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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 101.7 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 2.97% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Lesotho vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Nigeria
2100 3,280,784 481,678,166
2099 3,286,697 481,494,914
2098 3,292,498 481,219,866
2097 3,298,102 480,876,108
2096 3,303,027 480,460,381
2095 3,307,947 479,976,454
2094 3,312,002 479,432,855
2093 3,315,757 478,807,152
2092 3,319,661 478,097,591
2091 3,322,573 477,274,569
2090 3,324,769 476,367,086
2089 3,326,847 475,363,859
2088 3,328,480 474,268,867
2087 3,329,964 473,072,894
2086 3,330,456 471,769,229
2085 3,331,259 470,365,292
2084 3,331,485 468,843,169
2083 3,331,492 467,224,322
2082 3,331,234 465,509,151
2081 3,330,412 463,679,779
2080 3,329,267 461,741,930
2079 3,327,166 459,680,797
2078 3,324,646 457,513,367
2077 3,321,422 455,254,796
2076 3,317,850 452,885,729
2075 3,314,237 450,402,898
2074 3,309,174 447,825,224
2073 3,303,860 445,152,156
2072 3,298,181 442,375,349
2071 3,291,492 439,499,004
2070 3,283,654 436,539,777
2069 3,275,244 433,472,204
2068 3,266,152 430,320,190
2067 3,256,626 427,066,199
2066 3,246,903 423,736,078
2065 3,237,153 420,318,527
2064 3,226,489 416,811,285
2063 3,215,103 413,231,409
2062 3,202,287 409,583,480
2061 3,188,933 405,859,509
2060 3,174,998 402,073,494
2059 3,160,204 398,228,736
2058 3,145,053 394,315,883
2057 3,129,261 390,341,867
2056 3,113,129 386,298,064
2055 3,095,904 382,193,151
2054 3,078,567 378,030,342
2053 3,060,152 373,799,276
2052 3,040,649 369,501,634
2051 3,020,109 365,149,555
2050 2,999,457 360,734,783
2049 2,978,037 356,271,401
2048 2,955,727 351,752,501
2047 2,932,688 347,169,674
2046 2,909,307 342,532,578
2045 2,885,537 337,834,528
2044 2,861,372 333,076,416
2043 2,836,777 328,256,555
2042 2,811,663 323,388,886
2041 2,786,147 318,469,120
2040 2,760,391 313,492,800
2039 2,734,400 308,474,350
2038 2,708,216 303,423,786
2037 2,681,863 298,351,344
2036 2,654,755 293,250,795
2035 2,627,701 288,138,368
2034 2,600,880 283,018,151
2033 2,574,065 277,897,810
2032 2,547,344 272,769,123
2031 2,520,831 267,666,779
2030 2,494,646 262,583,487
2029 2,468,268 257,504,936
2028 2,441,871 252,465,743
2027 2,415,830 247,457,208
2026 2,389,516 242,477,499
2025 2,363,516 237,546,527
2024 2,337,423 232,679,478
2023 2,311,472 227,882,945
2022 2,286,110 223,150,896
2021 2,261,542 218,529,286
2020 2,235,727 213,996,181
2019 2,209,405 209,485,641
2018 2,183,603 204,938,755
2017 2,157,110 200,254,579
2016 2,130,422 195,443,700
2015 2,104,611 190,671,878
2014 2,080,089 185,896,915
2013 2,056,504 181,049,443
2012 2,034,354 176,200,625
2011 2,014,009 171,379,598
2010 1,996,251 166,642,886
2009 1,980,883 162,049,464
2008 1,966,541 157,595,014
2007 1,953,268 153,267,261
2006 1,945,063 149,077,334
2005 1,953,076 145,017,253
2004 1,971,129 141,057,045
2003 1,985,059 137,202,644
2002 1,994,679 133,471,989
2001 2,000,853 129,862,595
2000 2,003,913 126,382,494
1999 2,003,234 123,047,320
1998 1,998,049 119,846,254
1997 1,988,130 116,754,792
1996 1,972,418 113,754,779
1995 1,951,437 110,819,428
1994 1,927,707 107,935,714
1993 1,901,793 105,122,069
1992 1,873,274 102,372,770
1991 1,842,379 99,720,162
