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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 5,315,065 people in Mauritania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 5,539,189 in Mauritania.

Population statistics:

  • Mauritania's population is 2.31 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Mauritania is the 123rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.07% for Mauritania.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.98% in Mauritania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Mauritania has grown from 3.01M to 5.54M (83.8% growth).

Lesotho vs Mauritania: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Mauritania
2100 3,280,518 17,302,938
2099 3,286,430 17,195,692
2098 3,292,231 17,083,078
2097 3,297,835 16,968,365
2096 3,302,758 16,850,394
2095 3,307,678 16,732,430
2094 3,311,734 16,610,512
2093 3,315,488 16,485,880
2092 3,319,391 16,359,440
2091 3,322,303 16,229,167
2090 3,324,499 16,097,149
2089 3,326,577 15,962,562
2088 3,328,210 15,824,899
2087 3,329,694 15,683,760
2086 3,330,185 15,541,281
2085 3,330,989 15,397,701
2084 3,331,214 15,251,533
2083 3,331,221 15,102,125
2082 3,330,964 14,952,194
2081 3,330,141 14,799,309
2080 3,328,997 14,645,548
2079 3,326,895 14,490,500
2078 3,324,376 14,331,284
2077 3,321,152 14,170,045
2076 3,317,581 14,007,555
2075 3,313,968 13,843,393
2074 3,308,905 13,678,579
2073 3,303,592 13,512,182
2072 3,297,913 13,343,946
2071 3,291,224 13,172,876
2070 3,283,387 13,002,521
2069 3,274,978 12,830,090
2068 3,265,887 12,657,711
2067 3,256,362 12,482,299
2066 3,246,639 12,306,495
2065 3,236,890 12,131,679
2064 3,226,227 11,954,090
2063 3,214,843 11,778,351
2062 3,202,027 11,601,323
2061 3,188,674 11,424,089
2060 3,174,740 11,246,850
2059 3,159,947 11,067,732
2058 3,144,797 10,887,645
2057 3,129,007 10,709,500
2056 3,112,877 10,532,648
2055 3,095,653 10,354,318
2054 3,078,317 10,175,517
2053 3,059,904 9,995,645
2052 3,040,402 9,815,104
2051 3,019,864 9,635,288
2050 2,999,214 9,457,400
2049 2,977,795 9,279,576
2048 2,955,487 9,100,595
2047 2,932,450 8,923,220
2046 2,909,071 8,745,286
2045 2,885,303 8,568,910
2044 2,861,140 8,393,773
2043 2,836,547 8,218,850
2042 2,811,435 8,044,865
2041 2,785,921 7,873,599
2040 2,760,167 7,703,561
2039 2,734,178 7,534,623
2038 2,707,996 7,366,187
2037 2,681,646 7,199,542
2036 2,654,540 7,033,866
2035 2,627,488 6,869,186
2034 2,600,669 6,705,635
2033 2,573,856 6,543,505
2032 2,547,137 6,383,229
2031 2,520,626 6,225,030
2030 2,494,444 6,068,395
2029 2,468,067 5,914,109
2028 2,441,673 5,761,715
2027 2,415,634 5,611,635
2026 2,389,322 5,462,675
2025 2,363,325 5,315,065
2024 2,337,423 5,169,395
2023 2,311,472 5,022,441
2022 2,286,110 4,875,637
2021 2,261,542 4,734,874
2020 2,235,727 4,600,131
2019 2,209,405 4,467,708
2018 2,183,603 4,337,685
2017 2,157,110 4,210,600
2016 2,130,422 4,086,657
2015 2,104,611 3,965,959
2014 2,080,089 3,848,514
2013 2,056,504 3,734,318
2012 2,034,354 3,619,034
2011 2,014,009 3,502,811
2010 1,996,251 3,390,965
2009 1,980,883 3,284,448
2008 1,966,541 3,183,269
2007 1,953,268 3,093,059
2006 1,945,063 3,013,660
2005 1,953,076 2,939,059
2004 1,971,129 2,868,664
2003 1,985,059 2,802,046
2002 1,994,679 2,738,655
2001 2,000,853 2,678,760
2000 2,003,913 2,613,441
1999 2,003,234 2,541,698
1998 1,998,049 2,474,651
1997 1,988,130 2,411,306
1996 1,972,418 2,358,188
1995 1,951,437 2,312,017
1994 1,927,707 2,249,454
1993 1,901,793 2,174,328
1992 1,873,274 2,088,135
1991 1,842,379 2,009,738
1990 1,809,696 1,951,878
1989 1,775,436 1,903,048
1988 1,739,841 1,855,859
1987 1,703,390 1,803,014
1986 1,666,138 1,751,835
1985 1,624,379 1,702,107
1984 1,578,986 1,653,693
1983 1,534,413 1,606,746
1982 1,490,732 1,561,176
1981 1,448,069 1,516,877
1980 1,406,521 1,474,043
1979 1,366,169 1,432,758
1978 1,327,240 1,392,713
1977 1,289,967 1,353,768
1976 1,253,214 1,315,336
1975 1,213,643 1,277,330
1974 1,172,420 1,240,188
1973 1,132,697 1,203,838
1972 1,094,063 1,168,355
1971 1,056,246 1,133,702
1970 1,019,273 1,099,806
1969 983,202 1,066,754
1968 948,105 1,034,739
1967 913,982 1,003,843
1966 881,870 974,157
1965 854,090 945,838
1964 829,437 918,955
1963 805,373 893,423
1962 781,814 869,184
1961 758,824 846,167
1960 736,500 824,298

