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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 34,576,665 people in Peru in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 35,105,331 in Peru.

Population statistics:

  • Peru's population is 14.6 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Peru is the 48th.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.42% for Peru.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.26% in Peru.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Peru has grown from 28.3M to 35.1M (23.9% growth).

Lesotho vs Peru: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Peru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Peru
2100 3,280,518 38,442,430
2099 3,286,430 38,609,486
2098 3,292,231 38,774,265
2097 3,297,835 38,937,509
2096 3,302,758 39,098,598
2095 3,307,678 39,257,494
2094 3,311,734 39,413,146
2093 3,315,488 39,567,920
2092 3,319,391 39,718,895
2091 3,322,303 39,867,036
2090 3,324,499 40,012,169
2089 3,326,577 40,153,701
2088 3,328,210 40,292,740
2087 3,329,694 40,428,045
2086 3,330,185 40,558,786
2085 3,330,989 40,685,268
2084 3,331,214 40,807,007
2083 3,331,221 40,923,102
2082 3,330,964 41,034,801
2081 3,330,141 41,140,743
2080 3,328,997 41,241,207
2079 3,326,895 41,334,845
2078 3,324,376 41,422,439
2077 3,321,152 41,503,511
2076 3,317,581 41,578,164
2075 3,313,968 41,645,808
2074 3,308,905 41,706,491
2073 3,303,592 41,759,277
2072 3,297,913 41,804,713
2071 3,291,224 41,842,534
2070 3,283,387 41,873,019
2069 3,274,978 41,895,381
2068 3,265,887 41,909,248
2067 3,256,362 41,914,729
2066 3,246,639 41,912,112
2065 3,236,890 41,901,353
2064 3,226,227 41,882,691
2063 3,214,843 41,855,037
2062 3,202,027 41,819,132
2061 3,188,674 41,774,412
2060 3,174,740 41,721,225
2059 3,159,947 41,659,921
2058 3,144,797 41,590,180
2057 3,129,007 41,511,131
2056 3,112,877 41,423,914
2055 3,095,653 41,327,613
2054 3,078,317 41,223,066
2053 3,059,904 41,109,699
2052 3,040,402 40,988,952
2051 3,019,864 40,860,060
2050 2,999,214 40,722,627
2049 2,977,795 40,577,434
2048 2,955,487 40,424,258
2047 2,932,450 40,261,875
2046 2,909,071 40,090,240
2045 2,885,303 39,910,095
2044 2,861,140 39,720,613
2043 2,836,547 39,523,731
2042 2,811,435 39,318,023
2041 2,785,921 39,103,923
2040 2,760,167 38,882,017
2039 2,734,178 38,652,110
2038 2,707,996 38,414,521
2037 2,681,646 38,168,782
2036 2,654,540 37,914,498
2035 2,627,488 37,652,693
2034 2,600,669 37,382,554
2033 2,573,856 37,105,048
2032 2,547,137 36,820,835
2031 2,520,626 36,529,111
2030 2,494,444 36,228,701
2029 2,468,067 35,919,668
2028 2,441,673 35,600,666
2027 2,415,634 35,271,163
2026 2,389,322 34,930,183
2025 2,363,325 34,576,665
2024 2,337,423 34,217,848
2023 2,311,472 33,845,617
2022 2,286,110 33,475,438
2021 2,261,542 33,155,882
2020 2,235,727 32,838,579
2019 2,209,405 32,449,303
2018 2,183,603 31,897,584
2017 2,157,110 31,324,637
2016 2,130,422 30,866,494
2015 2,104,611 30,457,600
2014 2,080,089 30,115,826
2013 2,056,504 29,817,919
2012 2,034,354 29,550,366
2011 2,014,009 29,304,086
2010 1,996,251 29,086,019
2009 1,980,883 28,896,811
2008 1,966,541 28,719,041
2007 1,953,268 28,530,699
2006 1,945,063 28,324,491
2005 1,953,076 28,101,180
2004 1,971,129 27,852,190
2003 1,985,059 27,580,490
2002 1,994,679 27,288,217
2001 2,000,853 26,964,601
2000 2,003,913 26,598,331
1999 2,003,234 26,186,504
1998 1,998,049 25,738,095
1997 1,988,130 25,274,147
1996 1,972,418 24,811,171
1995 1,951,437 24,348,919
1994 1,927,707 23,881,493
1993 1,901,793 23,413,783
1992 1,873,274 22,946,340
1991 1,842,379 22,483,775
1990 1,809,696 22,014,771
1989 1,775,436 21,532,589
1988 1,739,841 21,054,702
1987 1,703,390 20,582,320
1986 1,666,138 20,117,122
1985 1,624,379 19,648,204
1984 1,578,986 19,174,716
1983 1,534,413 18,705,957
1982 1,490,732 18,246,503
1981 1,448,069 17,798,805
1980 1,406,521 17,360,949
1979 1,366,169 16,933,139
1978 1,327,240 16,516,059
1977 1,289,967 16,109,806
1976 1,253,214 15,716,809
1975 1,213,643 15,333,957
1974 1,172,420 14,956,552
1973 1,132,697 14,582,867
1972 1,094,063 14,210,147
1971 1,056,246 13,838,067
1970 1,019,273 13,501,237
1969 983,202 13,166,767
1968 948,105 12,803,993
1967 913,982 12,448,814
1966 881,870 12,101,297
1965 854,090 11,761,085
1964 829,437 11,427,978
1963 805,373 11,102,099
1962 781,814 10,784,612
1961 758,824 10,475,123
1960 736,500 10,174,127

