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Population in Lesotho compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 11.1 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Lesotho vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho North Korea
2100 3,280,784 19,604,631
2099 3,286,697 19,733,548
2098 3,292,498 19,862,949
2097 3,298,102 19,993,288
2096 3,303,027 20,124,518
2095 3,307,947 20,256,401
2094 3,312,002 20,388,156
2093 3,315,757 20,520,253
2092 3,319,661 20,652,961
2091 3,322,573 20,785,785
2090 3,324,769 20,918,305
2089 3,326,847 21,050,580
2088 3,328,480 21,182,325
2087 3,329,964 21,314,047
2086 3,330,456 21,445,329
2085 3,331,259 21,575,835
2084 3,331,485 21,705,777
2083 3,331,492 21,835,029
2082 3,331,234 21,964,199
2081 3,330,412 22,092,862
2080 3,329,267 22,220,948
2079 3,327,166 22,348,577
2078 3,324,646 22,475,755
2077 3,321,422 22,602,817
2076 3,317,850 22,729,499
2075 3,314,237 22,856,369
2074 3,309,174 22,983,784
2073 3,303,860 23,111,441
2072 3,298,181 23,239,261
2071 3,291,492 23,367,583
2070 3,283,654 23,496,136
2069 3,275,244 23,625,538
2068 3,266,152 23,755,136
2067 3,256,626 23,884,879
2066 3,246,903 24,015,027
2065 3,237,153 24,144,985
2064 3,226,489 24,274,257
2063 3,215,103 24,402,439
2062 3,202,287 24,529,941
2061 3,188,933 24,656,350
2060 3,174,998 24,780,911
2059 3,160,204 24,903,037
2058 3,145,053 25,023,260
2057 3,129,261 25,140,523
2056 3,113,129 25,255,342
2055 3,095,904 25,366,397
2054 3,078,567 25,474,292
2053 3,060,152 25,578,870
2052 3,040,649 25,679,963
2051 3,020,109 25,777,639
2050 2,999,457 25,871,673
2049 2,978,037 25,962,167
2048 2,955,727 26,048,593
2047 2,932,688 26,131,429
2046 2,909,307 26,210,487
2045 2,885,537 26,286,208
2044 2,861,372 26,358,331
2043 2,836,777 26,427,062
2042 2,811,663 26,491,482
2041 2,786,147 26,552,564
2040 2,760,391 26,609,557
2039 2,734,400 26,661,815
2038 2,708,216 26,708,400
2037 2,681,863 26,749,134
2036 2,654,755 26,783,304
2035 2,627,701 26,810,026
2034 2,600,880 26,828,912
2033 2,574,065 26,839,229
2032 2,547,344 26,840,944
2031 2,520,831 26,832,957
2030 2,494,646 26,814,812
2029 2,468,268 26,787,117
2028 2,441,871 26,749,227
2027 2,415,830 26,701,444
2026 2,389,516 26,643,460
2025 2,363,516 26,575,953
2024 2,337,423 26,498,823
2023 2,311,472 26,418,204
2022 2,286,110 26,328,845
2021 2,261,542 26,232,534
2020 2,235,727 26,136,312
2019 2,209,405 26,037,632
2018 2,183,603 25,931,147
2017 2,157,110 25,817,709
2016 2,130,422 25,698,326
2015 2,104,611 25,575,350
2014 2,080,089 25,451,262
2013 2,056,504 25,329,451
2012 2,034,354 25,211,728
2011 2,014,009 25,097,874
2010 1,996,251 24,987,258
2009 1,980,883 24,878,332
2008 1,966,541 24,764,618
2007 1,953,268 24,646,383
2006 1,945,063 24,524,507
2005 1,953,076 24,396,433
2004 1,971,129 24,254,943
2003 1,985,059 24,090,380
2002 1,994,679 23,943,973
2001 2,000,853 23,815,358
2000 2,003,913 23,665,910
1999 2,003,234 23,497,599
1998 1,998,049 23,311,564
1997 1,988,130 23,110,830
1996 1,972,418 22,895,746
