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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 3,524,788 people in Mongolia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 3,620,317 in Mongolia.

Population statistics:

  • Mongolia's population is 1.51 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Mongolia is the 132nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.04% for Mongolia.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.79% in Mongolia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Mongolia has grown from 2.57M to 3.62M (41% growth).

Lesotho vs Mongolia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Mongolia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Mongolia
2100 3,280,784 5,629,299
2099 3,286,697 5,623,066
2098 3,292,498 5,615,212
2097 3,298,102 5,606,511
2096 3,303,027 5,597,140
2095 3,307,947 5,585,917
2094 3,312,002 5,574,522
2093 3,315,757 5,562,381
2092 3,319,661 5,549,290
2091 3,322,573 5,535,819
2090 3,324,769 5,521,210
2089 3,326,847 5,505,877
2088 3,328,480 5,490,024
2087 3,329,964 5,474,226
2086 3,330,456 5,458,465
2085 3,331,259 5,441,196
2084 3,331,485 5,423,740
2083 3,331,492 5,405,563
2082 3,331,234 5,387,443
2081 3,330,412 5,368,417
2080 3,329,267 5,348,645
2079 3,327,166 5,328,073
2078 3,324,646 5,306,120
2077 3,321,422 5,285,225
2076 3,317,850 5,263,067
2075 3,314,237 5,240,553
2074 3,309,174 5,217,755
2073 3,303,860 5,194,484
2072 3,298,181 5,171,399
2071 3,291,492 5,147,939
2070 3,283,654 5,123,730
2069 3,275,244 5,100,078
2068 3,266,152 5,075,923
2067 3,256,626 5,051,712
2066 3,246,903 5,026,451
2065 3,237,153 5,001,559
2064 3,226,489 4,977,095
2063 3,215,103 4,952,721
2062 3,202,287 4,928,284
2061 3,188,933 4,903,616
2060 3,174,998 4,877,808
2059 3,160,204 4,851,900
2058 3,145,053 4,825,704
2057 3,129,261 4,798,069
2056 3,113,129 4,770,106
2055 3,095,904 4,741,145
2054 3,078,567 4,710,703
2053 3,060,152 4,678,720
2052 3,040,649 4,645,641
2051 3,020,109 4,611,080
2050 2,999,457 4,575,698
2049 2,978,037 4,538,221
2048 2,955,727 4,499,652
2047 2,932,688 4,459,534
2046 2,909,307 4,418,220
2045 2,885,537 4,375,263
2044 2,861,372 4,332,061
2043 2,836,777 4,288,836
2042 2,811,663 4,244,827
2041 2,786,147 4,200,917
2040 2,760,391 4,157,409
2039 2,734,400 4,114,122
2038 2,708,216 4,071,754
2037 2,681,863 4,029,761
2036 2,654,755 3,988,994
2035 2,627,701 3,949,374
2034 2,600,880 3,910,459
2033 2,574,065 3,872,505
2032 2,547,344 3,835,471
2031 2,520,831 3,799,194
2030 2,494,646 3,762,550
2029 2,468,268 3,725,673
2028 2,441,871 3,687,959
2027 2,415,830 3,649,213
2026 2,389,516 3,609,604
2025 2,363,516 3,568,196
2024 2,337,423 3,524,788
2023 2,311,472 3,481,145
2022 2,286,110 3,433,748
2021 2,261,542 3,383,741
2020 2,235,727 3,327,204
2019 2,209,405 3,267,673
2018 2,183,603 3,208,189
2017 2,157,110 3,148,917
2016 2,130,422 3,088,856
2015 2,104,611 3,026,864
2014 2,080,089 2,963,113
2013 2,056,504 2,899,011
2012 2,034,354 2,839,705
2011 2,014,009 2,786,317
2010 1,996,251 2,738,622
2009 1,980,883 2,691,115
2008 1,966,541 2,643,201
2007 1,953,268 2,601,850
2006 1,945,063 2,567,168
2005 1,953,076 2,536,407
2004 1,971,129 2,508,412
2003 1,985,059 2,480,374
2002 1,994,679 2,449,027
2001 2,000,853 2,417,751
2000 2,003,913 2,388,299
1999 2,003,234 2,356,813
1998 1,998,049 2,323,809
1997 1,988,130 2,291,750
1996 1,972,418 2,259,507
1995 1,951,437 2,224,945
1994 1,927,707 2,189,395
1993 1,901,793 2,165,130
1992 1,873,274 2,167,790
1991 1,842,379 2,165,342
1990 1,809,696 2,098,710
1989 1,775,436 2,124,185
1988 1,739,841 2,076,322
1987 1,703,390 2,022,800
1986 1,666,138 1,970,965
1985 1,624,379 1,921,514
1984 1,578,986 1,874,349
1983 1,534,413 1,829,092
1982 1,490,732 1,785,364
1981 1,448,069 1,742,857
1980 1,406,521 1,701,335
1979 1,366,169 1,660,659
1978 1,327,240 1,619,468
1977 1,289,967 1,576,245
1976 1,253,214 1,531,945
1975 1,213,643 1,488,296
1974 1,172,420 1,446,050
1973 1,132,697 1,405,502
1972 1,094,063 1,366,821
1971 1,056,246 1,330,071
1970 1,019,273 1,295,272
1969 983,202 1,262,284
1968 948,105 1,229,930
1967 913,982 1,196,996
1966 881,870 1,163,754
1965 854,090 1,131,177
1964 829,437 1,100,234
1963 805,373 1,071,362
1962 781,814 1,041,444
1961 758,824 1,009,284
1960 736,500 977,595