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/peru | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Peru gained 2,542,003 people (a 8.97% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Peru's population increased by 4,238,837 people (a 13.7% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Peru was ranked 40th in 2006 and ranked 48th 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 Peru will increase by 16% to 40,722,627 people and rank change from 48th to 51st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 41.9M people in 2067 for Peru.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Peru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Peru
2100 -0.18% -0.43%
2099 -0.18% -0.42%
2098 -0.17% -0.42%
2097 -0.15% -0.41%
2096 -0.15% -0.4%
2095 -0.12% -0.39%
2094 -0.11% -0.39%
2093 -0.12% -0.38%
2092 -0.09% -0.37%
2091 -0.07% -0.36%
2090 -0.06% -0.35%
2089 -0.05% -0.35%
2088 -0.04% -0.33%
2087 -0.01% -0.32%
2086 -0.02% -0.31%
2085 -0.007% -0.3%
2084 -0% -0.28%
2083 0.008% -0.27%
2082 0.02% -0.26%
2081 0.03% -0.24%
2080 0.06% -0.23%
2079 0.08% -0.21%
2078 0.1% -0.2%
2077 0.11% -0.18%
2076 0.11% -0.16%
2075 0.15% -0.15%
2074 0.16% -0.13%
2073 0.17% -0.11%
2072 0.2% -0.09%
2071 0.24% -0.07%
2070 0.26% -0.05%
2069 0.28% -0.03%
2068 0.29% -0.01%
2067 0.3% 0.006%
2066 0.3% 0.03%
2065 0.33% 0.04%
2064 0.35% 0.07%
2063 0.4% 0.09%
2062 0.42% 0.11%
2061 0.44% 0.13%
2060 0.47% 0.15%
2059 0.48% 0.17%
2058 0.5% 0.19%
2057 0.52% 0.21%
2056 0.56% 0.23%
2055 0.56% 0.25%
2054 0.6% 0.28%
2053 0.64% 0.29%
2052 0.68% 0.32%
2051 0.69% 0.34%
2050 0.72% 0.36%
2049 0.75% 0.38%
2048 0.79% 0.4%
2047 0.8% 0.43%
2046 0.82% 0.45%
2045 0.84% 0.48%
2044 0.87% 0.5%
2043 0.89% 0.52%
2042 0.92% 0.55%
2041 0.93% 0.57%
2040 0.95% 0.59%
2039 0.97% 0.62%
2038 0.98% 0.64%
2037 1.02% 0.67%
2036 1.03% 0.7%
2035 1.03% 0.72%
2034 1.04% 0.75%
2033 1.05% 0.77%
2032 1.05% 0.8%
2031 1.05% 0.83%
2030 1.07% 0.86%
2029 1.08% 0.9%
2028 1.08% 0.93%
2027 1.1% 0.98%
2026 1.1% 1.02%
2025 1.11% 1.05%
2024 1.12% 1.1%
2023 1.11% 1.11%
2022 1.09% 0.96%
2021 1.15% 0.97%
2020 1.19% 1.2%
2019 1.18% 1.73%
2018 1.23% 1.83%
2017 1.25% 1.48%
2016 1.23% 1.34%
2015 1.18% 1.13%
2014 1.15% 1%
2013 1.09% 0.91%
2012 1.01% 0.84%
2011 0.89% 0.75%
2010 0.78% 0.65%
2009 0.73% 0.62%
2008 0.68% 0.66%
2007 0.42% 0.73%
2006 -0.41% 0.79%
2005 -0.92% 0.89%
2004 -0.7% 0.99%
2003 -0.48% 1.07%
2002 -0.31% 1.2%
2001 -0.15% 1.38%
2000 0.03% 1.57%
1999 0.26% 1.74%
1998 0.5% 1.84%
1997 0.8% 1.87%
1996 1.08% 1.9%
1995 1.23% 1.96%
1994 1.36% 2%
1993 1.52% 2.04%
1992 1.68% 2.06%
1991 1.81% 2.13%
1990 1.93% 2.24%
1989 2.05% 2.27%
1988 2.14% 2.3%
1987 2.24% 2.31%
1986 2.57% 2.39%
1985 2.87% 2.47%
1984 2.9% 2.51%
1983 2.93% 2.52%
1982 2.95% 2.52%
1981 2.95% 2.52%
1980 2.95% 2.53%
1979 2.93% 2.53%
1978 2.89% 2.52%
1977 2.93% 2.5%
1976 3.26% 2.5%
1975 3.52% 2.52%
1974 3.51% 2.56%
1973 3.53% 2.62%
1972 3.58% 2.69%
1971 3.63% 2.49%
1970 3.67% 2.54%
1969 3.7% 2.83%
1968 3.73% 2.85%
1967 3.64% 2.87%
1966 3.25% 2.89%
1965 2.97% 2.91%
1964 2.99% 2.94%
1963 3.01% 2.94%
1962 3.03% 2.95%
1961 3.03% 2.96%

