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Population in Lesotho compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 15.3 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Lesotho vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Saudi Arabia
2100 3,280,784 74,230,118
2099 3,286,697 73,760,045
2098 3,292,498 73,287,526
2097 3,298,102 72,813,125
2096 3,303,027 72,336,039
2095 3,307,947 71,858,206
2094 3,312,002 71,379,928
2093 3,315,757 70,900,460
2092 3,319,661 70,420,464
2091 3,322,573 69,940,749
2090 3,324,769 69,462,214
2089 3,326,847 68,985,976
2088 3,328,480 68,510,277
2087 3,329,964 68,035,545
2086 3,330,456 67,562,521
2085 3,331,259 67,091,615
2084 3,331,485 66,621,667
2083 3,331,492 66,152,653
2082 3,331,234 65,684,321
2081 3,330,412 65,216,102
2080 3,329,267 64,749,128
2079 3,327,166 64,282,393
2078 3,324,646 63,815,918
2077 3,321,422 63,348,712
2076 3,317,850 62,880,120
2075 3,314,237 62,409,793
2074 3,309,174 61,937,628
2073 3,303,860 61,462,662
2072 3,298,181 60,984,202
2071 3,291,492 60,502,791
2070 3,283,654 60,018,216
2069 3,275,244 59,529,456
2068 3,266,152 59,036,086
2067 3,256,626 58,539,487
2066 3,246,903 58,039,687
2065 3,237,153 57,537,106
2064 3,226,489 57,032,172
2063 3,215,103 56,524,331
2062 3,202,287 56,014,549
2061 3,188,933 55,501,467
2060 3,174,998 54,986,901
2059 3,160,204 54,469,809
2058 3,145,053 53,950,469
2057 3,129,261 53,430,639
2056 3,113,129 52,909,061
2055 3,095,904 52,386,571
2054 3,078,567 51,862,312
2053 3,060,152 51,336,335
2052 3,040,649 50,809,100
2051 3,020,109 50,280,719
2050 2,999,457 49,751,739
2049 2,978,037 49,221,828
2048 2,955,727 48,690,143
2047 2,932,688 48,157,605
2046 2,909,307 47,623,246
2045 2,885,537 47,087,215
2044 2,861,372 46,550,306
2043 2,836,777 46,013,232
2042 2,811,663 45,475,200
2041 2,786,147 44,936,131
2040 2,760,391 44,396,093
2039 2,734,400 43,856,006
2038 2,708,216 43,314,707
2037 2,681,863 42,773,375
2036 2,654,755 42,231,639
2035 2,627,701 41,690,245
2034 2,600,880 41,150,029
2033 2,574,065 40,611,021
2032 2,547,344 40,073,144
2031 2,520,831 39,535,357
2030 2,494,646 38,998,581
2029 2,468,268 38,417,447
2028 2,441,871 37,810,902
2027 2,415,830 37,189,969
2026 2,389,516 36,566,201
2025 2,363,516 35,932,673
2024 2,337,423 35,300,280
2023 2,311,472 33,702,731
2022 2,286,110 32,175,224
2021 2,261,542 30,784,383
2020 2,235,727 31,552,510
2019 2,209,405 30,063,799
2018 2,183,603 30,196,281
2017 2,157,110 30,977,355
2016 2,130,422 30,954,198
2015 2,104,611 29,816,382
2014 2,080,089 28,309,273
2013 2,056,504 27,624,004
2012 2,034,354 26,168,861
2011 2,014,009 25,091,867
2010 1,996,251 23,978,487
2009 1,980,883 24,217,654
2008 1,966,541 23,287,877
2007 1,953,268 22,368,313
2006 1,945,063 21,459,144
2005 1,953,076 20,559,890
2004 1,971,129 19,669,480
2003 1,985,059 18,786,767
2002 1,994,679 17,910,910
2001 2,000,853 17,041,397
2000 2,003,913 16,177,722
1999 2,003,234 15,472,075
1998 1,998,049 14,922,185
1997 1,988,130 14,374,943
1996 1,972,418 13,831,009