1990 1,809,696 97,120,925
1989 1,775,436 94,531,014
1988 1,739,841 92,020,090
1987 1,703,390 89,591,716
1986 1,666,138 87,235,953
1985 1,624,379 84,897,973
1984 1,578,986 82,526,443
1983 1,534,413 80,438,260
1982 1,490,732 78,378,701
1981 1,448,069 76,068,103
1980 1,406,521 73,764,641
1979 1,366,169 71,498,242
1978 1,327,240 69,326,532
1977 1,289,967 67,234,590
1976 1,253,214 65,258,009
1975 1,213,643 63,410,815
1974 1,172,420 61,679,144
1973 1,132,697 60,082,139
1972 1,094,063 58,601,748
1971 1,056,246 57,214,684
1970 1,019,273 55,893,838
1969 983,202 54,631,914
1968 948,105 53,432,783
1967 913,982 52,293,065
1966 881,870 51,188,234
1965 854,090 50,086,764
1964 829,437 49,012,016
1963 805,373 47,973,575
1962 781,814 46,965,292
1961 758,824 45,989,310
1960 736,500 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Nigeria
2100 -0.18% 0.04%
2099 -0.18% 0.06%
2098 -0.17% 0.07%
2097 -0.15% 0.09%
2096 -0.15% 0.1%
2095 -0.12% 0.11%
2094 -0.11% 0.13%
2093 -0.12% 0.15%
2092 -0.09% 0.17%
2091 -0.07% 0.19%
2090 -0.06% 0.21%
2089 -0.05% 0.23%
2088 -0.04% 0.25%
2087 -0.01% 0.28%
2086 -0.02% 0.3%
2085 -0.007% 0.32%
2084 -0% 0.35%
2083 0.008% 0.37%
2082 0.02% 0.39%
2081 0.03% 0.42%
2080 0.06% 0.45%
2079 0.08% 0.47%
2078 0.1% 0.5%
2077 0.11% 0.52%
2076 0.11% 0.55%
2075 0.15% 0.58%
2074 0.16% 0.6%
2073 0.17% 0.63%
2072 0.2% 0.65%
2071 0.24% 0.68%
2070 0.26% 0.71%
2069 0.28% 0.73%
2068 0.29% 0.76%
2067 0.3% 0.79%
2066 0.3% 0.81%
2065 0.33% 0.84%
2064 0.35% 0.87%
2063 0.4% 0.89%
2062 0.42% 0.92%
2061 0.44% 0.94%
2060 0.47% 0.97%
2059 0.48% 0.99%
2058 0.5% 1.02%
2057 0.52% 1.05%
2056 0.56% 1.07%
2055 0.56% 1.1%
2054 0.6% 1.13%
2053 0.64% 1.16%
2052 0.68% 1.19%
2051 0.69% 1.22%
2050 0.72% 1.25%
2049 0.75% 1.28%
2048 0.79% 1.32%
2047 0.8% 1.35%
2046 0.82% 1.39%
2045 0.84% 1.43%
2044 0.87% 1.47%
2043 0.89% 1.51%
2042 0.92% 1.54%
2041 0.93% 1.59%
2040 0.95% 1.63%
2039 0.97% 1.66%
2038 0.98% 1.7%
2037 1.02% 1.74%
2036 1.03% 1.77%
2035 1.03% 1.81%
2034 1.04% 1.84%
2033 1.05% 1.88%
2032 1.05% 1.91%
2031 1.05% 1.94%
2030 1.07% 1.97%
2029 1.08% 2%
2028 1.08% 2.02%
2027 1.1% 2.05%
2026 1.1% 2.08%
2025 1.12% 2.09%
2024 1.12% 2.1%
2023 1.11% 2.12%
2022 1.09% 2.11%
2021 1.15% 2.12%
2020 1.19% 2.15%
2019 1.18% 2.22%
2018 1.23% 2.34%
2017 1.25% 2.46%
2016 1.23% 2.5%
2015 1.18% 2.57%
2014 1.15% 2.68%
2013 1.09% 2.75%
2012 1.01% 2.81%
2011 0.89% 2.84%
2010 0.78% 2.83%
2009 0.73% 2.83%
2008 0.68% 2.82%
2007 0.42% 2.81%
2006 -0.41% 2.8%
2005 -0.92% 2.81%
2004 -0.7% 2.81%
2003 -0.48% 2.8%
2002 -0.31% 2.78%
2001 -0.15% 2.75%
2000 0.03% 2.71%
1999 0.26% 2.67%
1998 0.5% 2.65%
1997 0.8% 2.64%
1996 1.08% 2.65%
1995 1.23% 2.67%
1994 1.36% 2.68%
1993 1.52% 2.69%
1992 1.68% 2.66%
1991 1.81% 2.68%
1990 1.93% 2.74%
1989 2.05% 2.73%
1988 2.14% 2.71%
1987 2.24% 2.7%
1986 2.57% 2.75%
1985 2.87% 2.87%
1984 2.9% 2.6%
1983 2.93% 2.63%
1982 2.95% 3.04%
1981 2.95% 3.12%
1980 2.95% 3.17%
1979 2.93% 3.13%
1978 2.89% 3.11%
1977 2.93% 3.03%
1976 3.26% 2.91%
1975 3.52% 2.81%
1974 3.51% 2.66%
1973 3.53% 2.53%
1972 3.58% 2.42%
1971 3.63% 2.36%
1970 3.67% 2.31%
1969 3.7% 2.24%
1968 3.73% 2.18%
1967 3.64% 2.16%
1966 3.25% 2.2%
1965 2.97% 2.19%
1964 2.99% 2.16%
1963 3.01% 2.15%
1962 3.03% 2.12%
1961 3.03% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Nigeria
Current population
2396633
