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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 36,559,233 people in Poland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 35,806,942 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Poland's population is 14.9 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Poland is the 47th.
  • The countries together account for 0.46% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.43% for Poland.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -0.36% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 35.8M (6.12% decline).

Lesotho vs Poland: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Poland
2100 3,280,784 18,350,017
2099 3,286,697 18,541,227
2098 3,292,498 18,733,999
2097 3,298,102 18,928,169
2096 3,303,027 19,125,003
2095 3,307,947 19,323,203
2094 3,312,002 19,525,085
2093 3,315,757 19,730,030
2092 3,319,661 19,938,529
2091 3,322,573 20,151,135
2090 3,324,769 20,368,308
2089 3,326,847 20,589,970
2088 3,328,480 20,817,398
2087 3,329,964 21,050,137
2086 3,330,456 21,288,179
2085 3,331,259 21,531,674
2084 3,331,485 21,780,998
2083 3,331,492 22,036,816
2082 3,331,234 22,298,479
2081 3,330,412 22,565,373
2080 3,329,267 22,836,875
2079 3,327,166 23,113,773
2078 3,324,646 23,393,434
2077 3,321,422 23,679,569
2076 3,317,850 23,968,050
2075 3,314,237 24,259,763
2074 3,309,174 24,554,480
2073 3,303,860 24,852,006
2072 3,298,181 25,149,886
2071 3,291,492 25,447,869
2070 3,283,654 25,745,140
2069 3,275,244 26,042,079
2068 3,266,152 26,337,963
2067 3,256,626 26,632,110
2066 3,246,903 26,923,643
2065 3,237,153 27,211,946
2064 3,226,489 27,497,263
2063 3,215,103 27,778,871
2062 3,202,287 28,055,433
2061 3,188,933 28,328,948
2060 3,174,998 28,597,687
2059 3,160,204 28,864,377
2058 3,145,053 29,125,961
2057 3,129,261 29,384,759
2056 3,113,129 29,641,101
2055 3,095,904 29,893,868
2054 3,078,567 30,142,942
2053 3,060,152 30,389,214
2052 3,040,649 30,630,763
2051 3,020,109 30,871,146
2050 2,999,457 31,107,894
2049 2,978,037 31,341,718
2048 2,955,727 31,572,273
2047 2,932,688 31,800,868
2046 2,909,307 32,026,873
2045 2,885,537 32,250,757
2044 2,861,372 32,471,522
2043 2,836,777 32,690,423
2042 2,811,663 32,906,811
2041 2,786,147 33,118,473
2040 2,760,391 33,328,426
2039 2,734,400 33,535,096
2038 2,708,216 33,738,091
2037 2,681,863 33,936,906
2036 2,654,755 34,133,190
2035 2,627,701 34,323,827
2034 2,600,880 34,511,159
2033 2,574,065 34,693,880
2032 2,547,344 34,872,593
2031 2,520,831 35,046,775
2030 2,494,646 35,213,577
2029 2,468,268 35,374,919
2028 2,441,871 35,527,083
2027 2,415,830 35,671,012
2026 2,389,516 35,806,942
2025 2,363,516 36,233,346
2024 2,337,423 36,559,233
2023 2,311,472 36,687,353
2022 2,286,110 36,821,749
2021 2,261,542 36,981,559
2020 2,235,727 37,515,748
2019 2,209,405 37,965,475
2018 2,183,603 37,974,750
2017 2,157,110 37,974,826
2016 2,130,422 37,970,087
2015 2,104,611 37,986,412
2014 2,080,089 38,011,735
2013 2,056,504 38,040,196
2012 2,034,354 38,063,164
2011 2,014,009 38,063,255
2010 1,996,251 38,042,794
2009 1,980,883 38,151,603
2008 1,966,541 38,125,759
2007 1,953,268 38,120,560
2006 1,945,063 38,141,267
2005 1,953,076 38,165,445
2004 1,971,129 38,182,222
2003 1,985,059 38,204,570
2002 1,994,679 38,230,364
2001 2,000,853 38,248,076
2000 2,003,913 38,258,629
1999 2,003,234 38,660,271
1998 1,998,049 38,663,481
1997 1,988,130 38,649,660
1996 1,972,418 38,624,370
1995 1,951,437 38,594,998
1994 1,927,707 38,542,652
1993 1,901,793 38,461,408
1992 1,873,274 38,363,667
1991 1,842,379 38,246,193
1990 1,809,696 38,110,782
1989 1,775,436 37,961,529
1988 1,739,841 37,824,487
1987 1,703,390 37,668,045
1986 1,666,138 37,456,119
1985 1,624,379 37,201,885
1984 1,578,986 36,904,134
1983 1,534,413 36,571,808
1982 1,490,732 36,230,481
1981 1,448,069 35,898,587
1980 1,406,521 35,574,150
1979 1,366,169 35,247,217
1978 1,327,240 34,965,600
1977 1,289,967 34,689,050
1976 1,253,214 34,356,300
1975 1,213,643 34,015,199
1974 1,172,420 33,678,899
1973 1,132,697 33,357,200
1972 1,094,063 33,055,650
1971 1,056,246 32,783,500
1970 1,019,273 32,664,300
1969 983,202 32,548,300
1968 948,105 32,294,655
1967 913,982 31,987,155
1966 881,870 31,681,000
1965 854,090 31,444,950
1964 829,437 31,139,450
1963 805,373 30,712,000
1962 781,814 30,308,500
1961 758,824 29,964,000
1960 736,500 29,637,450

