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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 18,501,984 people in Senegal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 19,491,599 in Senegal.

Population statistics:

  • Senegal's population is 8.13 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Senegal is the 68th.
  • The countries together account for 0.26% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.24% for Senegal.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.76% in Senegal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Senegal has grown from 11.5M to 19.5M (69.5% growth).

Lesotho vs Senegal: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Senegal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Senegal
2100 3,280,784 47,481,703
2099 3,286,697 47,309,204
2098 3,292,498 47,131,505
2097 3,298,102 46,942,831
2096 3,303,027 46,749,318
2095 3,307,947 46,548,519
2094 3,312,002 46,338,777
2093 3,315,757 46,124,372
2092 3,319,661 45,903,819
2091 3,322,573 45,676,277
2090 3,324,769 45,442,218
2089 3,326,847 45,197,486
2088 3,328,480 44,949,158
2087 3,329,964 44,692,601
2086 3,330,456 44,425,160
2085 3,331,259 44,150,556
2084 3,331,485 43,871,406
2083 3,331,492 43,579,072
2082 3,331,234 43,285,560
2081 3,330,412 42,984,866
2080 3,329,267 42,679,614
2079 3,327,166 42,366,808
2078 3,324,646 42,044,826
2077 3,321,422 41,716,837
2076 3,317,850 41,379,705
2075 3,314,237 41,030,232
2074 3,309,174 40,674,683
2073 3,303,860 40,312,726
2072 3,298,181 39,943,067
2071 3,291,492 39,568,028
2070 3,283,654 39,187,711
2069 3,275,244 38,795,322
2068 3,266,152 38,398,147
2067 3,256,626 37,996,983
2066 3,246,903 37,584,328
2065 3,237,153 37,167,637
2064 3,226,489 36,744,279
2063 3,215,103 36,318,015
2062 3,202,287 35,884,713
2061 3,188,933 35,448,776
2060 3,174,998 35,010,231
2059 3,160,204 34,571,669
2058 3,145,053 34,122,702
2057 3,129,261 33,673,448
2056 3,113,129 33,219,406
2055 3,095,904 32,765,741
2054 3,078,567 32,313,613
2053 3,060,152 31,859,051
2052 3,040,649 31,405,418
2051 3,020,109 30,949,633
2050 2,999,457 30,490,614
2049 2,978,037 30,032,811
2048 2,955,727 29,570,773
2047 2,932,688 29,111,688
2046 2,909,307 28,648,672
2045 2,885,537 28,187,838
2044 2,861,372 27,724,585
2043 2,836,777 27,260,926
2042 2,811,663 26,796,927
2041 2,786,147 26,332,270
2040 2,760,391 25,866,240
2039 2,734,400 25,398,425
2038 2,708,216 24,928,471
2037 2,681,863 24,457,649
2036 2,654,755 23,986,892
2035 2,627,701 23,515,497
2034 2,600,880 23,046,885
2033 2,574,065 22,578,286
2032 2,547,344 22,110,230
2031 2,520,831 21,643,047
2030 2,494,646 21,178,414
2029 2,468,268 20,719,234
2028 2,441,871 20,263,713
2027 2,415,830 19,814,138
2026 2,389,516 19,372,006
2025 2,363,516 18,934,809
2024 2,337,423 18,501,984
2023 2,311,472 18,077,573
2022 2,286,110 17,651,103
2021 2,261,542 17,220,867
2020 2,235,727 16,789,219
2019 2,209,405 16,352,922
2018 2,183,603 15,914,498
2017 2,157,110 15,475,002
2016 2,130,422 15,034,521
2015 2,104,611 14,593,331
2014 2,080,089 14,152,102
2013 2,056,504 13,710,849
2012 2,034,354 13,310,495
2011 2,014,009 12,958,897
2010 1,996,251 12,635,413
2009 1,980,883 12,337,389
2008 1,966,541 12,048,959
2007 1,953,268 11,770,344
2006 1,945,063 11,500,094
2005 1,953,076 11,235,472
2004 1,971,129 10,975,704
2003 1,985,059 10,721,176
2002 1,994,679 10,466,214
2001 2,000,853 10,212,942
2000 2,003,913 9,968,260
1999 2,003,234 9,730,887
1998 1,998,049 9,502,952
1997 1,988,130 9,283,495
1996 1,972,418 9,067,014
1995 1,951,437 8,848,101
1994 1,927,707 8,624,078
1993 1,901,793 8,396,288
1992 1,873,274 8,168,395
1991 1,842,379 7,943,085
1990 1,809,696 7,720,523
1989 1,775,436 7,502,207
1988 1,739,841 7,289,618
1987 1,703,390 7,081,530
1986 1,666,138 6,878,192
1985 1,624,379 6,683,287
1984 1,578,986 6,499,364
1983 1,534,413 6,324,504
1982 1,490,732 6,156,961
1981 1,448,069 5,997,160
1980 1,406,521 5,845,638
1979 1,366,169 5,702,895
1978 1,327,240 5,568,096
1977 1,289,967 5,439,549
1976 1,253,214 5,308,564
1975 1,213,643 5,170,810
1974 1,172,420 5,029,437
1973 1,132,697 4,885,181
1972 1,094,063 4,741,631
1971 1,056,246 4,601,864
1970 1,019,273 4,466,328
1969 983,202 4,334,974
1968 948,105 4,207,587
1967 913,982 4,083,870
1966 881,870 3,964,299
1965 854,090 3,849,788
1964 829,437 3,740,535
1963 805,373 3,635,876
1962 781,814 3,534,686
1961 758,824 3,436,375
1960 736,500 3,340,907