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/mongolia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Mongolia gained 521,688 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Mongolia's population increased by 531,461 people (a 17.2% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Mongolia was ranked 137th in 2006 and ranked 132nd 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 Mongolia will increase by 26.4% to 4,575,698 people and rank change from 132nd to 130th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 5.63M people in 2100 for Mongolia.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Mongolia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Mongolia
2100 -0.18% 0.11%
2099 -0.18% 0.14%
2098 -0.17% 0.16%
2097 -0.15% 0.17%
2096 -0.15% 0.2%
2095 -0.12% 0.2%
2094 -0.11% 0.22%
2093 -0.12% 0.24%
2092 -0.09% 0.24%
2091 -0.07% 0.26%
2090 -0.06% 0.28%
2089 -0.05% 0.29%
2088 -0.04% 0.29%
2087 -0.01% 0.29%
2086 -0.02% 0.32%
2085 -0.007% 0.32%
2084 -0% 0.34%
2083 0.008% 0.34%
2082 0.02% 0.35%
2081 0.03% 0.37%
2080 0.06% 0.39%
2079 0.08% 0.41%
2078 0.1% 0.4%
2077 0.11% 0.42%
2076 0.11% 0.43%
2075 0.15% 0.44%
2074 0.16% 0.45%
2073 0.17% 0.45%
2072 0.2% 0.46%
2071 0.24% 0.47%
2070 0.26% 0.46%
2069 0.28% 0.48%
2068 0.29% 0.48%
2067 0.3% 0.5%
2066 0.3% 0.5%
2065 0.33% 0.49%
2064 0.35% 0.49%
2063 0.4% 0.5%
2062 0.42% 0.5%
2061 0.44% 0.53%
2060 0.47% 0.53%
2059 0.48% 0.54%
2058 0.5% 0.58%
2057 0.52% 0.59%
2056 0.56% 0.61%
2055 0.56% 0.65%
2054 0.6% 0.68%
2053 0.64% 0.71%
2052 0.68% 0.75%
2051 0.69% 0.77%
2050 0.72% 0.83%
2049 0.75% 0.86%
2048 0.79% 0.9%
2047 0.8% 0.94%
2046 0.82% 0.98%
2045 0.84% 1%
2044 0.87% 1.01%
2043 0.89% 1.04%
2042 0.92% 1.05%
2041 0.93% 1.05%
2040 0.95% 1.05%
2039 0.97% 1.04%
2038 0.98% 1.04%
2037 1.02% 1.02%
2036 1.03% 1%
2035 1.03% 1%
2034 1.04% 0.98%
2033 1.05% 0.97%
2032 1.05% 0.95%
2031 1.05% 0.97%
2030 1.07% 0.99%
2029 1.08% 1.02%
2028 1.08% 1.06%
2027 1.1% 1.1%
2026 1.1% 1.16%
2025 1.12% 1.23%
2024 1.12% 1.25%
2023 1.11% 1.38%
2022 1.09% 1.48%
2021 1.15% 1.7%
2020 1.19% 1.82%
2019 1.18% 1.85%
2018 1.23% 1.88%
2017 1.25% 1.94%
2016 1.23% 2.05%
2015 1.18% 2.15%
2014 1.15% 2.21%
2013 1.09% 2.09%
2012 1.01% 1.92%
2011 0.89% 1.74%
2010 0.78% 1.77%
2009 0.73% 1.81%
2008 0.68% 1.59%
2007 0.42% 1.35%
2006 -0.41% 1.21%
2005 -0.92% 1.12%
2004 -0.7% 1.13%
2003 -0.48% 1.28%
2002 -0.31% 1.29%
2001 -0.15% 1.23%
2000 0.03% 1.34%
1999 0.26% 1.42%
1998 0.5% 1.4%
1997 0.8% 1.43%
1996 1.08% 1.55%
1995 1.23% 1.62%
1994 1.36% 1.12%
1993 1.52% -0.12%
1992 1.68% 0.11%
1991 1.81% 3.17%
1990 1.93% -1.2%
1989 2.05% 2.31%
1988 2.14% 2.65%
1987 2.24% 2.63%
1986 2.57% 2.57%
1985 2.87% 2.52%
1984 2.9% 2.47%
1983 2.93% 2.45%
1982 2.95% 2.44%
1981 2.95% 2.44%
1980 2.95% 2.45%
1979 2.93% 2.54%
1978 2.89% 2.74%
1977 2.93% 2.89%
1976 3.26% 2.93%
1975 3.52% 2.92%
1974 3.51% 2.88%
1973 3.53% 2.83%
1972 3.58% 2.76%
1971 3.63% 2.69%
1970 3.67% 2.61%
1969 3.7% 2.63%
1968 3.73% 2.75%
1967 3.64% 2.86%
1966 3.25% 2.88%
1965 2.97% 2.81%
1964 2.99% 2.69%
1963 3.01% 2.87%
1962 3.03% 3.19%
1961 3.03% 3.24%

