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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Romania's population is 7.86 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.26% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

Lesotho vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Romania
2100 3,280,784 10,801,385
2099 3,286,697 10,885,505
2098 3,292,498 10,969,050
2097 3,298,102 11,052,086
2096 3,303,027 11,134,776
2095 3,307,947 11,217,462
2094 3,312,002 11,299,298
2093 3,315,757 11,382,352
2092 3,319,661 11,464,817
2091 3,322,573 11,546,872
2090 3,324,769 11,630,335
2089 3,326,847 11,713,468
2088 3,328,480 11,796,733
2087 3,329,964 11,880,373
2086 3,330,456 11,966,550
2085 3,331,259 12,052,744
2084 3,331,485 12,140,454
2083 3,331,492 12,229,714
2082 3,331,234 12,319,480
2081 3,330,412 12,412,385
2080 3,329,267 12,507,333
2079 3,327,166 12,603,302
2078 3,324,646 12,700,870
2077 3,321,422 12,799,985
2076 3,317,850 12,900,610
2075 3,314,237 13,002,848
2074 3,309,174 13,107,513
2073 3,303,860 13,213,407
2072 3,298,181 13,323,211
2071 3,291,492 13,435,661
2070 3,283,654 13,550,449
2069 3,275,244 13,667,892
2068 3,266,152 13,786,771
2067 3,256,626 13,909,141
2066 3,246,903 14,034,214
2065 3,237,153 14,163,381
2064 3,226,489 14,293,294
2063 3,215,103 14,424,068
2062 3,202,287 14,557,025
2061 3,188,933 14,689,897
2060 3,174,998 14,821,441
2059 3,160,204 14,952,855
2058 3,145,053 15,082,857
2057 3,129,261 15,211,914
2056 3,113,129 15,340,213
2055 3,095,904 15,467,019
2054 3,078,567 15,590,545
2053 3,060,152 15,712,155
2052 3,040,649 15,834,374
2051 3,020,109 15,954,507
2050 2,999,457 16,073,070
2049 2,978,037 16,192,498
2048 2,955,727 16,311,535
2047 2,932,688 16,430,565
2046 2,909,307 16,547,661
2045 2,885,537 16,665,026
2044 2,861,372 16,783,383
2043 2,836,777 16,900,955
2042 2,811,663 17,018,000
2041 2,786,147 17,136,818
2040 2,760,391 17,253,674
2039 2,734,400 17,370,310
2038 2,708,216 17,488,193
2037 2,681,863 17,604,853
2036 2,654,755 17,721,511
2035 2,627,701 17,837,396
2034 2,600,880 17,950,976
2033 2,574,065 18,064,449
2032 2,547,344 18,176,399
2031 2,520,831 18,288,437
2030 2,494,646 18,399,699
2029 2,468,268 18,511,331
2028 2,441,871 18,621,197
2027 2,415,830 18,730,482
2026 2,389,516 18,839,108
2025 2,363,516 18,946,392
2024 2,337,423 19,051,804
2023 2,311,472 19,061,062
2022 2,286,110 19,048,502
2021 2,261,542 19,122,059
2020 2,235,727 19,265,250
2019 2,209,405 19,371,648
2018 2,183,603 19,473,970
2017 2,157,110 19,588,715
2016 2,130,422 19,702,267
2015 2,104,611 19,815,616
2014 2,080,089 19,908,979
2013 2,056,504 19,983,693
2012 2,034,354 20,058,035
2011 2,014,009 20,147,528
2010 1,996,251 20,246,871
2009 1,980,883 20,367,487
2008 1,966,541 20,537,875
2007 1,953,268 20,882,982
2006 1,945,063 21,193,760
2005 1,953,076 21,319,685
2004 1,971,129 21,451,748
2003 1,985,059 21,574,326
2002 1,994,679 21,730,496
2001 2,000,853 22,131,970
2000 2,003,913 22,442,971
1999 2,003,234 22,472,040
1998 1,998,049 22,507,344
1997 1,988,130 22,553,978
1996 1,972,418 22,619,004
1995 1,951,437 22,684,270
1994 1,927,707 22,730,211
1993 1,901,793 22,763,280
1992 1,873,274 22,794,284
