Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 4.45 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • 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 +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

Lesotho vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Portugal
2100 3,280,784 8,977,781
2099 3,286,697 8,983,042
2098 3,292,498 8,987,129
2097 3,298,102 8,992,549
2096 3,303,027 8,998,689
2095 3,307,947 9,006,394
2094 3,312,002 9,011,158
2093 3,315,757 9,016,023
2092 3,319,661 9,021,257
2091 3,322,573 9,025,345
2090 3,324,769 9,029,722
2089 3,326,847 9,034,399
2088 3,328,480 9,039,122
2087 3,329,964 9,045,400
2086 3,330,456 9,050,153
2085 3,331,259 9,055,552
2084 3,331,485 9,062,369
2083 3,331,492 9,068,714
2082 3,331,234 9,077,003
2081 3,330,412 9,087,394
2080 3,329,267 9,098,423
2079 3,327,166 9,111,057
2078 3,324,646 9,125,056
2077 3,321,422 9,140,039
2076 3,317,850 9,158,661
2075 3,314,237 9,178,289
2074 3,309,174 9,201,245
2073 3,303,860 9,225,478
2072 3,298,181 9,248,867
2071 3,291,492 9,275,782
2070 3,283,654 9,304,137
2069 3,275,244 9,334,425
2068 3,266,152 9,367,211
2067 3,256,626 9,399,389
2066 3,246,903 9,432,609
2065 3,237,153 9,466,860
2064 3,226,489 9,503,941
2063 3,215,103 9,540,829
2062 3,202,287 9,578,098
2061 3,188,933 9,614,549
2060 3,174,998 9,652,893
2059 3,160,204 9,691,151
2058 3,145,053 9,731,557
2057 3,129,261 9,769,285
2056 3,113,129 9,807,403
2055 3,095,904 9,847,280
2054 3,078,567 9,885,446
2053 3,060,152 9,924,814
2052 3,040,649 9,963,090
2051 3,020,109 9,999,372
2050 2,999,457 10,035,796
2049 2,978,037 10,072,922
2048 2,955,727 10,106,403
2047 2,932,688 10,140,325
2046 2,909,307 10,173,871
2045 2,885,537 10,206,046
2044 2,861,372 10,237,224
2043 2,836,777 10,268,090
2042 2,811,663 10,296,167
2041 2,786,147 10,322,968
2040 2,760,391 10,351,965
2039 2,734,400 10,379,824
2038 2,708,216 10,405,843
2037 2,681,863 10,430,143
2036 2,654,755 10,454,779
2035 2,627,701 10,478,501
2034 2,600,880 10,502,828
2033 2,574,065 10,525,638
2032 2,547,344 10,548,736
2031 2,520,831 10,569,489
2030 2,494,646 10,588,717
2029 2,468,268 10,609,556
2028 2,441,871 10,631,437
2027 2,415,830 10,649,916
2026 2,389,516 10,667,081
2025 2,363,516 10,683,692
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M 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 1.12% -0.1%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Portugal
Current population
2396633
10667081
Population rank 143/197 92/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.13%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
4.51 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
6.13 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +319
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 94/197
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 - -5,107 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 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 (1960–2024, 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/portugal | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.