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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 10,804,871 people in Portugal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 10,788,071 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 4.49 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.35% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.8M (2.53% growth).

Lesotho vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Portugal
2100 3,280,518 9,079,610
2099 3,286,430 9,084,930
2098 3,292,231 9,089,064
2097 3,297,835 9,094,546
2096 3,302,758 9,100,755
2095 3,307,678 9,108,548
2094 3,311,734 9,113,366
2093 3,315,488 9,118,286
2092 3,319,391 9,123,579
2091 3,322,303 9,127,714
2090 3,324,499 9,132,140
2089 3,326,577 9,136,870
2088 3,328,210 9,141,647
2087 3,329,694 9,147,996
2086 3,330,185 9,152,804
2085 3,330,989 9,158,263
2084 3,331,214 9,165,158
2083 3,331,221 9,171,574
2082 3,330,964 9,179,958
2081 3,330,141 9,190,466
2080 3,328,997 9,201,621
2079 3,326,895 9,214,398
2078 3,324,376 9,228,555
2077 3,321,152 9,243,708
2076 3,317,581 9,262,542
2075 3,313,968 9,282,392
2074 3,308,905 9,305,608
2073 3,303,592 9,330,117
2072 3,297,913 9,353,771
2071 3,291,224 9,380,991
2070 3,283,387 9,409,668
2069 3,274,978 9,440,299
2068 3,265,887 9,473,457
2067 3,256,362 9,506,001
2066 3,246,639 9,539,597
2065 3,236,890 9,574,237
2064 3,226,227 9,611,738
2063 3,214,843 9,649,045
2062 3,202,027 9,686,737
2061 3,188,674 9,723,601
2060 3,174,740 9,762,379
2059 3,159,947 9,801,072
2058 3,144,797 9,841,936
2057 3,129,007 9,880,092
2056 3,112,877 9,918,643
2055 3,095,653 9,958,971
2054 3,078,317 9,997,570
2053 3,059,904 10,037,385
2052 3,040,402 10,076,095
2051 3,019,864 10,112,788
2050 2,999,214 10,149,626
2049 2,977,795 10,187,172
2048 2,955,487 10,221,034
2047 2,932,450 10,255,340
2046 2,909,071 10,289,266
2045 2,885,303 10,321,807
2044 2,861,140 10,353,338
2043 2,836,547 10,384,554
2042 2,811,435 10,412,950
2041 2,785,921 10,440,054
2040 2,760,167 10,469,380
2039 2,734,178 10,497,556
2038 2,707,996 10,523,869
2037 2,681,646 10,548,445
2036 2,654,540 10,573,361
2035 2,627,488 10,597,352
2034 2,600,669 10,621,955
2033 2,573,856 10,645,024
2032 2,547,137 10,668,384
2031 2,520,626 10,689,372
2030 2,494,444 10,708,819
2029 2,468,067 10,729,893
2028 2,441,673 10,752,023
2027 2,415,634 10,770,712
2026 2,389,322 10,788,071
2025 2,363,325 10,804,871
2024 2,337,423 10,694,681
2023 2,311,472 10,578,174
2022 2,286,110 10,434,332
2021 2,261,542 10,361,831
2020 2,235,727 10,297,081
2019 2,209,405 10,286,263
2018 2,183,603 10,283,822
2017 2,157,110 10,300,300
2016 2,130,422 10,325,452
2015 2,104,611 10,358,076
2014 2,080,089 10,401,062
2013 2,056,504 10,457,295
2012 2,034,354 10,514,844
2011 2,014,009 10,557,560
2010 1,996,251 10,573,100
2009 1,980,883 10,568,247
2008 1,966,541 10,558,177
2007 1,953,268 10,542,964
2006 1,945,063 10,522,288
2005 1,953,076 10,503,330
2004 1,971,129 10,483,861
2003 1,985,059 10,458,821
2002 1,994,679 10,419,631
2001 2,000,853 10,362,722
2000 2,003,913 10,289,898
1999 2,003,234 10,217,828
1998 1,998,049 10,160,196
1997 1,988,130 10,108,977
1996 1,972,418 10,063,945
1995 1,951,437 10,026,176
1994 1,927,707 9,991,525
1993 1,901,793 9,964,675
1992 1,873,274 9,952,494
1991 1,842,379 9,960,235
1990 1,809,696 9,983,218
1989 1,775,436 10,005,000
1988 1,739,841 10,019,610
1987 1,703,390 10,030,031
