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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 29,651,054 people in Nepal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 29,596,762 in Nepal.

Population statistics:

  • Nepal's population is 12.3 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Nepal is the 52nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.36% for Nepal.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.66% in Nepal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Nepal has grown from 26.6M to 29.6M (11.4% growth).

Lesotho vs Nepal: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Nepal
2100 3,280,784 31,902,377
2099 3,286,697 32,090,762
2098 3,292,498 32,277,789
2097 3,298,102 32,464,318
2096 3,303,027 32,647,891
2095 3,307,947 32,828,594
2094 3,312,002 33,009,460
2093 3,315,757 33,186,290
2092 3,319,661 33,361,327
2091 3,322,573 33,532,505
2090 3,324,769 33,699,660
2089 3,326,847 33,863,636
2088 3,328,480 34,022,597
2087 3,329,964 34,175,457
2086 3,330,456 34,322,945
2085 3,331,259 34,468,441
2084 3,331,485 34,605,513
2083 3,331,492 34,735,114
2082 3,331,234 34,856,938
2081 3,330,412 34,972,075
2080 3,329,267 35,080,783
2079 3,327,166 35,183,584
2078 3,324,646 35,277,254
2077 3,321,422 35,362,658
2076 3,317,850 35,440,746
2075 3,314,237 35,510,291
2074 3,309,174 35,573,094
2073 3,303,860 35,627,375
2072 3,298,181 35,670,886
2071 3,291,492 35,709,979
2070 3,283,654 35,739,580
2069 3,275,244 35,759,193
2068 3,266,152 35,770,405
2067 3,256,626 35,774,081
2066 3,246,903 35,770,220
2065 3,237,153 35,758,824
2064 3,226,489 35,737,661
2063 3,215,103 35,709,945
2062 3,202,287 35,669,839
2061 3,188,933 35,623,365
2060 3,174,998 35,567,728
2059 3,160,204 35,503,043
2058 3,145,053 35,427,419
2057 3,129,261 35,345,633
2056 3,113,129 35,253,644
2055 3,095,904 35,155,433
2054 3,078,567 35,050,330
2053 3,060,152 34,936,594
2052 3,040,649 34,816,009
2051 3,020,109 34,684,328
2050 2,999,457 34,546,267
2049 2,978,037 34,400,898
2048 2,955,727 34,250,249
2047 2,932,688 34,091,495
2046 2,909,307 33,921,975
2045 2,885,537 33,747,892
2044 2,861,372 33,566,784
2043 2,836,777 33,380,395
2042 2,811,663 33,186,321
2041 2,786,147 32,987,097
2040 2,760,391 32,781,189
2039 2,734,400 32,569,731
2038 2,708,216 32,349,742
2037 2,681,863 32,125,036
2036 2,654,755 31,892,962
2035 2,627,701 31,653,976
2034 2,600,880 31,407,460
2033 2,574,065 31,152,292
2032 2,547,344 30,890,627
2031 2,520,831 30,623,706
2030 2,494,646 30,349,201
2029 2,468,268 30,068,368
2028 2,441,871 29,780,585
2027 2,415,830 29,627,864
2026 2,389,516 29,585,230
2025 2,363,516 29,605,298
2024 2,337,423 29,651,054
2023 2,311,472 29,694,614
2022 2,286,110 29,715,436
2021 2,261,542 29,475,010
2020 2,235,727 28,966,574
2019 2,209,405 28,414,064
2018 2,183,603 28,079,689
2017 2,157,110 28,011,258
2016 2,130,422 27,955,462
2015 2,104,611 27,823,629
2014 2,080,089 27,672,370
2013 2,056,504 27,589,996
2012 2,034,354 27,534,915
2011 2,014,009 27,464,494
2010 1,996,251 27,341,952
2009 1,980,883 27,173,035
2008 1,966,541 26,990,037
2007 1,953,268 26,788,492
2006 1,945,063 26,565,425
2005 1,953,076 26,309,458
2004 1,971,129 26,016,656
2003 1,985,059 25,688,758
2002 1,994,679 25,328,981
2001 2,000,853 24,946,748
2000 2,003,913 24,546,509
1999 2,003,234 24,125,199
1998 1,998,049 23,680,357
1997 1,988,130 23,219,463
1996 1,972,418 22,741,862
1995 1,951,437 22,245,439
1994 1,927,707 21,717,479
1993 1,901,793 21,180,159
1992 1,873,274 20,609,707
1991 1,842,379 20,036,500
1990 1,809,696 19,524,573
1989 1,775,436 19,057,807
1988 1,739,841 18,638,661
1987 1,703,390 18,250,505
1986 1,666,138 17,868,124
1985 1,624,379 17,477,692
1984 1,578,986 17,085,242
1983 1,534,413 16,689,119
1982 1,490,732 16,297,987
1981 1,448,069 15,922,423
1980 1,406,521 15,553,105
1979 1,366,169 15,190,590
1978 1,327,240 14,839,695
1977 1,289,967 14,499,175
1976 1,253,214 14,177,649
1975 1,213,643 13,870,695
1974 1,172,420 13,568,435
1973 1,132,697 13,275,239
1972 1,094,063 12,989,099
1971 1,056,246 12,710,061
1970 1,019,273 12,436,190
1969 983,202 12,167,036
1968 948,105 11,906,266
1967 913,982 11,652,716
1966 881,870 11,408,710
1965 854,090 11,173,411
1964 829,437 10,946,392
1963 805,373 10,729,818
1962 781,814 10,521,116
1961 758,824 10,318,396
1960 736,500 10,123,658

