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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 143,513,328 people in Russia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 142,643,173 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 59.4 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Russia is the 9th.
  • The countries together account for 1.75% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 1.72% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -0.05% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Russia has declined from 143M to 143M (0.28% decline).

Lesotho vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Russia
2100 3,280,518 125,631,984
2099 3,286,430 125,735,285
2098 3,292,231 125,835,990
2097 3,297,835 125,914,480
2096 3,302,758 126,004,709
2095 3,307,678 126,072,890
2094 3,311,734 126,125,529
2093 3,315,488 126,181,074
2092 3,319,391 126,256,091
2091 3,322,303 126,304,823
2090 3,324,499 126,360,262
2089 3,326,577 126,412,664
2088 3,328,210 126,463,022
2087 3,329,694 126,511,263
2086 3,330,185 126,579,534
2085 3,330,989 126,655,806
2084 3,331,214 126,730,694
2083 3,331,221 126,805,713
2082 3,330,964 126,889,471
2081 3,330,141 126,973,300
2080 3,328,997 127,070,546
2079 3,326,895 127,191,346
2078 3,324,376 127,331,975
2077 3,321,152 127,489,152
2076 3,317,581 127,641,749
2075 3,313,968 127,825,235
2074 3,308,905 128,023,096
2073 3,303,592 128,238,922
2072 3,297,913 128,465,870
2071 3,291,224 128,745,681
2070 3,283,387 129,020,076
2069 3,274,978 129,309,803
2068 3,265,887 129,589,275
2067 3,256,362 129,873,991
2066 3,246,639 130,184,092
2065 3,236,890 130,515,828
2064 3,226,227 130,852,649
2063 3,214,843 131,199,458
2062 3,202,027 131,530,725
2061 3,188,674 131,881,030
2060 3,174,740 132,209,377
2059 3,159,947 132,568,882
2058 3,144,797 132,933,515
2057 3,129,007 133,272,997
2056 3,112,877 133,615,325
2055 3,095,653 133,963,055
2054 3,078,317 134,288,366
2053 3,059,904 134,609,198
2052 3,040,402 134,876,558
2051 3,019,864 135,141,211
2050 2,999,214 135,386,454
2049 2,977,795 135,609,441
2048 2,955,487 135,818,840
2047 2,932,450 136,013,698
2046 2,909,071 136,185,098
2045 2,885,303 136,368,416
2044 2,861,140 136,568,234
2043 2,836,547 136,791,498
2042 2,811,435 137,015,033
2041 2,785,921 137,266,491
2040 2,760,167 137,531,851
2039 2,734,178 137,833,822
2038 2,707,996 138,146,863
2037 2,681,646 138,485,780
2036 2,654,540 138,835,731
2035 2,627,488 139,197,452
2034 2,600,669 139,573,272
2033 2,573,856 139,960,175
2032 2,547,137 140,359,785
2031 2,520,626 140,785,026
2030 2,494,444 141,182,418
2029 2,468,067 141,571,268
2028 2,441,673 141,946,979
2027 2,415,634 142,315,155
2026 2,389,322 142,643,173
2025 2,363,325 143,513,328
2024 2,337,423 143,669,648
2023 2,311,472 143,826,130
2022 2,286,110 144,236,933
2021 2,261,542 144,746,762
2020 2,235,727 145,245,148
2019 2,209,405 145,453,291
2018 2,183,603 145,398,106
2017 2,157,110 145,293,260
2016 2,130,422 145,015,460
2015 2,104,611 144,640,716
2014 2,080,089 144,237,223
2013 2,056,504 143,805,638
2012 2,034,354 143,378,447
2011 2,014,009 143,018,195
2010 1,996,251 142,849,468
2009 1,980,883 142,785,348
2008 1,966,541 142,742,366
2007 1,953,268 142,805,114
2006 1,945,063 143,049,637
2005 1,953,076 143,518,814
2004 1,971,129 144,067,316
2003 1,985,059 144,648,618
2002 1,994,679 145,306,497
2001 2,000,853 145,976,482
2000 2,003,913 146,596,869
1999 2,003,234 147,214,776
1998 1,998,049 147,670,784
1997 1,988,130 147,915,361
1996 1,972,418 148,160,129
1995 1,951,437 148,375,787
1994 1,927,707 148,407,912
1993 1,901,793 148,458,777
1992 1,873,274 148,538,197
1991 1,842,379 148,394,216
1990 1,809,696 147,969,406
1989 1,775,436 147,721,000
1988 1,739,841 146,857,000
1987 1,703,390 145,908,000
1986 1,666,138 144,894,000
1985 1,624,379 143,858,000
1984 1,578,986 142,745,000
1983 1,534,413 141,668,000
1982 1,490,732 140,823,000
1981 1,448,069 139,941,000
1980 1,406,521 139,010,000
1979 1,366,169 138,027,000
1978 1,327,240 137,060,000
1977 1,289,967 136,100,000
1976 1,253,214 135,147,000
1975 1,213,643 134,200,000
1974 1,172,420 133,432,000
1973 1,132,697 132,669,000
1972 1,094,063 131,909,000
1971 1,056,246 131,155,000
1970 1,019,273 130,404,000
1969 983,202 129,664,000
1968 948,105 128,928,000
1967 913,982 128,196,000
1966 881,870 127,468,000
1965 854,090 126,745,000
1964 829,437 125,345,000
1963 805,373 123,960,000
1962 781,814 122,591,000
1961 758,824 121,236,000
1960 736,500 119,897,000

