The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 11,947 people in Nauru in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 12,125 in Nauru.
Population statistics:
- Lesotho's population is 197.7 times bigger than Nauru's.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Nauru is the 195th.
- The countries together account for 0.03% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.0001% for Nauru.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.17% in Nauru.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Nauru has grown from 10K to 12.1K (20.8% growth).
Lesotho vs Nauru: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Nauru
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,784 | 20,717 |
| 2099 | 3,286,697 | 20,686 |
| 2098 | 3,292,498 | 20,645 |
| 2097 | 3,298,102 | 20,605 |
| 2096 | 3,303,027 | 20,570 |
| 2095 | 3,307,947 | 20,535 |
| 2094 | 3,312,002 | 20,488 |
| 2093 | 3,315,757 | 20,432 |
| 2092 | 3,319,661 | 20,386 |
| 2091 | 3,322,573 | 20,341 |
| 2090 | 3,324,769 | 20,285 |
| 2089 | 3,326,847 | 20,219 |
| 2088 | 3,328,480 | 20,152 |
| 2087 | 3,329,964 | 20,096 |
| 2086 | 3,330,456 | 20,028 |
| 2085 | 3,331,259 | 19,959 |
| 2084 | 3,331,485 | 19,880 |
| 2083 | 3,331,492 | 19,796 |
| 2082 | 3,331,234 | 19,709 |
| 2081 | 3,330,412 | 19,611 |
| 2080 | 3,329,267 | 19,525 |
| 2079 | 3,327,166 | 19,420 |
| 2078 | 3,324,646 | 19,312 |
| 2077 | 3,321,422 | 19,206 |
| 2076 | 3,317,850 | 19,098 |
| 2075 | 3,314,237 | 18,986 |
| 2074 | 3,309,174 | 18,874 |
| 2073 | 3,303,860 | 18,758 |
| 2072 | 3,298,181 | 18,638 |
| 2071 | 3,291,492 | 18,535 |
| 2070 | 3,283,654 | 18,396 |
| 2069 | 3,275,244 | 18,289 |
| 2068 | 3,266,152 | 18,168 |
| 2067 | 3,256,626 | 18,025 |
| 2066 | 3,246,903 | 17,903 |
| 2065 | 3,237,153 | 17,777 |
| 2064 | 3,226,489 | 17,649 |
| 2063 | 3,215,103 | 17,524 |
| 2062 | 3,202,287 | 17,402 |
| 2061 | 3,188,933 | 17,267 |
| 2060 | 3,174,998 | 17,137 |
| 2059 | 3,160,204 | 17,013 |
| 2058 | 3,145,053 | 16,882 |
| 2057 | 3,129,261 | 16,752 |
| 2056 | 3,113,129 | 16,612 |
| 2055 | 3,095,904 | 16,472 |
| 2054 | 3,078,567 | 16,335 |
| 2053 | 3,060,152 | 16,193 |
| 2052 | 3,040,649 | 16,049 |
| 2051 | 3,020,109 | 15,888 |
| 2050 | 2,999,457 | 15,738 |
| 2049 | 2,978,037 | 15,572 |
| 2048 | 2,955,727 | 15,412 |
| 2047 | 2,932,688 | 15,241 |
| 2046 | 2,909,307 | 15,064 |
| 2045 | 2,885,537 | 14,895 |
| 2044 | 2,861,372 | 14,718 |
| 2043 | 2,836,777 | 14,546 |
| 2042 | 2,811,663 | 14,363 |
| 2041 | 2,786,147 | 14,180 |
| 2040 | 2,760,391 | 13,996 |
| 2039 | 2,734,400 | 13,827 |
| 2038 | 2,708,216 | 13,672 |
| 2037 | 2,681,863 | 13,513 |
| 2036 | 2,654,755 | 13,363 |
| 2035 | 2,627,701 | 13,196 |
| 2034 | 2,600,880 | 13,040 |
| 2033 | 2,574,065 | 12,894 |
| 2032 | 2,547,344 | 12,758 |
| 2031 | 2,520,831 | 12,625 |
| 2030 | 2,494,646 | 12,504 |
| 2029 | 2,468,268 | 12,386 |
| 2028 | 2,441,871 | 12,292 |
| 2027 | 2,415,830 | 12,182 |
| 2026 | 2,389,516 | 12,105 |
| 2025 | 2,363,516 | 12,030 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 11,947 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 11,875 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 11,801 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 11,709 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 11,643 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 11,587 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 11,477 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 11,324 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 11,150 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 10,954 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 10,742 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 10,517 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 10,267 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 10,098 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 10,043 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 10,016 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 10,009 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 10,020 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 10,034 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 10,049 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 10,060 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 10,059 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 10,082 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 10,130 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 10,168 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 10,187 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 10,198 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 10,197 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 10,183 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 10,165 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 10,137 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 10,102 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 10,021 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 9,850 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 9,622 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 9,390 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 9,165 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 8,946 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 8,742 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 8,551 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 8,377 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 8,216 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 8,040 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 7,839 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 7,649 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 7,468 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 7,298 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 7,163 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 7,064 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 6,987 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 6,923 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 6,866 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 6,812 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 6,762 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 6,710 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 6,581 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 6,328 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 6,135 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 6,043 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 5,832 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 5,515 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 5,226 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 4,979 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 4,774 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 4,607 |
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/nauru | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Nauru gained 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Nauru's population increased by 975 people (a 8.74% growth).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Nauru was ranked 196th in 2006 and ranked 195th 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 Nauru will increase by 29.8% to 15,738 people and rank change from 195th to 194th.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 20.7K people in 2100 for Nauru.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Nauru
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | 0.15% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | 0.2% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | 0.19% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | 0.17% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | 0.17% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | 0.23% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | 0.27% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | 0.23% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | 0.22% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | 0.28% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | 0.33% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | 0.33% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | 0.28% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | 0.34% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | 0.35% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | 0.39% |
| 2084 | -0% | 0.43% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | 0.44% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | 0.5% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | 0.44% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | 0.54% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | 0.56% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | 0.55% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | 0.57% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | 0.59% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | 0.6% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | 0.62% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | 0.65% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | 0.56% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | 0.75% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 0.59% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | 0.66% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | 0.8% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | 0.68% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | 0.71% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | 0.73% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | 0.71% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | 0.7% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | 0.78% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | 0.76% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 0.73% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | 0.78% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 0.77% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | 0.85% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | 0.85% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | 0.84% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | 0.87% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | 0.9% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | 1.01% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | 0.96% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | 1.06% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | 1.04% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | 1.12% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | 1.17% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | 1.14% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | 1.2% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | 1.19% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | 1.27% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | 1.29% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | 1.32% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | 1.22% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | 1.14% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | 1.17% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | 1.12% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | 1.27% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | 1.19% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | 1.14% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | 1.06% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | 1.06% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | 0.96% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | 0.96% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | 0.77% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | 0.9% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | 0.64% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | 0.63% |