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/nepal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Nepal gained 1,390,037 people (a 5.23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Nepal's population increased by 1,641,300 people (a 5.87% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Nepal was ranked 43rd in 2006 and ranked 52nd 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 Nepal will increase by 16.7% to 34,546,267 people and rank change from 52nd to 58th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 35.8M people in 2067 for Nepal.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Nepal
2100 -0.18% -0.59%
2099 -0.18% -0.58%
2098 -0.17% -0.57%
2097 -0.15% -0.56%
2096 -0.15% -0.55%
2095 -0.12% -0.55%
2094 -0.11% -0.53%
2093 -0.12% -0.52%
2092 -0.09% -0.51%
2091 -0.07% -0.5%
2090 -0.06% -0.48%
2089 -0.05% -0.47%
2088 -0.04% -0.45%
2087 -0.01% -0.43%
2086 -0.02% -0.42%
2085 -0.007% -0.4%
2084 -0% -0.37%
2083 0.008% -0.35%
2082 0.02% -0.33%
2081 0.03% -0.31%
2080 0.06% -0.29%
2079 0.08% -0.27%
2078 0.1% -0.24%
2077 0.11% -0.22%
2076 0.11% -0.2%
2075 0.15% -0.18%
2074 0.16% -0.15%
2073 0.17% -0.12%
2072 0.2% -0.11%
2071 0.24% -0.08%
2070 0.26% -0.05%
2069 0.28% -0.03%
2068 0.29% -0.01%
2067 0.3% 0.01%
2066 0.3% 0.03%
2065 0.33% 0.06%
2064 0.35% 0.08%
2063 0.4% 0.11%
2062 0.42% 0.13%
2061 0.44% 0.16%
2060 0.47% 0.18%
2059 0.48% 0.21%
2058 0.5% 0.23%
2057 0.52% 0.26%
2056 0.56% 0.28%
2055 0.56% 0.3%
2054 0.6% 0.33%
2053 0.64% 0.35%
2052 0.68% 0.38%
2051 0.69% 0.4%
2050 0.72% 0.42%
2049 0.75% 0.44%
2048 0.79% 0.47%
2047 0.8% 0.5%
2046 0.82% 0.52%
2045 0.84% 0.54%
2044 0.87% 0.56%
2043 0.89% 0.58%
2042 0.92% 0.6%
2041 0.93% 0.63%
2040 0.95% 0.65%
2039 0.97% 0.68%
2038 0.98% 0.7%
2037 1.02% 0.73%
2036 1.03% 0.75%
2035 1.03% 0.78%
2034 1.04% 0.82%
2033 1.05% 0.85%
2032 1.05% 0.87%
2031 1.05% 0.9%
2030 1.07% 0.93%
2029 1.08% 0.97%
2028 1.08% 0.52%
2027 1.1% 0.14%
2026 1.1% -0.07%
2025 1.12% -0.15%
2024 1.12% -0.15%
2023 1.11% -0.07%
2022 1.09% 0.82%
2021 1.15% 1.76%
2020 1.19% 1.94%
2019 1.18% 1.19%
2018 1.23% 0.24%
2017 1.25% 0.2%
2016 1.23% 0.47%
2015 1.18% 0.55%
2014 1.15% 0.3%
2013 1.09% 0.2%
2012 1.01% 0.26%
2011 0.89% 0.45%
2010 0.78% 0.62%
2009 0.73% 0.68%
2008 0.68% 0.75%
2007 0.42% 0.84%
2006 -0.41% 0.97%
2005 -0.92% 1.13%
2004 -0.7% 1.28%
2003 -0.48% 1.42%
2002 -0.31% 1.53%
2001 -0.15% 1.63%
2000 0.03% 1.75%
1999 0.26% 1.88%
1998 0.5% 1.98%
1997 0.8% 2.1%
1996 1.08% 2.23%
1995 1.23% 2.43%
1994 1.36% 2.54%
1993 1.52% 2.77%
1992 1.68% 2.86%
1991 1.81% 2.62%
1990 1.93% 2.45%
1989 2.05% 2.25%
1988 2.14% 2.13%
1987 2.24% 2.14%
1986 2.57% 2.23%
1985 2.87% 2.3%
1984 2.9% 2.37%
1983 2.93% 2.4%
1982 2.95% 2.36%
1981 2.95% 2.37%
1980 2.95% 2.39%
1979 2.93% 2.36%
1978 2.89% 2.35%
1977 2.93% 2.27%
1976 3.26% 2.21%
1975 3.52% 2.23%
1974 3.51% 2.21%
1973 3.53% 2.2%
1972 3.58% 2.2%
1971 3.63% 2.2%
1970 3.67% 2.21%
1969 3.7% 2.19%
1968 3.73% 2.18%
1967 3.64% 2.14%
1966 3.25% 2.11%
1965 2.97% 2.07%
1964 2.99% 2.02%
1963 3.01% 1.98%
1962 3.03% 1.96%
1961 3.03% 1.92%

