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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 6.25 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Lesotho vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Rwanda
2100 3,280,784 33,092,520
2099 3,286,697 32,987,847
2098 3,292,498 32,907,335
2097 3,298,102 32,832,706
2096 3,303,027 32,747,490
2095 3,307,947 32,615,044
2094 3,312,002 32,529,590
2093 3,315,757 32,396,544
2092 3,319,661 32,274,083
2091 3,322,573 32,171,077
2090 3,324,769 32,068,626
2089 3,326,847 31,872,593
2088 3,328,480 31,726,882
2087 3,329,964 31,533,364
2086 3,330,456 31,379,315
2085 3,331,259 31,235,000
2084 3,331,485 31,092,940
2083 3,331,492 30,917,707
2082 3,331,234 30,733,578
2081 3,330,412 30,557,819
2080 3,329,267 30,367,298
2079 3,327,166 30,176,627
2078 3,324,646 29,997,866
2077 3,321,422 29,800,561
2076 3,317,850 29,627,021
2075 3,314,237 29,423,503
2074 3,309,174 29,225,643
2073 3,303,860 29,007,777
2072 3,298,181 28,780,763
2071 3,291,492 28,560,382
2070 3,283,654 28,316,533
2069 3,275,244 28,103,541
2068 3,266,152 27,854,906
2067 3,256,626 27,591,747
2066 3,246,903 27,355,659
2065 3,237,153 27,084,704
2064 3,226,489 26,821,315
2063 3,215,103 26,543,184
2062 3,202,287 26,296,132
2061 3,188,933 25,985,356
2060 3,174,998 25,712,904
2059 3,160,204 25,437,446
2058 3,145,053 25,106,242
2057 3,129,261 24,837,928
2056 3,113,129 24,566,784
2055 3,095,904 24,266,669
2054 3,078,567 23,976,914
2053 3,060,152 23,690,426
2052 3,040,649 23,406,346
2051 3,020,109 23,099,207
2050 2,999,457 22,800,250
2049 2,978,037 22,484,698
2048 2,955,727 22,157,938
2047 2,932,688 21,834,786
2046 2,909,307 21,540,566
2045 2,885,537 21,215,262
2044 2,861,372 20,902,695
2043 2,836,777 20,535,605
2042 2,811,663 20,201,608
2041 2,786,147 19,832,577
2040 2,760,391 19,463,015
2039 2,734,400 19,096,860
2038 2,708,216 18,761,626
2037 2,681,863 18,421,864
2036 2,654,755 18,116,691
2035 2,627,701 17,753,910
2034 2,600,880 17,421,234
2033 2,574,065 17,089,349
2032 2,547,344 16,811,505
2031 2,520,831 16,485,559
2030 2,494,646 16,167,916
2029 2,468,268 15,858,862
2028 2,441,871 15,544,959
2027 2,415,830 15,207,733
2026 2,389,516 14,888,776
2025 2,363,516 14,560,205
2024 2,337,423 14,256,567
2023 2,311,472 13,954,471
2022 2,286,110 13,651,030
2021 2,261,542 13,355,260
2020 2,235,727 13,065,837
2019 2,209,405 12,776,103
2018 2,183,603 12,487,996
2017 2,157,110 12,202,060
2016 2,130,422 11,919,183
2015 2,104,611 11,640,022
2014 2,080,089 11,364,757
2013 2,056,504 11,093,340
2012 2,034,354 10,829,901
2011 2,014,009 10,573,733
2010 1,996,251 10,317,553
2009 1,980,883 10,060,432
2008 1,966,541 9,804,269
2007 1,953,268 9,549,933
2006 1,945,063 9,299,246
2005 1,953,076 9,054,528
2004 1,971,129 8,816,844
2003 1,985,059 8,586,875
2002 1,994,679 8,400,180
2001 2,000,853 8,287,094
2000 2,003,913 8,213,931
1999 2,003,234 8,147,912
1998 1,998,049 8,081,681
1997 1,988,130 7,755,238
1996 1,972,418 6,708,764
1995 1,951,437 5,674,118
1994 1,927,707 6,792,352