1995 1,951,437 13,289,245
1994 1,927,707 12,750,040
1993 1,901,793 12,215,862
1992 1,873,274 11,686,676
1991 1,842,379 11,160,744
1990 1,809,696 10,640,691
1989 1,775,436 10,128,394
1988 1,739,841 9,629,165
1987 1,703,390 9,130,194
1986 1,666,138 8,628,639
1985 1,624,379 8,151,779
1984 1,578,986 7,697,307
1983 1,534,413 7,252,941
1982 1,490,732 6,824,486
1981 1,448,069 6,420,551
1980 1,406,521 6,047,997
1979 1,366,169 5,703,698
1978 1,327,240 5,381,902
1977 1,289,967 5,083,048
1976 1,253,214 4,807,933
1975 1,213,643 4,556,287
1974 1,172,420 4,323,632
1973 1,132,697 4,106,344
1972 1,094,063 3,905,722
1971 1,056,246 3,724,031
1970 1,019,273 3,562,470
1969 983,202 3,417,114
1968 948,105 3,282,711
1967 913,982 3,157,242
1966 881,870 3,039,887
1965 854,090 2,928,771
1964 829,437 2,821,968
1963 805,373 2,719,341
1962 781,814 2,620,910
1961 758,824 2,526,347
1960 736,500 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.18% 0.64%
2099 -0.18% 0.64%
2098 -0.17% 0.65%
2097 -0.15% 0.66%
2096 -0.15% 0.66%
2095 -0.12% 0.67%
2094 -0.11% 0.68%
2093 -0.12% 0.68%
2092 -0.09% 0.69%
2091 -0.07% 0.69%
2090 -0.06% 0.69%
2089 -0.05% 0.69%
2088 -0.04% 0.7%
2087 -0.01% 0.7%
2086 -0.02% 0.7%
2085 -0.007% 0.71%
2084 -0% 0.71%
2083 0.008% 0.71%
2082 0.02% 0.72%
2081 0.03% 0.72%
2080 0.06% 0.73%
2079 0.08% 0.73%
2078 0.1% 0.74%
2077 0.11% 0.75%
2076 0.11% 0.75%
2075 0.15% 0.76%
2074 0.16% 0.77%
2073 0.17% 0.78%
2072 0.2% 0.8%
2071 0.24% 0.81%
2070 0.26% 0.82%
2069 0.28% 0.84%
2068 0.29% 0.85%
2067 0.3% 0.86%
2066 0.3% 0.87%
2065 0.33% 0.89%
2064 0.35% 0.9%
2063 0.4% 0.91%
2062 0.42% 0.92%
2061 0.44% 0.94%
2060 0.47% 0.95%
2059 0.48% 0.96%
2058 0.5% 0.97%
2057 0.52% 0.99%
2056 0.56% 1%
2055 0.56% 1.01%
2054 0.6% 1.02%
2053 0.64% 1.04%
2052 0.68% 1.05%
2051 0.69% 1.06%
2050 0.72% 1.08%
2049 0.75% 1.09%
2048 0.79% 1.11%
2047 0.8% 1.12%
2046 0.82% 1.14%
2045 0.84% 1.15%
2044 0.87% 1.17%
2043 0.89% 1.18%
2042 0.92% 1.2%
2041 0.93% 1.22%
2040 0.95% 1.23%
2039 0.97% 1.25%
2038 0.98% 1.27%
2037 1.02% 1.28%
2036 1.03% 1.3%
2035 1.03% 1.31%
2034 1.04% 1.33%
2033 1.05% 1.34%
2032 1.05% 1.36%
2031 1.05% 1.38%
2030 1.07% 1.51%
2029 1.08% 1.6%
2028 1.08% 1.67%
2027 1.1% 1.71%
2026 1.1% 1.76%
2025 1.12% 1.79%
2024 1.12% 4.74%
2023 1.11% 4.75%
2022 1.09% 4.52%
2021 1.15% -2.43%
2020 1.19% 4.95%
2019 1.18% -0.44%
2018 1.23% -2.52%
2017 1.25% 0.07%
2016 1.23% 3.82%
2015 1.18% 5.32%
2014 1.15% 2.48%
2013 1.09% 5.56%
2012 1.01% 4.29%
2011 0.89% 4.64%
2010 0.78% -0.99%
2009 0.73% 3.99%
2008 0.68% 4.11%
2007 0.42% 4.24%
2006 -0.41% 4.37%
2005 -0.92% 4.53%
2004 -0.7% 4.7%
2003 -0.48% 4.89%
2002 -0.31% 5.1%
2001 -0.15% 5.34%
2000 0.03% 4.56%
1999 0.26% 3.69%
1998 0.5% 3.81%
1997 0.8% 3.93%
1996 1.08% 4.08%
1995 1.23% 4.23%
1994 1.36% 4.37%
1993 1.52% 4.53%
1992 1.68% 4.71%
1991 1.81% 4.89%
1990 1.93% 5.06%
1989 2.05% 5.18%
1988 2.14% 5.47%
1987 2.24% 5.81%
1986 2.57% 5.85%
1985 2.87% 5.9%
1984 2.9% 6.13%
1983 2.93% 6.28%
1982 2.95% 6.29%
1981 2.95% 6.16%
1980 2.95% 6.04%
1979 2.93% 5.98%
1978 2.89% 5.88%