1986 1,666,138 10,032,734
1985 1,624,379 10,023,613
1984 1,578,986 9,996,232
1983 1,534,413 9,957,865
1982 1,490,732 9,911,771
1981 1,448,069 9,851,362
1980 1,406,521 9,766,312
1979 1,366,169 9,661,265
1978 1,327,240 9,558,250
1977 1,289,967 9,455,675
1976 1,253,214 9,355,810
1975 1,213,643 9,093,470
1974 1,172,420 8,754,365
1973 1,132,697 8,633,100
1972 1,094,063 8,630,430
1971 1,056,246 8,643,756
1970 1,019,273 8,680,431
1969 983,202 8,757,705
1968 948,105 8,836,650
1967 913,982 8,874,520
1966 881,870 8,930,990
1965 854,090 8,998,595
1964 829,437 9,035,365
1963 805,373 9,030,355
1962 781,814 8,993,985
1961 758,824 8,929,316
1960 736,500 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 462,619 people (a 4.48% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,149,626 people and rank change from 91st to 97th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2025 at 10.8M people and is projected to decrease to 9.08M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Portugal
2100 -0.18% -0.06%
2099 -0.18% -0.05%
2098 -0.17% -0.06%
2097 -0.15% -0.07%
2096 -0.15% -0.09%
2095 -0.12% -0.05%
2094 -0.11% -0.05%
2093 -0.12% -0.06%
2092 -0.09% -0.05%
2091 -0.07% -0.05%
2090 -0.06% -0.05%
2089 -0.05% -0.05%
2088 -0.04% -0.07%
2087 -0.01% -0.05%
2086 -0.02% -0.06%
2085 -0.007% -0.08%
2084 -0% -0.07%
2083 0.008% -0.09%
2082 0.02% -0.11%
2081 0.03% -0.12%
2080 0.06% -0.14%
2079 0.08% -0.15%
2078 0.1% -0.16%
2077 0.11% -0.2%
2076 0.11% -0.21%
2075 0.15% -0.25%
2074 0.16% -0.26%
2073 0.17% -0.25%
2072 0.2% -0.29%
2071 0.24% -0.3%
2070 0.26% -0.32%
2069 0.28% -0.35%
2068 0.29% -0.34%
2067 0.3% -0.35%
2066 0.3% -0.36%
2065 0.33% -0.39%
2064 0.35% -0.39%
2063 0.4% -0.39%
2062 0.42% -0.38%
2061 0.44% -0.4%
2060 0.47% -0.39%
2059 0.48% -0.42%
2058 0.5% -0.39%
2057 0.52% -0.39%
2056 0.56% -0.4%
2055 0.56% -0.39%
2054 0.6% -0.4%
2053 0.64% -0.38%
2052 0.68% -0.36%
2051 0.69% -0.36%
2050 0.72% -0.37%
2049 0.75% -0.33%
2048 0.79% -0.33%
2047 0.8% -0.33%
2046 0.82% -0.32%
2045 0.84% -0.3%
2044 0.87% -0.3%
2043 0.89% -0.27%
2042 0.92% -0.26%
2041 0.93% -0.28%
2040 0.95% -0.27%
2039 0.97% -0.25%
2038 0.98% -0.23%
2037 1.02% -0.24%
2036 1.03% -0.23%
2035 1.03% -0.23%
2034 1.04% -0.22%
2033 1.05% -0.22%
2032 1.05% -0.2%
2031 1.05% -0.18%
2030 1.07% -0.2%
2029 1.08% -0.21%
2028 1.08% -0.17%
2027 1.1% -0.16%
2026 1.1% -0.16%
2025 1.11% 1.03%
2024 1.12% 1.1%
2023 1.11% 1.38%
2022 1.09% 0.7%
2021 1.15% 0.63%
2020 1.19% 0.11%
2019 1.18% 0.02%
2018 1.23% -0.16%
2017 1.25% -0.24%
2016 1.23% -0.31%
2015 1.18% -0.41%
2014 1.15% -0.54%
2013 1.09% -0.55%
2012 1.01% -0.4%
2011 0.89% -0.15%
2010 0.78% 0.05%
2009 0.73% 0.1%
2008 0.68% 0.14%
2007 0.42% 0.2%
2006 -0.41% 0.18%
2005 -0.92% 0.19%
2004 -0.7% 0.24%
2003 -0.48% 0.38%
2002 -0.31% 0.55%
2001 -0.15% 0.71%
2000 0.03% 0.71%
1999 0.26% 0.57%
1998 0.5% 0.51%
1997 0.8% 0.45%
1996 1.08% 0.38%
1995 1.23% 0.35%
1994 1.36% 0.27%
1993 1.52% 0.12%
1992 1.68% -0.08%
1991 1.81% -0.23%
1990 1.93% -0.22%
1989 2.05% -0.15%
1988 2.14% -0.1%
1987 2.24% -0.03%
1986 2.57% 0.09%
1985 2.87% 0.27%
1984 2.9% 0.39%
1983 2.93% 0.47%
1982 2.95% 0.61%
1981 2.95% 0.87%
1980 2.95% 1.09%
1979 2.93% 1.08%
1978 2.89% 1.08%
1977 2.93% 1.07%
1976 3.26% 2.88%
1975 3.52% 3.87%
1974 3.51% 1.4%
1973 3.53% 0.03%
1972 3.58% -0.15%
1971 3.63% -0.42%
1970 3.67% -0.88%
1969 3.7% -0.89%
1968 3.73% -0.43%
