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Population in Lesotho compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 4.59 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Lesotho vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Papua New Guinea
2100 3,280,784 18,802,138
2099 3,286,697 18,790,040
2098 3,292,498 18,776,265
2097 3,298,102 18,758,897
2096 3,303,027 18,737,707
2095 3,307,947 18,714,219
2094 3,312,002 18,687,257
2093 3,315,757 18,658,233
2092 3,319,661 18,625,772
2091 3,322,573 18,590,001
2090 3,324,769 18,549,501
2089 3,326,847 18,510,463
2088 3,328,480 18,468,827
2087 3,329,964 18,424,378
2086 3,330,456 18,376,043
2085 3,331,259 18,325,641
2084 3,331,485 18,274,394
2083 3,331,492 18,218,709
2082 3,331,234 18,163,177
2081 3,330,412 18,104,285
2080 3,329,267 18,039,008
2079 3,327,166 17,975,778
2078 3,324,646 17,908,670
2077 3,321,422 17,840,781
2076 3,317,850 17,771,791
2075 3,314,237 17,699,428
2074 3,309,174 17,625,044
2073 3,303,860 17,548,128
2072 3,298,181 17,466,649
2071 3,291,492 17,381,598
2070 3,283,654 17,295,105
2069 3,275,244 17,205,503
2068 3,266,152 17,112,154
2067 3,256,626 17,015,090
2066 3,246,903 16,915,436
2065 3,237,153 16,812,946
2064 3,226,489 16,708,669
2063 3,215,103 16,604,296
2062 3,202,287 16,497,292
2061 3,188,933 16,386,905
2060 3,174,998 16,270,535
2059 3,160,204 16,152,614
2058 3,145,053 16,032,684
2057 3,129,261 15,909,649
2056 3,113,129 15,784,519
2055 3,095,904 15,656,542
2054 3,078,567 15,523,143
2053 3,060,152 15,389,244
2052 3,040,649 15,250,715
2051 3,020,109 15,110,389
2050 2,999,457 14,968,530
2049 2,978,037 14,821,865
2048 2,955,727 14,673,459
2047 2,932,688 14,522,926
2046 2,909,307 14,370,120
2045 2,885,537 14,213,585
2044 2,861,372 14,056,036
2043 2,836,777 13,897,765
2042 2,811,663 13,738,690
2041 2,786,147 13,577,382
2040 2,760,391 13,413,396
2039 2,734,400 13,247,486
2038 2,708,216 13,079,352
2037 2,681,863 12,909,735
2036 2,654,755 12,738,223
2035 2,627,701 12,566,543
2034 2,600,880 12,392,476
2033 2,574,065 12,218,246
2032 2,547,344 12,042,345
2031 2,520,831 11,865,316
2030 2,494,646 11,685,599
2029 2,468,268 11,504,890
2028 2,441,871 11,322,573
2027 2,415,830 11,138,409
2026 2,389,516 10,952,454
2025 2,363,516 10,765,048
2024 2,337,423 10,576,502
2023 2,311,472 10,389,635
2022 2,286,110 10,203,169
2021 2,261,542 10,012,896
2020 2,235,727 9,815,746
2019 2,209,405 9,609,010
2018 2,183,603 9,394,513
2017 2,157,110 9,178,714
2016 2,130,422 8,961,718
2015 2,104,611 8,743,246
2014 2,080,089 8,523,441
2013 2,056,504 8,302,698
2012 2,034,354 8,081,390
2011 2,014,009 7,859,346
2010 1,996,251 7,633,523
2009 1,980,883 7,406,438
2008 1,966,541 7,183,002
2007 1,953,268 6,963,345
2006 1,945,063 6,747,720
2005 1,953,076 6,535,905
2004 1,971,129 6,328,041
2003 1,985,059 6,123,997
2002 1,994,679 5,924,003
2001 2,000,853 5,728,435
2000 2,003,913 5,537,064
1999 2,003,234 5,349,333
1998 1,998,049 5,166,390
1997 1,988,130 4,987,883
1996 1,972,418 4,813,361
1995 1,951,437 4,644,278