1977 2.93% 5.72%
1976 3.26% 5.52%
1975 3.52% 5.38%
1974 3.51% 5.29%
1973 3.53% 5.14%
1972 3.58% 4.88%
1971 3.63% 4.54%
1970 3.67% 4.25%
1969 3.7% 4.09%
1968 3.73% 3.97%
1967 3.64% 3.86%
1966 3.25% 3.79%
1965 2.97% 3.78%
1964 2.99% 3.77%
1963 3.01% 3.76%
1962 3.03% 3.74%
1961 3.03% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Saudi Arabia
Current population
2396633
36734925
Population rank 143/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.44%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 4/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +119,738
Net migration rank 117/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 119,738
2024 - -5,107 - 122,170
2023 31,115 -5,168 474,366 325,691
2022 30,803 -6,023 406,920 977,072
2021 27,806 -3,449 409,032 -106,287
2020 30,721 -3,449 447,036 -74,725
2019 32,279 -6,896 474,407 191,582
2018 33,112 -6,892 528,767 -988,751
2017 33,601 -6,850 546,751 -920,812
2016 33,390 -6,766 537,829 -26,997
2015 32,087 -7,087 511,023 465,292
2014 30,922 -6,877 493,431 469,144
2013 29,789 -6,659 475,299 485,794
2012 27,592 -6,425 465,649 479,206
2011 25,647 -6,118 443,675 491,253
2010 21,877 -5,886 418,641 504,955
2009 20,335 -5,599 438,557 496,229
2008 19,349 -5,392 433,457 491,337
2007 17,763 -5,179 425,199 489,136
2006 15,234 -11,416 399,333 504,661
2005 15,831 -35,679 375,938 518,565
2004 17,271 -33,530 362,843 523,472
2003 20,133 -31,723 364,520 514,606
2002 22,274 -29,924 372,099 500,508
2001 23,190 -27,874 382,153 484,252
2000 24,786 -26,220 392,407 468,515
1999 27,393 -24,610 390,112 160,263
1998 30,889 -23,299 389,499 159,898
1997 34,637 -22,396 385,033 160,066
1996 36,228 -17,042 382,248 160,532
1995 37,370 -14,588 380,231 160,512
1994 38,629 -13,953 377,351 160,306
1993 40,505 -13,347 372,621 158,074
1992 42,579 -12,707 366,763 160,908
1991 44,026 -12,114 361,329 162,857
1990 45,060 -11,598 355,495 160,416
1989 46,264 -11,207 349,399 159,273
1988 47,158 -11,028 342,865 146,918
1987 47,718 -10,946 333,088 175,075
1986 45,232 -7,501 322,340 172,606
1985 44,575 1,222 310,558 148,208
1984 43,785 1,199 296,615 153,562
1983 42,899 1,253 280,616 157,930
1982 41,941 1,281 264,831 153,528
1981 40,808 1,307 249,156 140,355
1980 39,617 1,361 234,372 121,220
1979 38,440 1,285 220,186 112,826
1978 37,084 1,047 205,331 105,263
1977 35,654 746 191,103 96,015
1976 34,117 2,986 178,024 85,083
1975 32,311 9,723 166,223 73,960
1974 30,444 9,972 155,478 69,653
1973 28,859 10,183 145,450 63,995
1972 27,841 10,386 136,360 55,439
1971 26,838 10,563 127,600 43,989
1970 25,935 10,605 120,440 31,097
1969 25,137 10,465 113,859 25,312
1968 24,490 10,108 108,281 21,366
1967 23,911 9,734 103,343 17,947
1966 23,326 7,248 98,361 15,054
1965 22,755 2,239 93,820 15,000
1964 22,116 2,198 89,776 15,000
1963 21,585 2,220 85,480 15,000
1962 21,132 2,172 81,393 15,000
1961 20,581 2,100 77,743 15,000
1960 19,981 1,989 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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