The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.
Population statistics:
- Lesotho's population is 9.73 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
- The countries together account for 0.03% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).
Lesotho vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,784 | 538,729 |
| 2099 | 3,286,697 | 537,330 |
| 2098 | 3,292,498 | 535,787 |
| 2097 | 3,298,102 | 534,124 |
| 2096 | 3,303,027 | 532,353 |
| 2095 | 3,307,947 | 530,576 |
| 2094 | 3,312,002 | 528,656 |
| 2093 | 3,315,757 | 526,643 |
| 2092 | 3,319,661 | 524,507 |
| 2091 | 3,322,573 | 522,325 |
| 2090 | 3,324,769 | 519,999 |
| 2089 | 3,326,847 | 517,612 |
| 2088 | 3,328,480 | 515,098 |
| 2087 | 3,329,964 | 512,568 |
| 2086 | 3,330,456 | 510,018 |
| 2085 | 3,331,259 | 507,340 |
| 2084 | 3,331,485 | 504,584 |
| 2083 | 3,331,492 | 501,679 |
| 2082 | 3,331,234 | 498,722 |
| 2081 | 3,330,412 | 495,689 |
| 2080 | 3,329,267 | 492,482 |
| 2079 | 3,327,166 | 489,244 |
| 2078 | 3,324,646 | 485,930 |
| 2077 | 3,321,422 | 482,450 |
| 2076 | 3,317,850 | 478,942 |
| 2075 | 3,314,237 | 475,380 |
| 2074 | 3,309,174 | 471,763 |
| 2073 | 3,303,860 | 468,114 |
| 2072 | 3,298,181 | 464,348 |
| 2071 | 3,291,492 | 460,509 |
| 2070 | 3,283,654 | 456,552 |
| 2069 | 3,275,244 | 452,449 |
| 2068 | 3,266,152 | 448,367 |
| 2067 | 3,256,626 | 444,152 |
| 2066 | 3,246,903 | 439,833 |
| 2065 | 3,237,153 | 435,561 |
| 2064 | 3,226,489 | 431,126 |
| 2063 | 3,215,103 | 426,703 |
| 2062 | 3,202,287 | 422,184 |
| 2061 | 3,188,933 | 417,686 |
| 2060 | 3,174,998 | 413,117 |
| 2059 | 3,160,204 | 408,577 |
| 2058 | 3,145,053 | 404,024 |
| 2057 | 3,129,261 | 399,413 |
| 2056 | 3,113,129 | 394,844 |
| 2055 | 3,095,904 | 390,153 |
| 2054 | 3,078,567 | 385,468 |
| 2053 | 3,060,152 | 380,737 |
| 2052 | 3,040,649 | 376,015 |
| 2051 | 3,020,109 | 371,194 |
| 2050 | 2,999,457 | 366,397 |
| 2049 | 2,978,037 | 361,591 |
| 2048 | 2,955,727 | 356,742 |
| 2047 | 2,932,688 | 351,861 |
| 2046 | 2,909,307 | 346,888 |
| 2045 | 2,885,537 | 341,838 |
| 2044 | 2,861,372 | 336,792 |
| 2043 | 2,836,777 | 331,713 |
| 2042 | 2,811,663 | 326,652 |
| 2041 | 2,786,147 | 321,594 |
| 2040 | 2,760,391 | 316,457 |
| 2039 | 2,734,400 | 311,279 |
| 2038 | 2,708,216 | 306,071 |
| 2037 | 2,681,863 | 300,875 |
| 2036 | 2,654,755 | 295,624 |
| 2035 | 2,627,701 | 290,400 |
| 2034 | 2,600,880 | 285,183 |
| 2033 | 2,574,065 | 279,990 |
| 2032 | 2,547,344 | 274,835 |
| 2031 | 2,520,831 | 269,740 |
| 2030 | 2,494,646 | 264,723 |
| 2029 | 2,468,268 | 259,705 |
| 2028 | 2,441,871 | 254,751 |
| 2027 | 2,415,830 | 249,860 |
| 2026 | 2,389,516 | 245,066 |
| 2025 | 2,363,516 | 240,286 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 68,012 |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th 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 Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | 0.26% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | 0.29% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | 0.31% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | 0.33% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | 0.33% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | 0.36% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | 0.38% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | 0.41% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | 0.42% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | 0.45% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | 0.46% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | 0.49% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | 0.49% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | 0.5% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | 0.53% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | 0.55% |
| 2084 | -0% | 0.58% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | 0.59% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | 0.61% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | 0.65% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | 0.66% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | 0.68% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | 0.72% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | 0.73% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | 0.77% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | 0.78% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | 0.81% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | 0.83% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | 0.87% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 0.91% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | 0.91% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | 0.98% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | 0.98% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | 1.03% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | 1.04% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | 1.07% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | 1.08% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | 1.11% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 1.11% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | 1.13% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 1.15% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | 1.16% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | 1.2% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | 1.22% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | 1.24% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | 1.26% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | 1.3% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | 1.33% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | 1.36% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | 1.48% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | 1.53% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | 1.55% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | 1.57% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | 1.62% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | 1.66% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | 1.78% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | 1.83% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | 1.85% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | 1.88% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | 1.89% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | 1.9% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | 1.93% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | 1.94% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | 1.96% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | 1.96% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | 1.99% |
| 2025 | 1.12% | 2.02% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | 2.02% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | 1.96% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | 2.08% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | 1.89% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 1.52% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 1.55% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 1.7% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 1.79% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 1.87% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | 1.96% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | 2.04% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | 2.12% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 2.22% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 2.34% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 2.41% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | 2.45% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 2.47% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 2.49% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 2.53% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 2.6% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 2.42% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | 1.11% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 1.32% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 1.43% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 1.53% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 1.63% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 1.74% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 1.84% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 1.92% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 2.1% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | 2.38% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | 2.62% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | 2.73% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 3.03% | 1.02% |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2396633
|
246362
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
1.88 hours
|
| One birth every |
9.43 minutes
|
1.35 hours
|
| One death every |
21.4 minutes
|
6.81 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | +13 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,951 | +4,665 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.12% | +2.02% |
| Population growth rate rank | 93/197 | 49/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
13.5 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | -650 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 1,955 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Sao Tome
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | -650 |
| 2024 | - | -5,107 | - | -604 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 Sao Tome and Principe 80.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,822 people) and 19.9% is from migration (a loss of 12,621 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Lesotho and Sao Tome and Principe
|
Lesotho
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 25.8 years | 25.1 years |
| Median age | 22.7 years | 20.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 2.69 births per woman | 3.64 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 661 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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