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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 7,124,343 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Nicaragua's population is 2.97 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

Lesotho vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Nicaragua
2100 3,280,784 8,688,116
2099 3,286,697 8,724,538
2098 3,292,498 8,760,232
2097 3,298,102 8,794,755
2096 3,303,027 8,828,433
2095 3,307,947 8,861,157
2094 3,312,002 8,892,755
2093 3,315,757 8,924,287
2092 3,319,661 8,954,488
2091 3,322,573 8,984,026
2090 3,324,769 9,012,075
2089 3,326,847 9,039,709
2088 3,328,480 9,065,862
2087 3,329,964 9,090,942
2086 3,330,456 9,115,336
2085 3,331,259 9,138,363
2084 3,331,485 9,160,205
2083 3,331,492 9,180,483
2082 3,331,234 9,199,639
2081 3,330,412 9,217,574
2080 3,329,267 9,233,677
2079 3,327,166 9,247,995
2078 3,324,646 9,260,269
2077 3,321,422 9,271,296
2076 3,317,850 9,280,355
2075 3,314,237 9,287,263
2074 3,309,174 9,293,340
2073 3,303,860 9,297,217
2072 3,298,181 9,298,930
2071 3,291,492 9,298,548
2070 3,283,654 9,296,541
2069 3,275,244 9,292,245
2068 3,266,152 9,285,519
2067 3,256,626 9,277,073
2066 3,246,903 9,266,063
2065 3,237,153 9,253,359
2064 3,226,489 9,238,451
2063 3,215,103 9,221,261
2062 3,202,287 9,201,687
2061 3,188,933 9,180,231
2060 3,174,998 9,156,164
2059 3,160,204 9,129,485
2058 3,145,053 9,100,437
2057 3,129,261 9,069,770
2056 3,113,129 9,037,076
2055 3,095,904 9,002,004
2054 3,078,567 8,964,646
2053 3,060,152 8,925,248
2052 3,040,649 8,883,323
2051 3,020,109 8,838,651
2050 2,999,457 8,791,647
2049 2,978,037 8,743,003
2048 2,955,727 8,691,701
2047 2,932,688 8,638,293
2046 2,909,307 8,583,244
2045 2,885,537 8,525,953
2044 2,861,372 8,466,669
2043 2,836,777 8,405,733
2042 2,811,663 8,342,871
2041 2,786,147 8,278,159
2040 2,760,391 8,211,510
2039 2,734,400 8,143,346
2038 2,708,216 8,072,943
2037 2,681,863 8,000,701
2036 2,654,755 7,926,969
2035 2,627,701 7,851,540
2034 2,600,880 7,774,327
2033 2,574,065 7,695,506
2032 2,547,344 7,615,273
2031 2,520,831 7,533,169
2030 2,494,646 7,449,842
2029 2,468,268 7,364,850
2028 2,441,871 7,278,061
2027 2,415,830 7,189,755
2026 2,389,516 7,100,090
2025 2,363,516 7,008,896
2024 2,337,423 6,916,140
2023 2,311,472 6,823,613
2022 2,286,110 6,730,654
2021 2,261,542 6,644,741
2020 2,235,727 6,565,267
2019 2,209,405 6,483,657
2018 2,183,603 6,400,080
2017 2,157,110 6,316,231
2016 2,130,422 6,232,666
2015 2,104,611 6,149,417
2014 2,080,089 6,066,492
2013 2,056,504 5,983,845
2012 2,034,354 5,901,287
2011 2,014,009 5,819,051
2010 1,996,251 5,737,450
2009 1,980,883 5,656,601
2008 1,966,541 5,576,593
2007 1,953,268 5,497,243
2006 1,945,063 5,418,855
2005 1,953,076 5,342,105
2004 1,971,129 5,272,912
2003 1,985,059 5,210,963
2002 1,994,679 5,149,909
2001 2,000,853 5,087,825
2000 2,003,913 5,022,633
1999 2,003,234 4,954,018
1998 1,998,049 4,883,655
1997 1,988,130 4,809,573
1996 1,972,418 4,729,974
1995 1,951,437 4,642,931
1994 1,927,707 4,549,316
1993 1,901,793 4,453,732
1992 1,873,274 4,357,026
1991 1,842,379 4,259,637
1990 1,809,696 4,162,559
1989 1,775,436 4,066,476
1988 1,739,841 3,972,320
1987 1,703,390 3,882,164
1986 1,666,138 3,794,157
1985 1,624,379 3,706,479
1984 1,578,986 3,619,104
1983 1,534,413 3,530,282
1982 1,490,732 3,438,745
1981 1,448,069 3,345,674
1980 1,406,521 3,252,403
1979 1,366,169 3,164,525
1978 1,327,240 3,080,314
1977 1,289,967 2,992,534
1976 1,253,214 2,903,851
1975 1,213,643 2,816,943
1974 1,172,420 2,732,075
1973 1,132,697 2,649,278
1972 1,094,063 2,573,578
1971 1,056,246 2,499,825
1970 1,019,273 2,423,065
1969 983,202 2,348,398
1968 948,105 2,275,836
1967 913,982 2,205,567
1966 881,870 2,137,820
1965 854,090 2,072,681
1964 829,437 2,010,176
1963 805,373 1,950,159
1962 781,814 1,892,320
1961 758,824 1,836,451
1960 736,500 1,782,370

