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Population in Lesotho compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 7.62 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Lesotho vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Netherlands
2100 3,280,784 17,359,081
2099 3,286,697 17,392,412
2098 3,292,498 17,425,508
2097 3,298,102 17,459,827
2096 3,303,027 17,495,124
2095 3,307,947 17,532,593
2094 3,312,002 17,571,051
2093 3,315,757 17,610,792
2092 3,319,661 17,649,611
2091 3,322,573 17,688,532
2090 3,324,769 17,730,570
2089 3,326,847 17,770,380
2088 3,328,480 17,809,825
2087 3,329,964 17,845,820
2086 3,330,456 17,885,001
2085 3,331,259 17,921,302
2084 3,331,485 17,957,639
2083 3,331,492 17,994,232
2082 3,331,234 18,029,404
2081 3,330,412 18,063,233
2080 3,329,267 18,093,703
2079 3,327,166 18,124,294
2078 3,324,646 18,152,738
2077 3,321,422 18,181,372
2076 3,317,850 18,206,864
2075 3,314,237 18,227,791
2074 3,309,174 18,245,652
2073 3,303,860 18,263,765
2072 3,298,181 18,280,443
2071 3,291,492 18,295,700
2070 3,283,654 18,311,141
2069 3,275,244 18,326,509
2068 3,266,152 18,341,711
2067 3,256,626 18,356,770
2066 3,246,903 18,374,904
2065 3,237,153 18,396,018
2064 3,226,489 18,417,894
2063 3,215,103 18,441,434
2062 3,202,287 18,464,922
2061 3,188,933 18,492,436
2060 3,174,998 18,520,315
2059 3,160,204 18,548,786
2058 3,145,053 18,577,700
2057 3,129,261 18,608,370
2056 3,113,129 18,638,918
2055 3,095,904 18,666,514
2054 3,078,567 18,692,598
2053 3,060,152 18,718,268
2052 3,040,649 18,741,740
2051 3,020,109 18,768,309
2050 2,999,457 18,789,481
2049 2,978,037 18,809,886
2048 2,955,727 18,827,655
2047 2,932,688 18,844,635
2046 2,909,307 18,855,920
2045 2,885,537 18,867,286
2044 2,861,372 18,877,101
2043 2,836,777 18,882,735
2042 2,811,663 18,885,839
2041 2,786,147 18,885,255
2040 2,760,391 18,879,571
2039 2,734,400 18,870,248
2038 2,708,216 18,855,512
2037 2,681,863 18,837,172
2036 2,654,755 18,811,873
2035 2,627,701 18,783,312
2034 2,600,880 18,750,125
2033 2,574,065 18,708,101
2032 2,547,344 18,662,054
2031 2,520,831 18,609,452
2030 2,494,646 18,549,634
2029 2,468,268 18,481,269
2028 2,441,871 18,404,195
2027 2,415,830 18,320,644
2026 2,389,516 18,227,403
2025 2,363,516 18,118,662
2024 2,337,423 17,993,485
2023 2,311,472 17,877,117
2022 2,286,110 17,700,982
2021 2,261,542 17,533,044
2020 2,235,727 17,441,500
2019 2,209,405 17,344,874
2018 2,183,603 17,231,624
2017 2,157,110 17,131,296
2016 2,130,422 17,030,314
2015 2,104,611 16,939,923
2014 2,080,089 16,865,008
2013 2,056,504 16,804,432
2012 2,034,354 16,754,962
2011 2,014,009 16,693,074
2010 1,996,251 16,615,394
2009 1,980,883 16,530,388
2008 1,966,541 16,445,593
2007 1,953,268 16,381,696
2006 1,945,063 16,346,101
2005 1,953,076 16,319,868
2004 1,971,129 16,281,779
2003 1,985,059 16,225,302
2002 1,994,679 16,148,929
2001 2,000,853 16,046,180
2000 2,003,913 15,925,513
1999 2,003,234 15,812,088
1998 1,998,049 15,707,209
1997 1,988,130 15,610,650
1996 1,972,418 15,530,498
1995 1,951,437 15,459,006
1994 1,927,707 15,382,838