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/poland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Poland lost 171,180 people (a 0.45% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Poland's population decreased by 2,163,145 people (a 5.7% decline).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Poland was ranked 32nd in 2006 and ranked 47th 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 Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,107,894 people and rank change from 47th to 62nd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Poland's population already peaked in 1998 at 38.7M people and is projected to decrease to 18.4M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Poland
2100 -0.18% -1.03%
2099 -0.18% -1.03%
2098 -0.17% -1.03%
2097 -0.15% -1.03%
2096 -0.15% -1.03%
2095 -0.12% -1.03%
2094 -0.11% -1.04%
2093 -0.12% -1.05%
2092 -0.09% -1.06%
2091 -0.07% -1.07%
2090 -0.06% -1.08%
2089 -0.05% -1.09%
2088 -0.04% -1.11%
2087 -0.01% -1.12%
2086 -0.02% -1.13%
2085 -0.007% -1.14%
2084 -0% -1.16%
2083 0.008% -1.17%
2082 0.02% -1.18%
2081 0.03% -1.19%
2080 0.06% -1.2%
2079 0.08% -1.2%
2078 0.1% -1.21%
2077 0.11% -1.2%
2076 0.11% -1.2%
2075 0.15% -1.2%
2074 0.16% -1.2%
2073 0.17% -1.18%
2072 0.2% -1.17%
2071 0.24% -1.15%
2070 0.26% -1.14%
2069 0.28% -1.12%
2068 0.29% -1.1%
2067 0.3% -1.08%
2066 0.3% -1.06%
2065 0.33% -1.04%
2064 0.35% -1.01%
2063 0.4% -0.99%
2062 0.42% -0.97%
2061 0.44% -0.94%
2060 0.47% -0.92%
2059 0.48% -0.9%
2058 0.5% -0.88%
2057 0.52% -0.86%
2056 0.56% -0.85%
2055 0.56% -0.83%
2054 0.6% -0.81%
2053 0.64% -0.79%
2052 0.68% -0.78%
2051 0.69% -0.76%
2050 0.72% -0.75%
2049 0.75% -0.73%
2048 0.79% -0.72%
2047 0.8% -0.71%
2046 0.82% -0.69%
2045 0.84% -0.68%
2044 0.87% -0.67%
2043 0.89% -0.66%
2042 0.92% -0.64%
2041 0.93% -0.63%
2040 0.95% -0.62%
2039 0.97% -0.6%
2038 0.98% -0.59%
2037 1.02% -0.58%
2036 1.03% -0.56%
2035 1.03% -0.54%
2034 1.04% -0.53%
2033 1.05% -0.51%
2032 1.05% -0.5%
2031 1.05% -0.47%
2030 1.07% -0.46%
2029 1.08% -0.43%
2028 1.08% -0.4%
2027 1.1% -0.38%
2026 1.1% -1.18%
2025 1.12% -0.89%
2024 1.12% -0.35%
2023 1.11% -0.36%
2022 1.09% -0.43%
2021 1.15% -1.42%
2020 1.19% -1.18%
2019 1.18% -0.02%
2018 1.23% -0%
2017 1.25% 0.01%
2016 1.23% -0.04%
2015 1.18% -0.07%
2014 1.15% -0.07%
2013 1.09% -0.06%
2012 1.01% -0%
2011 0.89% 0.05%
2010 0.78% -0.29%
2009 0.73% 0.07%
2008 0.68% 0.01%
2007 0.42% -0.05%
2006 -0.41% -0.06%
2005 -0.92% -0.04%
2004 -0.7% -0.06%
2003 -0.48% -0.07%
2002 -0.31% -0.05%
2001 -0.15% -0.03%
2000 0.03% -1.04%
1999 0.26% -0.008%
1998 0.5% 0.04%
1997 0.8% 0.07%
1996 1.08% 0.08%
1995 1.23% 0.14%
1994 1.36% 0.21%
1993 1.52% 0.25%
1992 1.68% 0.31%
1991 1.81% 0.36%
1990 1.93% 0.39%
1989 2.05% 0.36%
1988 2.14% 0.42%
1987 2.24% 0.57%
1986 2.57% 0.68%
1985 2.87% 0.81%
1984 2.9% 0.91%
1983 2.93% 0.94%
1982 2.95% 0.92%
1981 2.95% 0.91%
1980 2.95% 0.93%
1979 2.93% 0.81%
1978 2.89% 0.8%
1977 2.93% 0.97%
1976 3.26% 1%
1975 3.52% 1%
1974 3.51% 0.96%
1973 3.53% 0.91%
1972 3.58% 0.83%
1971 3.63% 0.36%
1970 3.67% 0.36%
1969 3.7% 0.79%
1968 3.73% 0.96%
1967 3.64% 0.97%
1966 3.25% 0.75%
1965 2.97% 0.98%
1964 2.99% 1.39%
1963 3.01% 1.33%
1962 3.03% 1.15%
1961 3.03% 1.1%