1991 1,842,379 23,001,155
1990 1,809,696 23,201,835
1989 1,775,436 23,161,458
1988 1,739,841 23,057,662
1987 1,703,390 22,949,430
1986 1,666,138 22,836,841
1985 1,624,379 22,732,999
1984 1,578,986 22,640,547
1983 1,534,413 22,560,478
1982 1,490,732 22,475,741
1981 1,448,069 22,353,070
1980 1,406,521 22,207,282
1979 1,366,169 22,090,488
1978 1,327,240 21,951,464
1977 1,289,967 21,756,096
1976 1,253,214 21,551,634
1975 1,213,643 21,293,583
1974 1,172,420 21,029,429
1973 1,132,697 20,835,681
1972 1,094,063 20,657,957
1971 1,056,246 20,461,567
1970 1,019,273 20,250,398
1969 983,202 20,009,141
1968 948,105 19,799,831
1967 913,982 19,534,242
1966 881,870 19,215,450
1965 854,090 19,031,576
1964 829,437 18,919,126
1963 805,373 18,797,850
1962 781,814 18,676,550
1961 758,824 18,555,250
1960 736,500 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Romania
2100 -0.18% -0.77%
2099 -0.18% -0.76%
2098 -0.17% -0.75%
2097 -0.15% -0.74%
2096 -0.15% -0.74%
2095 -0.12% -0.72%
2094 -0.11% -0.73%
2093 -0.12% -0.72%
2092 -0.09% -0.71%
2091 -0.07% -0.72%
2090 -0.06% -0.71%
2089 -0.05% -0.71%
2088 -0.04% -0.7%
2087 -0.01% -0.72%
2086 -0.02% -0.72%
2085 -0.007% -0.72%
2084 -0% -0.73%
2083 0.008% -0.73%
2082 0.02% -0.75%
2081 0.03% -0.76%
2080 0.06% -0.76%
2079 0.08% -0.77%
2078 0.1% -0.77%
2077 0.11% -0.78%
2076 0.11% -0.79%
2075 0.15% -0.8%
2074 0.16% -0.8%
2073 0.17% -0.82%
2072 0.2% -0.84%
2071 0.24% -0.85%
2070 0.26% -0.86%
2069 0.28% -0.86%
2068 0.29% -0.88%
2067 0.3% -0.89%
2066 0.3% -0.91%
2065 0.33% -0.91%
2064 0.35% -0.91%
2063 0.4% -0.91%
2062 0.42% -0.9%
2061 0.44% -0.89%
2060 0.47% -0.88%
2059 0.48% -0.86%
2058 0.5% -0.85%
2057 0.52% -0.84%
2056 0.56% -0.82%
2055 0.56% -0.79%
2054 0.6% -0.77%
2053 0.64% -0.77%
2052 0.68% -0.75%
2051 0.69% -0.74%
2050 0.72% -0.74%
2049 0.75% -0.73%
2048 0.79% -0.72%
2047 0.8% -0.71%
2046 0.82% -0.7%
2045 0.84% -0.71%
2044 0.87% -0.7%
2043 0.89% -0.69%
2042 0.92% -0.69%
2041 0.93% -0.68%
2040 0.95% -0.67%
2039 0.97% -0.67%
2038 0.98% -0.66%
2037 1.02% -0.66%
2036 1.03% -0.65%
2035 1.03% -0.63%
2034 1.04% -0.63%
2033 1.05% -0.62%
2032 1.05% -0.61%
2031 1.05% -0.6%
2030 1.07% -0.6%
2029 1.08% -0.59%
2028 1.08% -0.58%
2027 1.1% -0.58%
2026 1.1% -0.57%
2025 1.12% -0.55%
2024 1.12% -0.05%
2023 1.11% 0.07%
2022 1.09% -0.38%
2021 1.15% -0.74%
2020 1.19% -0.55%
2019 1.18% -0.53%
2018 1.23% -0.59%
2017 1.25% -0.58%
2016 1.23% -0.57%
2015 1.18% -0.47%
2014 1.15% -0.37%
2013 1.09% -0.37%
2012 1.01% -0.44%
2011 0.89% -0.49%
2010 0.78% -0.59%
2009 0.73% -0.83%
2008 0.68% -1.65%
2007 0.42% -1.47%
2006 -0.41% -0.59%
2005 -0.92% -0.62%
2004 -0.7% -0.57%
2003 -0.48% -0.72%
2002 -0.31% -1.81%
2001 -0.15% -1.39%
2000 0.03% -0.13%
1999 0.26% -0.16%
1998 0.5% -0.21%
1997 0.8% -0.29%
1996 1.08% -0.29%
1995 1.23% -0.2%
1994 1.36% -0.15%
1993 1.52% -0.14%
1992 1.68% -0.9%
1991 1.81% -0.86%
1990 1.93% 0.17%
1989 2.05% 0.45%
1988 2.14% 0.47%
1987 2.24% 0.49%
1986 2.57% 0.46%
1985 2.87% 0.41%
1984 2.9% 0.35%
1983 2.93% 0.38%
1982 2.95% 0.55%
1981 2.95% 0.66%
1980 2.95% 0.53%
1979 2.93% 0.63%
1978 2.89% 0.9%
1977 2.93% 0.95%
1976 3.26% 1.21%
1975 3.52% 1.26%
1974 3.51% 0.93%
1973 3.53% 0.86%
1972 3.58% 0.96%