1994 1,927,707 4,480,208
1993 1,901,793 4,320,872
1992 1,873,274 4,166,699
1991 1,842,379 4,021,837
1990 1,809,696 3,896,481
1989 1,775,436 3,796,078
1988 1,739,841 3,711,880
1987 1,703,390 3,632,543
1986 1,666,138 3,554,793
1985 1,624,379 3,478,936
1984 1,578,986 3,405,198
1983 1,534,413 3,333,633
1982 1,490,732 3,264,291
1981 1,448,069 3,197,019
1980 1,406,521 3,131,512
1979 1,366,169 3,067,341
1978 1,327,240 3,003,714
1977 1,289,967 2,940,327
1976 1,253,214 2,877,327
1975 1,213,643 2,814,820
1974 1,172,420 2,752,671
1973 1,132,697 2,690,629
1972 1,094,063 2,628,432
1971 1,056,246 2,566,421
1970 1,019,273 2,505,628
1969 983,202 2,446,927
1968 948,105 2,390,803
1967 913,982 2,337,532
1966 881,870 2,285,774
1965 854,090 2,235,820
1964 829,437 2,188,325
1963 805,373 2,141,376
1962 781,814 2,093,919
1961 758,824 2,046,127
1960 736,500 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.18% 0.06%
2099 -0.18% 0.07%
2098 -0.17% 0.09%
2097 -0.15% 0.11%
2096 -0.15% 0.13%
2095 -0.12% 0.14%
2094 -0.11% 0.16%
2093 -0.12% 0.17%
2092 -0.09% 0.19%
2091 -0.07% 0.22%
2090 -0.06% 0.21%
2089 -0.05% 0.23%
2088 -0.04% 0.24%
2087 -0.01% 0.26%
2086 -0.02% 0.28%
2085 -0.007% 0.28%
2084 -0% 0.31%
2083 0.008% 0.31%
2082 0.02% 0.33%
2081 0.03% 0.36%
2080 0.06% 0.35%
2079 0.08% 0.37%
2078 0.1% 0.38%
2077 0.11% 0.39%
2076 0.11% 0.41%
2075 0.15% 0.42%
2074 0.16% 0.44%
2073 0.17% 0.47%
2072 0.2% 0.49%
2071 0.24% 0.5%
2070 0.26% 0.52%
2069 0.28% 0.55%
2068 0.29% 0.57%
2067 0.3% 0.59%
2066 0.3% 0.61%
2065 0.33% 0.62%
2064 0.35% 0.63%
2063 0.4% 0.65%
2062 0.42% 0.67%
2061 0.44% 0.72%
2060 0.47% 0.73%
2059 0.48% 0.75%
2058 0.5% 0.77%
2057 0.52% 0.79%
2056 0.56% 0.82%
2055 0.56% 0.86%
2054 0.6% 0.87%
2053 0.64% 0.91%
2052 0.68% 0.93%
2051 0.69% 0.95%
2050 0.72% 0.99%
2049 0.75% 1.01%
2048 0.79% 1.04%
2047 0.8% 1.06%
2046 0.82% 1.1%
2045 0.84% 1.12%
2044 0.87% 1.14%
2043 0.89% 1.16%
2042 0.92% 1.19%
2041 0.93% 1.22%
2040 0.95% 1.25%
2039 0.97% 1.29%
2038 0.98% 1.31%
2037 1.02% 1.35%
2036 1.03% 1.37%
2035 1.03% 1.4%
2034 1.04% 1.43%
2033 1.05% 1.46%
2032 1.05% 1.49%
2031 1.05% 1.54%
2030 1.07% 1.57%
2029 1.08% 1.61%
2028 1.08% 1.65%
2027 1.1% 1.7%
2026 1.1% 1.74%
2025 1.12% 1.78%
2024 1.12% 1.8%
2023 1.11% 1.83%
2022 1.09% 1.9%
2021 1.15% 2.01%
2020 1.19% 2.15%
2019 1.18% 2.28%
2018 1.23% 2.35%
2017 1.25% 2.42%
2016 1.23% 2.5%
2015 1.18% 2.58%
2014 1.15% 2.66%
2013 1.09% 2.74%
2012 1.01% 2.83%
2011 0.89% 2.96%
2010 0.78% 3.07%
2009 0.73% 3.11%
2008 0.68% 3.15%
2007 0.42% 3.2%
2006 -0.41% 3.24%
2005 -0.92% 3.28%
2004 -0.7% 3.33%
2003 -0.48% 3.38%
2002 -0.31% 3.41%
2001 -0.15% 3.46%
2000 0.03% 3.51%
1999 0.26% 3.54%
1998 0.5% 3.58%
1997 0.8% 3.63%
1996 1.08% 3.64%
1995 1.23% 3.66%
1994 1.36% 3.69%
1993 1.52% 3.7%
1992 1.68% 3.6%
1991 1.81% 3.22%
1990 1.93% 2.64%
1989 2.05% 2.27%
1988 2.14% 2.18%
1987 2.24% 2.19%
1986 2.57% 2.18%
1985 2.87% 2.17%
1984 2.9% 2.15%
1983 2.93% 2.12%
1982 2.95% 2.1%
1981 2.95% 2.09%
1980 2.95% 2.09%
1979 2.93% 2.12%
1978 2.89% 2.16%
1977 2.93% 2.19%