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/russia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Russia gained 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Russia's population decreased by 2,372,287 people (a 1.64% decline).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Russia was ranked 9th in 2006 and still ranked 9th 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 Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 135,386,454 people and rank change from 9th to 13th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Russia's population already peaked in 1992 at 149M people and is projected to decrease to 126M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Russia
2100 -0.18% -0.08%
2099 -0.18% -0.08%
2098 -0.17% -0.06%
2097 -0.15% -0.07%
2096 -0.15% -0.05%
2095 -0.12% -0.04%
2094 -0.11% -0.04%
2093 -0.12% -0.06%
2092 -0.09% -0.04%
2091 -0.07% -0.04%
2090 -0.06% -0.04%
2089 -0.05% -0.04%
2088 -0.04% -0.04%
2087 -0.01% -0.05%
2086 -0.02% -0.06%
2085 -0.007% -0.06%
2084 -0% -0.06%
2083 0.008% -0.07%
2082 0.02% -0.07%
2081 0.03% -0.08%
2080 0.06% -0.09%
2079 0.08% -0.11%
2078 0.1% -0.12%
2077 0.11% -0.12%
2076 0.11% -0.14%
2075 0.15% -0.15%
2074 0.16% -0.17%
2073 0.17% -0.18%
2072 0.2% -0.22%
2071 0.24% -0.21%
2070 0.26% -0.22%
2069 0.28% -0.22%
2068 0.29% -0.22%
2067 0.3% -0.24%
2066 0.3% -0.25%
2065 0.33% -0.26%
2064 0.35% -0.26%
2063 0.4% -0.25%
2062 0.42% -0.27%
2061 0.44% -0.25%
2060 0.47% -0.27%
2059 0.48% -0.27%
2058 0.5% -0.25%
2057 0.52% -0.26%
2056 0.56% -0.26%
2055 0.56% -0.24%
2054 0.6% -0.24%
2053 0.64% -0.2%
2052 0.68% -0.2%
2051 0.69% -0.18%
2050 0.72% -0.16%
2049 0.75% -0.15%
2048 0.79% -0.14%
2047 0.8% -0.13%
2046 0.82% -0.13%
2045 0.84% -0.15%
2044 0.87% -0.16%
2043 0.89% -0.16%
2042 0.92% -0.18%
2041 0.93% -0.19%
2040 0.95% -0.22%
2039 0.97% -0.23%
2038 0.98% -0.24%
2037 1.02% -0.25%
2036 1.03% -0.26%
2035 1.03% -0.27%
2034 1.04% -0.28%
2033 1.05% -0.28%
2032 1.05% -0.3%
2031 1.05% -0.28%
2030 1.07% -0.27%
2029 1.08% -0.26%
2028 1.08% -0.26%
2027 1.1% -0.23%
2026 1.1% -0.61%
2025 1.11% -0.11%
2024 1.12% -0.11%
2023 1.11% -0.28%
2022 1.09% -0.35%
2021 1.15% -0.34%
2020 1.19% -0.14%
2019 1.18% 0.04%
2018 1.23% 0.07%
2017 1.25% 0.19%
2016 1.23% 0.26%
2015 1.18% 0.28%
2014 1.15% 0.3%
2013 1.09% 0.3%
2012 1.01% 0.25%
2011 0.89% 0.12%
2010 0.78% 0.04%
2009 0.73% 0.03%
2008 0.68% -0.04%
2007 0.42% -0.17%
2006 -0.41% -0.33%
2005 -0.92% -0.38%
2004 -0.7% -0.4%
2003 -0.48% -0.45%
2002 -0.31% -0.46%
2001 -0.15% -0.42%
2000 0.03% -0.42%
1999 0.26% -0.31%
1998 0.5% -0.17%
1997 0.8% -0.17%
1996 1.08% -0.15%
1995 1.23% -0.02%
1994 1.36% -0.03%
1993 1.52% -0.05%
1992 1.68% 0.1%
1991 1.81% 0.29%
1990 1.93% 0.17%
1989 2.05% 0.59%
1988 2.14% 0.65%
1987 2.24% 0.7%
1986 2.57% 0.72%
1985 2.87% 0.78%
1984 2.9% 0.76%
1983 2.93% 0.6%
1982 2.95% 0.63%
1981 2.95% 0.67%
1980 2.95% 0.71%
1979 2.93% 0.71%
1978 2.89% 0.71%
1977 2.93% 0.71%
1976 3.26% 0.71%
1975 3.52% 0.58%
1974 3.51% 0.58%
1973 3.53% 0.58%
1972 3.58% 0.57%
1971 3.63% 0.58%
1970 3.67% 0.57%
1969 3.7% 0.57%
1968 3.73% 0.57%
1967 3.64% 0.57%
1966 3.25% 0.57%
1965 2.97% 1.12%
1964 2.99% 1.12%
1963 3.01% 1.12%
1962 3.03% 1.12%
1961 3.03% 1.12%

