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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 6.27 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 +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Lesotho vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Rwanda
2100 3,280,518 33,113,283
2099 3,286,430 33,008,545
2098 3,292,231 32,927,982
2097 3,297,835 32,853,307
2096 3,302,758 32,768,037
2095 3,307,678 32,635,508
2094 3,311,734 32,550,001
2093 3,315,488 32,416,870
2092 3,319,391 32,294,333
2091 3,322,303 32,191,262
2090 3,324,499 32,088,747
2089 3,326,577 31,892,591
2088 3,328,210 31,746,789
2087 3,329,694 31,553,150
2086 3,330,185 31,399,004
2085 3,330,989 31,254,597
2084 3,331,214 31,112,448
2083 3,331,221 30,937,106
2082 3,330,964 30,752,861
2081 3,330,141 30,576,992
2080 3,328,997 30,386,351
2079 3,326,895 30,195,560
2078 3,324,376 30,016,688
2077 3,321,152 29,819,259
2076 3,317,581 29,645,610
2075 3,313,968 29,441,964
2074 3,308,905 29,243,980
2073 3,303,592 29,025,977
2072 3,297,913 28,798,822
2071 3,291,224 28,578,302
2070 3,283,387 28,334,300
2069 3,274,978 28,121,174
2068 3,265,887 27,872,383
2067 3,256,362 27,609,059
2066 3,246,639 27,372,823
2065 3,236,890 27,101,698
2064 3,226,227 26,838,144
2063 3,214,843 26,559,838
2062 3,202,027 26,312,631
2061 3,188,674 26,001,660
2060 3,174,740 25,729,037
2059 3,159,947 25,453,407
2058 3,144,797 25,121,995
2057 3,129,007 24,853,512
2056 3,112,877 24,582,198
2055 3,095,653 24,281,895
2054 3,078,317 23,991,958
2053 3,059,904 23,705,290
2052 3,040,402 23,421,032
2051 3,019,864 23,113,700
2050 2,999,214 22,814,556
2049 2,977,795 22,498,806
2048 2,955,487 22,171,841
2047 2,932,450 21,848,486
2046 2,909,071 21,554,082
2045 2,885,303 21,228,573
2044 2,861,140 20,915,810
2043 2,836,547 20,548,490
2042 2,811,435 20,214,283
2041 2,785,921 19,845,021
2040 2,760,167 19,475,227
2039 2,734,178 19,108,842
2038 2,707,996 18,773,398
2037 2,681,646 18,433,422
2036 2,654,540 18,128,058
2035 2,627,488 17,765,049
2034 2,600,669 17,432,165
2033 2,573,856 17,100,072
2032 2,547,137 16,822,053
2031 2,520,626 16,495,903
2030 2,494,444 16,178,061
2029 2,468,067 15,868,812
2028 2,441,673 15,554,713
2027 2,415,634 15,217,275
2026 2,389,322 14,898,118
2025 2,363,325 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% 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 24.8% to 2,999,214 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 1.11% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Rwanda
Current population
2402837
15062056
Population rank 143/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.18%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +857
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 40/197
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 31,050 -5,107 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda | 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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