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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 5,610,870 people in Norway in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 5,660,666 in Norway.

Population statistics:

  • Norway's population is 2.36 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Norway is the 119th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.07% for Norway.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.81% in Norway.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Norway has grown from 4.66M to 5.66M (21.5% growth).

Lesotho vs Norway: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Norway
2100 3,280,518 5,426,970
2099 3,286,430 5,439,664
2098 3,292,231 5,451,717
2097 3,297,835 5,463,190
2096 3,302,758 5,474,994
2095 3,307,678 5,487,368
2094 3,311,734 5,499,514
2093 3,315,488 5,512,056
2092 3,319,391 5,524,021
2091 3,322,303 5,535,989
2090 3,324,499 5,548,825
2089 3,326,577 5,561,462
2088 3,328,210 5,574,757
2087 3,329,694 5,588,831
2086 3,330,185 5,602,569
2085 3,330,989 5,616,010
2084 3,331,214 5,629,675
2083 3,331,221 5,642,568
2082 3,330,964 5,654,975
2081 3,330,141 5,666,885
2080 3,328,997 5,678,624
2079 3,326,895 5,689,711
2078 3,324,376 5,700,349
2077 3,321,152 5,710,483
2076 3,317,581 5,720,209
2075 3,313,968 5,729,904
2074 3,308,905 5,739,940
2073 3,303,592 5,749,872
2072 3,297,913 5,759,499
2071 3,291,224 5,768,298
2070 3,283,387 5,777,747
2069 3,274,978 5,786,471
2068 3,265,887 5,795,734
2067 3,256,362 5,805,627
2066 3,246,639 5,815,585
2065 3,236,890 5,825,356
2064 3,226,227 5,835,081
2063 3,214,843 5,844,519
2062 3,202,027 5,853,646
2061 3,188,674 5,861,677
2060 3,174,740 5,869,390
2059 3,159,947 5,875,920
2058 3,144,797 5,881,790
2057 3,129,007 5,888,181
2056 3,112,877 5,894,125
2055 3,095,653 5,899,106
2054 3,078,317 5,903,121
2053 3,059,904 5,906,126
2052 3,040,402 5,907,281
2051 3,019,864 5,907,735
2050 2,999,214 5,907,355
2049 2,977,795 5,905,940
2048 2,955,487 5,903,025
2047 2,932,450 5,899,964
2046 2,909,071 5,896,254
2045 2,885,303 5,891,177
2044 2,861,140 5,886,031
2043 2,836,547 5,880,486
2042 2,811,435 5,873,632
2041 2,785,921 5,865,604
2040 2,760,167 5,857,447
2039 2,734,178 5,848,023
2038 2,707,996 5,837,628
2037 2,681,646 5,826,752
2036 2,654,540 5,815,042
2035 2,627,488 5,802,966
2034 2,600,669 5,790,086
2033 2,573,856 5,776,187
2032 2,547,137 5,761,261
2031 2,520,626 5,745,071
2030 2,494,444 5,728,104
2029 2,468,067 5,710,229
2028 2,441,673 5,691,155
2027 2,415,634 5,670,783
2026 2,389,322 5,649,981
2025 2,363,325 5,610,870
2024 2,337,423 5,572,279
2023 2,311,472 5,519,601
2022 2,286,110 5,457,127
2021 2,261,542 5,408,320
2020 2,235,727 5,379,475
2019 2,209,405 5,347,896
2018 2,183,603 5,311,916
2017 2,157,110 5,276,968
2016 2,130,422 5,234,519
2015 2,104,611 5,188,607
2014 2,080,089 5,137,232
2013 2,056,504 5,079,623
2012 2,034,354 5,018,573
2011 2,014,009 4,953,088
2010 1,996,251 4,889,252
2009 1,980,883 4,828,726
2008 1,966,541 4,768,212
2007 1,953,268 4,709,153
2006 1,945,063 4,660,677
2005 1,953,076 4,623,291
2004 1,971,129 4,591,910
2003 1,985,059 4,564,855
2002 1,994,679 4,538,159
2001 2,000,853 4,513,751
2000 2,003,913 4,490,967
1999 2,003,234 4,461,913
1998 1,998,049 4,431,464
1997 1,988,130 4,405,157
1996 1,972,418 4,381,336
1995 1,951,437 4,359,184
1994 1,927,707 4,336,613
1993 1,901,793 4,311,991
1992 1,873,274 4,286,401
1991 1,842,379 4,261,732
1990 1,809,696 4,241,473
1989 1,775,436 4,226,901
1988 1,739,841 4,209,488
1987 1,703,390 4,186,905
1986 1,666,138 4,167,354
1985 1,624,379 4,152,516
1984 1,578,986 4,140,099
1983 1,534,413 4,128,432
1982 1,490,732 4,114,787
1981 1,448,069 4,099,702
1980 1,406,521 4,085,620
1979 1,366,169 4,072,517
1978 1,327,240 4,058,671
1977 1,289,967 4,043,205
1976 1,253,214 4,026,152
1975 1,213,643 4,007,313
1974 1,172,420 3,985,258
1973 1,132,697 3,960,612
1972 1,094,063 3,933,004
1971 1,056,246 3,903,039
1970 1,019,273 3,875,763
1969 983,202 3,847,707
1968 948,105 3,816,486
1967 913,982 3,784,539
1966 881,870 3,753,012
1965 854,090 3,723,168
1964 829,437 3,694,339
1963 805,373 3,666,537
1962 781,814 3,638,918
1961 758,824 3,609,800
1960 736,500 3,581,239