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/poland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Poland's population declined by 0.35%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Poland
Current population
2396633
35806942
Population rank 143/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.43%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
4.1 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
1.94 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
1.29 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 -351
Annual growth/decline +25,951 -128,120
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% -0.35%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 181/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.59 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -330,820
Net migration rank 117/196 191/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 1,739,901
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 41/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.5%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 97/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Poland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Poland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -330,820
2024 - -5,107 - -238,062
2023 31,115 -5,168 -135,743 -7,824
2022 30,803 -6,023 -143,605 967,744
2021 27,806 -3,449 -184,907 2,251
2020 30,721 -3,449 -120,050 3,920
2019 32,279 -6,896 -34,169 7,696
2018 33,112 -6,892 -26,582 -223
2017 33,601 -6,850 0 -21,535
2016 33,390 -6,766 -3,797 -5,675
2015 32,087 -7,087 -26,590 3,887
2014 30,922 -6,877 0 5,525
2013 29,789 -6,659 -19,020 12,402
2012 27,592 -6,425 0 4,635
2011 25,647 -6,118 11,419 45,951
2010 21,877 -5,886 38,043 119,623
2009 20,335 -5,599 30,521 -8,283
2008 19,349 -5,392 34,313 -42,288
2007 17,763 -5,179 11,436 -51,235
2006 15,234 -11,416 3,814 -68,882
2005 15,831 -35,679 -3,817 -41,942
2004 17,271 -33,530 -7,637 -38,216
2003 20,133 -31,723 -15,281 -19,039
2002 22,274 -29,924 -3,823 -16,462
2001 23,190 -27,874 3,825 -16,648
2000 24,786 -26,220 11,478 -15,921
1999 27,393 -24,610 0 -53,035
1998 30,889 -23,299 19,332 -39,509
1997 34,637 -22,396 34,785 -44,230
1996 36,228 -17,042 42,487 -45,349
1995 37,370 -14,588 46,314 -52,989
1994 38,629 -13,953 96,357 -41,845
1993 40,505 -13,347 103,846 -48,805
1992 42,579 -12,707 118,928 -46,893
1991 44,026 -12,114 141,511 -55,342
1990 45,060 -11,598 160,066 -50,339
1989 46,264 -11,207 182,215 -49,192
1988 47,158 -11,028 215,599 -101,671
1987 47,718 -10,946 226,008 -32,310
1986 45,232 -7,501 258,448 -22,520
1985 44,575 1,222 297,615 -27,277
1984 43,785 1,199 332,137 -18,402
1983 42,899 1,253 373,032 -26,724
1982 41,941 1,281 369,551 -34,980
1981 40,808 1,307 351,806 -16,155
1980 39,617 1,361 348,627 -42,420
1979 38,440 1,285 366,571 -22,162
1978 37,084 1,047 339,166 -62,936
1977 35,654 746 353,828 -33,496
1976 34,117 2,986 367,612 -25,716
1975 32,311 9,723 350,356 -31,346
1974 30,444 9,972 346,893 -18,273
1973 28,859 10,183 320,229 -29,335
1972 27,841 10,386 314,028 -15,004
1971 26,838 10,563 278,660 -31,767
1970 25,935 10,605 280,913 -66,859
1969 25,137 10,465 270,151 -26,744
1968 24,490 10,108 280,963 -11,905
1967 23,911 9,734 275,089 -25,479
1966 23,326 7,248 297,801 -17,158
1965 22,755 2,239 314,450 -21,658
1964 22,116 2,198 326,965 -23,273
1963 21,585 2,220 359,330 -13,770
1962 21,132 2,172 360,671 -31,021
1961 20,581 2,100 398,521 -20,044
1960 19,981 1,989 444,562 -6,306

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/poland | 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 Poland 41.4% is from natural causes (a loss of 675,443 people) and 58.6% is from migration (a gain of 955,766 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 1,739,901 people or 4.5% in Poland.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Poland
City Population
Warsaw 1.86M
Krakow 804K
Wroclaw 674K
Lodz 649K
Poznan 547K
Gdansk 488K
Szczecin 388K
Lublin 335K
Bydgoszcz 325K
Bialystok 290K

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/poland | 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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