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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 2,360,527 people in Moldova in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 2,328,600 in Moldova.

Population statistics:

  • Lesotho's population is 1.03 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Moldova is the 145th.
  • The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.03% for Moldova.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -1.72% in Moldova.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Moldova has declined from 2.88M to 2.33M (19.2% decline).

Lesotho vs Moldova: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Moldova
2100 3,280,518 1,169,570
2099 3,286,430 1,180,272
2098 3,292,231 1,191,113
2097 3,297,835 1,201,972
2096 3,302,758 1,212,932
2095 3,307,678 1,223,967
2094 3,311,734 1,234,876
2093 3,315,488 1,245,808
2092 3,319,391 1,256,689
2091 3,322,303 1,267,532
2090 3,324,499 1,278,123
2089 3,326,577 1,288,741
2088 3,328,210 1,299,412
2087 3,329,694 1,309,994
2086 3,330,185 1,320,672
2085 3,330,989 1,331,516
2084 3,331,214 1,342,188
2083 3,331,221 1,353,031
2082 3,330,964 1,363,961
2081 3,330,141 1,375,027
2080 3,328,997 1,386,252
2079 3,326,895 1,397,755
2078 3,324,376 1,409,455
2077 3,321,152 1,421,568
2076 3,317,581 1,433,504
2075 3,313,968 1,445,874
2074 3,308,905 1,458,696
2073 3,303,592 1,471,729
2072 3,297,913 1,485,296
2071 3,291,224 1,499,224
2070 3,283,387 1,513,979
2069 3,274,978 1,528,841
2068 3,265,887 1,544,390
2067 3,256,362 1,560,256
2066 3,246,639 1,576,276
2065 3,236,890 1,592,761
2064 3,226,227 1,609,631
2063 3,214,843 1,626,510
2062 3,202,027 1,643,849
2061 3,188,674 1,661,290
2060 3,174,740 1,679,059
2059 3,159,947 1,696,440
2058 3,144,797 1,713,694
2057 3,129,007 1,730,910
2056 3,112,877 1,748,393
2055 3,095,653 1,765,554
2054 3,078,317 1,782,642
2053 3,059,904 1,799,510
2052 3,040,402 1,816,030
2051 3,019,864 1,832,448
2050 2,999,214 1,848,307
2049 2,977,795 1,864,603
2048 2,955,487 1,880,438
2047 2,932,450 1,896,381
2046 2,909,071 1,912,640
2045 2,885,303 1,929,525
2044 2,861,140 1,946,354
2043 2,836,547 1,964,017
2042 2,811,435 1,982,068
2041 2,785,921 2,000,545
2040 2,760,167 2,019,832
2039 2,734,178 2,040,153
2038 2,707,996 2,060,750
2037 2,681,646 2,081,833
2036 2,654,540 2,103,318
2035 2,627,488 2,125,527
2034 2,600,669 2,147,859
2033 2,573,856 2,170,311
2032 2,547,137 2,192,598
2031 2,520,626 2,215,052
2030 2,494,444 2,237,961
2029 2,468,067 2,260,762
2028 2,441,673 2,283,416
2027 2,415,634 2,305,981
2026 2,389,322 2,328,600
2025 2,363,325 2,360,527
2024 2,337,423 2,402,306
2023 2,311,472 2,457,783
2022 2,286,110 2,528,654
2021 2,261,542 2,595,809
2020 2,235,727 2,635,130
2019 2,209,405 2,664,224
2018 2,183,603 2,707,203
2017 2,157,110 2,755,189
2016 2,130,422 2,803,186
2015 2,104,611 2,835,978
2014 2,080,089 2,857,815
2013 2,056,504 2,859,558
2012 2,034,354 2,860,324
2011 2,014,009 2,860,699
2010 1,996,251 2,862,354
2009 1,980,883 2,865,213
2008 1,966,541 2,868,833
2007 1,953,268 2,874,299
2006 1,945,063 2,880,967
2005 1,953,076 2,888,985
2004 1,971,129 2,896,023
2003 1,985,059 2,903,198
2002 1,994,679 2,911,385
2001 2,000,853 2,918,135
2000 2,003,913 2,924,668
1999 2,003,234 2,930,622
1998 1,998,049 2,935,227
1997 1,988,130 2,936,413
1996 1,972,418 2,947,293
1995 1,951,437 2,953,200
1994 1,927,707 2,966,745
1993 1,901,793 2,975,966
1992 1,873,274 2,980,965
1991 1,842,379 2,981,566
1990 1,809,696 2,977,912
1989 1,775,436 2,970,039
1988 1,739,841 2,948,891
1987 1,703,390 2,916,306
1986 1,666,138 2,883,057
1985 1,624,379 2,850,787
1984 1,578,986 2,820,518
1983 1,534,413 2,791,207
1982 1,490,732 2,763,101
1981 1,448,069 2,735,987
1980 1,406,521 2,708,675
1979 1,366,169 2,683,035
1978 1,327,240 2,656,211
1977 1,289,967 2,626,298
1976 1,253,214 2,596,491
1975 1,213,643 2,566,998
1974 1,172,420 2,538,164
1973 1,132,697 2,510,584
1972 1,094,063 2,484,742
1971 1,056,246 2,460,611
1970 1,019,273 2,437,590
1969 983,202 2,408,469
1968 948,105 2,373,073
1967 913,982 2,337,695
1966 881,870 2,301,871
1965 854,090 2,265,287
1964 829,437 2,228,000
1963 805,373 2,188,895
1962 781,814 2,147,227
1961 758,824 2,103,327
1960 736,500 2,058,020

