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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 4,515,577 people in Panama in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 4,642,198 in Panama.

Population statistics:

  • Panama's population is 1.94 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Panama is the 128th.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.06% for Panama.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.52% in Panama.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Panama has grown from 3.38M to 4.64M (37.5% growth).

Lesotho vs Panama: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Panama
2100 3,280,784 5,947,731
2099 3,286,697 5,958,919
2098 3,292,498 5,969,676
2097 3,298,102 5,979,860
2096 3,303,027 5,989,615
2095 3,307,947 5,998,960
2094 3,312,002 6,007,655
2093 3,315,757 6,015,893
2092 3,319,661 6,023,482
2091 3,322,573 6,030,584
2090 3,324,769 6,037,116
2089 3,326,847 6,043,194
2088 3,328,480 6,048,506
2087 3,329,964 6,053,252
2086 3,330,456 6,057,347
2085 3,331,259 6,060,940
2084 3,331,485 6,063,735
2083 3,331,492 6,065,863
2082 3,331,234 6,067,171
2081 3,330,412 6,067,635
2080 3,329,267 6,067,317
2079 3,327,166 6,066,164
2078 3,324,646 6,064,127
2077 3,321,422 6,061,297
2076 3,317,850 6,057,645
2075 3,314,237 6,053,134
2074 3,309,174 6,047,620
2073 3,303,860 6,041,318
2072 3,298,181 6,034,065
2071 3,291,492 6,026,051
2070 3,283,654 6,017,288
2069 3,275,244 6,007,621
2068 3,266,152 5,997,109
2067 3,256,626 5,985,932
2066 3,246,903 5,973,853
2065 3,237,153 5,961,039
2064 3,226,489 5,947,320
2063 3,215,103 5,932,822
2062 3,202,287 5,917,367
2061 3,188,933 5,900,972
2060 3,174,998 5,883,654
2059 3,160,204 5,865,433
2058 3,145,053 5,846,037
2057 3,129,261 5,825,696
2056 3,113,129 5,804,369
2055 3,095,904 5,781,900
2054 3,078,567 5,758,339
2053 3,060,152 5,733,538
2052 3,040,649 5,707,562
2051 3,020,109 5,680,231
2050 2,999,457 5,651,617
2049 2,978,037 5,621,841
2048 2,955,727 5,590,701
2047 2,932,688 5,558,382
2046 2,909,307 5,524,843
2045 2,885,537 5,490,228
2044 2,861,372 5,454,371
2043 2,836,777 5,417,316
2042 2,811,663 5,379,169
2041 2,786,147 5,339,872
2040 2,760,391 5,299,492
2039 2,734,400 5,257,983
2038 2,708,216 5,215,284
2037 2,681,863 5,171,497
2036 2,654,755 5,126,814
2035 2,627,701 5,081,210
2034 2,600,880 5,034,708
2033 2,574,065 4,987,247
2032 2,547,344 4,938,646
2031 2,520,831 4,889,260
2030 2,494,646 4,838,970
2029 2,468,268 4,787,654
2028 2,441,871 4,735,214
2027 2,415,830 4,681,847
2026 2,389,516 4,627,497
2025 2,363,516 4,572,106
2024 2,337,423 4,515,577
2023 2,311,472 4,458,759
2022 2,286,110 4,400,773
2021 2,261,542 4,345,405
2020 2,235,727 4,293,261
2019 2,209,405 4,234,700
2018 2,183,603 4,167,860
2017 2,157,110 4,098,707
2016 2,130,422 4,029,086
2015 2,104,611 3,960,035
2014 2,080,089 3,892,101
2013 2,056,504 3,825,329
2012 2,034,354 3,759,256
2011 2,014,009 3,693,505
2010 1,996,251 3,628,535
2009 1,980,883 3,564,381
2008 1,966,541 3,500,648
2007 1,953,268 3,437,490
2006 1,945,063 3,375,024
2005 1,953,076 3,313,026
2004 1,971,129 3,251,155
2003 1,985,059 3,189,807
2002 1,994,679 3,129,344
2001 2,000,853 3,069,537
2000 2,003,913 3,010,369
1999 2,003,234 2,951,822
1998 1,998,049 2,893,914
1997 1,988,130 2,836,695
1996 1,972,418 2,780,227
1995 1,951,437 2,724,557
1994 1,927,707 2,669,546
1993 1,901,793 2,615,099
1992 1,873,274 2,561,336
1991 1,842,379 2,508,265
1990 1,809,696 2,455,583
1989 1,775,436 2,403,820
1988 1,739,841 2,352,848
1987 1,703,390 2,301,970
1986 1,666,138 2,251,325
1985 1,624,379 2,200,915
1984 1,578,986 2,150,782
1983 1,534,413 2,101,106
1982 1,490,732 2,052,271
1981 1,448,069 2,004,418
1980 1,406,521 1,957,534
1979 1,366,169 1,911,552
1978 1,327,240 1,866,311
1977 1,289,967 1,821,543
1976 1,253,214 1,776,935
1975 1,213,643 1,732,389
1974 1,172,420 1,687,926
1973 1,132,697 1,643,690
1972 1,094,063 1,599,723
1971 1,056,246 1,556,081
1970 1,019,273 1,513,070
1969 983,202 1,470,886
1968 948,105 1,429,447
1967 913,982 1,388,628
1966 881,870 1,348,388
1965 854,090 1,308,835
1964 829,437 1,270,065
1963 805,373 1,232,124
1962 781,814 1,195,301
1961 758,824 1,159,870
1960 736,500 1,126,005