1993 1,901,793 7,981,132
1992 1,873,274 7,683,266
1991 1,842,379 7,526,966
1990 1,809,696 7,375,307
1989 1,775,436 7,184,706
1988 1,739,841 6,968,071
1987 1,703,390 6,749,493
1986 1,666,138 6,531,881
1985 1,624,379 6,317,228
1984 1,578,986 6,107,627
1983 1,534,413 5,905,311
1982 1,490,732 5,711,549
1981 1,448,069 5,527,230
1980 1,406,521 5,353,259
1979 1,366,169 5,189,541
1978 1,327,240 5,035,171
1977 1,289,967 4,888,240
1976 1,253,214 4,745,954
1975 1,213,643 4,607,728
1974 1,172,420 4,474,228
1973 1,132,697 4,345,047
1972 1,094,063 4,220,335
1971 1,056,246 4,100,044
1970 1,019,273 3,980,669
1969 983,202 3,861,271
1968 948,105 3,744,010
1967 913,982 3,629,577
1966 881,870 3,521,626
1965 854,090 3,423,210
1964 829,437 3,334,834
1963 805,373 3,258,890
1962 781,814 3,186,025
1961 758,824 3,106,779
1960 736,500 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Rwanda
2100 -0.18% 0.32%
2099 -0.18% 0.24%
2098 -0.17% 0.23%
2097 -0.15% 0.26%
2096 -0.15% 0.41%
2095 -0.12% 0.26%
2094 -0.11% 0.41%
2093 -0.12% 0.38%
2092 -0.09% 0.32%
2091 -0.07% 0.32%
2090 -0.06% 0.62%
2089 -0.05% 0.46%
2088 -0.04% 0.61%
2087 -0.01% 0.49%
2086 -0.02% 0.46%
2085 -0.007% 0.46%
2084 -0% 0.57%
2083 0.008% 0.6%
2082 0.02% 0.58%
2081 0.03% 0.63%
2080 0.06% 0.63%
2079 0.08% 0.6%
2078 0.1% 0.66%
2077 0.11% 0.59%
2076 0.11% 0.69%
2075 0.15% 0.68%
2074 0.16% 0.75%
2073 0.17% 0.79%
2072 0.2% 0.77%
2071 0.24% 0.86%
2070 0.26% 0.76%
2069 0.28% 0.89%
2068 0.29% 0.95%
2067 0.3% 0.86%
2066 0.3% 1%
2065 0.33% 0.98%
2064 0.35% 1.05%
2063 0.4% 0.94%
2062 0.42% 1.2%
2061 0.44% 1.06%
2060 0.47% 1.08%
2059 0.48% 1.32%
2058 0.5% 1.08%
2057 0.52% 1.1%
2056 0.56% 1.24%
2055 0.56% 1.21%
2054 0.6% 1.21%
2053 0.64% 1.21%
2052 0.68% 1.33%
2051 0.69% 1.31%
2050 0.72% 1.4%
2049 0.75% 1.47%
2048 0.79% 1.48%
2047 0.8% 1.37%
2046 0.82% 1.53%
2045 0.84% 1.5%
2044 0.87% 1.79%
2043 0.89% 1.65%
2042 0.92% 1.86%
2041 0.93% 1.9%
2040 0.95% 1.92%
2039 0.97% 1.79%
2038 0.98% 1.84%
2037 1.02% 1.68%
2036 1.03% 2.04%
2035 1.03% 1.91%
2034 1.04% 1.94%
2033 1.05% 1.65%
2032 1.05% 1.98%
2031 1.05% 1.96%
2030 1.07% 1.95%
2029 1.08% 2.02%
2028 1.08% 2.22%
2027 1.1% 2.14%
2026 1.1% 2.26%
2025 1.12% 2.13%
2024 1.12% 2.16%
2023 1.11% 2.22%
2022 1.09% 2.21%
2021 1.15% 2.22%
2020 1.19% 2.27%
2019 1.18% 2.31%
2018 1.23% 2.34%
2017 1.25% 2.37%
2016 1.23% 2.4%
2015 1.18% 2.42%
2014 1.15% 2.45%
2013 1.09% 2.43%
2012 1.01% 2.42%
2011 0.89% 2.48%
2010 0.78% 2.56%
2009 0.73% 2.61%
2008 0.68% 2.66%
2007 0.42% 2.7%
2006 -0.41% 2.7%
2005 -0.92% 2.7%
2004 -0.7% 2.68%
2003 -0.48% 2.22%
2002 -0.31% 1.36%
2001 -0.15% 0.89%
2000 0.03% 0.81%
1999 0.26% 0.82%
1998 0.5% 4.21%
1997 0.8% 15.6%
1996 1.08% 18.2%
1995 1.23% -16.5%
1994 1.36% -14.9%
1993 1.52% 3.88%
1992 1.68% 2.08%
1991 1.81% 2.06%
1990 1.93% 2.65%
1989 2.05% 3.11%
1988 2.14% 3.24%
1987 2.24% 3.33%
1986 2.57% 3.4%
1985 2.87% 3.43%
1984 2.9% 3.43%
1983 2.93% 3.39%
1982 2.95% 3.33%
1981 2.95% 3.25%
1980 2.95% 3.15%
1979 2.93% 3.07%
1978 2.89% 3.01%
1977 2.93% 3%
1976 3.26% 3%
1975 3.52% 2.98%
1974 3.51% 2.97%