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/nepal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Nepal's population declined by 0.15%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Nepal
Current population
2396633
29596762
Population rank 143/197 52/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.36%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
12.1 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
54.9 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.55 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 -119
Annual growth/decline +25,951 -43,560
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% -0.15%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 174/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.45 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -364,699
Net migration rank 117/196 193/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 470,719
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 82/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 142/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Nepal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Nepal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -364,699
2024 - -5,107 - -401,282
2023 31,115 -5,168 368,450 -409,782
2022 30,803 -6,023 379,021 -379,321
2021 27,806 -3,449 351,165 130,001
2020 30,721 -3,449 373,553 162,139
2019 32,279 -6,896 387,113 182,203
2018 33,112 -6,892 394,576 -295,151
2017 33,601 -6,850 406,219 -368,787
2016 33,390 -6,766 415,921 -341,748
2015 32,087 -7,087 410,565 -221,062
2014 30,922 -6,877 423,166 -310,156
2013 29,789 -6,659 424,804 -373,064
2012 27,592 -6,425 430,151 -371,707
2011 25,647 -6,118 429,957 -347,552
2010 21,877 -5,886 432,631 -269,963
2009 20,335 -5,599 441,290 -266,144
2008 19,349 -5,392 452,353 -261,540
2007 17,763 -5,179 464,780 -252,526
2006 15,234 -11,416 475,335 -241,455
2005 15,831 -35,679 489,093 -211,024
2004 17,271 -33,530 504,853 -197,336
2003 20,133 -31,723 516,575 -168,314
2002 22,274 -29,924 525,045 -153,730
2001 23,190 -27,874 542,118 -148,973
2000 24,786 -26,220 554,506 -147,193
1999 27,393 -24,610 557,847 -122,551
1998 30,889 -23,299 562,787 -108,400
1997 34,637 -22,396 565,882 -98,454
1996 36,228 -17,042 580,099 -92,307
1995 37,370 -14,588 591,283 -86,232
1994 38,629 -13,953 578,293 -27,415
1993 40,505 -13,347 561,549 -37,782
1992 42,579 -12,707 533,029 84,113
1991 44,026 -12,114 512,233 17,056
1990 45,060 -11,598 495,202 -640
1989 46,264 -11,207 478,771 -39,808
1988 47,158 -11,028 463,581 -64,246
1987 47,718 -10,946 449,400 -72,437
1986 45,232 -7,501 434,802 -47,017
1985 44,575 1,222 423,240 -30,154
1984 43,785 1,199 411,122 -19,300
1983 42,899 1,253 399,103 1,304
1982 41,941 1,281 385,741 -3,898
1981 40,808 1,307 374,145 -4,855
1980 39,617 1,361 364,254 5,084
1979 38,440 1,285 355,597 88
1978 37,084 1,047 345,765 346
1977 35,654 746 332,843 2,108
1976 34,117 2,986 323,222 -15,119
1975 32,311 9,723 312,479 -6,686
1974 30,444 9,972 303,078 -4,361
1973 28,859 10,183 288,750 -1,076
1972 27,841 10,386 286,708 -2,107
1971 26,838 10,563 280,752 -7,284
1970 25,935 10,605 272,439 1,847
1969 25,137 10,465 264,560 -527
1968 24,490 10,108 258,259 -746
1967 23,911 9,734 249,240 347
1966 23,326 7,248 241,716 -3,306
1965 22,755 2,239 233,726 -1,551
1964 22,116 2,198 227,948 -6,087
1963 21,585 2,220 219,586 -8,303
1962 21,132 2,172 215,368 -9,249
1961 20,581 2,100 209,917 -10,601
1960 19,981 1,989 203,374 -13,223

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/nepal | 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 Nepal 67.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,909,749 people) and 32.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,851,664 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 470,719 people or 1.6% in Nepal.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K

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/nepal | 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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