597,811 |
| 2056 | 3,113,129 | 597,360 |
| 2055 | 3,095,904 | 596,636 |
| 2054 | 3,078,567 | 595,832 |
| 2053 | 3,060,152 | 594,829 |
| 2052 | 3,040,649 | 593,458 |
| 2051 | 3,020,109 | 591,942 |
| 2050 | 2,999,457 | 590,121 |
| 2049 | 2,978,037 | 587,970 |
| 2048 | 2,955,727 | 585,592 |
| 2047 | 2,932,688 | 583,306 |
| 2046 | 2,909,307 | 580,842 |
| 2045 | 2,885,537 | 578,160 |
| 2044 | 2,861,372 | 575,546 |
| 2043 | 2,836,777 | 572,802 |
| 2042 | 2,811,663 | 570,020 |
| 2041 | 2,786,147 | 567,246 |
| 2040 | 2,760,391 | 564,398 |
| 2039 | 2,734,400 | 561,546 |
| 2038 | 2,708,216 | 558,940 |
| 2037 | 2,681,863 | 556,343 |
| 2036 | 2,654,755 | 553,839 |
| 2035 | 2,627,701 | 551,348 |
| 2034 | 2,600,880 | 548,952 |
| 2033 | 2,574,065 | 546,465 |
| 2032 | 2,547,344 | 544,072 |
| 2031 | 2,520,831 | 541,734 |
| 2030 | 2,494,646 | 539,556 |
| 2029 | 2,468,268 | 537,533 |
| 2028 | 2,441,871 | 535,394 |
| 2027 | 2,415,830 | 533,401 |
| 2026 | 2,389,516 | 531,559 |
| 2025 | 2,363,516 | 529,712 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 527,799 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 525,994 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 524,106 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 516,154 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 502,118 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 487,731 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 473,099 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 458,287 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 443,308 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 428,154 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 413,617 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 400,070 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 386,818 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 373,674 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 360,792 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 348,275 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 336,170 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 324,479 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 313,851 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 306,429 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 301,413 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 296,491 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 291,616 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 286,767 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 282,019 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 277,412 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 272,723 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 267,707 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 262,347 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 256,649 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 250,822 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 244,884 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 238,543 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 231,802 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 224,762 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 217,738 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 210,885 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 203,944 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 196,935 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 190,169 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 184,198 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 179,128 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 174,333 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 169,532 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 164,835 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 160,360 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 156,159 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 151,930 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 147,525 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 143,158 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 138,978 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 134,952 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 130,968 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 127,035 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 123,219 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 119,564 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 116,075 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 112,528 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 108,507 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 104,102 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 100,662 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 98,222 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 95,802 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 93,450 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 91,189 |
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/maldives | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Maldives gained 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Maldives' population increased by 88,749 people (a 20% growth).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Maldives was ranked 171st in 2006 and ranked 168th 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 Maldives will increase by 10.9% to 590,121 people and rank change from 168th to 166th.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 598K people in 2058 for Maldives.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Maldives
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | -0.3% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | -0.31% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | -0.35% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | -0.38% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | -0.4% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | -0.44% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | -0.49% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | -0.54% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | -0.56% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | -0.63% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | -0.65% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | -0.73% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | -0.74% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | -0.78% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | -0.8% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | -0.81% |
| 2084 | -0% | -0.81% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | -0.81% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | -0.84% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | -0.83% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | -0.82% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | -0.83% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | -0.79% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | -0.74% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | -0.72% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | -0.68% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | -0.67% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | -0.62% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | -0.6% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | -0.56% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | -0.51% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | -0.48% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | -0.45% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | -0.39% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | -0.34% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | -0.31% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | -0.28% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | -0.23% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | -0.18% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | -0.1% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | -0.1% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | -0.04% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 0.01% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | 0.08% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | 0.12% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | 0.14% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | 0.17% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | 0.23% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | 0.26% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | 0.31% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | 0.37% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | 0.41% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | 0.39% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | 0.42% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | 0.46% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | 0.45% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | 0.48% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | 0.49% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | 0.49% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | 0.5% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | 0.51% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | 0.47% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | 0.47% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | 0.45% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | 0.45% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | 0.44% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | 0.46% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | 0.44% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | 0.43% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | 0.4% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | 0.38% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | 0.4% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | 0.37% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | 0.35% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | 0.35% |