1995 1,951,437 22,669,304
1994 1,927,707 22,393,975
1993 1,901,793 22,073,352
1992 1,873,274 21,750,911
1991 1,842,379 21,428,638
1990 1,809,696 21,112,137
1989 1,775,436 20,804,367
1988 1,739,841 20,503,161
1987 1,703,390 20,205,483
1986 1,666,138 19,910,855
1985 1,624,379 19,620,388
1984 1,578,986 19,335,043
1983 1,534,413 19,054,034
1982 1,490,732 18,776,357
1981 1,448,069 18,501,295
1980 1,406,521 18,236,786
1979 1,366,169 17,983,470
1978 1,327,240 17,735,995
1977 1,289,967 17,492,798
1976 1,253,214 17,243,450
1975 1,213,643 16,971,055
1974 1,172,420 16,673,121
1973 1,132,697 16,350,367
1972 1,094,063 15,975,069
1971 1,056,246 15,572,457
1970 1,019,273 15,172,775
1969 983,202 14,767,615
1968 948,105 14,365,596
1967 913,982 13,958,350
1966 881,870 13,569,094
1965 854,090 13,219,369
1964 829,437 12,889,770
1963 805,373 12,567,057
1962 781,814 12,262,882
1961 758,824 11,990,713
1960 736,500 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho North Korea
2100 -0.18% -0.65%
2099 -0.18% -0.65%
2098 -0.17% -0.65%
2097 -0.15% -0.65%
2096 -0.15% -0.65%
2095 -0.12% -0.65%
2094 -0.11% -0.64%
2093 -0.12% -0.64%
2092 -0.09% -0.64%
2091 -0.07% -0.63%
2090 -0.06% -0.63%
2089 -0.05% -0.62%
2088 -0.04% -0.62%
2087 -0.01% -0.61%
2086 -0.02% -0.6%
2085 -0.007% -0.6%
2084 -0% -0.59%
2083 0.008% -0.59%
2082 0.02% -0.58%
2081 0.03% -0.58%
2080 0.06% -0.57%
2079 0.08% -0.57%
2078 0.1% -0.56%
2077 0.11% -0.56%
2076 0.11% -0.56%
2075 0.15% -0.55%
2074 0.16% -0.55%
2073 0.17% -0.55%
2072 0.2% -0.55%
2071 0.24% -0.55%
2070 0.26% -0.55%
2069 0.28% -0.55%
2068 0.29% -0.54%
2067 0.3% -0.54%
2066 0.3% -0.54%
2065 0.33% -0.53%
2064 0.35% -0.53%
2063 0.4% -0.52%
2062 0.42% -0.51%
2061 0.44% -0.5%
2060 0.47% -0.49%
2059 0.48% -0.48%
2058 0.5% -0.47%
2057 0.52% -0.45%
2056 0.56% -0.44%
2055 0.56% -0.42%
2054 0.6% -0.41%
2053 0.64% -0.39%
2052 0.68% -0.38%
2051 0.69% -0.36%
2050 0.72% -0.35%
2049 0.75% -0.33%
2048 0.79% -0.32%
2047 0.8% -0.3%
2046 0.82% -0.29%
2045 0.84% -0.27%
2044 0.87% -0.26%
2043 0.89% -0.24%
2042 0.92% -0.23%
2041 0.93% -0.21%
2040 0.95% -0.2%
2039 0.97% -0.17%
2038 0.98% -0.15%
2037 1.02% -0.13%
2036 1.03% -0.1%
2035 1.03% -0.07%
2034 1.04% -0.04%
2033 1.05% -0.006%
2032 1.05% 0.03%
2031 1.05% 0.07%
2030 1.07% 0.1%
2029 1.08% 0.14%
2028 1.08% 0.18%
2027 1.1% 0.22%
2026 1.1% 0.25%
2025 1.12% 0.29%
2024 1.12% 0.31%
2023 1.11% 0.34%
2022 1.09% 0.37%
2021 1.15% 0.37%
2020 1.19% 0.38%
2019 1.18% 0.41%
2018 1.23% 0.44%
2017 1.25% 0.46%
2016 1.23% 0.48%
2015 1.18% 0.49%
2014 1.15% 0.48%
2013 1.09% 0.47%
2012 1.01% 0.45%
2011 0.89% 0.44%
2010 0.78% 0.44%
2009 0.73% 0.46%
2008 0.68% 0.48%
2007 0.42% 0.5%
2006 -0.41% 0.52%
2005 -0.92% 0.58%
2004 -0.7% 0.68%
2003 -0.48% 0.61%
2002 -0.31% 0.54%
2001 -0.15% 0.63%
2000 0.03% 0.72%
1999 0.26% 0.8%
1998 0.5% 0.87%
1997 0.8% 0.94%
1996 1.08% 1%
1995 1.23% 1.23%
1994 1.36% 1.45%
1993 1.52% 1.48%
1992 1.68% 1.5%
1991 1.81% 1.5%
1990 1.93% 1.48%
1989 2.05% 1.47%
1988 2.14% 1.47%
1987 2.24% 1.48%
