The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 37,548 people in the Marshall Islands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 35,058 in the Marshall Islands.
Population statistics:
- Lesotho's population is 68.4 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while the Marshall Islands is the 192nd.
- The countries together account for 0.03% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -2.69% in the Marshall Islands.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while the Marshall Islands has declined from 52K to 35.1K (32.6% decline).
Lesotho vs Marshall Islands: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,784 | 23,457 |
| 2099 | 3,286,697 | 23,536 |
| 2098 | 3,292,498 | 23,626 |
| 2097 | 3,298,102 | 23,720 |
| 2096 | 3,303,027 | 23,797 |
| 2095 | 3,307,947 | 23,879 |
| 2094 | 3,312,002 | 23,947 |
| 2093 | 3,315,757 | 24,022 |
| 2092 | 3,319,661 | 24,092 |
| 2091 | 3,322,573 | 24,150 |
| 2090 | 3,324,769 | 24,198 |
| 2089 | 3,326,847 | 24,253 |
| 2088 | 3,328,480 | 24,284 |
| 2087 | 3,329,964 | 24,314 |
| 2086 | 3,330,456 | 24,329 |
| 2085 | 3,331,259 | 24,347 |
| 2084 | 3,331,485 | 24,355 |
| 2083 | 3,331,492 | 24,343 |
| 2082 | 3,331,234 | 24,328 |
| 2081 | 3,330,412 | 24,317 |
| 2080 | 3,329,267 | 24,290 |
| 2079 | 3,327,166 | 24,269 |
| 2078 | 3,324,646 | 24,226 |
| 2077 | 3,321,422 | 24,185 |
| 2076 | 3,317,850 | 24,151 |
| 2075 | 3,314,237 | 24,096 |
| 2074 | 3,309,174 | 24,061 |
| 2073 | 3,303,860 | 24,013 |
| 2072 | 3,298,181 | 23,982 |
| 2071 | 3,291,492 | 23,943 |
| 2070 | 3,283,654 | 23,902 |
| 2069 | 3,275,244 | 23,869 |
| 2068 | 3,266,152 | 23,827 |
| 2067 | 3,256,626 | 23,808 |
| 2066 | 3,246,903 | 23,775 |
| 2065 | 3,237,153 | 23,774 |
| 2064 | 3,226,489 | 23,778 |
| 2063 | 3,215,103 | 23,791 |
| 2062 | 3,202,287 | 23,830 |
| 2061 | 3,188,933 | 23,881 |
| 2060 | 3,174,998 | 23,929 |
| 2059 | 3,160,204 | 23,993 |
| 2058 | 3,145,053 | 24,041 |
| 2057 | 3,129,261 | 24,118 |
| 2056 | 3,113,129 | 24,207 |
| 2055 | 3,095,904 | 24,318 |
| 2054 | 3,078,567 | 24,424 |
| 2053 | 3,060,152 | 24,515 |
| 2052 | 3,040,649 | 24,615 |
| 2051 | 3,020,109 | 24,727 |
| 2050 | 2,999,457 | 24,824 |
| 2049 | 2,978,037 | 24,948 |
| 2048 | 2,955,727 | 25,060 |
| 2047 | 2,932,688 | 25,169 |
| 2046 | 2,909,307 | 25,281 |
| 2045 | 2,885,537 | 25,407 |
| 2044 | 2,861,372 | 25,544 |
| 2043 | 2,836,777 | 25,701 |
| 2042 | 2,811,663 | 25,860 |
| 2041 | 2,786,147 | 26,047 |
| 2040 | 2,760,391 | 26,263 |
| 2039 | 2,734,400 | 26,507 |
| 2038 | 2,708,216 | 26,773 |
| 2037 | 2,681,863 | 27,104 |
| 2036 | 2,654,755 | 27,461 |
| 2035 | 2,627,701 | 27,889 |
| 2034 | 2,600,880 | 28,379 |
| 2033 | 2,574,065 | 28,934 |
| 2032 | 2,547,344 | 29,558 |
| 2031 | 2,520,831 | 30,266 |
| 2030 | 2,494,646 | 31,070 |
| 2029 | 2,468,268 | 31,960 |
| 2028 | 2,441,871 | 32,896 |
| 2027 | 2,415,830 | 33,927 |
| 2026 | 2,389,516 | 35,058 |
| 2025 | 2,363,516 | 36,301 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 37,548 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 38,827 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 40,077 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 41,367 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 42,706 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 44,007 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 45,285 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 46,529 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 47,709 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 48,800 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 49,796 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 50,681 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 51,419 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 51,907 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 52,044 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 52,019 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 52,030 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 52,035 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 51,992 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 51,906 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 51,791 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 51,639 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 51,425 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 51,123 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 50,706 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 50,202 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 49,717 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 49,259 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 48,775 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 48,266 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 47,712 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 47,093 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 46,388 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 45,568 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 44,629 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 43,586 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 42,321 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 40,828 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 39,286 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 37,761 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 36,264 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 34,811 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 33,397 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 32,017 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 30,774 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 29,738 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 28,809 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 27,906 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 27,021 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 26,154 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 25,296 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 24,581 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 23,992 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 23,366 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 22,530 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 21,305 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 19,862 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 18,655 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 17,927 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 17,402 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 16,852 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 16,302 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 15,755 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 15,219 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 14,703 |
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/marshall-islands | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while the Marshall Islands lost 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while the Marshall Islands' population decreased by 12,651 people (a 26.5% decline).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th in 2006 and ranked 192nd 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 the Marshall Islands will decrease by 29.2% to 24,824 people and rank change from 192nd to 193rd.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while the Marshall Islands' population already peaked in 2010 at 52K people and is projected to decrease to 23.5K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | -0.33% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | -0.38% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | -0.4% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | -0.32% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | -0.35% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | -0.28% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | -0.31% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | -0.29% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | -0.24% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | -0.2% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | -0.23% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | -0.13% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | -0.12% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | -0.06% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | -0.08% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | -0.03% |
| 2084 | -0% | 0.05% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | 0.06% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | 0.11% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | 0.09% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | 0.17% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | 0.17% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | 0.14% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | 0.23% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | 0.14% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | 0.2% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | 0.13% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | 0.16% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | 0.17% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 0.14% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | 0.18% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | 0.08% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | 0.14% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | 0.004% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | -0.02% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | -0.05% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | -0.17% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | -0.21% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | -0.2% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | -0.27% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | -0.2% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | -0.32% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | -0.37% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | -0.46% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | -0.43% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | -0.37% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | -0.41% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | -0.45% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | -0.39% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | -0.5% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | -0.45% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | -0.43% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | -0.44% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | -0.5% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | -0.54% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | -0.61% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | -0.62% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | -0.72% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | -0.82% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | -0.92% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | -1% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | -1.22% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | -1.3% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | -1.53% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | -1.73% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | -1.92% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | -2.11% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | -2.34% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | -2.59% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | -2.78% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | -2.85% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | -3.04% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | -3.23% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | -3.42% |