1976 3.26% 2.22%
1975 3.52% 2.26%
1974 3.51% 2.31%
1973 3.53% 2.37%
1972 3.58% 2.42%
1971 3.63% 2.43%
1970 3.67% 2.4%
1969 3.7% 2.35%
1968 3.73% 2.28%
1967 3.64% 2.26%
1966 3.25% 2.23%
1965 2.97% 2.17%
1964 2.99% 2.19%
1963 3.01% 2.27%
1962 3.03% 2.34%
1961 3.03% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Papua New Guinea
Current population
2396633
11002753
Population rank 143/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.13%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +512
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 59/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -5,192 -284
Net migration rank 117/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -284
2024 - -5,107 - -707
2023 31,115 -5,168 187,637 -787
2022 30,803 -6,023 186,861 -787
2021 27,806 -3,449 183,766 10,703
2020 30,721 -3,449 189,130 10,703
2019 32,279 -6,896 190,662 22,978
2018 33,112 -6,892 190,662 24,684
2017 33,601 -6,850 189,715 26,513
2016 33,390 -6,766 189,281 28,473
2015 32,087 -7,087 188,600 30,580
2014 30,922 -6,877 187,592 32,840
2013 29,789 -6,659 185,790 35,280
2012 27,592 -6,425 183,658 37,893
2011 25,647 -6,118 181,842 40,690
2010 21,877 -5,886 178,998 50,106
2009 20,335 -5,599 175,421 49,647
2008 19,349 -5,392 172,823 48,985
2007 17,763 -5,179 169,306 48,203
2006 15,234 -11,416 166,540 47,191
2005 15,831 -35,679 163,888 46,014
2004 17,271 -33,530 161,023 44,811
2003 20,133 -31,723 158,611 43,639
2002 22,274 -29,924 155,091 42,657
2001 23,190 -27,874 151,431 41,962
2000 24,786 -26,220 147,496 41,855
1999 27,393 -24,610 143,592 42,519
1998 30,889 -23,299 136,677 43,091
1997 34,637 -22,396 134,458 42,787
1996 36,228 -17,042 129,802 41,994
1995 37,370 -14,588 125,410 40,962
1994 38,629 -13,953 122,113 39,669
1993 40,505 -13,347 118,668 38,220
1992 42,579 -12,707 114,818 36,622
1991 44,026 -12,114 111,453 26,830
1990 45,060 -11,598 110,033 2,398
1989 46,264 -11,207 108,199 -19,824
1988 47,158 -11,028 106,256 -26,232
1987 47,718 -10,946 104,367 -25,720
1986 45,232 -7,501 102,346 -25,495
1985 44,575 1,222 100,333 -25,470
1984 43,785 1,199 98,103 -25,487
1983 42,899 1,253 95,982 -25,465
1982 41,941 1,281 93,522 -25,355
1981 40,808 1,307 91,767 -25,383
1980 39,617 1,361 90,266 -25,638
1979 38,440 1,285 89,330 -25,618
1978 37,084 1,047 88,747 -25,208
1977 35,654 746 87,954 -24,722
1976 34,117 2,986 86,965 -24,198
1975 32,311 9,723 85,809 -23,562
1974 30,444 9,972 84,829 -22,771
1973 28,859 10,183 83,821 -21,803
1972 27,841 10,386 82,672 -20,303
1971 26,838 10,563 80,599 -18,945
1970 25,935 10,605 78,712 -18,773
1969 25,137 10,465 76,454 -18,994
1968 24,490 10,108 73,983 -19,188
1967 23,911 9,734 71,519 -19,767
1966 23,326 7,248 69,206 -17,454
1965 22,755 2,239 66,693 -18,532
1964 22,116 2,198 64,558 -17,730
1963 21,585 2,220 62,260 -15,189
1962 21,132 2,172 59,974 -12,141
1961 20,581 2,100 58,151 -10,409
1960 19,981 1,989 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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