The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 5,289,152 people in Palestine in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 5,500,288 in Palestine.
Population statistics:
- Palestine's population is 2.3 times bigger than Lesotho's.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Palestine is the 123rd.
- The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.07% for Palestine.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.4% in Palestine.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Palestine has grown from 3.41M to 5.5M (61.5% growth).
Lesotho vs Palestine: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Palestine
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,784 | 11,139,010 |
| 2099 | 3,286,697 | 11,129,016 |
| 2098 | 3,292,498 | 11,115,634 |
| 2097 | 3,298,102 | 11,098,586 |
| 2096 | 3,303,027 | 11,082,327 |
| 2095 | 3,307,947 | 11,062,471 |
| 2094 | 3,312,002 | 11,043,660 |
| 2093 | 3,315,757 | 11,021,075 |
| 2092 | 3,319,661 | 10,997,198 |
| 2091 | 3,322,573 | 10,971,910 |
| 2090 | 3,324,769 | 10,945,522 |
| 2089 | 3,326,847 | 10,919,566 |
| 2088 | 3,328,480 | 10,888,804 |
| 2087 | 3,329,964 | 10,859,463 |
| 2086 | 3,330,456 | 10,826,475 |
| 2085 | 3,331,259 | 10,792,233 |
| 2084 | 3,331,485 | 10,754,076 |
| 2083 | 3,331,492 | 10,714,778 |
| 2082 | 3,331,234 | 10,670,980 |
| 2081 | 3,330,412 | 10,620,947 |
| 2080 | 3,329,267 | 10,570,849 |
| 2079 | 3,327,166 | 10,522,979 |
| 2078 | 3,324,646 | 10,470,607 |
| 2077 | 3,321,422 | 10,414,129 |
| 2076 | 3,317,850 | 10,353,616 |
| 2075 | 3,314,237 | 10,289,455 |
| 2074 | 3,309,174 | 10,226,287 |
| 2073 | 3,303,860 | 10,161,032 |
| 2072 | 3,298,181 | 10,092,947 |
| 2071 | 3,291,492 | 10,017,951 |
| 2070 | 3,283,654 | 9,943,046 |
| 2069 | 3,275,244 | 9,866,885 |
| 2068 | 3,266,152 | 9,791,535 |
| 2067 | 3,256,626 | 9,709,928 |
| 2066 | 3,246,903 | 9,631,509 |
| 2065 | 3,237,153 | 9,548,264 |
| 2064 | 3,226,489 | 9,463,483 |
| 2063 | 3,215,103 | 9,376,741 |
| 2062 | 3,202,287 | 9,291,255 |
| 2061 | 3,188,933 | 9,199,970 |
| 2060 | 3,174,998 | 9,107,804 |
| 2059 | 3,160,204 | 9,017,564 |
| 2058 | 3,145,053 | 8,928,703 |
| 2057 | 3,129,261 | 8,835,816 |
| 2056 | 3,113,129 | 8,741,740 |
| 2055 | 3,095,904 | 8,649,798 |
| 2054 | 3,078,567 | 8,556,281 |
| 2053 | 3,060,152 | 8,458,243 |
| 2052 | 3,040,649 | 8,357,325 |
| 2051 | 3,020,109 | 8,254,626 |
| 2050 | 2,999,457 | 8,148,985 |
| 2049 | 2,978,037 | 8,043,520 |
| 2048 | 2,955,727 | 7,937,607 |
| 2047 | 2,932,688 | 7,829,116 |
| 2046 | 2,909,307 | 7,718,770 |
| 2045 | 2,885,537 | 7,604,199 |
| 2044 | 2,861,372 | 7,488,707 |
| 2043 | 2,836,777 | 7,372,333 |
| 2042 | 2,811,663 | 7,254,143 |
| 2041 | 2,786,147 | 7,135,388 |
| 2040 | 2,760,391 | 7,016,744 |
| 2039 | 2,734,400 | 6,896,956 |
| 2038 | 2,708,216 | 6,781,970 |
| 2037 | 2,681,863 | 6,666,634 |
| 2036 | 2,654,755 | 6,552,620 |
| 2035 | 2,627,701 | 6,436,783 |
| 2034 | 2,600,880 | 6,323,647 |
| 2033 | 2,574,065 | 6,210,874 |
| 2032 | 2,547,344 | 6,102,090 |
| 2031 | 2,520,831 | 5,994,279 |
| 2030 | 2,494,646 | 5,888,039 |
| 2029 | 2,468,268 | 5,783,463 |
| 2028 | 2,441,871 | 5,680,155 |
| 2027 | 2,415,830 | 5,576,750 |
| 2026 | 2,389,516 | 5,471,938 |
| 2025 | 2,363,516 | 5,376,521 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 5,289,152 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 5,165,775 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 5,043,612 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 4,922,749 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 4,803,269 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 4,685,306 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 4,569,087 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 4,454,805 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 4,367,088 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 4,270,092 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 4,173,398 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 4,076,708 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 3,979,998 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 3,882,986 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 3,786,161 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 3,689,099 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 3,591,977 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 3,494,496 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 3,406,334 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 3,320,396 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 3,236,626 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 3,154,969 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 3,075,373 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 2,997,784 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 2,922,153 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 2,848,431 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 2,776,568 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 2,706,518 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 2,587,997 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 2,474,666 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 2,366,298 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 2,262,676 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 2,163,591 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 2,068,845 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 1,978,248 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | - |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | - |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | - |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | - |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | - |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | - |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | - |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | - |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | - |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | - |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | - |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | - |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | - |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | - |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | - |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | - |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | - |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | - |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | - |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | - |
| 1969 | 983,202 | - |
| 1968 | 948,105 | - |
| 1967 | 913,982 | - |
| 1966 | 881,870 | - |
| 1965 | 854,090 | - |
| 1964 | 829,437 | - |
| 1963 | 805,373 | - |
| 1962 | 781,814 | - |
| 1961 | 758,824 | - |
| 1960 | 736,500 | - |
