Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 26,668,308 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 +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Lesotho vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho North Korea
2100 3,280,518 19,601,003
2099 3,286,430 19,729,897
2098 3,292,231 19,859,274
2097 3,297,835 19,989,589
2096 3,302,758 20,120,795
2095 3,307,678 20,252,653
2094 3,311,734 20,384,384
2093 3,315,488 20,516,457
2092 3,319,391 20,649,140
2091 3,322,303 20,781,939
2090 3,324,499 20,914,434
2089 3,326,577 21,046,685
2088 3,328,210 21,178,406
2087 3,329,694 21,310,103
2086 3,330,185 21,441,361
2085 3,330,989 21,571,843
2084 3,331,214 21,701,761
2083 3,331,221 21,830,989
2082 3,330,964 21,960,135
2081 3,330,141 22,088,774
2080 3,328,997 22,216,836
2079 3,326,895 22,344,442
2078 3,324,376 22,471,597
2077 3,321,152 22,598,635
2076 3,317,581 22,725,293
2075 3,313,968 22,852,140
2074 3,308,905 22,979,532
2073 3,303,592 23,107,165
2072 3,297,913 23,234,961
2071 3,291,224 23,363,260
2070 3,283,387 23,491,789
2069 3,274,978 23,621,167
2068 3,265,887 23,750,741
2067 3,256,362 23,880,460
2066 3,246,639 24,010,584
2065 3,236,890 24,140,518
2064 3,226,227 24,269,765
2063 3,214,843 24,397,924
2062 3,202,027 24,525,403
2061 3,188,674 24,651,788
2060 3,174,740 24,776,326
2059 3,159,947 24,898,430
2058 3,144,797 25,018,630
2057 3,129,007 25,135,871
2056 3,112,877 25,250,670
2055 3,095,653 25,361,704
2054 3,078,317 25,469,578
2053 3,059,904 25,574,137
2052 3,040,402 25,675,211
2051 3,019,864 25,772,870
2050 2,999,214 25,866,886
2049 2,977,795 25,957,363
2048 2,955,487 26,043,774
2047 2,932,450 26,126,594
2046 2,909,071 26,205,638
2045 2,885,303 26,281,344
2044 2,861,140 26,353,455
2043 2,836,547 26,422,173
2042 2,811,435 26,486,580
2041 2,785,921 26,547,651
2040 2,760,167 26,604,634
2039 2,734,178 26,656,882
2038 2,707,996 26,703,458
2037 2,681,646 26,744,185
2036 2,654,540 26,778,348
2035 2,627,488 26,805,065
2034 2,600,669 26,823,948
2033 2,573,856 26,834,263
2032 2,547,137 26,835,978
2031 2,520,626 26,827,992
2030 2,494,444 26,809,850
2029 2,468,067 26,782,161
2028 2,441,673 26,744,278
2027 2,415,634 26,696,504
2026 2,389,322 26,638,530
2025 2,363,325 26,571,036
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% 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 24.8% to 2,999,214 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 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 1.11% 0.27%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Lesotho North Korea
Current population
2402837
26668308
Population rank 143/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.32%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +198
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 146/197
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 31,050 -5,107 79,496 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 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 (1960–2025, 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/north-korea | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.