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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 27,917,831 people in Niger in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 29,294,628 in Niger.

Population statistics:

  • Niger's population is 12.2 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 +3.45% in Niger.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Niger has grown from 14.3M to 29.3M (105.3% growth).

Lesotho vs Niger: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Niger
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Niger
2100 3,280,518 92,119,820
2099 3,286,430 91,758,864
2098 3,292,231 91,380,105
2097 3,297,835 90,979,507
2096 3,302,758 90,560,194
2095 3,307,678 90,121,433
2094 3,311,734 89,665,016
2093 3,315,488 89,186,290
2092 3,319,391 88,687,247
2091 3,322,303 88,169,255
2090 3,324,499 87,632,134
2089 3,326,577 87,075,435
2088 3,328,210 86,497,532
2087 3,329,694 85,901,116
2086 3,330,185 85,285,801
2085 3,330,989 84,648,237
2084 3,331,214 83,990,034
2083 3,331,221 83,310,768
2082 3,330,964 82,611,309
2081 3,330,141 81,895,814
2080 3,328,997 81,159,765
2079 3,326,895 80,409,054
2078 3,324,376 79,639,286
2077 3,321,152 78,852,089
2076 3,317,581 78,045,772
2075 3,313,968 77,223,494
2074 3,308,905 76,387,922
2073 3,303,592 75,535,687
2072 3,297,913 74,667,410
2071 3,291,224 73,784,579
2070 3,283,387 72,888,455
2069 3,274,978 71,975,811
2068 3,265,887 71,050,594
2067 3,256,362 70,111,034
2066 3,246,639 69,159,115
2065 3,236,890 68,199,397
2064 3,226,227 67,226,153
2063 3,214,843 66,242,857
2062 3,202,027 65,249,357
2061 3,188,674 64,246,142
2060 3,174,740 63,236,587
2059 3,159,947 62,219,239
2058 3,144,797 61,193,260
2057 3,129,007 60,161,411
2056 3,112,877 59,126,596
2055 3,095,653 58,084,470
2054 3,078,317 57,038,192
2053 3,059,904 55,989,073
2052 3,040,402 54,940,685
2051 3,019,864 53,889,624
2050 2,999,214 52,841,076
2049 2,977,795 51,793,560
2048 2,955,487 50,746,939
2047 2,932,450 49,703,518
2046 2,909,071 48,661,960
2045 2,885,303 47,622,548
2044 2,861,140 46,586,941
2043 2,836,547 45,557,790
2042 2,811,435 44,531,886
2041 2,785,921 43,511,370
2040 2,760,167 42,494,381
2039 2,734,178 41,482,338
2038 2,707,996 40,472,234
2037 2,681,646 39,463,944
2036 2,654,540 38,459,660
2035 2,627,488 37,458,584
2034 2,600,669 36,465,688
2033 2,573,856 35,476,260
2032 2,547,137 34,497,489
2031 2,520,626 33,527,117
2030 2,494,444 32,563,547
2029 2,468,067 31,610,576
2028 2,441,673 30,670,274
2027 2,415,634 29,741,014
2026 2,389,322 28,823,166
2025 2,363,325 27,917,831
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Niger's population increased by 8,608,875 people (a 41.6% 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 24.8% to 2,999,214 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Niger will increase by 80.4% to 52,841,076 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 1.11% 3.28%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/niger | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Niger's population grew by 3.28%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Niger
Current population
2402837
29294628
Population rank 143/197 53/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.35%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
35.7 seconds
One birth every
9.46 minutes
28.2 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
2.23 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +2,426
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +885,419
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +3.28%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 9/197
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 31,050 -5,107 883,987 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/niger | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 84.6% of the population change in Lesotho is from natural causes (a gain of 315,964 people) and 15.4% is from migration (a loss of 57,687 people). In Niger 99.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,907,665 people) and 0.07% is from migration (a loss of 5,412 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/niger | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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