1967 3.64% -0.63%
1966 3.25% -0.75%
1965 2.97% -0.41%
1964 2.99% 0.06%
1963 3.01% 0.4%
1962 3.03% 0.72%
1961 3.03% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Portugal
Current population
2402837
10788071
Population rank 143/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.13%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
4.78 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
6.22 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
4.43 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +302
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +110,190
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 99/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
32 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +16,472
Net migration rank 117/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 16,472
2024 31,050 -5,107 -34,223 20,648
2023 31,115 -5,168 -32,792 29,102
2022 30,803 -6,023 -40,694 68,696
2021 27,806 -3,449 -45,592 69,606
2020 30,721 -3,449 -39,129 54,076
2019 32,279 -6,896 -24,687 63,031
2018 33,112 -6,892 -25,709 22,495
2017 33,601 -6,850 -23,691 13,979
2016 33,390 -6,766 -23,749 -775
2015 32,087 -7,087 -23,823 -3,209
2014 30,922 -6,877 -22,882 -26,447
2013 29,789 -6,659 -24,052 -36,342
2012 27,592 -6,425 -17,875 -37,083
2011 25,647 -6,118 -5,279 -31,513
2010 21,877 -5,886 -4,230 -5,627
2009 20,335 -5,599 -5,284 14,532
2008 19,349 -5,392 0 9,478
2007 17,763 -5,179 -1,055 21,064
2006 15,234 -11,416 3,156 16,754
2005 15,831 -35,679 2,101 15,537
2004 17,271 -33,530 7,339 13,928
2003 20,133 -31,723 4,184 24,740
2002 22,274 -29,924 8,335 42,169
2001 23,190 -27,874 8,290 55,565
2000 24,786 -26,220 15,435 60,586
1999 27,393 -24,610 8,175 49,572
1998 30,889 -23,299 7,112 40,931
1997 34,637 -22,396 8,087 36,922
1996 36,228 -17,042 4,026 32,640
1995 37,370 -14,588 4,011 26,971
1994 38,629 -13,953 9,991 20,761
1993 40,505 -13,347 7,972 8,561
1992 42,579 -12,707 13,933 -11,847
1991 44,026 -12,114 12,948 -37,914
1990 45,060 -11,598 13,976 -34,855
1989 46,264 -11,207 22,011 -30,615
1988 47,158 -11,028 24,047 -26,595
1987 47,718 -10,946 28,084 -23,142
1986 45,232 -7,501 31,102 -20,000
1985 44,575 1,222 33,077 -19,183
1984 43,785 1,199 45,983 -16,658
1983 42,899 1,253 47,798 -16,568
1982 41,941 1,281 58,479 -15,006
1981 40,808 1,307 56,152 -7,938
1980 39,617 1,361 63,481 29,881
1979 38,440 1,285 67,628 32,434
1978 37,084 1,047 70,731 34,345
1977 35,654 746 84,156 37,779
1976 34,117 2,986 85,138 40,490
1975 32,311 9,723 81,841 42,262
1974 30,444 9,972 74,412 41,254
1973 28,859 10,183 76,835 39,748
1972 27,841 10,386 83,715 39,058
1971 26,838 10,563 82,980 48,944
1970 25,935 10,605 87,672 -191,862
1969 25,137 10,465 89,329 -161,114
1968 24,490 10,108 100,737 -145,200
1967 23,911 9,734 106,495 -136,232
1966 23,326 7,248 107,171 -129,233
1965 22,755 2,239 115,182 -123,855
1964 22,116 2,198 120,170 -118,763
1963 21,585 2,220 113,783 -116,874
1962 21,132 2,172 123,217 -113,947
1961 20,581 2,100 117,867 -112,768
1960 19,981 1,989 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/portugal | 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 Portugal 48.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 314,089 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 337,649 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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