The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 3,030,131 people in Namibia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 3,173,089 in Namibia.
Population statistics:
- Namibia's population is 1.32 times bigger than Lesotho's.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Namibia is the 134th.
- The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.04% for Namibia.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.73% in Namibia.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Namibia has grown from 1.99M to 3.17M (59.3% growth).
Lesotho vs Namibia: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Namibia
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,784 | 5,958,153 |
| 2099 | 3,286,697 | 5,952,623 |
| 2098 | 3,292,498 | 5,947,142 |
| 2097 | 3,298,102 | 5,942,285 |
| 2096 | 3,303,027 | 5,938,162 |
| 2095 | 3,307,947 | 5,930,395 |
| 2094 | 3,312,002 | 5,922,248 |
| 2093 | 3,315,757 | 5,911,235 |
| 2092 | 3,319,661 | 5,899,026 |
| 2091 | 3,322,573 | 5,886,490 |
| 2090 | 3,324,769 | 5,871,938 |
| 2089 | 3,326,847 | 5,858,234 |
| 2088 | 3,328,480 | 5,842,720 |
| 2087 | 3,329,964 | 5,825,856 |
| 2086 | 3,330,456 | 5,806,643 |
| 2085 | 3,331,259 | 5,789,246 |
| 2084 | 3,331,485 | 5,771,050 |
| 2083 | 3,331,492 | 5,751,610 |
| 2082 | 3,331,234 | 5,730,648 |
| 2081 | 3,330,412 | 5,707,476 |
| 2080 | 3,329,267 | 5,682,842 |
| 2079 | 3,327,166 | 5,659,698 |
| 2078 | 3,324,646 | 5,634,313 |
| 2077 | 3,321,422 | 5,608,096 |
| 2076 | 3,317,850 | 5,580,829 |
| 2075 | 3,314,237 | 5,551,107 |
| 2074 | 3,309,174 | 5,522,025 |
| 2073 | 3,303,860 | 5,494,180 |
| 2072 | 3,298,181 | 5,464,749 |
| 2071 | 3,291,492 | 5,434,461 |
| 2070 | 3,283,654 | 5,403,822 |
| 2069 | 3,275,244 | 5,371,517 |
| 2068 | 3,266,152 | 5,336,950 |
| 2067 | 3,256,626 | 5,300,707 |
| 2066 | 3,246,903 | 5,263,191 |
| 2065 | 3,237,153 | 5,227,346 |
| 2064 | 3,226,489 | 5,190,323 |
| 2063 | 3,215,103 | 5,150,579 |
| 2062 | 3,202,287 | 5,109,760 |
| 2061 | 3,188,933 | 5,068,478 |
| 2060 | 3,174,998 | 5,023,587 |
| 2059 | 3,160,204 | 4,979,591 |
| 2058 | 3,145,053 | 4,933,964 |
| 2057 | 3,129,261 | 4,887,985 |
| 2056 | 3,113,129 | 4,840,537 |
| 2055 | 3,095,904 | 4,790,848 |
| 2054 | 3,078,567 | 4,741,942 |
| 2053 | 3,060,152 | 4,691,180 |
| 2052 | 3,040,649 | 4,639,835 |
| 2051 | 3,020,109 | 4,587,353 |
| 2050 | 2,999,457 | 4,533,502 |
| 2049 | 2,978,037 | 4,482,650 |
| 2048 | 2,955,727 | 4,430,309 |
| 2047 | 2,932,688 | 4,373,597 |
| 2046 | 2,909,307 | 4,318,050 |
| 2045 | 2,885,537 | 4,259,166 |
| 2044 | 2,861,372 | 4,202,338 |
| 2043 | 2,836,777 | 4,144,892 |
| 2042 | 2,811,663 | 4,088,713 |
| 2041 | 2,786,147 | 4,032,347 |
| 2040 | 2,760,391 | 3,976,987 |
| 2039 | 2,734,400 | 3,920,720 |
| 2038 | 2,708,216 | 3,862,015 |
| 2037 | 2,681,863 | 3,804,482 |
| 2036 | 2,654,755 | 3,747,072 |
| 2035 | 2,627,701 | 3,689,163 |
| 2034 | 2,600,880 | 3,631,737 |
| 2033 | 2,574,065 | 3,575,000 |
| 2032 | 2,547,344 | 3,516,310 |
| 2031 | 2,520,831 | 3,456,265 |
| 2030 | 2,494,646 | 3,395,964 |
| 2029 | 2,468,268 | 3,336,698 |
| 2028 | 2,441,871 | 3,277,428 |
| 2027 | 2,415,830 | 3,216,917 |
| 2026 | 2,389,516 | 3,156,839 |
| 2025 | 2,363,516 | 3,094,769 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 3,030,131 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 2,963,095 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 2,889,662 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 2,810,548 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 2,728,762 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 2,650,494 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 2,577,327 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 2,506,853 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 2,439,213 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 2,374,300 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 2,312,139 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 2,252,508 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 2,194,654 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 2,146,325 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 2,109,811 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 2,077,394 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 2,047,056 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 2,018,600 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 1,991,888 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 1,966,582 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 1,942,082 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 1,917,464 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 1,889,970 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 1,857,048 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 1,818,647 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 1,776,368 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 1,732,745 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 1,689,264 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 1,646,103 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 1,602,170 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 1,556,304 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 1,508,697 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 1,461,322 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 1,415,684 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 1,369,303 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 1,288,947 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 1,209,696 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 1,167,889 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 1,131,081 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 1,096,890 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 1,065,989 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 1,037,511 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 1,010,308 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 992,500 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 981,434 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 962,825 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 947,269 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 931,104 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 906,566 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 881,032 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 854,320 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 828,928 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 804,399 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 780,584 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 757,868 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 736,120 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 715,542 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 696,045 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 677,655 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 660,558 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 644,530 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 629,589 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 615,759 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 603,067 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 591,465 |
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/namibia | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Namibia gained 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Namibia's population increased by 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Namibia was ranked 143rd in 2006 and ranked 134th 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 Namibia will increase by 42.9% to 4,533,502 people and rank change from 134th to 131st.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 5.96M people in 2100 for Namibia.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Namibia
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | 0.09% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | 0.09% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | 0.08% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | 0.07% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | 0.13% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | 0.14% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | 0.19% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | 0.21% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | 0.21% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | 0.23% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | 0.27% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | 0.29% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | 0.33% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | 0.3% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | 0.32% |
| 2084 | -0% | 0.34% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | 0.37% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | 0.41% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | 0.43% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | 0.41% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | 0.45% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | 0.47% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | 0.49% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | 0.54% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | 0.53% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | 0.51% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | 0.54% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | 0.56% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | 0.57% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 0.6% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | 0.65% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | 0.68% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | 0.71% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | 0.69% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | 0.71% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | 0.77% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | 0.81% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | 0.89% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 0.88% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | 0.92% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 0.94% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | 0.98% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | 1.04% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | 1.03% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | 1.08% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | 1.11% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | 1.14% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | 1.19% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | 1.13% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | 1.18% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | 1.3% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | 1.29% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | 1.38% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | 1.35% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | 1.39% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | 1.37% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | 1.4% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | 1.39% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | 1.44% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | 1.52% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | 1.51% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | 1.53% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | 1.57% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | 1.58% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | 1.59% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | 1.67% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | 1.74% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | 1.78% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | 1.78% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | 1.81% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | 1.88% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | 1.9% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | 2.01% |
