The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 1,243,741 people in Mauritius in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 1,240,721 in Mauritius.
Population statistics:
- Lesotho's population is 1.94 times bigger than Mauritius'.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Mauritius is the 157th.
- The countries together account for 0.04% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.01% for Mauritius.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -0.13% in Mauritius.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Mauritius has grown from 1.23M to 1.24M (0.54% growth).
Lesotho vs Mauritius: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Mauritius
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,518 | 573,815 |
| 2099 | 3,286,430 | 582,097 |
| 2098 | 3,292,231 | 590,562 |
| 2097 | 3,297,835 | 599,251 |
| 2096 | 3,302,758 | 608,134 |
| 2095 | 3,307,678 | 617,230 |
| 2094 | 3,311,734 | 626,529 |
| 2093 | 3,315,488 | 636,052 |
| 2092 | 3,319,391 | 645,739 |
| 2091 | 3,322,303 | 655,617 |
| 2090 | 3,324,499 | 665,663 |
| 2089 | 3,326,577 | 675,889 |
| 2088 | 3,328,210 | 686,240 |
| 2087 | 3,329,694 | 696,717 |
| 2086 | 3,330,185 | 707,360 |
| 2085 | 3,330,989 | 718,105 |
| 2084 | 3,331,214 | 728,910 |
| 2083 | 3,331,221 | 739,778 |
| 2082 | 3,330,964 | 750,765 |
| 2081 | 3,330,141 | 761,750 |
| 2080 | 3,328,997 | 772,748 |
| 2079 | 3,326,895 | 783,786 |
| 2078 | 3,324,376 | 794,837 |
| 2077 | 3,321,152 | 805,918 |
| 2076 | 3,317,581 | 816,942 |
| 2075 | 3,313,968 | 827,927 |
| 2074 | 3,308,905 | 838,911 |
| 2073 | 3,303,592 | 849,873 |
| 2072 | 3,297,913 | 860,821 |
| 2071 | 3,291,224 | 871,644 |
| 2070 | 3,283,387 | 882,518 |
| 2069 | 3,274,978 | 893,282 |
| 2068 | 3,265,887 | 903,984 |
| 2067 | 3,256,362 | 914,668 |
| 2066 | 3,246,639 | 925,317 |
| 2065 | 3,236,890 | 935,999 |
| 2064 | 3,226,227 | 946,603 |
| 2063 | 3,214,843 | 957,115 |
| 2062 | 3,202,027 | 967,627 |
| 2061 | 3,188,674 | 978,076 |
| 2060 | 3,174,740 | 988,500 |
| 2059 | 3,159,947 | 998,838 |
| 2058 | 3,144,797 | 1,009,091 |
| 2057 | 3,129,007 | 1,019,346 |
| 2056 | 3,112,877 | 1,029,601 |
| 2055 | 3,095,653 | 1,039,730 |
| 2054 | 3,078,317 | 1,049,821 |
| 2053 | 3,059,904 | 1,059,876 |
| 2052 | 3,040,402 | 1,069,793 |
| 2051 | 3,019,864 | 1,079,612 |
| 2050 | 2,999,214 | 1,089,300 |
| 2049 | 2,977,795 | 1,098,902 |
| 2048 | 2,955,487 | 1,108,341 |
| 2047 | 2,932,450 | 1,117,590 |
| 2046 | 2,909,071 | 1,126,567 |
| 2045 | 2,885,303 | 1,135,321 |
| 2044 | 2,861,140 | 1,143,708 |
| 2043 | 2,836,547 | 1,151,882 |
| 2042 | 2,811,435 | 1,159,639 |
| 2041 | 2,785,921 | 1,167,107 |
| 2040 | 2,760,167 | 1,174,241 |
| 2039 | 2,734,178 | 1,181,008 |
| 2038 | 2,707,996 | 1,187,347 |
| 2037 | 2,681,646 | 1,193,347 |
| 2036 | 2,654,540 | 1,199,055 |
| 2035 | 2,627,488 | 1,204,453 |
| 2034 | 2,600,669 | 1,209,521 |
| 2033 | 2,573,856 | 1,214,292 |
| 2032 | 2,547,137 | 1,218,727 |
| 2031 | 2,520,626 | 1,222,858 |
| 2030 | 2,494,444 | 1,226,642 |
| 2029 | 2,468,067 | 1,230,401 |
| 2028 | 2,441,673 | 1,234,008 |
| 2027 | 2,415,634 | 1,237,431 |
| 2026 | 2,389,322 | 1,240,721 |
| 2025 | 2,363,325 | 1,243,741 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 1,245,779 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 1,248,647 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 1,262,523 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 1,266,334 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 1,266,014 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 1,265,985 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 1,265,577 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 1,264,887 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 1,263,747 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 1,262,879 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 1,261,208 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 1,258,927 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 1,255,882 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 1,252,404 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 1,250,400 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 1,247,429 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 1,244,121 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 1,239,630 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 1,233,996 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 1,228,254 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 1,221,003 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 1,213,370 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 1,204,621 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 1,196,287 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 1,186,873 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 1,175,267 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 1,160,421 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 1,148,284 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 1,133,996 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 1,122,457 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 1,112,846 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 1,097,374 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 1,084,441 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 1,070,266 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 1,058,775 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 1,051,260 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 1,043,239 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 1,036,082 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 1,028,360 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 1,020,528 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 1,012,221 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 1,001,691 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 992,521 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 980,462 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 966,039 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 949,888 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 933,499 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 921,379 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 906,507 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 892,000 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 878,042 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 864,819 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 852,053 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 839,230 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 826,000 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 812,405 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 798,413 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 783,917 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 768,813 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 753,000 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 736,381 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 718,861 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 700,349 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 680,757 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 680,331 |
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/mauritius | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Mauritius gained 29,751 people (a 2.41% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Mauritius' population decreased by 23,026 people (a 1.82% decline).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Mauritius was ranked 151st in 2006 and ranked 157th 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 Mauritius will decrease by 12.2% to 1,089,300 people and rank change from 157th to 160th.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Mauritius' population already peaked in 2021 at 1.27M people and is projected to decrease to 574K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Mauritius
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | -1.42% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | -1.43% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | -1.45% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | -1.46% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | -1.47% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | -1.48% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | -1.5% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | -1.5% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | -1.51% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | -1.51% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | -1.51% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | -1.51% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | -1.5% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | -1.5% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | -1.5% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | -1.48% |
| 2084 | -0% | -1.47% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | -1.46% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | -1.44% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | -1.42% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | -1.41% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | -1.39% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | -1.38% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | -1.35% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | -1.33% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | -1.31% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | -1.29% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | -1.27% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | -1.24% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | -1.23% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | -1.21% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | -1.18% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | -1.17% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | -1.15% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | -1.14% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | -1.12% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | -1.1% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | -1.09% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | -1.07% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | -1.05% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | -1.04% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | -1.02% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | -1.01% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | -1% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | -0.97% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | -0.96% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | -0.95% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | -0.93% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | -0.91% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | -0.89% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | -0.87% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | -0.85% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | -0.83% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | -0.77% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | -0.73% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | -0.71% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | -0.67% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | -0.64% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | -0.61% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | -0.57% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | -0.53% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | -0.5% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | -0.48% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | -0.45% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | -0.42% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | -0.39% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | -0.36% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | -0.34% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | -0.31% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | -0.31% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | -0.29% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | -0.28% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | -0.27% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | -0.24% |