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/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th 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 Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 9.3M people in 2072 for Nicaragua.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Nicaragua
2100 -0.18% -0.42%
2099 -0.18% -0.41%
2098 -0.17% -0.39%
2097 -0.15% -0.38%
2096 -0.15% -0.37%
2095 -0.12% -0.36%
2094 -0.11% -0.35%
2093 -0.12% -0.34%
2092 -0.09% -0.33%
2091 -0.07% -0.31%
2090 -0.06% -0.31%
2089 -0.05% -0.29%
2088 -0.04% -0.28%
2087 -0.01% -0.27%
2086 -0.02% -0.25%
2085 -0.007% -0.24%
2084 -0% -0.22%
2083 0.008% -0.21%
2082 0.02% -0.19%
2081 0.03% -0.17%
2080 0.06% -0.15%
2079 0.08% -0.13%
2078 0.1% -0.12%
2077 0.11% -0.1%
2076 0.11% -0.07%
2075 0.15% -0.07%
2074 0.16% -0.04%
2073 0.17% -0.02%
2072 0.2% 0.004%
2071 0.24% 0.02%
2070 0.26% 0.05%
2069 0.28% 0.07%
2068 0.29% 0.09%
2067 0.3% 0.12%
2066 0.3% 0.14%
2065 0.33% 0.16%
2064 0.35% 0.19%
2063 0.4% 0.21%
2062 0.42% 0.23%
2061 0.44% 0.26%
2060 0.47% 0.29%
2059 0.48% 0.32%
2058 0.5% 0.34%
2057 0.52% 0.36%
2056 0.56% 0.39%
2055 0.56% 0.42%
2054 0.6% 0.44%
2053 0.64% 0.47%
2052 0.68% 0.51%
2051 0.69% 0.53%
2050 0.72% 0.56%
2049 0.75% 0.59%
2048 0.79% 0.62%
2047 0.8% 0.64%
2046 0.82% 0.67%
2045 0.84% 0.7%
2044 0.87% 0.72%
2043 0.89% 0.75%
2042 0.92% 0.78%
2041 0.93% 0.81%
2040 0.95% 0.84%
2039 0.97% 0.87%
2038 0.98% 0.9%
2037 1.02% 0.93%
2036 1.03% 0.96%
2035 1.03% 0.99%
2034 1.04% 1.02%
2033 1.05% 1.05%
2032 1.05% 1.09%
2031 1.05% 1.12%
2030 1.07% 1.15%
2029 1.08% 1.19%
2028 1.08% 1.23%
2027 1.1% 1.26%
2026 1.1% 1.3%
2025 1.12% 1.34%
2024 1.12% 1.36%
2023 1.11% 1.38%
2022 1.09% 1.29%
2021 1.15% 1.21%
2020 1.19% 1.26%
2019 1.18% 1.31%
2018 1.23% 1.33%
2017 1.25% 1.34%
2016 1.23% 1.35%
2015 1.18% 1.37%
2014 1.15% 1.38%
2013 1.09% 1.4%
2012 1.01% 1.41%
2011 0.89% 1.42%
2010 0.78% 1.43%
2009 0.73% 1.43%
2008 0.68% 1.44%
2007 0.42% 1.45%
2006 -0.41% 1.44%
2005 -0.92% 1.31%
2004 -0.7% 1.19%
2003 -0.48% 1.19%
2002 -0.31% 1.22%
2001 -0.15% 1.3%
2000 0.03% 1.39%
1999 0.26% 1.44%
1998 0.5% 1.54%
1997 0.8% 1.68%
1996 1.08% 1.87%
1995 1.23% 2.06%
1994 1.36% 2.15%
1993 1.52% 2.22%
1992 1.68% 2.29%
1991 1.81% 2.33%
1990 1.93% 2.36%
1989 2.05% 2.37%
1988 2.14% 2.32%
1987 2.24% 2.32%
1986 2.57% 2.37%
1985 2.87% 2.41%
1984 2.9% 2.52%
1983 2.93% 2.66%
1982 2.95% 2.78%
1981 2.95% 2.87%
1980 2.95% 2.78%
1979 2.93% 2.73%
1978 2.89% 2.93%
1977 2.93% 3.05%
1976 3.26% 3.09%
1975 3.52% 3.11%
1974 3.51% 3.13%
1973 3.53% 2.94%
1972 3.58% 2.95%
1971 3.63% 3.17%
1970 3.67% 3.18%
1969 3.7% 3.19%
1968 3.73% 3.19%
1967 3.64% 3.17%
1966 3.25% 3.14%
1965 2.97% 3.11%
1964 2.99% 3.08%
1963 3.01% 3.06%
1962 3.03% 3.04%
1961 3.03% 3.03%