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/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Norway gained 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Norway's population increased by 426,147 people (a 8.14% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Norway was ranked 116th in 2006 and ranked 119th 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 Norway will increase by 4.36% to 5,907,355 people and rank change from 119th to 121st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 5.91M people in 2051 for Norway.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Norway
2100 -0.18% -0.23%
2099 -0.18% -0.22%
2098 -0.17% -0.21%
2097 -0.15% -0.22%
2096 -0.15% -0.23%
2095 -0.12% -0.22%
2094 -0.11% -0.23%
2093 -0.12% -0.22%
2092 -0.09% -0.22%
2091 -0.07% -0.23%
2090 -0.06% -0.23%
2089 -0.05% -0.24%
2088 -0.04% -0.25%
2087 -0.01% -0.25%
2086 -0.02% -0.24%
2085 -0.007% -0.24%
2084 -0% -0.23%
2083 0.008% -0.22%
2082 0.02% -0.21%
2081 0.03% -0.21%
2080 0.06% -0.19%
2079 0.08% -0.19%
2078 0.1% -0.18%
2077 0.11% -0.17%
2076 0.11% -0.17%
2075 0.15% -0.17%
2074 0.16% -0.17%
2073 0.17% -0.17%
2072 0.2% -0.15%
2071 0.24% -0.16%
2070 0.26% -0.15%
2069 0.28% -0.16%
2068 0.29% -0.17%
2067 0.3% -0.17%
2066 0.3% -0.17%
2065 0.33% -0.17%
2064 0.35% -0.16%
2063 0.4% -0.16%
2062 0.42% -0.14%
2061 0.44% -0.13%
2060 0.47% -0.11%
2059 0.48% -0.1%
2058 0.5% -0.11%
2057 0.52% -0.1%
2056 0.56% -0.08%
2055 0.56% -0.07%
2054 0.6% -0.05%
2053 0.64% -0.02%
2052 0.68% -0.008%
2051 0.69% 0.006%
2050 0.72% 0.02%
2049 0.75% 0.05%
2048 0.79% 0.05%
2047 0.8% 0.06%
2046 0.82% 0.09%
2045 0.84% 0.09%
2044 0.87% 0.09%
2043 0.89% 0.12%
2042 0.92% 0.14%
2041 0.93% 0.14%
2040 0.95% 0.16%
2039 0.97% 0.18%
2038 0.98% 0.19%
2037 1.02% 0.2%
2036 1.03% 0.21%
2035 1.03% 0.22%
2034 1.04% 0.24%
2033 1.05% 0.26%
2032 1.05% 0.28%
2031 1.05% 0.3%
2030 1.07% 0.31%
2029 1.08% 0.34%
2028 1.08% 0.36%
2027 1.1% 0.37%
2026 1.1% 0.7%
2025 1.11% 0.69%
2024 1.12% 0.95%
2023 1.11% 1.14%
2022 1.09% 0.9%
2021 1.15% 0.54%
2020 1.19% 0.59%
2019 1.18% 0.68%
2018 1.23% 0.66%
2017 1.25% 0.81%
2016 1.23% 0.88%
2015 1.18% 1%
2014 1.15% 1.13%
2013 1.09% 1.22%
2012 1.01% 1.32%
2011 0.89% 1.31%
2010 0.78% 1.25%
2009 0.73% 1.27%
2008 0.68% 1.25%
2007 0.42% 1.04%
2006 -0.41% 0.81%
2005 -0.92% 0.68%
2004 -0.7% 0.59%
2003 -0.48% 0.59%
2002 -0.31% 0.54%
2001 -0.15% 0.51%
2000 0.03% 0.65%
1999 0.26% 0.69%
1998 0.5% 0.6%
1997 0.8% 0.54%
1996 1.08% 0.51%
1995 1.23% 0.52%
1994 1.36% 0.57%
1993 1.52% 0.6%
1992 1.68% 0.58%
1991 1.81% 0.48%
1990 1.93% 0.34%
1989 2.05% 0.41%
1988 2.14% 0.54%
1987 2.24% 0.47%
1986 2.57% 0.36%
1985 2.87% 0.3%
1984 2.9% 0.28%
1983 2.93% 0.33%
1982 2.95% 0.37%
1981 2.95% 0.34%
1980 2.95% 0.32%
1979 2.93% 0.34%
1978 2.89% 0.38%
1977 2.93% 0.42%
1976 3.26% 0.47%
1975 3.52% 0.55%
1974 3.51% 0.62%
1973 3.53% 0.7%
1972 3.58% 0.77%
1971 3.63% 0.7%
1970 3.67% 0.73%
1969 3.7% 0.82%
1968 3.73% 0.84%
1967 3.64% 0.84%
1966 3.25% 0.8%
1965 2.97% 0.78%
1964 2.99% 0.76%
1963 3.01% 0.76%
1962 3.03% 0.81%
1961 3.03% 0.8%

