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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 1,824,359 people in North Macedonia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 1,805,954 in North Macedonia.

Population statistics:

  • Lesotho's population is 1.33 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while North Macedonia is the 150th.
  • The countries together account for 0.05% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.02% for North Macedonia.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -0.48% in North Macedonia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while North Macedonia has declined from 1.99M to 1.81M (9.44% decline).

Lesotho vs North Macedonia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho North Macedonia
2100 3,280,784 866,884
2099 3,286,697 877,788
2098 3,292,498 888,715
2097 3,298,102 899,716
2096 3,303,027 910,709
2095 3,307,947 921,559
2094 3,312,002 932,633
2093 3,315,757 943,984
2092 3,319,661 955,335
2091 3,322,573 966,773
2090 3,324,769 978,130
2089 3,326,847 989,666
2088 3,328,480 1,001,224
2087 3,329,964 1,012,831
2086 3,330,456 1,024,787
2085 3,331,259 1,036,668
2084 3,331,485 1,048,876
2083 3,331,492 1,061,031
2082 3,331,234 1,073,408
2081 3,330,412 1,085,823
2080 3,329,267 1,098,127
2079 3,327,166 1,110,614
2078 3,324,646 1,123,398
2077 3,321,422 1,136,448
2076 3,317,850 1,149,787
2075 3,314,237 1,163,080
2074 3,309,174 1,176,671
2073 3,303,860 1,190,351
2072 3,298,181 1,204,015
2071 3,291,492 1,217,691
2070 3,283,654 1,231,978
2069 3,275,244 1,246,408
2068 3,266,152 1,260,869
2067 3,256,626 1,275,289
2066 3,246,903 1,289,439
2065 3,237,153 1,303,917
2064 3,226,489 1,318,161
2063 3,215,103 1,332,807
2062 3,202,287 1,347,540
2061 3,188,933 1,362,299
2060 3,174,998 1,376,807
2059 3,160,204 1,390,921
2058 3,145,053 1,404,982
2057 3,129,261 1,419,185
2056 3,113,129 1,433,595
2055 3,095,904 1,447,857
2054 3,078,567 1,462,210
2053 3,060,152 1,476,351
2052 3,040,649 1,489,905
2051 3,020,109 1,503,526
2050 2,999,457 1,516,629
2049 2,978,037 1,529,608
2048 2,955,727 1,542,390
2047 2,932,688 1,555,085
2046 2,909,307 1,568,151
2045 2,885,537 1,581,115
2044 2,861,372 1,593,878
2043 2,836,777 1,606,930
2042 2,811,663 1,619,941
2041 2,786,147 1,632,704
2040 2,760,391 1,645,446
2039 2,734,400 1,658,034
2038 2,708,216 1,670,347
2037 2,681,863 1,682,850
2036 2,654,755 1,695,204
2035 2,627,701 1,707,302
2034 2,600,880 1,719,193
2033 2,574,065 1,730,723
2032 2,547,344 1,742,288
2031 2,520,831 1,753,729
2030 2,494,646 1,765,162
2029 2,468,268 1,775,815
2028 2,441,871 1,786,051
2027 2,415,830 1,795,945
2026 2,389,516 1,805,954
2025 2,363,516 1,815,368
2024 2,337,423 1,824,359
2023 2,311,472 1,827,816
2022 2,286,110 1,831,712
2021 2,261,542 1,837,114
2020 2,235,727 1,856,124
2019 2,209,405 1,876,262
2018 2,183,603 1,889,051
2017 2,157,110 1,898,657
2016 2,130,422 1,906,313
2015 2,104,611 1,912,430
2014 2,080,089 1,917,557
2013 2,056,504 1,922,716
2012 2,034,354 1,929,821
2011 2,014,009 1,937,398
2010 1,996,251 1,946,298
2009 1,980,883 1,958,782
2008 1,966,541 1,971,493
2007 1,953,268 1,982,933
2006 1,945,063 1,994,287
2005 1,953,076 2,005,330
2004 1,971,129 2,016,186
2003 1,985,059 2,022,725
2002 1,994,679 2,020,157
2001 2,000,853 2,034,882
2000 2,003,913 2,026,350
1999 2,003,234 2,017,142
1998 1,998,049 2,007,523
1997 1,988,130 1,996,869
1996 1,972,418 2,012,553
1995 1,951,437 1,998,534
1994 1,927,707 1,992,666
1993 1,901,793 2,006,854
1992 1,873,274 2,032,523
1991 1,842,379 2,055,994
1990 1,809,696 2,063,689
1989 1,775,436 2,055,649
1988 1,739,841 2,045,737
1987 1,703,390 2,035,157
1986 1,666,138 2,024,732
1985 1,624,379 2,014,331
1984 1,578,986 2,003,399
1983 1,534,413 1,991,901
1982 1,490,732 1,978,956
1981 1,448,069 1,959,065
1980 1,406,521 1,933,038
1979 1,366,169 1,906,523
1978 1,327,240 1,879,847
1977 1,289,967 1,853,138
1976 1,253,214 1,825,830
1975 1,213,643 1,797,972
1974 1,172,420 1,770,545
1973 1,132,697 1,743,816
1972 1,094,063 1,717,395
1971 1,056,246 1,691,216
1970 1,019,273 1,664,208
1969 983,202 1,636,345
1968 948,105 1,608,930
1967 913,982 1,582,492
1966 881,870 1,557,349
1965 854,090 1,533,466
1964 829,437 1,510,900
1963 805,373 1,488,737
1962 781,814 1,471,745
1961 758,824 1,455,171
1960 736,500 1,435,059

