The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 623,129 people in Montenegro in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 613,759 in Montenegro.
Population statistics:
- Lesotho's population is 3.91 times bigger than Montenegro's.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Montenegro is the 166th.
- The countries together account for 0.04% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.007% for Montenegro.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -0.009% in Montenegro.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Montenegro has declined from 615K to 614K (0.21% decline).
Lesotho vs Montenegro: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Montenegro
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,518 | 320,475 |
| 2099 | 3,286,430 | 324,115 |
| 2098 | 3,292,231 | 327,713 |
| 2097 | 3,297,835 | 331,355 |
| 2096 | 3,302,758 | 335,007 |
| 2095 | 3,307,678 | 338,654 |
| 2094 | 3,311,734 | 342,297 |
| 2093 | 3,315,488 | 345,975 |
| 2092 | 3,319,391 | 349,650 |
| 2091 | 3,322,303 | 353,353 |
| 2090 | 3,324,499 | 357,061 |
| 2089 | 3,326,577 | 360,774 |
| 2088 | 3,328,210 | 364,461 |
| 2087 | 3,329,694 | 368,192 |
| 2086 | 3,330,185 | 371,937 |
| 2085 | 3,330,989 | 375,715 |
| 2084 | 3,331,214 | 379,539 |
| 2083 | 3,331,221 | 383,359 |
| 2082 | 3,330,964 | 387,223 |
| 2081 | 3,330,141 | 391,147 |
| 2080 | 3,328,997 | 395,110 |
| 2079 | 3,326,895 | 399,116 |
| 2078 | 3,324,376 | 403,132 |
| 2077 | 3,321,152 | 407,160 |
| 2076 | 3,317,581 | 411,233 |
| 2075 | 3,313,968 | 415,356 |
| 2074 | 3,308,905 | 419,523 |
| 2073 | 3,303,592 | 423,747 |
| 2072 | 3,297,913 | 427,961 |
| 2071 | 3,291,224 | 432,249 |
| 2070 | 3,283,387 | 436,592 |
| 2069 | 3,274,978 | 440,907 |
| 2068 | 3,265,887 | 445,235 |
| 2067 | 3,256,362 | 449,615 |
| 2066 | 3,246,639 | 453,939 |
| 2065 | 3,236,890 | 458,379 |
| 2064 | 3,226,227 | 462,797 |
| 2063 | 3,214,843 | 467,212 |
| 2062 | 3,202,027 | 471,608 |
| 2061 | 3,188,674 | 475,993 |
| 2060 | 3,174,740 | 480,424 |
| 2059 | 3,159,947 | 484,778 |
| 2058 | 3,144,797 | 489,082 |
| 2057 | 3,129,007 | 493,417 |
| 2056 | 3,112,877 | 497,856 |
| 2055 | 3,095,653 | 502,222 |
| 2054 | 3,078,317 | 506,518 |
| 2053 | 3,059,904 | 510,759 |
| 2052 | 3,040,402 | 514,996 |
| 2051 | 3,019,864 | 519,179 |
| 2050 | 2,999,214 | 523,331 |
| 2049 | 2,977,795 | 527,485 |
| 2048 | 2,955,487 | 531,545 |
| 2047 | 2,932,450 | 535,674 |
| 2046 | 2,909,071 | 539,713 |
| 2045 | 2,885,303 | 543,724 |
| 2044 | 2,861,140 | 547,696 |
| 2043 | 2,836,547 | 551,691 |
| 2042 | 2,811,435 | 555,589 |
| 2041 | 2,785,921 | 559,520 |
| 2040 | 2,760,167 | 563,410 |
| 2039 | 2,734,178 | 567,304 |
| 2038 | 2,707,996 | 571,182 |
| 2037 | 2,681,646 | 575,034 |
| 2036 | 2,654,540 | 578,842 |
| 2035 | 2,627,488 | 582,604 |
| 2034 | 2,600,669 | 586,301 |
| 2033 | 2,573,856 | 589,943 |
| 2032 | 2,547,137 | 593,521 |
| 2031 | 2,520,626 | 597,018 |
| 2030 | 2,494,444 | 600,445 |
| 2029 | 2,468,067 | 603,840 |
| 2028 | 2,441,673 | 607,174 |
| 2027 | 2,415,634 | 610,430 |
| 2026 | 2,389,322 | 613,759 |
| 2025 | 2,363,325 | 623,129 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 623,525 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 623,529 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 623,591 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 625,053 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 626,590 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 626,753 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 626,438 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 625,982 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 625,353 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 624,651 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 623,744 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 622,587 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 621,418 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 620,345 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 619,428 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 618,294 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 616,969 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 615,875 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 615,025 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 614,261 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 613,353 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 612,267 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 609,828 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 607,389 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 604,950 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 606,001 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 607,662 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 609,520 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 611,003 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 611,712 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 611,389 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 610,170 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 608,516 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 607,105 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 606,372 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 606,571 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 607,413 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 608,144 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 607,711 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 605,398 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 600,884 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 594,506 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 587,001 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 579,445 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 572,608 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 566,888 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 562,065 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 557,576 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 552,562 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 546,487 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 538,902 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 530,220 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 521,785 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 515,449 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 512,407 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 513,340 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 517,481 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 522,796 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 526,419 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 526,327 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 521,753 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 513,409 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 502,558 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 491,140 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 480,579 |
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/montenegro | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Montenegro gained 10,328 people (a 1.68% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Montenegro's population decreased by 11,594 people (a 1.85% decline).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Montenegro was ranked 162nd in 2006 and ranked 166th 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 Montenegro will decrease by 14.7% to 523,331 people and rank change from 166th to 170th.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Montenegro's population already peaked in 2019 at 627K people and is projected to decrease to 320K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Montenegro
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | -1.12% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | -1.1% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | -1.1% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | -1.09% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | -1.08% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | -1.06% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | -1.06% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | -1.05% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | -1.05% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | -1.04% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | -1.03% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | -1.01% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | -1.01% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | -1.01% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | -1.01% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | -1.01% |
| 2084 | -0% | -1% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | -1% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | -1% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | -1% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | -1% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | -1% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | -0.99% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | -0.99% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | -0.99% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | -0.99% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | -1% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | -0.98% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | -0.99% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | -0.99% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | -0.98% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | -0.97% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | -0.97% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | -0.95% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | -0.97% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | -0.95% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | -0.94% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | -0.93% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | -0.92% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | -0.92% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | -0.9% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | -0.88% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | -0.88% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | -0.89% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | -0.87% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | -0.85% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | -0.83% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | -0.82% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | -0.81% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | -0.79% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | -0.79% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | -0.76% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | -0.77% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | -0.75% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | -0.74% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | -0.73% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | -0.72% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | -0.7% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | -0.7% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | -0.69% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | -0.69% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | -0.68% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | -0.67% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | -0.66% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | -0.65% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | -0.63% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | -0.62% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | -0.6% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | -0.59% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | -0.57% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | -0.56% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | -0.55% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | -0.53% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | -0.54% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | -1.5% |