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/moldova | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Moldova lost 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Moldova's population decreased by 474,586 people (a 16.9% decline).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Moldova was ranked 134th in 2006 and ranked 145th 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 Moldova will decrease by 20.6% to 1,848,307 people and rank change from 145th to 150th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.17M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Moldova
2100 -0.18% -0.91%
2099 -0.18% -0.91%
2098 -0.17% -0.9%
2097 -0.15% -0.9%
2096 -0.15% -0.9%
2095 -0.12% -0.88%
2094 -0.11% -0.88%
2093 -0.12% -0.87%
2092 -0.09% -0.86%
2091 -0.07% -0.83%
2090 -0.06% -0.82%
2089 -0.05% -0.82%
2088 -0.04% -0.81%
2087 -0.01% -0.81%
2086 -0.02% -0.81%
2085 -0.007% -0.8%
2084 -0% -0.8%
2083 0.008% -0.8%
2082 0.02% -0.8%
2081 0.03% -0.81%
2080 0.06% -0.82%
2079 0.08% -0.83%
2078 0.1% -0.85%
2077 0.11% -0.83%
2076 0.11% -0.86%
2075 0.15% -0.88%
2074 0.16% -0.89%
2073 0.17% -0.91%
2072 0.2% -0.93%
2071 0.24% -0.97%
2070 0.26% -0.97%
2069 0.28% -1.01%
2068 0.29% -1.02%
2067 0.3% -1.02%
2066 0.3% -1.03%
2065 0.33% -1.05%
2064 0.35% -1.04%
2063 0.4% -1.05%
2062 0.42% -1.05%
2061 0.44% -1.06%
2060 0.47% -1.02%
2059 0.48% -1.01%
2058 0.5% -0.99%
2057 0.52% -1%
2056 0.56% -0.97%
2055 0.56% -0.96%
2054 0.6% -0.94%
2053 0.64% -0.91%
2052 0.68% -0.9%
2051 0.69% -0.86%
2050 0.72% -0.87%
2049 0.75% -0.84%
2048 0.79% -0.84%
2047 0.8% -0.85%
2046 0.82% -0.88%
2045 0.84% -0.86%
2044 0.87% -0.9%
2043 0.89% -0.91%
2042 0.92% -0.92%
2041 0.93% -0.95%
2040 0.95% -1%
2039 0.97% -1%
2038 0.98% -1.01%
2037 1.02% -1.02%
2036 1.03% -1.04%
2035 1.03% -1.04%
2034 1.04% -1.03%
2033 1.05% -1.02%
2032 1.05% -1.01%
2031 1.05% -1.02%
2030 1.07% -1.01%
2029 1.08% -0.99%
2028 1.08% -0.98%
2027 1.1% -0.97%
2026 1.1% -1.35%
2025 1.11% -1.74%
2024 1.12% -2.26%
2023 1.11% -2.8%
2022 1.09% -2.59%
2021 1.15% -1.49%
2020 1.19% -1.09%
2019 1.18% -1.59%
2018 1.23% -1.74%
2017 1.25% -1.71%
2016 1.23% -1.16%
2015 1.18% -0.76%
2014 1.15% -0.06%
2013 1.09% -0.03%
2012 1.01% -0.01%
2011 0.89% -0.06%
2010 0.78% -0.1%
2009 0.73% -0.13%
2008 0.68% -0.19%
2007 0.42% -0.23%
2006 -0.41% -0.28%
2005 -0.92% -0.24%
2004 -0.7% -0.25%
2003 -0.48% -0.28%
2002 -0.31% -0.23%
2001 -0.15% -0.22%
2000 0.03% -0.2%
1999 0.26% -0.16%
1998 0.5% -0.04%
1997 0.8% -0.37%
1996 1.08% -0.2%
1995 1.23% -0.46%
1994 1.36% -0.31%
1993 1.52% -0.17%
1992 1.68% -0.02%
1991 1.81% 0.12%
1990 1.93% 0.27%
1989 2.05% 0.72%
1988 2.14% 1.12%
1987 2.24% 1.15%
1986 2.57% 1.13%
1985 2.87% 1.07%
1984 2.9% 1.05%
1983 2.93% 1.02%
1982 2.95% 0.99%
1981 2.95% 1.01%
1980 2.95% 0.96%
1979 2.93% 1.01%
1978 2.89% 1.14%
1977 2.93% 1.15%
1976 3.26% 1.15%
1975 3.52% 1.14%
1974 3.51% 1.1%
1973 3.53% 1.04%
1972 3.58% 0.98%
1971 3.63% 0.94%
1970 3.67% 1.21%
1969 3.7% 1.49%
1968 3.73% 1.51%
1967 3.64% 1.56%
1966 3.25% 1.61%
1965 2.97% 1.67%
1964 2.99% 1.79%
1963 3.01% 1.94%
1962 3.03% 2.09%
1961 3.03% 2.2%

