The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 17,663 people in Palau in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 17,620 in Palau.
Population statistics:
- Lesotho's population is 136.4 times bigger than Palau's.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
- The countries together account for 0.03% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.0002% for Palau.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -0.03% in Palau.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10.1% decline).
Lesotho vs Palau: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,518 | 11,146 |
| 2099 | 3,286,430 | 11,210 |
| 2098 | 3,292,231 | 11,275 |
| 2097 | 3,297,835 | 11,346 |
| 2096 | 3,302,758 | 11,411 |
| 2095 | 3,307,678 | 11,479 |
| 2094 | 3,311,734 | 11,543 |
| 2093 | 3,315,488 | 11,610 |
| 2092 | 3,319,391 | 11,676 |
| 2091 | 3,322,303 | 11,747 |
| 2090 | 3,324,499 | 11,823 |
| 2089 | 3,326,577 | 11,901 |
| 2088 | 3,328,210 | 11,962 |
| 2087 | 3,329,694 | 12,034 |
| 2086 | 3,330,185 | 12,103 |
| 2085 | 3,330,989 | 12,165 |
| 2084 | 3,331,214 | 12,245 |
| 2083 | 3,331,221 | 12,310 |
| 2082 | 3,330,964 | 12,376 |
| 2081 | 3,330,141 | 12,451 |
| 2080 | 3,328,997 | 12,531 |
| 2079 | 3,326,895 | 12,602 |
| 2078 | 3,324,376 | 12,674 |
| 2077 | 3,321,152 | 12,751 |
| 2076 | 3,317,581 | 12,831 |
| 2075 | 3,313,968 | 12,907 |
| 2074 | 3,308,905 | 13,000 |
| 2073 | 3,303,592 | 13,084 |
| 2072 | 3,297,913 | 13,154 |
| 2071 | 3,291,224 | 13,245 |
| 2070 | 3,283,387 | 13,332 |
| 2069 | 3,274,978 | 13,424 |
| 2068 | 3,265,887 | 13,518 |
| 2067 | 3,256,362 | 13,614 |
| 2066 | 3,246,639 | 13,716 |
| 2065 | 3,236,890 | 13,811 |
| 2064 | 3,226,227 | 13,913 |
| 2063 | 3,214,843 | 14,018 |
| 2062 | 3,202,027 | 14,129 |
| 2061 | 3,188,674 | 14,244 |
| 2060 | 3,174,740 | 14,350 |
| 2059 | 3,159,947 | 14,471 |
| 2058 | 3,144,797 | 14,581 |
| 2057 | 3,129,007 | 14,710 |
| 2056 | 3,112,877 | 14,830 |
| 2055 | 3,095,653 | 14,954 |
| 2054 | 3,078,317 | 15,077 |
| 2053 | 3,059,904 | 15,198 |
| 2052 | 3,040,402 | 15,324 |
| 2051 | 3,019,864 | 15,445 |
| 2050 | 2,999,214 | 15,554 |
| 2049 | 2,977,795 | 15,674 |
| 2048 | 2,955,487 | 15,789 |
| 2047 | 2,932,450 | 15,904 |
| 2046 | 2,909,071 | 16,015 |
| 2045 | 2,885,303 | 16,123 |
| 2044 | 2,861,140 | 16,237 |
| 2043 | 2,836,547 | 16,331 |
| 2042 | 2,811,435 | 16,437 |
| 2041 | 2,785,921 | 16,541 |
| 2040 | 2,760,167 | 16,623 |
| 2039 | 2,734,178 | 16,719 |
| 2038 | 2,707,996 | 16,797 |
| 2037 | 2,681,646 | 16,886 |
| 2036 | 2,654,540 | 16,955 |
| 2035 | 2,627,488 | 17,033 |
| 2034 | 2,600,669 | 17,109 |
| 2033 | 2,573,856 | 17,181 |
| 2032 | 2,547,137 | 17,241 |
| 2031 | 2,520,626 | 17,321 |
| 2030 | 2,494,444 | 17,389 |
| 2029 | 2,468,067 | 17,448 |
| 2028 | 2,441,673 | 17,518 |
| 2027 | 2,415,634 | 17,567 |
| 2026 | 2,389,322 | 17,620 |
| 2025 | 2,363,325 | 17,663 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 17,695 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 17,727 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 17,759 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 17,783 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 17,792 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 17,798 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 17,814 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 17,812 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 17,797 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 17,770 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 17,715 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 17,648 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 17,765 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 18,078 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 18,396 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 18,709 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 19,009 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 19,302 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 19,593 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 19,819 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 19,820 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 19,659 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 19,503 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 19,352 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 19,178 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 18,901 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 18,524 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 18,108 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 17,654 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 17,195 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 16,770 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 16,372 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 15,989 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 15,614 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 15,259 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 14,945 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 14,645 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 14,334 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 14,024 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 13,688 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 13,337 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 13,006 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 12,694 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 12,402 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 12,271 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 12,337 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 12,440 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 12,525 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 12,598 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 12,655 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 12,687 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 12,552 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 12,194 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 11,759 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 11,368 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 11,159 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 11,080 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 10,988 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 10,805 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 10,547 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 10,292 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 10,037 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 9,793 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 9,555 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 9,328 |
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/palau | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 177 people (a 0.99% decline).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,554 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.1K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | -0.57% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | -0.58% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | -0.62% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | -0.57% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | -0.59% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | -0.55% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | -0.58% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | -0.56% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | -0.6% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | -0.65% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | -0.65% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | -0.51% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | -0.6% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | -0.57% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | -0.51% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | -0.65% |
| 2084 | -0% | -0.53% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | -0.53% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | -0.6% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | -0.64% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | -0.56% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | -0.6% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | -0.62% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | -0.59% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | -0.71% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | -0.64% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | -0.53% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | -0.69% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | -0.65% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | -0.68% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | -0.7% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | -0.7% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | -0.74% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | -0.69% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | -0.73% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | -0.75% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | -0.78% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | -0.81% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | -0.74% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | -0.84% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | -0.75% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | -0.88% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | -0.81% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | -0.83% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | -0.81% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | -0.8% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | -0.82% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | -0.78% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | -0.7% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | -0.76% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | -0.73% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | -0.72% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | -0.7% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | -0.67% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | -0.7% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | -0.57% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | -0.64% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | -0.63% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | -0.49% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | -0.57% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | -0.46% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | -0.41% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | -0.46% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | -0.44% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | -0.42% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | -0.35% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | -0.46% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | -0.39% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | -0.34% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | -0.4% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | -0.28% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | -0.3% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | -0.24% |