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-macedonia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while North Macedonia lost 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while North Macedonia's population decreased by 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. North Macedonia was ranked 142nd in 2006 and ranked 150th 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 Macedonia will decrease by 16% to 1,516,629 people and rank change from 150th to 152nd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 867K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho North Macedonia
2100 -0.18% -1.24%
2099 -0.18% -1.23%
2098 -0.17% -1.22%
2097 -0.15% -1.21%
2096 -0.15% -1.18%
2095 -0.12% -1.19%
2094 -0.11% -1.2%
2093 -0.12% -1.19%
2092 -0.09% -1.18%
2091 -0.07% -1.16%
2090 -0.06% -1.17%
2089 -0.05% -1.15%
2088 -0.04% -1.15%
2087 -0.01% -1.17%
2086 -0.02% -1.15%
2085 -0.007% -1.16%
2084 -0% -1.15%
2083 0.008% -1.15%
2082 0.02% -1.14%
2081 0.03% -1.12%
2080 0.06% -1.12%
2079 0.08% -1.14%
2078 0.1% -1.15%
2077 0.11% -1.16%
2076 0.11% -1.14%
2075 0.15% -1.15%
2074 0.16% -1.15%
2073 0.17% -1.13%
2072 0.2% -1.12%
2071 0.24% -1.16%
2070 0.26% -1.16%
2069 0.28% -1.15%
2068 0.29% -1.13%
2067 0.3% -1.1%
2066 0.3% -1.11%
2065 0.33% -1.08%
2064 0.35% -1.1%
2063 0.4% -1.09%
2062 0.42% -1.08%
2061 0.44% -1.05%
2060 0.47% -1.01%
2059 0.48% -1%
2058 0.5% -1%
2057 0.52% -1.01%
2056 0.56% -0.99%
2055 0.56% -0.98%
2054 0.6% -0.96%
2053 0.64% -0.91%
2052 0.68% -0.91%
2051 0.69% -0.86%
2050 0.72% -0.85%
2049 0.75% -0.83%
2048 0.79% -0.82%
2047 0.8% -0.83%
2046 0.82% -0.82%
2045 0.84% -0.8%
2044 0.87% -0.81%
2043 0.89% -0.8%
2042 0.92% -0.78%
2041 0.93% -0.77%
2040 0.95% -0.76%
2039 0.97% -0.74%
2038 0.98% -0.74%
2037 1.02% -0.73%
2036 1.03% -0.71%
2035 1.03% -0.69%
2034 1.04% -0.67%
2033 1.05% -0.66%
2032 1.05% -0.65%
2031 1.05% -0.65%
2030 1.07% -0.6%
2029 1.08% -0.57%
2028 1.08% -0.55%
2027 1.1% -0.55%
2026 1.1% -0.52%
2025 1.12% -0.49%
2024 1.12% -0.19%
2023 1.11% -0.21%
2022 1.09% -0.29%
2021 1.15% -1.02%
2020 1.19% -1.07%
2019 1.18% -0.68%
2018 1.23% -0.51%
2017 1.25% -0.4%
2016 1.23% -0.32%
2015 1.18% -0.27%
2014 1.15% -0.27%
2013 1.09% -0.37%
2012 1.01% -0.39%
2011 0.89% -0.46%
2010 0.78% -0.64%
2009 0.73% -0.64%
2008 0.68% -0.58%
2007 0.42% -0.57%
2006 -0.41% -0.55%
2005 -0.92% -0.54%
2004 -0.7% -0.32%
2003 -0.48% 0.13%
2002 -0.31% -0.72%
2001 -0.15% 0.42%
2000 0.03% 0.46%
1999 0.26% 0.48%
1998 0.5% 0.53%
1997 0.8% -0.78%
1996 1.08% 0.7%
1995 1.23% 0.29%
1994 1.36% -0.71%
1993 1.52% -1.26%
1992 1.68% -1.14%
1991 1.81% -0.37%
1990 1.93% 0.39%
1989 2.05% 0.48%
1988 2.14% 0.52%
1987 2.24% 0.51%
1986 2.57% 0.52%
1985 2.87% 0.55%
1984 2.9% 0.58%
1983 2.93% 0.65%
1982 2.95% 1.02%
1981 2.95% 1.35%
1980 2.95% 1.39%
1979 2.93% 1.42%
1978 2.89% 1.44%
1977 2.93% 1.5%
1976 3.26% 1.55%
1975 3.52% 1.55%
1974 3.51% 1.53%
1973 3.53% 1.54%
1972 3.58% 1.55%
1971 3.63% 1.62%
1970 3.67% 1.7%
1969 3.7% 1.7%
1968 3.73% 1.67%
1967 3.64% 1.61%
1966 3.25% 1.56%
1965 2.97% 1.49%
1964 2.99% 1.49%
1963 3.01% 1.15%
1962 3.03% 1.14%
1961 3.03% 1.4%