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/moldova | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Moldova's population declined by 1.74%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Moldova
Current population
2402837
2328600
Population rank 143/197 145/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.03%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
12.6 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
20.7 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
15.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 -114
Annual growth/decline +25,902 -41,779
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% -1.74%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 196/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -29,766
Net migration rank 117/196 164/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 188,207
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 116/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 6.2%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 85/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Moldova
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Moldova
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -29,766
2024 31,050 -5,107 -7,767 -27,088
2023 31,115 -5,168 -7,007 -18,570
2022 30,803 -6,023 -6,385 89,154
2021 27,806 -3,449 -13,444 -33,405
2020 30,721 -3,449 -7,067 -33,405
2019 32,279 -6,896 -3,416 -41,233
2018 33,112 -6,892 -961 -36,085
2017 33,601 -6,850 1,402 -43,871
2016 33,390 -6,766 4,580 -51,642
2015 32,087 -7,087 6,049 -59,399
2014 30,922 -6,877 7,248 -67,175
2013 29,789 -6,659 3,537 -77,571
2012 27,592 -6,425 5,581 -81,215
2011 25,647 -6,118 5,948 -82,271
2010 21,877 -5,886 7,456 -84,039
2009 20,335 -5,599 7,492 -83,546
2008 19,349 -5,392 5,210 -79,593
2007 17,763 -5,179 3,490 -75,734
2006 15,234 -11,416 2,406 -72,061
2005 15,831 -35,679 2,005 -68,681
2004 17,271 -33,530 1,714 -52,491
2003 20,133 -31,723 -322 -46,947
2002 22,274 -29,924 -1,249 -45,833
2001 23,190 -27,874 -718 -45,043
2000 24,786 -26,220 -324 -43,854
1999 27,393 -24,610 642 -43,111
1998 30,889 -23,299 2,140 -41,975
1997 34,637 -22,396 4,669 -41,743
1996 36,228 -17,042 2,655 -33,369
1995 37,370 -14,588 5,534 -31,975
1994 38,629 -13,953 9,921 -31,616
1993 40,505 -13,347 13,886 -31,526
1992 42,579 -12,707 17,373 -30,136
1991 44,026 -12,114 21,127 -29,204
1990 45,060 -11,598 25,824 -30,053
1989 46,264 -11,207 29,638 -29,307
1988 47,158 -11,028 35,608 -4,989
1987 47,718 -10,946 40,122 -10,796
1986 45,232 -7,501 39,463 -8,769
1985 44,575 1,222 38,060 -10,627
1984 43,785 1,199 38,108 -12,732
1983 42,899 1,253 36,076 -10,543
1982 41,941 1,281 32,814 -8,412
1981 40,808 1,307 31,360 -6,452
1980 39,617 1,361 30,053 -3,693
1979 38,440 1,285 28,322 -6,912
1978 37,084 1,047 27,622 3,483
1977 35,654 746 27,707 3,245
1976 34,117 2,986 27,801 2,885
1975 32,311 9,723 27,677 2,355
1974 30,444 9,972 27,219 1,785
1973 28,859 10,183 25,967 1,156
1972 27,841 10,386 24,626 481
1971 26,838 10,563 23,359 -61
1970 25,935 10,605 22,314 606
1969 25,137 10,465 21,768 20,561
1968 24,490 10,108 22,005 19,830
1967 23,911 9,734 22,654 19,175
1966 23,326 7,248 23,720 18,601
1965 22,755 2,239 24,916 18,066
1964 22,116 2,198 25,860 17,509
1963 21,585 2,220 29,382 16,816
1962 21,132 2,172 32,082 15,884
1961 20,581 2,100 35,180 14,818
1960 19,981 1,989 36,352 13,697

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/moldova | 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 Moldova 11.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 34,016 people) and 88.3% is from migration (a loss of 255,544 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 188,207 people or 6.2% in Moldova.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Ungheni 26.5K
Dubasari 25.1K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K

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/moldova | 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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