1993 1,901,793 15,290,368
1992 1,873,274 15,184,166
1991 1,842,379 15,069,798
1990 1,809,696 14,951,510
1989 1,775,436 14,848,907
1988 1,739,841 14,760,094
1987 1,703,390 14,665,037
1986 1,666,138 14,572,278
1985 1,624,379 14,491,632
1984 1,578,986 14,424,211
1983 1,534,413 14,367,070
1982 1,490,732 14,312,690
1981 1,448,069 14,247,208
1980 1,406,521 14,149,800
1979 1,366,169 14,038,270
1978 1,327,240 13,941,700
1977 1,289,967 13,856,185
1976 1,253,214 13,774,037
1975 1,213,643 13,666,335
1974 1,172,420 13,545,056
1973 1,132,697 13,439,322
1972 1,094,063 13,328,593
1971 1,056,246 13,194,497
1970 1,019,273 13,038,526
1969 983,202 12,877,984
1968 948,105 12,729,721
1967 913,982 12,598,201
1966 881,870 12,456,251
1965 854,090 12,294,732
1964 829,437 12,127,120
1963 805,373 11,965,966
1962 781,814 11,805,689
1961 758,824 11,638,712
1960 736,500 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Netherlands
2100 -0.18% -0.19%
2099 -0.18% -0.19%
2098 -0.17% -0.2%
2097 -0.15% -0.2%
2096 -0.15% -0.21%
2095 -0.12% -0.22%
2094 -0.11% -0.23%
2093 -0.12% -0.22%
2092 -0.09% -0.22%
2091 -0.07% -0.24%
2090 -0.06% -0.22%
2089 -0.05% -0.22%
2088 -0.04% -0.2%
2087 -0.01% -0.22%
2086 -0.02% -0.2%
2085 -0.007% -0.2%
2084 -0% -0.2%
2083 0.008% -0.2%
2082 0.02% -0.19%
2081 0.03% -0.17%
2080 0.06% -0.17%
2079 0.08% -0.16%
2078 0.1% -0.16%
2077 0.11% -0.14%
2076 0.11% -0.11%
2075 0.15% -0.1%
2074 0.16% -0.1%
2073 0.17% -0.09%
2072 0.2% -0.08%
2071 0.24% -0.08%
2070 0.26% -0.08%
2069 0.28% -0.08%
2068 0.29% -0.08%
2067 0.3% -0.1%
2066 0.3% -0.11%
2065 0.33% -0.12%
2064 0.35% -0.13%
2063 0.4% -0.13%
2062 0.42% -0.15%
2061 0.44% -0.15%
2060 0.47% -0.15%
2059 0.48% -0.16%
2058 0.5% -0.16%
2057 0.52% -0.16%
2056 0.56% -0.15%
2055 0.56% -0.14%
2054 0.6% -0.14%
2053 0.64% -0.13%
2052 0.68% -0.14%
2051 0.69% -0.11%
2050 0.72% -0.11%
2049 0.75% -0.09%
2048 0.79% -0.09%
2047 0.8% -0.06%
2046 0.82% -0.06%
2045 0.84% -0.05%
2044 0.87% -0.03%
2043 0.89% -0.02%
2042 0.92% 0.003%
2041 0.93% 0.03%
2040 0.95% 0.05%
2039 0.97% 0.08%
2038 0.98% 0.1%
2037 1.02% 0.13%
2036 1.03% 0.15%
2035 1.03% 0.18%
2034 1.04% 0.22%
2033 1.05% 0.25%
2032 1.05% 0.28%
2031 1.05% 0.32%
2030 1.07% 0.37%
2029 1.08% 0.42%
2028 1.08% 0.46%
2027 1.1% 0.51%
2026 1.1% 0.6%
2025 1.12% 0.7%
2024 1.12% 0.65%
2023 1.11% 1%
2022 1.09% 0.96%
2021 1.15% 0.52%
2020 1.19% 0.56%
2019 1.18% 0.66%
2018 1.23% 0.59%
2017 1.25% 0.59%
2016 1.23% 0.53%
2015 1.18% 0.44%
2014 1.15% 0.36%
2013 1.09% 0.3%
2012 1.01% 0.37%
2011 0.89% 0.47%
2010 0.78% 0.51%
2009 0.73% 0.52%
2008 0.68% 0.39%
2007 0.42% 0.22%
2006 -0.41% 0.16%
2005 -0.92% 0.23%
2004 -0.7% 0.35%
2003 -0.48% 0.47%
2002 -0.31% 0.64%
2001 -0.15% 0.76%
2000 0.03% 0.72%
1999 0.26% 0.67%
1998 0.5% 0.62%
1997 0.8% 0.52%
1996 1.08% 0.46%
1995 1.23% 0.5%
1994 1.36% 0.6%
1993 1.52% 0.7%
1992 1.68% 0.76%
1991 1.81% 0.79%
1990 1.93% 0.69%
1989 2.05% 0.6%
1988 2.14% 0.65%
1987 2.24% 0.64%
1986 2.57% 0.56%
1985 2.87% 0.47%
1984 2.9% 0.4%
1983 2.93% 0.38%
1982 2.95% 0.46%
1981 2.95% 0.69%
1980 2.95% 0.79%