| 2025 | 1.12% | 0.7% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | 0.61% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | 0.63% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | 0.79% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | 0.57% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | 0.48% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 0.96% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 1.35% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 1.56% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 1.79% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 1.97% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 2.14% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | 2.43% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | 1.67% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | 0.55% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 0.27% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 0.07% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | -0.11% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | -0.14% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | -0.15% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | -0.11% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 0.01% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | -0.23% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | -0.47% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | -0.37% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | -0.19% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | -0.11% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 0.01% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 0.14% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 0.18% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 0.28% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 0.35% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 0.81% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 1.74% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 2.37% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | 2.47% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 2.45% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | 2.45% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 2.33% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 2.23% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 2.08% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 1.96% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | 2.19% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 2.56% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 2.48% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | 2.42% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | 2.33% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | 1.88% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | 1.4% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | 1.1% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | 0.92% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 0.83% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 0.79% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 0.74% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 0.77% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | 1.96% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | 4% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | 3.15% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | 1.52% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 3.62% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 5.75% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 5.53% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 4.96% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 4.29% |
| 1961 | 3.03% | 3.62% |
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/nauru | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Nauru's population grew by 0.61%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2396633
|
12125
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 195/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.0001% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
5.07 days
|
| One birth every |
9.43 minutes
|
1.21 days
|
| One death every |
21.4 minutes
|
4.1 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,951 | +72 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.12% | +0.61% |
| Population growth rate rank | 93/197 | 126/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
3 days
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | -122 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 82/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 2,548 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 191/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 21.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 29/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Nauru
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | -122 |
| 2024 | - | -5,107 | - | -121 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 213 | -148 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | 226 | -144 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | 236 | -137 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 246 | -214 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 255 | -171 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 265 | -131 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 279 | -115 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 289 | -105 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 291 | -86 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 290 | -69 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 291 | -53 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 292 | -38 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 291 | -206 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 281 | -246 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 261 | -249 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 240 | -243 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 222 | -235 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 209 | -224 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 204 | -217 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 202 | -210 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 201 | -199 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 200 | -247 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 203 | -252 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 207 | -236 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 212 | -227 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 214 | -217 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 218 | -209 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 221 | -204 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 225 | -201 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 229 | -196 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 235 | -194 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 237 | -121 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 225 | 0 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 214 | 20 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 204 | 24 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 195 | 29 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 186 | 27 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 178 | 21 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 171 | 8 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 166 | -2 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 163 | -5 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 162 | 30 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 157 | 44 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 145 | 44 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 130 | 48 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 111 | 40 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 89 | 32 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 79 | 0 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 70 | 0 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 63 | 0 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 57 | 0 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 53 | 0 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 50 | 0 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 49 | 0 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 71 | 132 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 116 | 180 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 117 | -28 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 123 | -32 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 113 | 218 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 100 | 203 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 88 | 181 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 75 | 158 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 70 | 120 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 72 | 76 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/nauru | 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 Nauru 66.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 2,548 people or 21.3% in Nauru.
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Lesotho and Nauru
|
Lesotho
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 62.6 years |
| Average age | 25.8 years | 25.3 years |
| Median age | 22.7 years | 21.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 50.9:49.1 |
| Fertility rate | 2.69 births per woman | 3.33 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 1,568 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/nauru | 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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