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/palestine | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Palestine gained 960,754 people (a 28.2% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Palestine's population increased by 1,133,200 people (a 25.9% growth).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Palestine was ranked 127th in 2006 and ranked 123rd 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 Palestine will increase by 48.2% to 8,148,985 people and rank change from 123rd to 112th.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 11.1M people in 2100 for Palestine.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Palestine
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | 0.09% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | 0.12% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | 0.15% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | 0.15% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | 0.18% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | 0.17% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | 0.2% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | 0.22% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | 0.23% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | 0.24% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | 0.24% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | 0.28% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | 0.3% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | 0.32% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | 0.35% |
| 2084 | -0% | 0.37% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | 0.41% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | 0.47% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | 0.47% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | 0.45% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | 0.5% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | 0.54% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | 0.58% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | 0.62% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | 0.62% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | 0.64% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | 0.67% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | 0.75% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | 0.75% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 0.77% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | 0.77% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | 0.84% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | 0.81% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | 0.87% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | 0.9% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | 0.93% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | 0.92% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | 0.99% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | 1.01% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 1% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | 1% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 1.05% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | 1.08% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | 1.06% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | 1.09% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | 1.16% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | 1.21% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | 1.24% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | 1.3% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | 1.31% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | 1.33% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | 1.51% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | 1.54% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | 1.58% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | 1.63% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | 1.66% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | 1.69% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | 1.74% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | 1.74% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | 1.79% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | 1.82% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | 1.78% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | 1.8% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | 1.8% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | 1.81% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | 1.82% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | 1.85% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | 1.92% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | 1.77% |
| 2025 | 1.12% | 1.65% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | 2.39% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | 2.42% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | 2.46% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | 2.49% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | 2.52% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 2.54% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 2.57% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 2.01% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 2.27% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 2.32% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 2.37% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | 2.43% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | 2.5% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | 2.56% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 2.63% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 2.7% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 2.79% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | 2.59% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 2.59% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 2.59% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 2.59% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 2.59% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 2.59% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 2.59% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | 2.59% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | 2.59% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 2.59% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 4.58% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 4.58% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 4.58% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 4.58% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 4.58% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 4.58% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 4.58% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | - |
| 1989 | 2.05% | - |
| 1988 | 2.14% | - |
| 1987 | 2.24% | - |
| 1986 | 2.57% | - |
| 1985 | 2.87% | - |
| 1984 | 2.9% | - |
| 1983 | 2.93% | - |
| 1982 | 2.95% | - |
| 1981 | 2.95% | - |
| 1980 | 2.95% | - |
| 1979 | 2.93% | - |
| 1978 | 2.89% | - |
| 1977 | 2.93% | - |