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/panama | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Panama gained 654,062 people (a 19.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Panama's population increased by 613,112 people (a 15.2% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Panama was ranked 128th in 2006 and still ranked 128th 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 Panama will increase by 21.7% to 5,651,617 people and rank change from 128th to 124th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 6.07M people in 2081 for Panama.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Panama
2100 -0.18% -0.19%
2099 -0.18% -0.18%
2098 -0.17% -0.17%
2097 -0.15% -0.16%
2096 -0.15% -0.16%
2095 -0.12% -0.14%
2094 -0.11% -0.14%
2093 -0.12% -0.13%
2092 -0.09% -0.12%
2091 -0.07% -0.11%
2090 -0.06% -0.1%
2089 -0.05% -0.09%
2088 -0.04% -0.08%
2087 -0.01% -0.07%
2086 -0.02% -0.06%
2085 -0.007% -0.05%
2084 -0% -0.04%
2083 0.008% -0.02%
2082 0.02% -0.008%
2081 0.03% 0.005%
2080 0.06% 0.02%
2079 0.08% 0.03%
2078 0.1% 0.05%
2077 0.11% 0.06%
2076 0.11% 0.07%
2075 0.15% 0.09%
2074 0.16% 0.1%
2073 0.17% 0.12%
2072 0.2% 0.13%
2071 0.24% 0.15%
2070 0.26% 0.16%
2069 0.28% 0.18%
2068 0.29% 0.19%
2067 0.3% 0.2%
2066 0.3% 0.21%
2065 0.33% 0.23%
2064 0.35% 0.24%
2063 0.4% 0.26%
2062 0.42% 0.28%
2061 0.44% 0.29%
2060 0.47% 0.31%
2059 0.48% 0.33%
2058 0.5% 0.35%
2057 0.52% 0.37%
2056 0.56% 0.39%
2055 0.56% 0.41%
2054 0.6% 0.43%
2053 0.64% 0.46%
2052 0.68% 0.48%
2051 0.69% 0.51%
2050 0.72% 0.53%
2049 0.75% 0.56%
2048 0.79% 0.58%
2047 0.8% 0.61%
2046 0.82% 0.63%
2045 0.84% 0.66%
2044 0.87% 0.68%
2043 0.89% 0.71%
2042 0.92% 0.74%
2041 0.93% 0.76%
2040 0.95% 0.79%
2039 0.97% 0.82%
2038 0.98% 0.85%
2037 1.02% 0.87%
2036 1.03% 0.9%
2035 1.03% 0.92%
2034 1.04% 0.95%
2033 1.05% 0.98%
2032 1.05% 1.01%
2031 1.05% 1.04%
2030 1.07% 1.07%
2029 1.08% 1.11%
2028 1.08% 1.14%
2027 1.1% 1.17%
2026 1.1% 1.21%
2025 1.12% 1.25%
2024 1.12% 1.27%
2023 1.11% 1.32%
2022 1.09% 1.27%
2021 1.15% 1.21%
2020 1.19% 1.38%
2019 1.18% 1.6%
2018 1.23% 1.69%
2017 1.25% 1.73%
2016 1.23% 1.74%
2015 1.18% 1.75%
2014 1.15% 1.75%
2013 1.09% 1.76%
2012 1.01% 1.78%
2011 0.89% 1.79%
2010 0.78% 1.8%
2009 0.73% 1.82%
2008 0.68% 1.84%
2007 0.42% 1.85%
2006 -0.41% 1.87%
2005 -0.92% 1.9%
2004 -0.7% 1.92%
2003 -0.48% 1.93%
2002 -0.31% 1.95%
2001 -0.15% 1.97%
2000 0.03% 1.98%
1999 0.26% 2%
1998 0.5% 2.02%
1997 0.8% 2.03%
1996 1.08% 2.04%
1995 1.23% 2.06%
1994 1.36% 2.08%
1993 1.52% 2.1%
1992 1.68% 2.12%
1991 1.81% 2.15%
1990 1.93% 2.15%
1989 2.05% 2.17%
1988 2.14% 2.21%
1987 2.24% 2.25%
1986 2.57% 2.29%
1985 2.87% 2.33%
1984 2.9% 2.36%
1983 2.93% 2.38%
1982 2.95% 2.39%
1981 2.95% 2.4%
1980 2.95% 2.41%
1979 2.93% 2.42%
1978 2.89% 2.46%
1977 2.93% 2.51%
1976 3.26% 2.57%
1975 3.52% 2.63%
1974 3.51% 2.69%
1973 3.53% 2.75%
1972 3.58% 2.8%
1971 3.63% 2.84%
1970 3.67% 2.87%
1969 3.7% 2.9%
1968 3.73% 2.94%
1967 3.64% 2.98%
1966 3.25% 3.02%
1965 2.97% 3.05%
1964 2.99% 3.08%
1963 3.01% 3.08%
1962 3.03% 3.05%
1961 3.03% 3.01%