| 2025 | 1.12% | 2.13% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | 2.26% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | 2.54% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | 2.81% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | 3% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | 2.95% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 2.84% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 2.81% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 2.77% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 2.73% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 2.69% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 2.65% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | 2.64% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | 2.25% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | 1.73% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 1.56% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 1.48% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 1.41% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | 1.34% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 1.29% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 1.26% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 1.28% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 1.45% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 1.77% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 2.11% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | 2.38% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | 2.52% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 2.57% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 2.62% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 2.74% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 2.95% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 3.16% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 3.24% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 3.22% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 3.39% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | 6.23% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 6.55% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | 3.58% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 3.25% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 3.12% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 2.9% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 2.74% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | 2.69% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 1.79% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 1.13% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | 1.93% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | 1.64% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | 1.74% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | 2.71% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | 2.9% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | 3.13% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 3.06% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 3.05% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 3.05% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 3% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | 2.95% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | 2.88% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | 2.8% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | 2.71% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 2.59% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 2.49% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 2.37% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 2.25% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 2.1% |
| 1961 | 3.03% | 1.96% |
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/namibia | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Namibia's population grew by 2.26%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Namibia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2396633
|
3173089
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 134/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
7.84 minutes
|
| One birth every |
9.43 minutes
|
6.85 minutes
|
| One death every |
21.4 minutes
|
28.8 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | +184 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,951 | +67,036 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.12% | +2.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 93/197 | 41/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
4.71 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | +1,866 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 57/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 116,035 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 127/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 3.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 108/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Namibia
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | 1,866 |
| 2024 | - | -5,107 | - | 4,211 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 58,435 | 11,675 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | 54,534 | 22,212 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | 50,160 | 31,327 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 55,034 | 27,056 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 54,769 | 19,676 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 53,970 | 17,920 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 52,975 | 16,080 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 52,228 | 14,002 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 50,846 | 12,755 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 49,581 | 11,134 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 47,801 | 10,748 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 46,204 | 10,957 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 43,557 | -4,067 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 42,046 | -8,518 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 39,942 | -8,626 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 38,147 | -8,775 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 36,430 | -8,905 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 34,690 | -8,792 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 32,909 | -8,195 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 31,478 | -7,192 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 31,115 | -6,153 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 31,947 | -1,913 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 32,942 | 2,869 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 35,280 | 5,709 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 37,233 | 6,333 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 37,500 | 6,180 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 37,256 | 6,023 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 37,177 | 5,866 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 39,119 | 5,712 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 41,316 | 5,578 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 42,861 | 5,464 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 43,945 | 2,487 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 44,523 | 309 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 43,956 | 3,969 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 37,715 | 75,072 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 34,798 | 10,916 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 33,340 | 4,559 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 31,764 | 3,953 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 30,575 | 2,090 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 29,395 | -267 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 28,307 | -481 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 27,474 | -889 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 27,938 | -18,901 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 28,142 | -15,041 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 28,930 | -4,818 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 29,821 | -22,827 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 29,241 | -3,907 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 28,785 | -5,048 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 27,882 | -553 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 26,844 | -744 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 25,754 | -1,066 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 24,606 | -236 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 23,467 | -208 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 22,414 | -244 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 21,387 | -57 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 20,470 | -636 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 19,498 | -339 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 18,635 | -1,023 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 17,902 | -1,327 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 17,134 | -1,660 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 16,430 | -2,016 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 15,656 | -2,403 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 14,936 | -2,807 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 14,307 | -3,227 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/namibia | 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 Namibia 74.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 532,532 people) and 25.7% is from migration (a gain of 183,837 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 116,035 people or 3.8% in Namibia.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Lesotho and Namibia
|
Lesotho
|
Namibia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 67.8 years |
| Average age | 25.8 years | 25.5 years |
| Median age | 22.7 years | 22.1 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 48.8:51.2 |
| Fertility rate | 2.69 births per woman | 3.21 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 9.93 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/namibia | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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