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/mongolia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Mongolia's population grew by 1.25%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Mongolia
Current population
2396633
3620317
Population rank 143/197 132/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.04%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
12 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
7.95 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
27.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +120
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +43,643
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.25%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 86/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
4.63 days
Annual migration change -5,192 +79
Net migration rank 117/196 74/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 22,589
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 169/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 171/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Mongolia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Mongolia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 79
2024 - -5,107 - 83
2023 31,115 -5,168 46,995 0
2022 30,803 -6,023 47,730 0
2021 27,806 -3,449 52,109 0
2020 30,721 -3,449 60,888 0
2019 32,279 -6,896 61,433 8,660
2018 33,112 -6,892 60,635 7,811
2017 33,601 -6,850 57,940 6,831
2016 33,390 -6,766 62,086 5,633
2015 32,087 -7,087 64,473 4,307
2014 30,922 -6,877 66,078 2,921
2013 29,789 -6,659 62,618 1,505
2012 27,592 -6,425 55,942 351
2011 25,647 -6,118 50,711 -505
2010 21,877 -5,886 44,914 -6,444
2009 20,335 -5,599 48,876 -15,007
2008 19,349 -5,392 45,843 -17,277
2007 17,763 -5,179 39,636 -15,220
2006 15,234 -11,416 33,609 -11,934
2005 15,831 -35,679 29,290 -8,924
2004 17,271 -33,530 28,418 -8,148
2003 20,133 -31,723 28,827 -7,986
2002 22,274 -29,924 30,439 -8,934
2001 23,190 -27,874 32,052 -10,244
2000 24,786 -26,220 32,753 -11,241
1999 27,393 -24,610 32,283 -13,481
1998 30,889 -23,299 31,757 -10,315
1997 34,637 -22,396 32,403 -9,132
1996 36,228 -17,042 33,741 -8,626
1995 37,370 -14,588 34,473 -7,346
1994 38,629 -13,953 34,711 -5,449
1993 40,505 -13,347 36,924 -5,429
1992 42,579 -12,707 42,437 -8,404
1991 44,026 -12,114 47,884 -11,427
1990 45,060 -11,598 49,443 -11,881
1989 46,264 -11,207 51,420 -9,757
1988 47,158 -11,028 51,588 2,459
1987 47,718 -10,946 51,140 1,855
1986 45,232 -7,501 50,329 354
1985 44,575 1,222 49,944 -1,719
1984 43,785 1,199 48,562 -2,452
1983 42,899 1,253 46,919 -2,522
1982 41,941 1,281 45,179 -2,132
1981 40,808 1,307 43,588 -1,615
1980 39,617 1,361 42,343 -1,268
1979 38,440 1,285 41,568 -1,296
1978 37,084 1,047 40,276 1,833
1977 35,654 746 38,995 5,354
1976 34,117 2,986 37,670 6,577
1975 32,311 9,723 36,490 6,556
1974 30,444 9,972 35,297 6,153
1973 28,859 10,183 33,993 5,647
1972 27,841 10,386 32,727 4,999
1971 26,838 10,563 31,536 4,238
1970 25,935 10,605 30,558 3,263
1969 25,137 10,465 29,781 2,366
1968 24,490 10,108 29,017 3,535
1967 23,911 9,734 28,178 5,139
1966 23,326 7,248 27,338 5,837
1965 22,755 2,239 26,364 5,610
1964 22,116 2,198 25,317 4,599
1963 21,585 2,220 24,142 3,687
1962 21,132 2,172 22,960 9,049
1961 20,581 2,100 21,873 10,440
1960 19,981 1,989 20,726 10,334

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/mongolia | 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 Mongolia 94.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 580,367 people) and 5.87% is from migration (a gain of 36,163 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 22,589 people or 0.6% in Mongolia.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Mongolia
City Population
Ulaanbaatar 1.4M
Bulgan 12.3K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/mongolia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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