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/panama | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Panama's population grew by 1.27%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Panama
Current population
2396633
4642198
Population rank 143/197 128/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.06%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
9.25 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
7.35 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
24.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +156
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +56,818
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.27%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 83/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 +6,151
Net migration rank 117/196 49/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 477,749
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 81/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 63/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Panama
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Panama
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 6,151
2024 - -5,107 - 6,706
2023 31,115 -5,168 50,197 7,262
2022 30,803 -6,023 50,556 7,967
2021 27,806 -3,449 46,747 5,473
2020 30,721 -3,449 46,599 5,473
2019 32,279 -6,896 54,420 10,623
2018 33,112 -6,892 57,508 11,130
2017 33,601 -6,850 58,607 11,059
2016 33,390 -6,766 59,454 10,109
2015 32,087 -7,087 59,896 8,648
2014 30,922 -6,877 60,227 7,105
2013 29,789 -6,659 60,295 5,926
2012 27,592 -6,425 60,471 5,447
2011 25,647 -6,118 60,411 5,167
2010 21,877 -5,886 59,418 4,953
2009 20,335 -5,599 59,168 4,765
2008 19,349 -5,392 58,961 4,568
2007 17,763 -5,179 58,454 4,330
2006 15,234 -11,416 58,067 4,087
2005 15,831 -35,679 58,014 3,843
2004 17,271 -33,530 58,281 3,596
2003 20,133 -31,723 57,458 3,352
2002 22,274 -29,924 57,011 3,099
2001 23,190 -27,874 56,654 2,856
2000 24,786 -26,220 56,236 2,602
1999 27,393 -24,610 55,911 2,341
1998 30,889 -23,299 55,482 2,084
1997 34,637 -22,396 55,060 1,820
1996 36,228 -17,042 54,512 1,533
1995 37,370 -14,588 54,069 1,221
1994 38,629 -13,953 53,845 899
1993 40,505 -13,347 53,591 560
1992 42,579 -12,707 53,186 182
1991 44,026 -12,114 53,079 -305
1990 45,060 -11,598 53,451 -854
1989 46,264 -11,207 52,295 -1,368
1988 47,158 -11,028 52,767 -1,750
1987 47,718 -10,946 52,690 -1,953
1986 45,232 -7,501 52,681 -2,136
1985 44,575 1,222 52,573 -2,297
1984 43,785 1,199 52,436 -2,435
1983 42,899 1,253 51,880 -2,518
1982 41,941 1,281 50,858 -2,554
1981 40,808 1,307 50,018 -2,620
1980 39,617 1,361 49,077 -2,701
1979 38,440 1,285 48,362 -2,772
1978 37,084 1,047 47,694 -2,811
1977 35,654 746 47,438 -2,792
1976 34,117 2,986 47,307 -2,727
1975 32,311 9,723 47,149 -2,635
1974 30,444 9,972 46,932 -2,531
1973 28,859 10,183 46,540 -2,464
1972 27,841 10,386 46,311 -2,448
1971 26,838 10,563 45,867 -2,454
1970 25,935 10,605 45,075 -2,476
1969 25,137 10,465 44,278 -2,510
1968 24,490 10,108 43,641 -2,528
1967 23,911 9,734 43,054 -2,528
1966 23,326 7,248 42,457 -2,500
1965 22,755 2,239 41,604 -2,454
1964 22,116 2,198 40,806 -2,418
1963 21,585 2,220 39,872 -2,380
1962 21,132 2,172 38,537 -2,377
1961 20,581 2,100 37,100 -2,394
1960 19,981 1,989 35,431 -2,409

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/panama | 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 Panama 86.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 544,211 people) and 13.5% is from migration (a gain of 84,849 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 477,749 people or 10.6% in Panama.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Panama
City Population
Panama 410K
Colon 242K
Santiago de Veraguas 110K
Tocumen 103K
David 82.9K
La Chorrera 68.9K
Pacora 52.5K
Penonome 21.7K
Balboa 10K
Chitre 9.02K

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/panama | 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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