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/russia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Russia's population declined by 0.11%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Russia
Current population
2402837
142643173
Population rank 143/197 9/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 1.72%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
3.37 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
26.1 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
17.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +71 -428
Annual growth/decline +25,902 -156,320
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% -0.11%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 166/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
2.09 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -251,822
Net migration rank 117/196 187/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 7,605,774
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 10/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 5.3%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 91/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Russia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Russia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -251,822
2024 31,050 -5,107 -574,678 -178,042
2023 31,115 -5,168 -503,392 27,807
2022 30,803 -6,023 -576,948 765,629
2021 27,806 -3,449 -1,027,702 314,112
2020 30,721 -3,449 -697,177 334,094
2019 32,279 -6,896 -319,997 336,494
2018 33,112 -6,892 -232,637 339,972
2017 33,601 -6,850 -130,764 396,619
2016 33,390 -6,766 0 447,645
2015 32,087 -7,087 43,392 384,756
2014 30,922 -6,877 28,848 264,698
2013 29,789 -6,659 28,761 289,872
2012 27,592 -6,425 0 285,977
2011 25,647 -6,118 -128,716 309,377
2010 21,877 -5,886 -242,844 307,555
2009 20,335 -5,599 -257,014 350,206
2008 19,349 -5,392 -356,856 360,840
2007 17,763 -5,179 -471,257 365,717
2006 15,234 -11,416 -686,638 308,370
2005 15,831 -35,679 -846,761 263,541
2004 17,271 -33,530 -792,370 261,519
2003 20,133 -31,723 -896,822 256,804
2002 22,274 -29,924 -944,492 1,358,944
2001 23,190 -27,874 -963,445 259,614
2000 24,786 -26,220 -967,540 550,401
1999 27,393 -24,610 -927,453 375,468
1998 30,889 -23,299 -694,053 528,135
1997 34,637 -22,396 -769,159 541,387
1996 36,228 -17,042 -785,248 587,171
1995 37,370 -14,588 -845,742 723,875
1994 38,629 -13,953 -920,129 1,271,417
1993 40,505 -13,347 -757,140 507,229
1992 42,579 -12,707 -222,808 -1,129,589
1991 44,026 -12,114 103,876 125,505
1990 45,060 -11,598 325,533 299,863
1989 46,264 -11,207 576,112 89,400
1988 47,158 -11,028 778,343 269,862
1987 47,718 -10,946 977,583 275,611
1986 45,232 -7,501 985,279 283,553
1985 44,575 1,222 762,447 280,614
1984 43,785 1,199 756,548 247,026
1983 42,899 1,253 906,676 200,159
1982 41,941 1,281 830,855 107,520
1981 40,808 1,307 713,700 36,686
1980 39,617 1,361 681,149 10,440
1979 38,440 1,285 690,135 -5,791
1978 37,084 1,047 812,766 108,882
1977 35,654 746 832,932 122,316
1976 34,117 2,986 852,237 113,851
1975 32,311 9,723 843,850 80,069
1974 30,444 9,972 883,186 -51,759
1973 28,859 10,183 846,561 -107,568
1972 27,841 10,386 872,050 -111,168
1971 26,838 10,563 854,999 -134,968
1970 25,935 10,605 785,554 -264,464
1969 25,137 10,465 753,088 -64,643
1968 24,490 10,108 787,621 -83,221
1967 23,911 9,734 854,554 -116,029
1966 23,326 7,248 989,279 -111,360
1965 22,755 2,239 1,059,335 -138,078
1964 22,116 2,198 1,233,520 -148,595
1963 21,585 2,220 1,436,077 -168,649
1962 21,132 2,172 1,573,701 -177,358
1961 20,581 2,100 1,810,538 -204,349
1960 19,981 1,989 1,962,834 -234,895

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/russia | 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 Russia 55.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 4,019,903 people) and 44.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,169,086 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 7,605,774 people or 5.3% in Russia.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M

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/russia | 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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