| 2025 | 1.11% | -0.06% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | -0.001% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | -0.01% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | -0.23% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | -0.25% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | -0.03% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 0.05% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 0.07% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 0.1% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 0.11% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 0.15% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 0.19% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | 0.19% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | 0.17% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | 0.15% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 0.18% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 0.21% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 0.18% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | 0.14% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 0.12% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 0.15% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 0.18% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 0.4% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 0.4% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 0.4% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | -0.17% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | -0.27% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | -0.24% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | -0.12% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 0.05% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 0.2% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 0.27% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 0.23% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 0.12% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | -0.03% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | -0.14% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | -0.12% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 0.07% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 0.38% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 0.75% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 1.07% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | 1.28% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 1.3% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 1.19% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | 1.01% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | 0.86% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | 0.81% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | 0.91% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | 1.11% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | 1.41% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 1.64% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 1.62% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 1.23% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 0.59% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | -0.18% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | -1.02% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | -0.69% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 0.02% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 0.88% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 1.63% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 2.16% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 2.32% |
| 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/montenegro | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Montenegro's population declined by 0.06%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Montenegro
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2402837
|
613759
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 166/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.007% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
22.2 hours
|
| One birth every |
9.46 minutes
|
1.25 hours
|
| One death every |
21.5 minutes
|
1.38 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | -1 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,902 | -396 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.11% | -0.06% |
| Population growth rate rank | 94/197 | 163/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
56.8 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | -9,279 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 131/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 92,237 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 134/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 14.4% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 45/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Montenegro
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | -9,279 |
| 2024 | 31,050 | -5,107 | 624 | -1,686 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 686 | 12,000 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | 0 | 26,332 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | -2,062 | -2,344 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | -188 | -3,310 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 627 | -4,083 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 752 | -5,058 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 939 | -4,948 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 1,125 | -5,274 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 1,062 | -4,863 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 1,560 | -4,357 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 1,557 | -2,478 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 1,554 | -1,583 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 1,365 | 0 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 1,797 | -2,276 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 2,783 | -3,456 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 2,530 | -3,326 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 1,848 | -3,056 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 1,599 | -2,735 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 1,536 | -2,247 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 2,146 | -1,997 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 2,632 | -3,178 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 2,988 | -3,357 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 3,462 | -3,511 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 3,751 | -3,734 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 3,454 | -3,487 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 3,889 | -3,326 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 3,597 | -3,077 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 4,155 | -3,051 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 4,527 | -3,082 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 4,381 | -2,889 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 4,638 | -2,835 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 5,015 | -2,942 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 5,191 | -2,630 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 5,010 | -1,705 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 5,129 | -1,730 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 5,529 | -2,165 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 5,958 | -2,569 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 6,097 | -2,747 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 6,283 | -3,013 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 6,337 | -3,074 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 6,482 | -3,190 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 6,419 | -3,151 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 6,275 | -2,287 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 6,383 | -450 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 6,139 | -718 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 6,408 | -1,103 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 6,650 | -1,364 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 6,845 | -1,447 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 6,878 | -1,588 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 6,919 | -1,669 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 7,096 | -1,778 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 7,252 | -1,922 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 7,168 | -1,856 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 7,069 | -2,013 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 7,449 | -2,456 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 7,497 | -2,404 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 7,961 | -2,519 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 8,661 | -2,751 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 9,010 | -2,743 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 9,227 | -2,734 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 9,449 | -2,800 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 9,402 | -2,606 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 9,278 | -2,254 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 9,144 | -2,467 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/montenegro | 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 Montenegro 34.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,565 people) and 65.5% is from migration (a gain of 6,766 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 92,237 people or 14.4% in Montenegro.
Biggest cities by population
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Maseru | 344K |
| Teyateyaneng | 75.1K |
| Mafeteng | 57.1K |
| Butha-Buthe | 10K |
|
Montenegro
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Podgorica | 151K |
| Cetinje | 14K |
| Plav | 13.8K |
| Bar | 13.7K |
| Budva | 13.3K |
| Ulcinj | 11.5K |
| Berane | 11.1K |
| Mojkovac | 3.59K |
| Kotor | 961 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Lesotho and Montenegro
|
Lesotho
|
Montenegro
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 77.6 years |
| Average age | 26 years | 40.6 years |
| Median age | 22.9 years | 41 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.8:51.2 | 48.1:51.9 |
| Fertility rate | 2.66 births per woman | 1.8 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 118.2 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/montenegro | 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)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.