| 2025 | 1.12% | 0.36% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | 0.34% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | 0.36% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | 1.54% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | 2.8% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | 2.95% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 3.09% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 3.23% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 3.38% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 3.54% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 3.51% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 3.39% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | 3.43% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | 3.52% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | 3.57% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 3.59% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 3.6% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 3.6% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | 3.39% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 2.42% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 1.66% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 1.66% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 1.67% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 1.69% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 1.68% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | 1.66% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | 1.72% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 1.87% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 2.04% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 2.22% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 2.32% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 2.42% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 2.66% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 2.91% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 3.13% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | 3.23% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 3.25% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | 3.4% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 3.56% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 3.56% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 3.24% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 2.83% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | 2.75% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 2.83% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 2.85% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | 2.79% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | 2.69% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | 2.78% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | 2.99% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | 3.05% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | 3.01% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 2.98% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 3.04% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 3.1% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 3.1% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | 3.06% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | 3.01% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | 3.15% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | 3.71% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 4.23% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 3.42% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 2.48% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 2.53% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 2.52% |
| 1961 | 3.03% | 2.48% |
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/maldives | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Maldives' population grew by 0.34%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Maldives
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2396633
|
532057
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 168/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.006% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
4.85 hours
|
| One birth every |
9.43 minutes
|
1.51 hours
|
| One death every |
21.4 minutes
|
7.13 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | +5 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,951 | +1,805 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.12% | +0.34% |
| Population growth rate rank | 93/197 | 146/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
3.85 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | -2,283 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 101/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 75,099 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 141/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 14.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 48/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Maldives
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | -2,283 |
| 2024 | - | -5,107 | - | -2,421 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 4,566 | -2,877 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | 4,752 | -2,674 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | 4,426 | 9,412 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 4,594 | 9,642 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 4,886 | 9,648 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 5,088 | 9,637 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 5,342 | 9,555 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 5,652 | 9,421 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 5,914 | 9,324 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 6,122 | 7,700 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 6,307 | 6,963 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 6,445 | 6,800 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 6,429 | 6,611 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 6,350 | 6,369 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 6,227 | 6,093 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 5,856 | 6,035 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 5,324 | 6,160 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 4,766 | 5,006 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 4,493 | 578 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 4,287 | 668 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 4,316 | 578 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 4,257 | 607 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 4,271 | 560 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 4,372 | 300 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 4,601 | -62 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 4,919 | -94 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 5,267 | -60 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 5,705 | -183 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 6,177 | -302 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 6,550 | -768 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 6,842 | -749 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 7,096 | -522 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 7,295 | -378 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 7,444 | -271 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 7,472 | -610 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 7,414 | -564 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 7,300 | -265 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 7,153 | -175 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 6,944 | -382 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 6,680 | -1,300 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 6,361 | -1,608 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 6,058 | -1,220 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 5,778 | -1,014 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 5,526 | -903 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 5,275 | -958 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 4,812 | -716 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 4,779 | -413 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 4,538 | -101 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 4,325 | -14 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 4,136 | -78 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 3,924 | 60 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 3,707 | 269 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 3,549 | 341 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 3,415 | 330 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 3,260 | 313 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 3,150 | 255 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 3,010 | 672 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 2,845 | 1,511 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 2,747 | 1,709 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 2,660 | -227 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 2,567 | -125 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 2,475 | -80 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 2,354 | -44 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 2,241 | -32 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/maldives | 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 Maldives 42.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,342 people) and 57.3% is from migration (a gain of 68,788 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 75,099 people or 14.2% in Maldives.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Lesotho and Maldives
|
Lesotho
|
Maldives
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 81.7 years |
| Average age | 25.8 years | 32.7 years |
| Median age | 22.7 years | 32.9 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 61.9:38.1 |
| Fertility rate | 2.69 births per woman | 1.58 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 4,620 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/maldives | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.