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/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Nicaragua
Current population
2396633
7124343
Population rank 143/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.09%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
5.68 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
3.98 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +253
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 78/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.05 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 -8,371
Net migration rank 117/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -8,371
2024 - -5,107 - -8,189
2023 31,115 -5,168 100,921 -7,996
2022 30,803 -6,023 100,987 -7,996
2021 27,806 -3,449 89,213 -10,383
2020 30,721 -3,449 90,515 -10,383
2019 32,279 -6,896 102,817 -19,730
2018 33,112 -6,892 104,814 -20,742
2017 33,601 -6,850 105,468 -21,849
2016 33,390 -6,766 106,585 -23,076
2015 32,087 -7,087 107,344 -24,353
2014 30,922 -6,877 108,420 -25,570
2013 29,789 -6,659 109,032 -26,587
2012 27,592 -6,425 110,065 -27,389
2011 25,647 -6,118 110,026 -28,221
2010 21,877 -5,886 110,475 -29,081
2009 20,335 -5,599 110,213 -29,913
2008 19,349 -5,392 110,395 -30,675
2007 17,763 -5,179 110,341 -31,357
2006 15,234 -11,416 110,073 -32,274
2005 15,831 -35,679 108,984 -33,280
2004 17,271 -33,530 106,904 -44,222
2003 20,133 -31,723 106,142 -44,931
2002 22,274 -29,924 105,805 -44,906
2001 23,190 -27,874 107,109 -43,837
2000 24,786 -26,220 109,192 -42,087
1999 27,393 -24,610 110,217 -40,095
1998 30,889 -23,299 108,862 -38,260
1997 34,637 -22,396 114,415 -36,851
1996 36,228 -17,042 116,849 -35,208
1995 37,370 -14,588 118,325 -25,889
1994 38,629 -13,953 119,565 -24,773
1993 40,505 -13,347 120,469 -24,091
1992 42,579 -12,707 121,204 -24,171
1991 44,026 -12,114 121,787 -24,028
1990 45,060 -11,598 120,677 -24,280
1989 46,264 -11,207 120,128 -24,364
1988 47,158 -11,028 117,299 -24,753
1987 47,718 -10,946 112,885 -25,127
1986 45,232 -7,501 113,054 -24,805
1985 44,575 1,222 110,949 -23,840
1984 43,785 1,199 110,133 -22,493
1983 42,899 1,253 110,618 -20,620
1982 41,941 1,281 112,468 -19,395
1981 40,808 1,307 110,421 -17,353
1980 39,617 1,361 108,604 -15,130
1979 38,440 1,285 96,429 -14,152
1978 37,084 1,047 98,419 -12,273
1977 35,654 746 100,498 -11,082
1976 34,117 2,986 98,100 -10,155
1975 32,311 9,723 95,230 -9,349
1974 30,444 9,972 92,505 -8,639
1973 28,859 10,183 89,662 -7,947
1972 27,841 10,386 76,906 -7,219
1971 26,838 10,563 84,139 -6,328
1970 25,935 10,605 81,127 -5,423
1969 25,137 10,465 78,237 -4,592
1968 24,490 10,108 75,458 -3,979
1967 23,911 9,734 72,722 -3,666
1966 23,326 7,248 69,883 -3,443
1965 22,755 2,239 67,056 -3,231
1964 22,116 2,198 64,227 -3,043
1963 21,585 2,220 61,738 -2,881
1962 21,132 2,172 59,547 -2,727
1961 20,581 2,100 57,499 -2,579
1960 19,981 1,989 55,664 -2,418

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

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/nicaragua | 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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