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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 27,032,412 people in Niger in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 29,080,898 in Niger.

Population statistics:

  • Niger's population is 12.1 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Niger is the 53rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.38% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.35% for Niger.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +3.5% in Niger.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Niger has grown from 14.3M to 29.1M (103.8% growth).

Lesotho vs Niger: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Niger
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Niger
2100 3,280,784 92,149,803
2099 3,286,697 91,788,730
2098 3,292,498 91,409,848
2097 3,298,102 91,009,119
2096 3,303,027 90,589,670
2095 3,307,947 90,150,766
2094 3,312,002 89,694,201
2093 3,315,757 89,215,318
2092 3,319,661 88,716,114
2091 3,322,573 88,197,952
2090 3,324,769 87,660,657
2089 3,326,847 87,103,777
2088 3,328,480 86,525,686
2087 3,329,964 85,929,075
2086 3,330,456 85,313,560
2085 3,331,259 84,675,788
2084 3,331,485 84,017,371
2083 3,331,492 83,337,884
2082 3,331,234 82,638,198
2081 3,330,412 81,922,470
2080 3,329,267 81,186,181
2079 3,327,166 80,435,226
2078 3,324,646 79,665,207
2077 3,321,422 78,877,754
2076 3,317,850 78,071,174
2075 3,314,237 77,248,629
2074 3,309,174 76,412,785
2073 3,303,860 75,560,272
2072 3,298,181 74,691,713
2071 3,291,492 73,808,594
2070 3,283,654 72,912,178
2069 3,275,244 71,999,238
2068 3,266,152 71,073,720
2067 3,256,626 70,133,854
2066 3,246,903 69,181,625
2065 3,237,153 68,221,595
2064 3,226,489 67,248,034
2063 3,215,103 66,264,418
2062 3,202,287 65,270,595
2061 3,188,933 64,267,053
2060 3,174,998 63,257,169
2059 3,160,204 62,239,490
2058 3,145,053 61,213,177
2057 3,129,261 60,180,993
2056 3,113,129 59,145,841
2055 3,095,904 58,103,375
2054 3,078,567 57,056,756
2053 3,060,152 56,007,297
2052 3,040,649 54,958,567
2051 3,020,109 53,907,164
2050 2,999,457 52,858,275
2049 2,978,037 51,810,418
2048 2,955,727 50,763,456
2047 2,932,688 49,719,695
2046 2,909,307 48,677,799
2045 2,885,537 47,638,048
2044 2,861,372 46,602,104
2043 2,836,777 45,572,618
2042 2,811,663 44,546,381
2041 2,786,147 43,525,533
2040 2,760,391 42,508,212
2039 2,734,400 41,495,840
2038 2,708,216 40,485,407
2037 2,681,863 39,476,789
2036 2,654,755 38,472,178
2035 2,627,701 37,470,776
2034 2,600,880 36,477,557
2033 2,574,065 35,487,806
2032 2,547,344 34,508,717
2031 2,520,831 33,538,029
2030 2,494,646 32,574,145
2029 2,468,268 31,620,865
2028 2,441,871 30,680,257
2027 2,415,830 29,750,695
2026 2,389,516 28,832,547
2025 2,363,516 27,926,917
2024 2,337,423 27,032,412
2023 2,311,472 26,159,867
2022 2,286,110 25,311,973
2021 2,261,542 24,502,140
2020 2,235,727 23,717,613
2019 2,209,405 22,947,757
2018 2,183,603 22,188,069
2017 2,157,110 21,435,446
2016 2,130,422 20,685,753
2015 2,104,611 19,939,498
2014 2,080,089 19,215,909
2013 2,056,504 18,519,898
2012 2,034,354 17,836,769
2011 2,014,009 17,176,283
2010 1,996,251 16,548,835
2009 1,980,883 15,943,675
2008 1,966,541 15,361,915
2007 1,953,268 14,803,610
2006 1,945,063 14,268,581
2005 1,953,076 13,756,192
2004 1,971,129 13,265,836
2003 1,985,059 12,796,984
2002 1,994,679 12,349,144
2001 2,000,853 11,920,647
2000 2,003,913 11,509,630
1999 2,003,234 11,117,411
1998 1,998,049 10,741,413
1997 1,988,130 10,383,969
1996 1,972,418 10,044,852
1995 1,951,437 9,714,529
1994 1,927,707 9,398,258
1993 1,901,793 9,100,789
1992 1,873,274 8,817,633
1991 1,842,379 8,546,900
1990 1,809,696 8,286,059
1989 1,775,436 8,034,780
1988 1,739,841 7,793,748
1987 1,703,390 7,561,150
1986 1,666,138 7,335,811
1985 1,624,379 7,118,457
1984 1,578,986 6,909,971
1983 1,534,413 6,708,644
1982 1,490,732 6,512,732
1981 1,448,069 6,322,006
1980 1,406,521 6,135,971
1979 1,366,169 5,955,556
1978 1,327,240 5,782,932
1977 1,289,967 5,619,716
1976 1,253,214 5,464,962
1975 1,213,643 5,317,019
1974 1,172,420 5,174,953
1973 1,132,697 5,037,865
1972 1,094,063 4,904,845
1971 1,056,246 4,776,225
1970 1,019,273 4,650,275
1969 983,202 4,525,725
1968 948,105 4,403,637
1967 913,982 4,283,590
1966 881,870 4,165,544
1965 854,090 4,049,695
1964 829,437 3,935,814
1963 805,373 3,823,873
1962 781,814 3,714,520
1961 758,824 3,608,162
1960 736,500 3,505,050

