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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 26,322,576 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 11 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

Lesotho vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Mali
2100 3,280,518 80,362,778
2099 3,286,430 80,043,103
2098 3,292,231 79,704,143
2097 3,297,835 79,354,569
2096 3,302,758 78,987,874
2095 3,307,678 78,602,449
2094 3,311,734 78,192,601
2093 3,315,488 77,771,649
2092 3,319,391 77,337,997
2091 3,322,303 76,884,320
2090 3,324,499 76,409,599
2089 3,326,577 75,916,129
2088 3,328,210 75,405,009
2087 3,329,694 74,874,565
2086 3,330,185 74,331,613
2085 3,330,989 73,769,979
2084 3,331,214 73,189,821
2083 3,331,221 72,588,675
2082 3,330,964 71,975,720
2081 3,330,141 71,340,622
2080 3,328,997 70,699,377
2079 3,326,895 70,036,857
2078 3,324,376 69,359,523
2077 3,321,152 68,668,133
2076 3,317,581 67,965,034
2075 3,313,968 67,249,105
2074 3,308,905 66,516,075
2073 3,303,592 65,768,739
2072 3,297,913 65,009,716
2071 3,291,224 64,232,600
2070 3,283,387 63,450,597
2069 3,274,978 62,657,123
2068 3,265,887 61,850,168
2067 3,256,362 61,035,806
2066 3,246,639 60,215,831
2065 3,236,890 59,394,005
2064 3,226,227 58,560,766
2063 3,214,843 57,720,905
2062 3,202,027 56,873,801
2061 3,188,674 56,020,633
2060 3,174,740 55,160,220
2059 3,159,947 54,298,509
2058 3,144,797 53,431,783
2057 3,129,007 52,559,686
2056 3,112,877 51,686,173
2055 3,095,653 50,807,502
2054 3,078,317 49,930,546
2053 3,059,904 49,048,457
2052 3,040,402 48,161,836
2051 3,019,864 47,275,159
2050 2,999,214 46,385,854
2049 2,977,795 45,500,920
2048 2,955,487 44,612,126
2047 2,932,450 43,725,546
2046 2,909,071 42,836,054
2045 2,885,303 41,946,522
2044 2,861,140 41,057,406
2043 2,836,547 40,168,481
2042 2,811,435 39,281,666
2041 2,785,921 38,402,142
2040 2,760,167 37,521,801
2039 2,734,178 36,648,491
2038 2,707,996 35,768,661
2037 2,681,646 34,898,973
2036 2,654,540 34,032,460
2035 2,627,488 33,174,985
2034 2,600,669 32,324,451
2033 2,573,856 31,482,783
2032 2,547,137 30,652,485
2031 2,520,626 29,830,213
2030 2,494,444 29,025,640
2029 2,468,067 28,232,427
2028 2,441,673 27,453,124
2027 2,415,634 26,687,226
2026 2,389,322 25,937,442
2025 2,363,325 25,198,821
2024 2,337,423 24,478,595
2023 2,311,472 23,769,127
2022 2,286,110 23,072,640
2021 2,261,542 22,388,630
2020 2,235,727 21,713,836
2019 2,209,405 21,068,405
2018 2,183,603 20,442,030
2017 2,157,110 19,813,011
2016 2,130,422 19,191,289
2015 2,104,611 18,593,022
2014 2,080,089 18,020,267
2013 2,056,504 17,459,615
2012 2,034,354 16,957,033
2011 2,014,009 16,469,049
2010 1,996,251 15,945,198
2009 1,980,883 15,435,539
2008 1,966,541 14,940,782
2007 1,953,268 14,457,775
2006 1,945,063 13,990,139
2005 1,953,076 13,538,647
2004 1,971,129 13,102,409
2003 1,985,059 12,684,955
2002 1,994,679 12,288,050
2001 2,000,853 11,912,158
2000 2,003,913 11,559,290
1999 2,003,234 11,227,415
1998 1,998,049 10,919,573
1997 1,988,130 10,646,495
1996 1,972,418 10,407,278
1995 1,951,437 10,185,365
1994 1,927,707 9,967,031
1993 1,901,793 9,754,786
1992 1,873,274 9,553,540
1991 1,842,379 9,362,888
1990 1,809,696 9,178,830
1989 1,775,436 8,999,938
1988 1,739,841 8,833,996
1987 1,703,390 8,681,164
1986 1,666,138 8,531,277
1985 1,624,379 8,374,663
1984 1,578,986 8,208,599
1983 1,534,413 8,034,400
1982 1,490,732 7,860,194
1981 1,448,069 7,692,766
1980 1,406,521 7,530,515
1979 1,366,169 7,375,266
1978 1,327,240 7,229,651
1977 1,289,967 7,090,979
1976 1,253,214 6,960,979
1975 1,213,643 6,837,261
1974 1,172,420 6,715,436
1973 1,132,697 6,597,106
1972 1,094,063 6,483,726
1971 1,056,246 6,377,944
1970 1,019,273 6,276,472
1969 983,202 6,177,704
1968 948,105 6,082,979
1967 913,982 5,990,906
1966 881,870 5,902,204
1965 854,090 5,815,487
1964 829,437 5,730,125
1963 805,373 5,646,605
1962 781,814 5,563,917
1961 758,824 5,482,283
1960 736,500 5,402,550