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/mauritania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Mauritania gained 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Mauritania's population increased by 1,452,532 people (a 35.5% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Mauritania was ranked 132nd in 2006 and ranked 123rd 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 Mauritania will increase by 70.7% to 9,457,400 people and rank change from 123rd to 103rd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 17.3M people in 2100 for Mauritania.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Mauritania
2100 -0.18% 0.62%
2099 -0.18% 0.66%
2098 -0.17% 0.68%
2097 -0.15% 0.7%
2096 -0.15% 0.7%
2095 -0.12% 0.73%
2094 -0.11% 0.76%
2093 -0.12% 0.77%
2092 -0.09% 0.8%
2091 -0.07% 0.82%
2090 -0.06% 0.84%
2089 -0.05% 0.87%
2088 -0.04% 0.9%
2087 -0.01% 0.92%
2086 -0.02% 0.93%
2085 -0.007% 0.96%
2084 -0% 0.99%
2083 0.008% 1%
2082 0.02% 1.03%
2081 0.03% 1.05%
2080 0.06% 1.07%
2079 0.08% 1.11%
2078 0.1% 1.14%
2077 0.11% 1.16%
2076 0.11% 1.19%
2075 0.15% 1.2%
2074 0.16% 1.23%
2073 0.17% 1.26%
2072 0.2% 1.3%
2071 0.24% 1.31%
2070 0.26% 1.34%
2069 0.28% 1.36%
2068 0.29% 1.41%
2067 0.3% 1.43%
2066 0.3% 1.44%
2065 0.33% 1.49%
2064 0.35% 1.49%
2063 0.4% 1.53%
2062 0.42% 1.55%
2061 0.44% 1.58%
2060 0.47% 1.62%
2059 0.48% 1.65%
2058 0.5% 1.66%
2057 0.52% 1.68%
2056 0.56% 1.72%
2055 0.56% 1.76%
2054 0.6% 1.8%
2053 0.64% 1.84%
2052 0.68% 1.87%
2051 0.69% 1.88%
2050 0.72% 1.92%
2049 0.75% 1.97%
2048 0.79% 1.99%
2047 0.8% 2.03%
2046 0.82% 2.06%
2045 0.84% 2.09%
2044 0.87% 2.13%
2043 0.89% 2.16%
2042 0.92% 2.18%
2041 0.93% 2.21%
2040 0.95% 2.24%
2039 0.97% 2.29%
2038 0.98% 2.31%
2037 1.02% 2.36%
2036 1.03% 2.4%
2035 1.03% 2.44%
2034 1.04% 2.48%
2033 1.05% 2.51%
2032 1.05% 2.54%
2031 1.05% 2.58%
2030 1.07% 2.61%
2029 1.08% 2.64%
2028 1.08% 2.67%
2027 1.1% 2.73%
2026 1.1% 2.78%
2025 1.11% 2.82%
2024 1.12% 2.93%
2023 1.11% 3.01%
2022 1.09% 2.97%
2021 1.15% 2.93%
2020 1.19% 2.96%
2019 1.18% 3%
2018 1.23% 3.02%
2017 1.25% 3.03%
2016 1.23% 3.04%
2015 1.18% 3.05%
2014 1.15% 3.06%
2013 1.09% 3.19%
2012 1.01% 3.32%
2011 0.89% 3.3%
2010 0.78% 3.24%
2009 0.73% 3.18%
2008 0.68% 2.92%
2007 0.42% 2.63%
2006 -0.41% 2.54%
2005 -0.92% 2.45%
2004 -0.7% 2.38%
2003 -0.48% 2.31%
2002 -0.31% 2.24%
2001 -0.15% 2.5%
2000 0.03% 2.82%
1999 0.26% 2.71%
1998 0.5% 2.63%
1997 0.8% 2.25%
1996 1.08% 2%
1995 1.23% 2.78%
1994 1.36% 3.46%
1993 1.52% 4.13%
1992 1.68% 3.9%
1991 1.81% 2.96%
1990 1.93% 2.57%
1989 2.05% 2.54%
1988 2.14% 2.93%
1987 2.24% 2.92%
1986 2.57% 2.92%
1985 2.87% 2.93%
1984 2.9% 2.92%
1983 2.93% 2.92%
1982 2.95% 2.92%
1981 2.95% 2.91%
1980 2.95% 2.88%
1979 2.93% 2.88%
1978 2.89% 2.88%
1977 2.93% 2.92%
1976 3.26% 2.98%
1975 3.52% 2.99%
1974 3.51% 3.02%
1973 3.53% 3.04%
1972 3.58% 3.06%
1971 3.63% 3.08%
1970 3.67% 3.1%
1969 3.7% 3.09%
1968 3.73% 3.08%
1967 3.64% 3.05%
1966 3.25% 2.99%
1965 2.97% 2.93%
1964 2.99% 2.86%
1963 3.01% 2.79%
1962 3.03% 2.72%
1961 3.03% 2.65%