| 2025 | 1.11% | -0.18% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | -0.18% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | -0.18% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | -0.13% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | -0.05% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | -0.03% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | -0.09% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 0.08% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 0.15% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 0.31% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 0.38% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | -0.66% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | -1.73% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | -1.73% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | -1.67% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | -1.58% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | -1.52% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | -1.49% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | -1.14% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | -0.005% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 0.82% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 0.8% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 0.78% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 0.91% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | 1.47% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | 2.04% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 2.3% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 2.57% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 2.67% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 2.53% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 2.43% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 2.4% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 2.4% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 2.33% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | 2.1% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | 2.17% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 2.21% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 2.45% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 2.54% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | 2.46% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 2.35% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | -0.53% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | -0.83% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | -0.68% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | -0.58% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | -0.45% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | -0.25% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 1.08% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 2.94% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 3.7% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 3.44% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | 1.87% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | 0.71% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | 0.84% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | 1.69% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 2.48% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 2.49% |
| 1961 | 3.03% | 2.43% |
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/palau | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2402837
|
17620
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 194/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.0002% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
1.63 weeks
|
| One birth every |
9.46 minutes
|
1.93 days
|
| One death every |
21.5 minutes
|
1.76 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,902 | -32 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.11% | -0.18% |
| Population growth rate rank | 94/197 | 175/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
3.27 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | -16 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 78/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 5,212 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 184/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 29.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 19/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Palau
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | -16 |
| 2024 | 31,050 | -5,107 | -18 | -14 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | -10 | -19 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | -7 | -20 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | -3 | -21 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 23 | -46 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 29 | -35 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 43 | -33 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 53 | -35 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 55 | -11 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 73 | -7 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 88 | -28 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 86 | -387 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 83 | -405 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 81 | -392 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 81 | -382 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 79 | -378 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 80 | -372 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 79 | -365 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 80 | -250 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 83 | 79 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 86 | 71 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 88 | 67 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 88 | 65 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 85 | 120 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 100 | 243 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 116 | 280 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 140 | 297 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 166 | 312 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 186 | 258 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 195 | 211 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 196 | 193 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 183 | 193 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 175 | 193 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 181 | 156 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 185 | 113 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 183 | 126 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 182 | 125 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 182 | 135 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 181 | 179 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 181 | 157 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 176 | 144 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 170 | 132 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 161 | 120 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 165 | -179 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 176 | -291 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 193 | -285 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 213 | -292 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 236 | -296 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 249 | -296 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 256 | -282 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 268 | 22 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 280 | 147 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 287 | 156 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 286 | 54 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 283 | -209 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 275 | -194 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 266 | -150 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 268 | -18 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 275 | -16 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 284 | -27 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 291 | -41 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 296 | -54 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 298 | -65 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 296 | -70 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/palau | 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 Palau 42.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 173 people) and 57.5% is from migration (a loss of 234 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Lesotho and Palau
|
Lesotho
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 69.6 years |
| Average age | 26 years | 38.7 years |
| Median age | 22.9 years | 39.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.8:51.2 | 53.8:46.2 |
| Fertility rate | 2.66 births per woman | 1.88 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 99.2 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/palau | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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