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/niger | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Niger gained 6,417,172 people (a 45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Niger's population increased by 8,395,145 people (a 40.6% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Niger was ranked 64th in 2006 and ranked 53rd 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 Niger will increase by 81.8% to 52,858,275 people and rank change from 53rd to 38th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 92.1M people in 2100 for Niger.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Niger
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Niger
2100 -0.18% 0.39%
2099 -0.18% 0.41%
2098 -0.17% 0.44%
2097 -0.15% 0.46%
2096 -0.15% 0.49%
2095 -0.12% 0.51%
2094 -0.11% 0.54%
2093 -0.12% 0.56%
2092 -0.09% 0.59%
2091 -0.07% 0.61%
2090 -0.06% 0.64%
2089 -0.05% 0.67%
2088 -0.04% 0.69%
2087 -0.01% 0.72%
2086 -0.02% 0.75%
2085 -0.007% 0.78%
2084 -0% 0.82%
2083 0.008% 0.85%
2082 0.02% 0.87%
2081 0.03% 0.91%
2080 0.06% 0.93%
2079 0.08% 0.97%
2078 0.1% 1%
2077 0.11% 1.03%
2076 0.11% 1.06%
2075 0.15% 1.09%
2074 0.16% 1.13%
2073 0.17% 1.16%
2072 0.2% 1.2%
2071 0.24% 1.23%
2070 0.26% 1.27%
2069 0.28% 1.3%
2068 0.29% 1.34%
2067 0.3% 1.38%
2066 0.3% 1.41%
2065 0.33% 1.45%
2064 0.35% 1.48%
2063 0.4% 1.52%
2062 0.42% 1.56%
2061 0.44% 1.6%
2060 0.47% 1.64%
2059 0.48% 1.68%
2058 0.5% 1.72%
2057 0.52% 1.75%
2056 0.56% 1.79%
2055 0.56% 1.83%
2054 0.6% 1.87%
2053 0.64% 1.91%
2052 0.68% 1.95%
2051 0.69% 1.98%
2050 0.72% 2.02%
2049 0.75% 2.06%
2048 0.79% 2.1%
2047 0.8% 2.14%
2046 0.82% 2.18%
2045 0.84% 2.22%
2044 0.87% 2.26%
2043 0.89% 2.3%
2042 0.92% 2.35%
2041 0.93% 2.39%
2040 0.95% 2.44%
2039 0.97% 2.5%
2038 0.98% 2.55%
2037 1.02% 2.61%
2036 1.03% 2.67%
2035 1.03% 2.72%
2034 1.04% 2.79%
2033 1.05% 2.84%
2032 1.05% 2.89%
2031 1.05% 2.96%
2030 1.07% 3.01%
2029 1.08% 3.07%
2028 1.08% 3.12%
2027 1.1% 3.18%
2026 1.1% 3.24%
2025 1.12% 3.31%
2024 1.12% 3.34%
2023 1.11% 3.35%
2022 1.09% 3.31%
2021 1.15% 3.31%
2020 1.19% 3.35%
2019 1.18% 3.42%
2018 1.23% 3.51%
2017 1.25% 3.62%
2016 1.23% 3.74%
2015 1.18% 3.77%
2014 1.15% 3.76%
2013 1.09% 3.83%
2012 1.01% 3.85%
2011 0.89% 3.79%
2010 0.78% 3.8%
2009 0.73% 3.79%
2008 0.68% 3.77%
2007 0.42% 3.75%
2006 -0.41% 3.72%
2005 -0.92% 3.7%
2004 -0.7% 3.66%
2003 -0.48% 3.63%
2002 -0.31% 3.59%
2001 -0.15% 3.57%
2000 0.03% 3.53%
1999 0.26% 3.5%
1998 0.5% 3.44%
1997 0.8% 3.38%
1996 1.08% 3.4%
1995 1.23% 3.37%
1994 1.36% 3.27%
1993 1.52% 3.21%
1992 1.68% 3.17%
1991 1.81% 3.15%
1990 1.93% 3.13%
1989 2.05% 3.09%
1988 2.14% 3.08%
1987 2.24% 3.07%
1986 2.57% 3.05%
1985 2.87% 3.02%
1984 2.9% 3%
1983 2.93% 3.01%
1982 2.95% 3.02%
1981 2.95% 3.03%
1980 2.95% 3.03%
1979 2.93% 2.99%
1978 2.89% 2.9%
1977 2.93% 2.83%
1976 3.26% 2.78%
1975 3.52% 2.75%
1974 3.51% 2.72%
1973 3.53% 2.71%
1972 3.58% 2.69%
1971 3.63% 2.71%
1970 3.67% 2.75%
1969 3.7% 2.77%
1968 3.73% 2.8%
1967 3.64% 2.83%
1966 3.25% 2.86%
1965 2.97% 2.89%
1964 2.99% 2.93%
1963 3.01% 2.94%
1962 3.03% 2.95%
1961 3.03% 2.94%