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-macedonia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while North Macedonia's population declined by 0.19%.

Live population counters

Lesotho North Macedonia
Current population
2396633
1805954
Population rank 143/197 150/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.02%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
2.53 hours
One birth every
9.43 minutes
31.3 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
26.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 -9
Annual growth/decline +25,951 -3,457
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% -0.19%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 176/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 -5,645
Net migration rank 117/196 119/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 150,902
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 122/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 8.3%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 73/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho North Macedonia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -5,645
2024 - -5,107 - -5,728
2023 31,115 -5,168 -3,290 -5,597
2022 30,803 -6,023 -4,397 -5,296
2021 27,806 -3,449 -9,737 -5,483
2020 30,721 -3,449 -5,939 -23,458
2019 32,279 -6,896 -375 -24,204
2018 33,112 -6,892 1,512 -24,878
2017 33,601 -6,850 1,329 -24,227
2016 33,390 -6,766 2,374 -24,144
2015 32,087 -7,087 2,294 -23,010
2014 30,922 -6,877 3,644 -22,132
2013 29,789 -6,659 3,653 -20,297
2012 27,592 -6,425 3,087 -19,083
2011 25,647 -6,118 3,100 -17,871
2010 21,877 -5,886 4,866 -16,668
2009 20,335 -5,599 4,309 -15,455
2008 19,349 -5,392 3,746 -17,645
2007 17,763 -5,179 2,974 -15,705
2006 15,234 -11,416 3,988 -9,632
2005 15,831 -35,679 4,011 -2,244
2004 17,271 -33,530 5,444 -2,640
2003 20,133 -31,723 8,900 -2,880
2002 22,274 -29,924 9,697 -2,858
2001 23,190 -27,874 10,174 -922
2000 24,786 -26,220 12,159 -2,824
1999 27,393 -24,610 10,489 -1,261
1998 30,889 -23,299 12,446 -589
1997 34,637 -22,396 12,979 -477
1996 36,228 -17,042 14,806 -397
1995 37,370 -14,588 17,239 -3,603
1994 38,629 -13,953 19,103 -21,006
1993 40,505 -13,347 20,797 -47,273
1992 42,579 -12,707 21,659 -46,509
1991 44,026 -12,114 23,387 -45,484
1990 45,060 -11,598 22,868 -16,174
1989 46,264 -11,207 22,912 -13,528
1988 47,158 -11,028 24,064 -13,621
1987 47,718 -10,946 24,359 -13,635
1986 45,232 -7,501 23,720 -13,589
1985 44,575 1,222 24,167 -13,492
1984 43,785 1,199 24,436 -13,251
1983 42,899 1,253 24,690 -12,884
1982 41,941 1,281 25,810 -11,716
1981 40,808 1,307 25,689 0
1980 39,617 1,361 26,547 -189
1979 38,440 1,285 27,096 -426
1978 37,084 1,047 27,150 -462
1977 35,654 746 27,410 -683
1976 34,117 2,986 28,799 -911
1975 32,311 9,723 28,983 -1,147
1974 30,444 9,972 28,400 -1,376
1973 28,859 10,183 28,032 -1,600
1972 27,841 10,386 28,236 -1,834
1971 26,838 10,563 28,010 -2,064
1970 25,935 10,605 28,022 60
1969 25,137 10,465 27,464 181
1968 24,490 10,108 28,378 -1,201
1967 23,911 9,734 28,401 -2,696
1966 23,326 7,248 28,766 -4,176
1965 22,755 2,239 28,564 -5,385
1964 22,116 2,198 27,889 -5,938
1963 21,585 2,220 28,124 -5,759
1962 21,132 2,172 25,317 -13,702
1961 20,581 2,100 27,846 -6,309
1960 19,981 1,989 28,816 -10,126

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/north-macedonia | 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 Macedonia 6.45% is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 150,902 people or 8.3% in North Macedonia.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
North Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K

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-macedonia | 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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