1973 3.53% 2.96%
1972 3.58% 2.93%
1971 3.63% 3%
1970 3.67% 3.09%
1969 3.7% 3.13%
1968 3.73% 3.15%
1967 3.64% 3.07%
1966 3.25% 2.87%
1965 2.97% 2.65%
1964 2.99% 2.33%
1963 3.01% 2.29%
1962 3.03% 2.55%
1961 3.03% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Rwanda
Current population
2396633
14975051
Population rank 143/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.18%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +828
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 45/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 +6,282
Net migration rank 117/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 6,282
2024 - -5,107 - -15,582
2023 31,115 -5,168 312,762 -9,001
2022 30,803 -6,023 312,145 -9,001
2021 27,806 -3,449 309,895 -21,492
2020 30,721 -3,449 312,692 -22,251
2019 32,279 -6,896 313,525 -24,492
2018 33,112 -6,892 312,512 -25,323
2017 33,601 -6,850 310,323 -25,634
2016 33,390 -6,766 305,549 -24,474
2015 32,087 -7,087 299,114 -21,862
2014 30,922 -6,877 292,779 -19,505
2013 29,789 -6,659 286,331 -16,779
2012 27,592 -6,425 282,584 -25,260
2011 25,647 -6,118 282,922 -27,915
2010 21,877 -5,886 286,848 -29,501
2009 20,335 -5,599 287,034 -30,128
2008 19,349 -5,392 287,334 -31,913
2007 17,763 -5,179 285,791 -32,537
2006 15,234 -11,416 282,149 -34,008
2005 15,831 -35,679 275,121 -33,830
2004 17,271 -33,530 265,273 -31,214
2003 20,133 -31,723 251,243 -25,355
2002 22,274 -29,924 239,036 -91,518
2001 23,190 -27,874 230,845 -152,197
2000 24,786 -26,220 221,276 -153,588
1999 27,393 -24,610 210,518 -146,162
1998 30,889 -23,299 197,185 -129,089
1997 34,637 -22,396 174,687 410,106
1996 36,228 -17,042 140,455 1,367,700
1995 37,370 -14,588 121,137 439,995
1994 38,629 -13,953 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 40,505 -13,347 183,926 236,110
1992 42,579 -12,707 188,025 -12,334
1991 44,026 -12,114 196,431 -59,519
1990 45,060 -11,598 207,895 -41,483
1989 46,264 -11,207 217,632 -2,826
1988 47,158 -11,028 223,759 -5,285
1987 47,718 -10,946 225,744 -7,062
1986 45,232 -7,501 225,526 -8,982
1985 44,575 1,222 223,794 -11,031
1984 43,785 1,199 219,337 -12,899
1983 42,899 1,253 212,750 -14,560
1982 41,941 1,281 205,147 -15,818
1981 40,808 1,307 195,769 -16,453
1980 39,617 1,361 184,988 -16,359
1979 38,440 1,285 174,477 -15,669
1978 37,084 1,047 163,779 -13,838
1977 35,654 746 155,011 -11,084
1976 34,117 2,986 147,665 -7,027
1975 32,311 9,723 140,596 -4,791
1974 30,444 9,972 135,743 -4,535
1973 28,859 10,183 131,021 -3,862
1972 27,841 10,386 126,403 -4,156
1971 26,838 10,563 122,567 -4,230
1970 25,935 10,605 119,273 1,149
1969 25,137 10,465 115,394 2,983
1968 24,490 10,108 111,422 4,728
1967 23,911 9,734 108,053 4,655
1966 23,326 7,248 105,128 -1,930
1965 22,755 2,239 103,422 -9,774
1964 22,116 2,198 102,562 -19,458
1963 21,585 2,220 94,296 -25,524
1962 21,132 2,172 102,548 -25,594
1961 20,581 2,100 102,051 -20,508
1960 19,981 1,989 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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