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/norway | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Norway's population grew by 0.69%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Norway
Current population
2402837
5660666
Population rank 143/197 119/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.07%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
9.72 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
11.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +106
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +38,591
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +0.69%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 117/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +29,798
Net migration rank 117/196 29/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 1,012,404
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 60/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 18.2%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 33/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Norway
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Norway
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 29,798
2024 31,050 -5,107 10,030 44,356
2023 31,115 -5,168 8,280 53,806
2022 30,803 -6,023 5,457 58,040
2021 27,806 -3,449 14,062 19,804
2020 30,721 -3,449 12,372 11,277
2019 32,279 -6,896 13,904 25,707
2018 33,112 -6,892 14,342 18,473
2017 33,601 -6,850 15,831 21,657
2016 33,390 -6,766 17,797 26,417
2015 32,087 -7,087 18,160 30,242
2014 30,922 -6,877 18,494 38,522
2013 29,789 -6,659 17,779 40,690
2012 27,592 -6,425 18,066 47,883
2011 25,647 -6,118 18,822 47,454
2010 21,877 -5,886 20,046 42,865
2009 20,335 -5,599 20,280 39,316
2008 19,349 -5,392 19,073 44,002
2007 17,763 -5,179 16,482 40,111
2006 15,234 -11,416 17,244 24,054
2005 15,831 -35,679 15,719 18,588
2004 17,271 -33,530 15,612 13,412
2003 20,133 -31,723 14,151 11,389
2002 22,274 -29,924 10,892 17,279
2001 23,190 -27,874 13,090 7,906
2000 24,786 -26,220 15,269 9,805
1999 27,393 -24,610 14,278 19,147
1998 30,889 -23,299 14,181 13,519
1997 34,637 -22,396 15,418 9,744
1996 36,228 -17,042 17,087 5,671
1995 37,370 -14,588 14,821 6,343
1994 38,629 -13,953 16,045 7,580
1993 40,505 -13,347 12,936 12,567
1992 42,579 -12,707 15,431 10,218
1991 44,026 -12,114 16,194 7,949
1990 45,060 -11,598 14,845 1,818
1989 46,264 -11,207 13,949 -1,730
1988 47,158 -11,028 12,207 10,380
1987 47,718 -10,946 9,212 13,907
1986 45,232 -7,501 8,751 7,616
1985 44,575 1,222 6,644 6,725
1984 43,785 1,199 7,452 3,856
1983 42,899 1,253 7,844 4,120
1982 41,941 1,281 9,875 5,749
1981 40,808 1,307 9,020 6,010
1980 39,617 1,361 9,806 3,763
1979 38,440 1,285 10,181 2,839
1978 37,084 1,047 11,364 3,823
1977 35,654 746 11,321 4,845
1976 34,117 2,986 13,286 4,779
1975 32,311 9,723 16,430 3,312
1974 30,444 9,972 20,324 4,425
1973 28,859 10,183 21,387 3,414
1972 27,841 10,386 24,777 5,603
1971 26,838 10,563 26,541 3,031
1970 25,935 10,605 25,968 -1,034
1969 25,137 10,465 28,858 2,230
1968 24,490 10,108 29,387 1,761
1967 23,911 9,734 30,276 2,460
1966 23,326 7,248 31,150 -888
1965 22,755 2,239 31,275 -1,525
1964 22,116 2,198 30,293 -1,571
1963 21,585 2,220 26,766 1,061
1962 21,132 2,172 28,020 655
1961 20,581 2,100 29,239 1,437
1960 19,981 1,989 29,366 -1,427

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/norway | 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 Norway 29.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 130,235 people) and 70.4% is from migration (a gain of 309,779 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 1,012,404 people or 18.2% in Norway.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 152K
Baerum 133K
Drammen 106K
Asker 102K
Lillestrom 96.8K
Fredrikstad 86.2K
Sandnes 85.8K

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/norway | 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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