| 2025 | 1.11% | -0.16% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | -0.23% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | 0.002% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 0.05% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 0.09% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 0.07% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 0.13% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 0.18% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | 0.24% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | 0.28% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | 0.16% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 0.24% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 0.27% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 0.36% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | 0.46% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 0.47% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 0.59% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 0.63% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 0.73% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 0.7% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 0.79% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | 0.99% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | 1.28% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 1.06% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 1.26% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 1.03% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 0.86% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 1.41% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 1.19% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 1.32% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 1.09% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | 0.71% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 0.77% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | 0.69% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 0.75% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 0.77% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 0.82% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 1.05% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | 0.92% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 1.23% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 1.49% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | 1.7% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | 1.76% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | 1.32% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | 1.64% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | 1.63% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | 1.59% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 1.53% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 1.5% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 1.53% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 1.6% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | 1.67% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | 1.75% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | 1.85% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | 1.96% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 2.1% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 2.26% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 2.44% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 2.64% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 2.88% |
| 1961 | 3.03% | 0.06% |
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/mauritius | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Mauritius' population declined by 0.16%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Mauritius
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2402837
|
1240721
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 157/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
4.31 hours
|
| One birth every |
9.46 minutes
|
41 minutes
|
| One death every |
21.5 minutes
|
42.2 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | -6 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,902 | -2,038 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.11% | -0.16% |
| Population growth rate rank | 94/197 | 171/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
3.16 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | -2,784 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 103/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 29,142 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 165/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 2.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 129/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Mauritius
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | -2,784 |
| 2024 | 31,050 | -5,107 | 374 | -2,787 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 999 | -2,824 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | -757 | -2,824 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | -380 | -4,324 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 2,406 | -5,895 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 1,646 | -5,202 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 2,152 | -5,084 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 3,289 | -5,322 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 2,906 | -4,483 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 2,905 | -3,645 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 3,657 | -3,691 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 4,281 | -3,617 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 5,023 | -3,663 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 5,511 | -2,465 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 5,877 | -2,624 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 6,113 | -2,467 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 7,465 | -2,589 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 8,429 | -2,642 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 8,515 | -2,757 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 10,195 | -2,840 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 10,745 | -3,001 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 10,799 | -3,141 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 11,685 | -3,150 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 11,723 | -3,225 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 12,224 | -2,326 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 12,341 | -1,463 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 11,489 | -1,292 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 11,943 | -1,199 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 13,041 | -1,092 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 13,020 | -1,144 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 14,355 | -1,112 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 14,814 | -1,189 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 15,833 | -1,254 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 15,091 | -1,333 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 15,564 | -1,938 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 14,718 | -2,463 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 14,084 | -1,399 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 13,262 | -300 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 12,340 | 852 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 12,451 | 615 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 13,665 | -258 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 14,525 | -1,756 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 15,880 | -2,226 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 18,334 | -1,559 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 19,321 | -1,739 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 19,282 | -2,363 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 18,670 | -3,129 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 16,769 | -3,749 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 16,407 | -3,807 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 15,342 | -3,869 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 17,561 | -4,908 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 13,145 | -2,144 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 14,825 | -2,408 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 15,441 | -960 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 16,190 | -1,281 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 15,761 | -674 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 17,884 | -2,445 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 17,560 | -1,257 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 20,758 | -4,123 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 20,482 | -3,597 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 22,239 | -4,850 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 22,069 | -5,236 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 20,660 | -6,107 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 20,355 | -8,984 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 19,931 | -7,083 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/mauritius | 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 Mauritius 26.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 15,540 people) and 73.2% is from migration (a loss of 42,390 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 29,142 people or 2.3% in Mauritius.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Lesotho and Mauritius
|
Lesotho
|
Mauritius
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 75.4 years |
| Average age | 26 years | 39.6 years |
| Median age | 22.9 years | 38.9 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.8:51.2 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 2.66 births per woman | 1.44 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 1,609 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/mauritius | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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