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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 143,533,851 people in Russia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 141,906,741 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 59.2 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 1.74% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 1.71% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -0.02% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Russia has declined from 143M to 142M (0.8% decline).

Lesotho vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Russia
2100 3,280,784 124,983,377
2099 3,286,697 125,086,144
2098 3,292,498 125,186,329
2097 3,298,102 125,264,415
2096 3,303,027 125,354,177
2095 3,307,947 125,422,006
2094 3,312,002 125,474,373
2093 3,315,757 125,529,632
2092 3,319,661 125,604,261
2091 3,322,573 125,652,742
2090 3,324,769 125,707,894
2089 3,326,847 125,760,026
2088 3,328,480 125,810,124
2087 3,329,964 125,858,116
2086 3,330,456 125,926,035
2085 3,331,259 126,001,913
2084 3,331,485 126,076,414
2083 3,331,492 126,151,046
2082 3,331,234 126,234,371
2081 3,330,412 126,317,768
2080 3,329,267 126,414,511
2079 3,327,166 126,534,688
2078 3,324,646 126,674,591
2077 3,321,422 126,830,956
2076 3,317,850 126,982,766
2075 3,314,237 127,165,304
2074 3,309,174 127,362,143
2073 3,303,860 127,576,856
2072 3,298,181 127,802,632
2071 3,291,492 128,080,998
2070 3,283,654 128,353,977
2069 3,275,244 128,642,208
2068 3,266,152 128,920,237
2067 3,256,626 129,203,483
2066 3,246,903 129,511,983
2065 3,237,153 129,842,007
2064 3,226,489 130,177,089
2063 3,215,103 130,522,107
2062 3,202,287 130,851,664
2061 3,188,933 131,200,160
2060 3,174,998 131,526,812
2059 3,160,204 131,884,461
2058 3,145,053 132,247,211
2057 3,129,261 132,584,941
2056 3,113,129 132,925,501
2055 3,095,904 133,271,436
2054 3,078,567 133,595,068
2053 3,060,152 133,914,243
2052 3,040,649 134,180,223
2051 3,020,109 134,443,510
2050 2,999,457 134,687,487
2049 2,978,037 134,909,323
2048 2,955,727 135,117,641
2047 2,932,688 135,311,492
2046 2,909,307 135,482,008
2045 2,885,537 135,664,379
2044 2,861,372 135,863,165
2043 2,836,777 136,085,277
2042 2,811,663 136,307,658
2041 2,786,147 136,557,818
2040 2,760,391 136,821,807
2039 2,734,400 137,122,219
2038 2,708,216 137,433,644
2037 2,681,863 137,770,811
2036 2,654,755 138,118,955
2035 2,627,701 138,478,809
2034 2,600,880 138,852,689
2033 2,574,065 139,237,595
2032 2,547,344 139,635,142
2031 2,520,831 140,058,187
2030 2,494,646 140,453,528
2029 2,468,268 140,840,370
2028 2,441,871 141,214,141
2027 2,415,830 141,580,416
2026 2,389,516 141,906,741
2025 2,363,516 142,772,403
2024 2,337,423 143,533,851
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Russia's population decreased by 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people and rank change from 9th to 14th.

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 125M 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 1.12% -0.53%
2024 1.12% -0.2%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Russia's population declined by 0.2%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Russia
Current population
2396633
141906741
Population rank 143/197 9/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 1.71%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.8 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
25.5 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
18.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +71 -801
Annual growth/decline +25,951 -292,279
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% -0.2%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 177/197
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 - -5,107 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/russia | 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 Russia 48.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 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 (1960–2024, 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/russia | 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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