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/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th 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 Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Mali
2100 -0.18% 0.4%
2099 -0.18% 0.43%
2098 -0.17% 0.44%
2097 -0.15% 0.46%
2096 -0.15% 0.49%
2095 -0.12% 0.52%
2094 -0.11% 0.54%
2093 -0.12% 0.56%
2092 -0.09% 0.59%
2091 -0.07% 0.62%
2090 -0.06% 0.65%
2089 -0.05% 0.68%
2088 -0.04% 0.71%
2087 -0.01% 0.73%
2086 -0.02% 0.76%
2085 -0.007% 0.79%
2084 -0% 0.83%
2083 0.008% 0.85%
2082 0.02% 0.89%
2081 0.03% 0.91%
2080 0.06% 0.95%
2079 0.08% 0.98%
2078 0.1% 1.01%
2077 0.11% 1.03%
2076 0.11% 1.06%
2075 0.15% 1.1%
2074 0.16% 1.14%
2073 0.17% 1.17%
2072 0.2% 1.21%
2071 0.24% 1.23%
2070 0.26% 1.27%
2069 0.28% 1.3%
2068 0.29% 1.33%
2067 0.3% 1.36%
2066 0.3% 1.38%
2065 0.33% 1.42%
2064 0.35% 1.46%
2063 0.4% 1.49%
2062 0.42% 1.52%
2061 0.44% 1.56%
2060 0.47% 1.59%
2059 0.48% 1.62%
2058 0.5% 1.66%
2057 0.52% 1.69%
2056 0.56% 1.73%
2055 0.56% 1.76%
2054 0.6% 1.8%
2053 0.64% 1.84%
2052 0.68% 1.88%
2051 0.69% 1.92%
2050 0.72% 1.94%
2049 0.75% 1.99%
2048 0.79% 2.03%
2047 0.8% 2.08%
2046 0.82% 2.12%
2045 0.84% 2.17%
2044 0.87% 2.21%
2043 0.89% 2.26%
2042 0.92% 2.29%
2041 0.93% 2.35%
2040 0.95% 2.38%
2039 0.97% 2.46%
2038 0.98% 2.49%
2037 1.02% 2.55%
2036 1.03% 2.58%
2035 1.03% 2.63%
2034 1.04% 2.67%
2033 1.05% 2.71%
2032 1.05% 2.76%
2031 1.05% 2.77%
2030 1.07% 2.81%
2029 1.08% 2.84%
2028 1.08% 2.87%
2027 1.1% 2.89%
2026 1.1% 2.93%
2025 1.11% 2.94%
2024 1.12% 2.98%
2023 1.11% 3.02%
2022 1.09% 3.06%
2021 1.15% 3.11%
2020 1.19% 3.06%
2019 1.18% 3.06%
2018 1.23% 3.17%
2017 1.25% 3.24%
2016 1.23% 3.22%
2015 1.18% 3.18%
2014 1.15% 3.21%
2013 1.09% 2.96%
2012 1.01% 2.96%
2011 0.89% 3.29%
2010 0.78% 3.3%
2009 0.73% 3.31%
2008 0.68% 3.34%
2007 0.42% 3.34%
2006 -0.41% 3.33%
2005 -0.92% 3.33%
2004 -0.7% 3.29%
2003 -0.48% 3.23%
2002 -0.31% 3.16%
2001 -0.15% 3.05%
2000 0.03% 2.96%
1999 0.26% 2.82%
1998 0.5% 2.56%
1997 0.8% 2.3%
1996 1.08% 2.18%
1995 1.23% 2.19%
1994 1.36% 2.18%
1993 1.52% 2.11%
1992 1.68% 2.04%
1991 1.81% 2.01%
1990 1.93% 1.99%
1989 2.05% 1.88%
1988 2.14% 1.76%
1987 2.24% 1.76%
1986 2.57% 1.87%
1985 2.87% 2.02%
1984 2.9% 2.17%
1983 2.93% 2.22%
1982 2.95% 2.18%
1981 2.95% 2.15%
1980 2.95% 2.1%
1979 2.93% 2.01%
1978 2.89% 1.96%
1977 2.93% 1.87%
1976 3.26% 1.81%
1975 3.52% 1.81%
1974 3.51% 1.79%
1973 3.53% 1.75%
1972 3.58% 1.66%
1971 3.63% 1.62%
1970 3.67% 1.6%
1969 3.7% 1.56%
1968 3.73% 1.54%
1967 3.64% 1.5%
1966 3.25% 1.49%
1965 2.97% 1.49%
1964 2.99% 1.48%
1963 3.01% 1.49%
1962 3.03% 1.49%
1961 3.03% 1.48%