243824469
Population rank 143/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 2.94%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +71 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 48/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -15,258
Net migration rank 117/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -15,258
2024 - -5,107 - -35,202
2023 31,115 -5,168 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 30,803 -6,023 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 27,806 -3,449 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 30,721 -3,449 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 32,279 -6,896 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 33,112 -6,892 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 33,601 -6,850 4,706,183 78,685
2016 33,390 -6,766 4,761,594 75,265
2015 32,087 -7,087 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 30,922 -6,877 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 29,789 -6,659 4,811,751 40,201
2012 27,592 -6,425 4,774,508 71,138
2011 25,647 -6,118 4,728,363 67,808
2010 21,877 -5,886 4,629,173 47,966
2009 20,335 -5,599 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 19,349 -5,392 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 17,763 -5,179 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 15,234 -11,416 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 15,831 -35,679 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 17,271 -33,530 3,877,376 46,370
2003 20,133 -31,723 3,751,120 33,857
2002 22,274 -29,924 3,606,814 69,594
2001 23,190 -27,874 3,478,370 64,163
2000 24,786 -26,220 3,343,196 74,535
1999 27,393 -24,610 3,155,425 97,195
1998 30,889 -23,299 3,003,946 145,575
1997 34,637 -22,396 2,936,500 96,885
1996 36,228 -17,042 2,882,205 84,448
1995 37,370 -14,588 2,830,771 73,243
1994 38,629 -13,953 2,735,198 128,134
1993 40,505 -13,347 2,673,675 90,200
1992 42,579 -12,707 2,596,173 138,412
1991 44,026 -12,114 2,527,807 42,760
1990 45,060 -11,598 2,491,928 135,959
1989 46,264 -11,207 2,452,324 99,588
1988 47,158 -11,028 2,376,419 93,510
1987 47,718 -10,946 2,322,397 64,418
1986 45,232 -7,501 2,295,003 29,682
1985 44,575 1,222 2,289,784 61,514
1984 43,785 1,199 2,278,060 113,758
1983 42,899 1,253 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 41,941 1,281 2,233,401 101,116
1981 40,808 1,307 2,179,884 106,723
1980 39,617 1,361 2,121,618 198,672
1979 38,440 1,285 2,074,807 137,721
1978 37,084 1,047 2,019,621 111,258
1977 35,654 746 1,923,917 129,075
1976 34,117 2,986 1,827,289 72,889
1975 32,311 9,723 1,718,623 75,603
1974 30,444 9,972 1,624,813 44,281
1973 28,859 10,183 1,525,485 -618
1972 27,841 10,386 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 26,838 10,563 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 25,935 10,605 1,295,507 7,953
1969 25,137 10,465 1,213,484 6,912
1968 24,490 10,108 1,168,254 9,615
1967 23,911 9,734 1,082,884 18,683
1966 23,326 7,248 1,095,582 12,513
1965 22,755 2,239 1,061,840 32,988
1964 22,116 2,198 1,028,272 26,411
1963 21,585 2,220 995,116 27,115
1962 21,132 2,172 966,452 27,906
1961 20,581 2,100 932,111 25,515
1960 19,981 1,989 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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