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/niger | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Niger's population grew by 3.34%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Niger
Current population
2396633
29080898
Population rank 143/197 53/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.35%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
36.1 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
28.8 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.27 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +2,391
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +872,545
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +3.34%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 10/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.14 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 -7,704
Net migration rank 117/196 126/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 449,236
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 85/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1.7%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 140/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Niger
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Niger
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -7,704
2024 - -5,107 - -4,041
2023 31,115 -5,168 864,139 995
2022 30,803 -6,023 829,651 995
2021 27,806 -3,449 793,428 -4,405
2020 30,721 -3,449 784,437 -4,402
2019 32,279 -6,896 775,474 -15,778
2018 33,112 -6,892 763,536 -3,830
2017 33,601 -6,850 752,384 -6,830
2016 33,390 -6,766 738,999 14,833
2015 32,087 -7,087 721,630 17,051
2014 30,922 -6,877 704,609 3,891
2013 29,789 -6,659 686,070 -2,543
2012 27,592 -6,425 664,009 18,714
2011 25,647 -6,118 645,175 -6,941
2010 21,877 -5,886 624,685 -8,033
2009 20,335 -5,599 602,671 -9,014
2008 19,349 -5,392 579,727 -9,847
2007 17,763 -5,179 556,808 -10,069
2006 15,234 -11,416 533,374 -10,054
2005 15,831 -35,679 511,167 -9,700
2004 17,271 -33,530 488,328 -9,070
2003 20,133 -31,723 467,295 -8,841
2002 22,274 -29,924 446,767 -9,550
2001 23,190 -27,874 428,417 -8,654
2000 24,786 -26,220 410,779 -8,522
1999 27,393 -24,610 394,212 -12,037
1998 30,889 -23,299 377,120 -7,298
1997 34,637 -22,396 358,745 -13,680
1996 36,228 -17,042 341,223 -8,057
1995 37,370 -14,588 323,630 3,843
1994 38,629 -13,953 306,026 -959
1993 40,505 -13,347 292,135 -2,269
1992 42,579 -12,707 278,690 -2,258
1991 44,026 -12,114 266,527 -1,500
1990 45,060 -11,598 256,594 73
1989 46,264 -11,207 245,278 613
1988 47,158 -11,028 237,296 -1,139
1987 47,718 -10,946 231,371 -2,338
1986 45,232 -7,501 224,365 -2,728
1985 44,575 1,222 219,206 -6,126
1984 43,785 1,199 213,111 -9,208
1983 42,899 1,253 207,962 -9,209
1982 41,941 1,281 202,012 -8,935
1981 40,808 1,307 195,938 -7,559
1980 39,617 1,361 189,251 -5,564
1979 38,440 1,285 180,632 -3,495
1978 37,084 1,047 171,614 -3,494
1977 35,654 746 161,792 -3,476
1976 34,117 2,986 154,489 -3,308
1975 32,311 9,723 147,962 -3,254
1974 30,444 9,972 142,606 -3,179
1973 28,859 10,183 137,695 -2,942
1972 27,841 10,386 133,813 -2,525
1971 26,838 10,563 128,223 -2,277
1970 25,935 10,605 128,184 -2,225
1969 25,137 10,465 125,389 -2,245
1968 24,490 10,108 123,301 -2,277
1967 23,911 9,734 121,358 -2,289
1966 23,326 7,248 119,314 -2,289
1965 22,755 2,239 116,963 -2,289
1964 22,116 2,198 115,386 -2,289
1963 21,585 2,220 113,072 -2,289
1962 21,132 2,172 110,280 -2,369
1961 20,581 2,100 107,693 -2,893
1960 19,981 1,989 105,081 -3,641

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/niger | 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 Niger 100% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,728,287 people) and 0.03% is from migration (a gain of 2,520 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 449,236 people or 1.7% in Niger.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Niger
City Population
Niamey 1.5M
Maradi 267K
Zinder 236K

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/niger | 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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