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/mali | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Mali
Current population
2402837
26322576
Population rank 143/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.32%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
43.9 seconds
One birth every
9.46 minutes
32.6 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,973
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 14/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
11 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -48,019
Net migration rank 117/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -48,019
2024 31,050 -5,107 759,375 -46,880
2023 31,115 -5,168 746,398 -39,953
2022 30,803 -6,023 726,465 -39,951
2021 27,806 -3,449 703,674 -22,210
2020 30,721 -3,449 683,053 -14,962
2019 32,279 -6,896 667,110 -44,373
2018 33,112 -6,892 670,723 -40,710
2017 33,601 -6,850 661,973 -33,942
2016 33,390 -6,766 645,652 -30,251
2015 32,087 -7,087 630,006 -48,872
2014 30,922 -6,877 614,419 -50,068
2013 29,789 -6,659 597,887 -40,951
2012 27,592 -6,425 588,748 -140,507
2011 25,647 -6,118 570,899 -43,160
2010 21,877 -5,886 554,447 -34,483
2009 20,335 -5,599 533,730 -34,383
2008 19,349 -5,392 514,665 -24,509
2007 17,763 -5,179 495,800 -19,945
2006 15,234 -11,416 477,665 -18,247
2005 15,831 -35,679 460,964 -17,413
2004 17,271 -33,530 439,717 -10,796
2003 20,133 -31,723 417,766 -11,768
2002 22,274 -29,924 396,732 -8,914
2001 23,190 -27,874 376,472 -12,507
2000 24,786 -26,220 359,159 -17,395
1999 27,393 -24,610 343,705 -21,702
1998 30,889 -23,299 323,940 -30,255
1997 34,637 -22,396 308,429 -55,978
1996 36,228 -17,042 293,953 -67,974
1995 37,370 -14,588 285,598 -67,763
1994 38,629 -13,953 282,356 -63,533
1993 40,505 -13,347 274,480 -68,816
1992 42,579 -12,707 267,605 -70,789
1991 44,026 -12,114 261,656 -77,172
1990 45,060 -11,598 252,308 -68,668
1989 46,264 -11,207 249,929 -75,771
1988 47,158 -11,028 245,682 -87,952
1987 47,718 -10,946 238,871 -90,940
1986 45,232 -7,501 233,799 -81,970
1985 44,575 1,222 224,734 -63,347
1984 43,785 1,199 218,078 -47,331
1983 42,899 1,253 211,795 -34,132
1982 41,941 1,281 204,892 -34,140
1981 40,808 1,307 198,227 -34,130
1980 39,617 1,361 190,560 -30,156
1979 38,440 1,285 182,449 -32,353
1978 37,084 1,047 172,652 -31,520
1977 35,654 746 165,071 -28,853
1976 34,117 2,986 157,778 -33,999
1975 32,311 9,723 150,222 -26,572
1974 30,444 9,972 142,448 -22,449
1973 28,859 10,183 135,801 -19,137
1972 27,841 10,386 129,687 -19,594
1971 26,838 10,563 123,591 -22,127
1970 25,935 10,605 118,952 -17,479
1969 25,137 10,465 114,361 -18,302
1968 24,490 10,108 111,403 -18,015
1967 23,911 9,734 107,650 -16,900
1966 23,326 7,248 103,684 -17,032
1965 22,755 2,239 100,451 -13,662
1964 22,116 2,198 97,166 -13,226
1963 21,585 2,220 95,055 -11,951
1962 21,132 2,172 93,101 -10,821
1961 20,581 2,100 91,115 -10,139
1960 19,981 1,989 88,802 -10,314

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/mali | 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 Mali 95% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 226K
Segou 131K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

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/mali | 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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