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/peru | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Peru's population grew by 1.05%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Peru
Current population
2402837
35105331
Population rank 143/197 48/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.42%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.47 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
58.5 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
2.75 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +983
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +358,817
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +1.05%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 97/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
44.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +11,931
Net migration rank 117/196 41/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 1,837,219
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 39/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 5.4%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 90/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Peru
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Peru
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 11,931
2024 31,050 -5,107 347,517 18,406
2023 31,115 -5,168 353,788 24,783
2022 30,803 -6,023 327,859 33,982
2021 27,806 -3,449 235,440 41,868
2020 30,721 -3,449 301,950 55,375
2019 32,279 -6,896 346,981 74,270
2018 33,112 -6,892 343,123 339,067
2017 33,601 -6,850 349,333 114,382
2016 33,390 -6,766 355,859 96,740
2015 32,087 -7,087 362,781 2,421
2014 30,922 -6,877 368,708 -50,383
2013 29,789 -6,659 372,694 -95,214
2012 27,592 -6,425 376,501 -118,863
2011 25,647 -6,118 383,268 -148,339
2010 21,877 -5,886 382,510 -181,302
2009 20,335 -5,599 396,522 -219,314
2008 19,349 -5,392 413,640 -235,307
2007 17,763 -5,179 435,122 -236,745
2006 15,234 -11,416 445,884 -231,851
2005 15,831 -35,679 454,199 -221,652
2004 17,271 -33,530 459,617 -194,171
2003 20,133 -31,723 459,243 -181,276
2002 22,274 -29,924 463,709 -157,158
2001 23,190 -27,874 470,154 -129,481
2000 24,786 -26,220 484,222 -92,353
1999 27,393 -24,610 487,095 -55,325
1998 30,889 -23,299 489,436 -24,388
1997 34,637 -22,396 495,348 -32,515
1996 36,228 -17,042 501,855 -38,749
1995 37,370 -14,588 507,894 -46,499
1994 38,629 -13,953 512,735 -39,299
1993 40,505 -13,347 513,769 -51,775
1992 42,579 -12,707 514,618 -41,702
1991 44,026 -12,114 513,867 -61,645
1990 45,060 -11,598 515,233 -29,437
1989 46,264 -11,207 512,152 -33,569
1988 47,158 -11,028 508,429 -31,238
1987 47,718 -10,946 502,229 -34,651
1986 45,232 -7,501 496,712 -33,891
1985 44,575 1,222 488,887 -13,887
1984 43,785 1,199 477,968 -6,007
1983 42,899 1,253 469,781 -4,243
1982 41,941 1,281 461,107 -7,748
1981 40,808 1,307 453,158 -11,123
1980 39,617 1,361 445,100 -11,446
1979 38,440 1,285 439,110 -17,148
1978 37,084 1,047 432,127 -19,939
1977 35,654 746 425,428 -25,117
1976 34,117 2,986 420,284 -34,602
1975 32,311 9,723 414,400 -34,382
1974 30,444 9,972 408,299 -33,493
1973 28,859 10,183 400,752 -28,191
1972 27,841 10,386 396,960 -24,100
1971 26,838 10,563 391,506 -20,209
1970 25,935 10,605 318,022 -15,653
1969 25,137 10,465 379,347 -12,776
1968 24,490 10,108 372,379 -13,389
1967 23,911 9,734 365,224 -13,837
1966 23,326 7,248 356,819 -13,166
1965 22,755 2,239 349,245 -12,470
1964 22,116 2,198 341,570 -12,129
1963 21,585 2,220 332,352 -10,040
1962 21,132 2,172 321,716 -9,051
1961 20,581 2,100 313,385 -7,063
1960 19,981 1,989 302,924 -7,236

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/peru | 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 Peru 80.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,324,631 people) and 19.4% is from migration (a gain of 801,294 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 1,837,219 people or 5.4% in Peru.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Peru
City Population
Lima 9.94M
Arequipa 1.01M
Trujillo 920K
Chiclayo 553K
Callao 537K
Piura 473K
Cusco 428K
Chimbote 395K
Huancayo 378K
Iquitos 378K

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/peru | 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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