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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 36,435,861 people in Poland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 36,007,074 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Poland's population is 15 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 -0.38% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 36M (5.6% decline).

Lesotho vs Poland: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Poland
2100 3,280,518 18,452,579
2099 3,286,430 18,644,857
2098 3,292,231 18,838,707
2097 3,297,835 19,033,962
2096 3,302,758 19,231,896
2095 3,307,678 19,431,204
2094 3,311,734 19,634,214
2093 3,315,488 19,840,304
2092 3,319,391 20,049,969
2091 3,322,303 20,263,764
2090 3,324,499 20,482,150
2089 3,326,577 20,705,051
2088 3,328,210 20,933,750
2087 3,329,694 21,167,790
2086 3,330,185 21,407,163
2085 3,330,989 21,652,018
2084 3,331,214 21,902,736
2083 3,331,221 22,159,983
2082 3,330,964 22,423,109
2081 3,330,141 22,691,495
2080 3,328,997 22,964,515
2079 3,326,895 23,242,960
2078 3,324,376 23,524,184
2077 3,321,152 23,811,918
2076 3,317,581 24,102,012
2075 3,313,968 24,395,355
2074 3,308,905 24,691,719
2073 3,303,592 24,990,908
2072 3,297,913 25,290,453
2071 3,291,224 25,590,102
2070 3,283,387 25,889,034
2069 3,274,978 26,187,633
2068 3,265,887 26,485,171
2067 3,256,362 26,780,961
2066 3,246,639 27,074,124
2065 3,236,890 27,364,039
2064 3,226,227 27,650,950
2063 3,214,843 27,934,132
2062 3,202,027 28,212,240
2061 3,188,674 28,487,283
2060 3,174,740 28,757,525
2059 3,159,947 29,025,705
2058 3,144,797 29,288,751
2057 3,129,007 29,548,996
2056 3,112,877 29,806,770
2055 3,095,653 30,060,951
2054 3,078,317 30,311,416
2053 3,059,904 30,559,065
2052 3,040,402 30,801,964
2051 3,019,864 31,043,690
2050 2,999,214 31,281,762
2049 2,977,795 31,516,893
2048 2,955,487 31,748,736
2047 2,932,450 31,978,608
2046 2,909,071 32,205,877
2045 2,885,303 32,431,013
2044 2,861,140 32,653,012
2043 2,836,547 32,873,136
2042 2,811,435 33,090,733
2041 2,785,921 33,303,578
2040 2,760,167 33,514,705
2039 2,734,178 33,722,530
2038 2,707,996 33,926,660
2037 2,681,646 34,126,585
2036 2,654,540 34,323,967
2035 2,627,488 34,515,669
2034 2,600,669 34,704,048
2033 2,573,856 34,887,791
2032 2,547,137 35,067,502
2031 2,520,626 35,242,658
2030 2,494,444 35,410,392
2029 2,468,067 35,572,635
2028 2,441,673 35,725,650
2027 2,415,634 35,870,384
2026 2,389,322 36,007,074
2025 2,363,325 36,435,861
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Poland's population decreased by 1,963,013 people (a 5.17% 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 24.8% to 2,999,214 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,281,762 people and rank change from 47th to 61st.

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 18.5M 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 1.11% -0.34%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/poland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Poland's population declined by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Poland
Current population
2402837
36007074
Population rank 143/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.43%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
4.27 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
2.08 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
1.28 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 -338
Annual growth/decline +25,902 -123,372
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% -0.34%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 179/197
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 31,050 -5,107 -157,205 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/poland | 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 Poland 53.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 832,648 people) and 46.1% is from migration (a gain of 712,179 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 (1960–2025, 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/poland | 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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