| 2025 | 1.12% | -3.32% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | -3.29% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | -3.12% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | -3.12% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | -3.14% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | -2.96% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | -2.82% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | -2.67% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | -2.47% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | -2.24% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | -2% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | -1.75% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | -1.44% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | -0.94% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | -0.26% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 0.05% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | -0.02% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | -0.01% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | 0.08% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 0.17% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 0.22% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 0.29% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 0.42% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 0.59% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 0.82% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | 1% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | 0.98% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 0.93% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 0.99% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 1.05% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 1.16% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 1.31% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 1.52% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 1.8% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 2.1% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | 2.39% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 2.99% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | 3.66% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 3.93% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 4.04% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 4.13% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 4.17% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | 4.23% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 4.31% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 4.04% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | 3.48% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | 3.22% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | 3.24% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | 3.28% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | 3.31% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | 3.39% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 2.91% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 2.45% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 2.68% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 3.71% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | 5.75% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | 7.27% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | 6.47% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | 4.06% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 3.02% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 3.26% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 3.37% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 3.47% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 3.52% |
| 1961 | 3.03% | 3.51% |
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/marshall-islands | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while the Marshall Islands' population declined by 3.29%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2396633
|
35058
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 192/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.0004% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
6.85 hours
|
| One birth every |
9.43 minutes
|
10.7 hours
|
| One death every |
21.4 minutes
|
1.35 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | -4 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,951 | -1,279 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.12% | -3.29% |
| Population growth rate rank | 93/197 | 197/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
5.17 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | -1,698 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 97/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 3,309 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 189/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 8.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 71/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Marshall Islands
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | -1,698 |
| 2024 | - | -5,107 | - | -1,765 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 550 | -1,832 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | 606 | -1,829 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | 653 | -2,016 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 689 | -2,004 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 746 | -2,030 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 785 | -2,058 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 826 | -2,040 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 866 | -2,003 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 912 | -1,964 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 959 | -1,906 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 1,014 | -1,825 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 1,097 | -1,759 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 1,185 | -1,512 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 1,273 | -1,221 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 1,365 | -1,361 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 1,443 | -1,467 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 1,507 | -1,491 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 1,556 | -1,491 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 1,586 | -1,482 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 1,595 | -1,466 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 1,600 | -1,427 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 1,594 | -1,345 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 1,596 | -1,237 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 1,592 | -1,110 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 1,590 | -1,068 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 1,576 | -1,124 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 1,564 | -1,097 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 1,542 | -1,050 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 1,522 | -991 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 1,524 | -942 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 1,524 | -869 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 1,525 | -769 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 1,540 | -661 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 1,556 | -562 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 1,574 | -479 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 1,575 | -140 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 1,566 | -16 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 1,544 | -8 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 1,511 | -1 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 1,470 | 6 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 1,422 | 12 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 1,375 | 23 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 1,328 | 31 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 1,287 | -155 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 1,250 | -316 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 1,207 | -286 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 1,160 | -264 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 1,109 | -233 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 1,055 | -193 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 1,000 | -145 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 954 | -383 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 913 | -306 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 877 | -232 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 819 | 201 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 747 | 690 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 685 | 769 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 636 | 308 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 603 | -89 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 566 | -22 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 536 | 16 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 509 | 42 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 488 | 54 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 469 | 56 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 452 | 63 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/marshall-islands | 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 the Marshall Islands 27.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,592 people) and 72.2% is from migration (a loss of 19,682 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 3,309 people or 8.8% in the Marshall Islands.
Biggest cities by population
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Maseru | 344K |
| Teyateyaneng | 75.1K |
| Mafeteng | 57.1K |
| Butha-Buthe | 10K |
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Majuro | 30K |
| Djarrit | 7.1K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Lesotho and the Marshall Islands
|
Lesotho
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 67.3 years |
| Average age | 25.8 years | 27.5 years |
| Median age | 22.7 years | 21.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 51.2:48.8 |
| Fertility rate | 2.69 births per woman | 2.92 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 504 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/marshall-islands | 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)
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