1986 2.57% 1.48%
1985 2.87% 1.48%
1984 2.9% 1.47%
1983 2.93% 1.48%
1982 2.95% 1.49%
1981 2.95% 1.45%
1980 2.95% 1.41%
1979 2.93% 1.4%
1978 2.89% 1.39%
1977 2.93% 1.45%
1976 3.26% 1.61%
1975 3.52% 1.79%
1974 3.51% 1.97%
1973 3.53% 2.35%
1972 3.58% 2.59%
1971 3.63% 2.63%
1970 3.67% 2.74%
1969 3.7% 2.8%
1968 3.73% 2.92%
1967 3.64% 2.87%
1966 3.25% 2.65%
1965 2.97% 2.56%
1964 2.99% 2.57%
1963 3.01% 2.48%
1962 3.03% 2.27%
1961 3.03% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Lesotho North Korea
Current population
2396633
26659144
Population rank 143/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.32%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +221
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 150/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 -2,787
Net migration rank 117/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -2,787
2024 - -5,107 - -2,473
2023 31,115 -5,168 86,203 -1,997
2022 30,803 -6,023 96,495 -1,997
2021 27,806 -3,449 99,710 -1,585
2020 30,721 -3,449 95,920 -1,585
2019 32,279 -6,896 106,208 -3,142
2018 33,112 -6,892 113,164 -3,225
2017 33,601 -6,850 120,181 -3,224
2016 33,390 -6,766 125,048 -3,222
2015 32,087 -7,087 127,365 -3,208
2014 30,922 -6,877 127,078 -3,042
2013 29,789 -6,659 122,519 -2,933
2012 27,592 -6,425 118,773 -2,919
2011 25,647 -6,118 114,798 -2,957
2010 21,877 -5,886 112,443 -3,053
2009 20,335 -5,599 111,530 -3,058
2008 19,349 -5,392 122,015 -3,051
2007 17,763 -5,179 120,521 -3,021
2006 15,234 -11,416 129,171 -2,948
2005 15,831 -35,679 132,765 -2,861
2004 17,271 -33,530 155,838 -2,758
2003 20,133 -31,723 178,775 -2,717
2002 22,274 -29,924 119,504 -2,763
2001 23,190 -27,874 143,321 -2,884
2000 24,786 -26,220 161,591 -3,142
1999 27,393 -24,610 181,613 -3,443
1998 30,889 -23,299 197,589 -3,706
1997 34,637 -22,396 211,325 -3,745
1996 36,228 -17,042 226,095 -3,512
1995 37,370 -14,588 233,381 -3,094
1994 38,629 -13,953 320,861 -517
1993 40,505 -13,347 320,880 0
1992 42,579 -12,707 324,002 0
1991 44,026 -12,114 320,551 0
1990 45,060 -11,598 312,460 0
1989 46,264 -11,207 303,078 0
1988 47,158 -11,028 299,305 0
1987 47,718 -10,946 296,030 0
1986 45,232 -7,501 293,227 0
1985 44,575 1,222 287,714 0
1984 43,785 1,199 282,987 0
1983 42,899 1,253 279,046 0
1982 41,941 1,281 276,332 0
1981 40,808 1,307 273,800 0
1980 39,617 1,361 255,206 0
1979 38,440 1,285 251,409 0
1978 37,084 1,047 243,533 0
1977 35,654 746 242,870 0
1976 34,117 2,986 255,841 0
1975 32,311 9,723 288,966 0
1974 30,444 9,972 306,902 0
1973 28,859 10,183 338,600 0
1972 27,841 10,386 411,997 0
1971 26,838 10,563 393,220 0
1970 25,935 10,605 406,129 0
1969 25,137 10,465 404,189 0
1968 24,490 10,108 399,837 0
1967 23,911 9,734 414,632 0
1966 23,326 7,248 363,882 0
1965 22,755 2,239 335,587 0
1964 22,116 2,198 323,623 0
1963 21,585 2,220 321,805 0
1962 21,132 2,172 286,534 0
1961 20,581 2,100 257,788 0
1960 19,981 1,989 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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