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/mauritania | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Mauritania's population grew by 2.82%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Mauritania
Current population
2402837
5539189
Population rank 143/197 123/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.07%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
3.62 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
2.99 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
18.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +399
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +145,670
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +2.82%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 18/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.74 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 -5,044
Net migration rank 117/196 115/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 195,937
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 113/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 107/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Mauritania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Mauritania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -5,044
2024 31,050 -5,107 147,927 -2,185
2023 31,115 -5,168 145,164 2,999
2022 30,803 -6,023 142,451 2,999
2021 27,806 -3,449 137,557 -1,483
2020 30,721 -3,449 134,899 -1,483
2019 32,279 -6,896 134,460 -3,019
2018 33,112 -6,892 131,584 -2,987
2017 33,601 -6,850 128,562 -3,001
2016 33,390 -6,766 125,342 -3,008
2015 32,087 -7,087 122,092 -3,019
2014 30,922 -6,877 118,792 -2,980
2013 29,789 -6,659 115,558 -2,987
2012 27,592 -6,425 113,489 4,515
2011 25,647 -6,118 111,165 3,272
2010 21,877 -5,886 108,121 1,128
2009 20,335 -5,599 105,273 -1,481
2008 19,349 -5,392 102,432 -3,860
2007 17,763 -5,179 98,895 -17,048
2006 15,234 -11,416 94,991 -18,033
2005 15,831 -35,679 90,940 -18,693
2004 17,271 -33,530 87,578 -19,042
2003 20,133 -31,723 83,804 -19,104
2002 22,274 -29,924 80,993 -18,903
2001 23,190 -27,874 78,769 -21,067
2000 24,786 -26,220 75,929 -2,997
1999 27,393 -24,610 73,554 -2,999
1998 30,889 -23,299 72,045 -8,504
1997 34,637 -22,396 71,327 -8,187
1996 36,228 -17,042 71,939 -28,840
1995 37,370 -14,588 72,244 -22,997
1994 38,629 -13,953 70,570 5,304
1993 40,505 -13,347 68,167 6,217
1992 42,579 -12,707 63,501 34,505
1991 44,026 -12,114 61,782 -2,997
1990 45,060 -11,598 59,934 -3,000
1989 46,264 -11,207 58,666 -17,941
1988 47,158 -11,028 56,654 -2,997
1987 47,718 -10,946 55,037 -2,998
1986 45,232 -7,501 53,313 -2,998
1985 44,575 1,222 52,125 -2,998
1984 43,785 1,199 50,705 -2,998
1983 42,899 1,253 49,187 -2,998
1982 41,941 1,281 47,947 -2,998
1981 40,808 1,307 46,641 -2,998
1980 39,617 1,361 45,026 -2,997
1979 38,440 1,285 43,537 -2,997
1978 37,084 1,047 42,539 -2,998
1977 35,654 746 41,352 -2,999
1976 34,117 2,986 40,149 -1,645
1975 32,311 9,723 38,975 -1,472
1974 30,444 9,972 38,106 -1,321
1973 28,859 10,183 37,122 -1,201
1972 27,841 10,386 36,184 -1,139
1971 26,838 10,563 35,279 -1,014
1970 25,935 10,605 34,382 -855
1969 25,137 10,465 33,252 -688
1968 24,490 10,108 32,029 -565
1967 23,911 9,734 30,853 -514
1966 23,326 7,248 29,502 -466
1965 22,755 2,239 28,028 -434
1964 22,116 2,198 26,565 -390
1963 21,585 2,220 25,250 -362
1962 21,132 2,172 23,927 -342
1961 20,581 2,100 22,781 -332
1960 19,981 1,989 21,604 -318

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/mauritania | 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 Mauritania 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,350,038 people) and 1.04% is from migration (a loss of 14,187 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 195,937 people or 3.8% in Mauritania.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K

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/mauritania | 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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