1979 2.93% 0.69%
1978 2.89% 0.62%
1977 2.93% 0.6%
1976 3.26% 0.79%
1975 3.52% 0.9%
1974 3.51% 0.79%
1973 3.53% 0.83%
1972 3.58% 1.02%
1971 3.63% 1.2%
1970 3.67% 1.25%
1969 3.7% 1.16%
1968 3.73% 1.04%
1967 3.64% 1.14%
1966 3.25% 1.31%
1965 2.97% 1.38%
1964 2.99% 1.35%
1963 3.01% 1.36%
1962 3.03% 1.43%
1961 3.03% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Netherlands
Current population
2396633
18252623
Population rank 143/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.22%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
4.52 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +319
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 121/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +104,681
Net migration rank 117/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 104,681
2024 - -5,107 - 121,628
2023 31,115 -5,168 -5,363 144,558
2022 30,803 -6,023 -1,770 224,472
2021 27,806 -3,449 7,014 106,416
2020 30,721 -3,449 0 67,598
2019 32,279 -6,896 17,345 109,003
2018 33,112 -6,892 15,508 87,197
2017 33,601 -6,850 18,844 86,332
2016 33,390 -6,766 23,843 88,743
2015 32,087 -7,087 23,716 55,585
2014 30,922 -6,877 35,417 36,591
2013 29,789 -6,659 30,248 19,973
2012 27,592 -6,425 35,186 14,861
2011 25,647 -6,118 45,072 31,224
2010 21,877 -5,886 48,184 33,703
2009 20,335 -5,599 51,244 39,832
2008 19,349 -5,392 49,337 32,406
2007 17,763 -5,179 49,145 -304
2006 15,234 -11,416 49,038 -25,401
2005 15,831 -35,679 50,592 -22,496
2004 17,271 -33,530 56,987 -9,230
2003 20,133 -31,723 58,411 7,937
2002 22,274 -29,924 59,751 28,824
2001 23,190 -27,874 62,580 56,096
2000 24,786 -26,220 66,887 59,308
1999 27,393 -24,610 60,086 47,179
1998 30,889 -23,299 61,258 52,058
1997 34,637 -22,396 56,198 31,302
1996 36,228 -17,042 51,251 21,792
1995 37,370 -14,588 54,106 15,056
1994 38,629 -13,953 61,532 20,193
1993 40,505 -13,347 58,103 44,514
1992 42,579 -12,707 66,811 50,148
1991 44,026 -12,114 69,321 51,670
1990 45,060 -11,598 68,777 53,564
1989 46,264 -11,207 59,396 31,165
1988 47,158 -11,028 61,993 31,026
1987 47,718 -10,946 64,526 39,559
1986 45,232 -7,501 59,746 30,380
1985 44,575 1,222 55,069 27,356
1984 43,785 1,199 54,812 12,902
1983 42,899 1,253 51,722 11,007
1982 41,941 1,281 54,388 7,644
1981 40,808 1,307 62,688 17,643
1980 39,617 1,361 66,504 54,010
1979 38,440 1,285 63,172 42,772
1978 37,084 1,047 61,344 26,639
1977 35,654 746 63,739 19,809
1976 34,117 2,986 63,361 18,774
1975 32,311 9,723 64,232 68,569
1974 30,444 9,972 75,853 31,645
1973 28,859 10,183 84,668 18,705
1972 27,841 10,386 101,297 17,470
1971 26,838 10,563 116,112 32,756
1970 25,935 10,605 129,082 32,438
1969 25,137 10,465 139,082 21,850
1968 24,490 10,108 132,389 7,243
1967 23,911 9,734 138,580 -10,673
1966 23,326 7,248 138,265 20,740
1965 22,755 2,239 146,308 19,444
1964 22,116 2,198 157,653 15,014
1963 21,585 2,220 154,361 -21
1962 21,132 2,172 153,474 18,024
1961 20,581 2,100 159,450 8,258
1960 19,981 1,989 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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