1971 3.63% 1.04%
1970 3.67% 1.21%
1969 3.7% 1.06%
1968 3.73% 1.36%
1967 3.64% 1.66%
1966 3.25% 0.97%
1965 2.97% 0.59%
1964 2.99% 0.65%
1963 3.01% 0.65%
1962 3.03% 0.65%
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/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Romania
Current population
2396633
18839108
Population rank 143/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.23%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
56.8 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
3.45 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 -25
Annual growth/decline +25,951 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 169/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -29,041
Net migration rank 117/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -29,041
2024 - -5,107 - -28,466
2023 31,115 -5,168 -89,587 -27,780
2022 30,803 -6,023 -93,338 89,076
2021 27,806 -3,449 -141,504 -17,731
2020 30,721 -3,449 -100,179 -13,202
2019 32,279 -6,896 -60,053 -27,909
2018 33,112 -6,892 -62,316 -33,018
2017 33,601 -6,850 -50,930 -33,081
2016 33,390 -6,766 -53,196 -33,073
2015 32,087 -7,087 -59,447 -35,751
2014 30,922 -6,877 -55,745 -35,448
2013 29,789 -6,659 -59,951 -34,910
2012 27,592 -6,425 -54,157 -37,589
2011 25,647 -6,118 -56,413 -102,769
2010 21,877 -5,886 -46,567 -122,364
2009 20,335 -5,599 -34,625 -137,953
2008 19,349 -5,392 -30,806 -144,368
2007 17,763 -5,179 -37,590 -133,089
2006 15,234 -11,416 -38,148 -132,777
2005 15,831 -35,679 -40,508 -131,176
2004 17,271 -33,530 -42,904 -117,432
2003 20,133 -31,723 -56,093 -107,139
2002 22,274 -29,924 -58,673 -106,585
2001 23,190 -27,874 -37,625 -91,154
2000 24,786 -26,220 -22,443 -92,451
1999 27,393 -24,610 -31,461 -82,590
1998 30,889 -23,299 -33,761 -81,366
1997 34,637 -22,396 -42,853 -88,734
1996 36,228 -17,042 -56,548 -70,799
1995 37,370 -14,588 -36,295 -73,779
1994 38,629 -13,953 -18,184 -76,246
1993 40,505 -13,347 -13,658 -73,475
1992 42,579 -12,707 -4,559 -63,200
1991 44,026 -12,114 25,301 -36,824
1990 45,060 -11,598 69,605 -38,157
1989 46,264 -11,207 122,756 -33,866
1988 47,158 -11,028 126,817 -48,911
1987 47,718 -10,946 128,517 -42,868
1986 45,232 -7,501 134,737 -50,450
1985 44,575 1,222 111,392 -28,108
1984 43,785 1,199 117,731 -24,629
1983 42,899 1,253 87,986 3,093
1982 41,941 1,281 119,121 -4,725
1981 40,808 1,307 156,472 -20,870
1980 39,617 1,361 168,776 -16,668
1979 38,440 1,285 194,397 -29,600
1978 37,084 1,047 204,148 -31,427
1977 35,654 746 215,385 -28,135
1976 34,117 2,986 213,361 18,748
1975 32,311 9,723 219,324 9,125
1974 30,444 9,972 235,530 6,725
1973 28,859 10,183 175,020 58,651
1972 27,841 10,386 198,316 61,920
1971 26,838 10,563 206,662 74,473
1970 25,935 10,605 234,905 71,919
1969 25,137 10,465 264,120 74,851
1968 24,490 10,108 338,577 33,601
1967 23,911 9,734 347,709 37,282
1966 23,326 7,248 115,293 -25,458
1965 22,755 2,239 114,190 -60,430
1964 22,116 2,198 134,326 -59,500
1963 21,585 2,220 139,104 -58,076
1962 21,132 2,172 130,736 -56,152
1961 20,581 2,100 163,286 -54,642
1960 19,981 1,989 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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