| 1976 | 3.26% | - |
| 1975 | 3.52% | - |
| 1974 | 3.51% | - |
| 1973 | 3.53% | - |
| 1972 | 3.58% | - |
| 1971 | 3.63% | - |
| 1970 | 3.67% | - |
| 1969 | 3.7% | - |
| 1968 | 3.73% | - |
| 1967 | 3.64% | - |
| 1966 | 3.25% | - |
| 1965 | 2.97% | - |
| 1964 | 2.99% | - |
| 1963 | 3.01% | - |
| 1962 | 3.03% | - |
| 1961 | 3.03% | - |
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/palestine | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Palestine's population grew by 2.39%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Palestine
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2396633
|
5500288
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 123/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.07% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
4.26 minutes
|
| One birth every |
9.43 minutes
|
3.76 minutes
|
| One death every |
21.4 minutes
|
14.1 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | +338 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,951 | +123,377 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.12% | +2.39% |
| Population growth rate rank | 93/197 | 34/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
22.8 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | -23,156 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 154/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 272,481 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 103/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 92/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Palestine
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | -23,156 |
| 2024 | - | -5,107 | - | -23,145 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 102,613 | -24,996 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | 123,987 | -5,006 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | 120,396 | -12,369 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 122,416 | -12,369 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 124,508 | -24,733 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 124,791 | -25,141 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 125,688 | -25,452 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 126,698 | -22,774 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 126,189 | -22,903 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 120,724 | -27,077 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 120,503 | -26,979 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 119,185 | -26,916 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 119,021 | -26,662 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 117,674 | -26,351 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 111,724 | -25,906 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 108,395 | -23,985 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 112,453 | -20,337 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 111,728 | -23,445 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 110,569 | -28,161 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 110,045 | -32,853 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 109,162 | -35,968 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 108,560 | -35,038 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 107,320 | -25,652 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 106,367 | -11,496 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 104,823 | -13,860 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 103,566 | -13,146 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 102,307 | 10,417 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 98,085 | 9,810 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 94,037 | 8,763 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 90,156 | 7,434 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 86,434 | 5,975 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 82,865 | 4,411 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 79,444 | 2,116 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 76,163 | -476 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | - | -3,026 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | - | -3,008 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | - | 50,702 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | - | -21,071 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | - | -31,640 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | - | 9,108 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | - | 684 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | - | -9,799 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | - | -13,892 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | - | -15,067 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | - | -16,058 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | - | -16,654 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | - | -16,444 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | - | -14,515 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | - | -11,596 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | - | -8,670 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | - | -6,736 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | - | -7,848 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | - | -17,235 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | - | -31,405 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | - | -45,586 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | - | -54,963 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | - | -55,265 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | - | -47,780 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | - | -36,419 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | - | -31,125 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | - | -21,220 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | - | -18,971 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | - | -18,224 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | - | -17,662 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/palestine | 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 Palestine 85.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,218,010 people) and 14.3% is from migration (a loss of 202,820 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 272,481 people or 5% in Palestine.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Lesotho and Palestine
|
Lesotho
|
Palestine
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 77.4 years |
| Average age | 25.8 years | 25 years |
| Median age | 22.7 years | 20.9 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 49.6:50.4 |
| Fertility rate | 2.69 births per woman | 3.31 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 2,352 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/palestine | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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