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/senegal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Senegal gained 3,534,427 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Senegal's population increased by 4,457,078 people (a 29.6% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Senegal was ranked 72nd in 2006 and ranked 68th 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 Senegal will increase by 56.4% to 30,490,614 people and rank change from 68th to 63rd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 47.5M people in 2100 for Senegal.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Senegal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Senegal
2100 -0.18% 0.36%
2099 -0.18% 0.38%
2098 -0.17% 0.4%
2097 -0.15% 0.41%
2096 -0.15% 0.43%
2095 -0.12% 0.45%
2094 -0.11% 0.46%
2093 -0.12% 0.48%
2092 -0.09% 0.5%
2091 -0.07% 0.52%
2090 -0.06% 0.54%
2089 -0.05% 0.55%
2088 -0.04% 0.57%
2087 -0.01% 0.6%
2086 -0.02% 0.62%
2085 -0.007% 0.64%
2084 -0% 0.67%
2083 0.008% 0.68%
2082 0.02% 0.7%
2081 0.03% 0.72%
2080 0.06% 0.74%
2079 0.08% 0.77%
2078 0.1% 0.79%
2077 0.11% 0.81%
2076 0.11% 0.85%
2075 0.15% 0.87%
2074 0.16% 0.9%
2073 0.17% 0.93%
2072 0.2% 0.95%
2071 0.24% 0.97%
2070 0.26% 1.01%
2069 0.28% 1.03%
2068 0.29% 1.06%
2067 0.3% 1.1%
2066 0.3% 1.12%
2065 0.33% 1.15%
2064 0.35% 1.17%
2063 0.4% 1.21%
2062 0.42% 1.23%
2061 0.44% 1.25%
2060 0.47% 1.27%
2059 0.48% 1.32%
2058 0.5% 1.33%
2057 0.52% 1.37%
2056 0.56% 1.38%
2055 0.56% 1.4%
2054 0.6% 1.43%
2053 0.64% 1.44%
2052 0.68% 1.47%
2051 0.69% 1.51%
2050 0.72% 1.52%
2049 0.75% 1.56%
2048 0.79% 1.58%
2047 0.8% 1.62%
2046 0.82% 1.63%
2045 0.84% 1.67%
2044 0.87% 1.7%
2043 0.89% 1.73%
2042 0.92% 1.76%
2041 0.93% 1.8%
2040 0.95% 1.84%
2039 0.97% 1.89%
2038 0.98% 1.93%
2037 1.02% 1.96%
2036 1.03% 2%
2035 1.03% 2.03%
2034 1.04% 2.08%
2033 1.05% 2.12%
2032 1.05% 2.16%
2031 1.05% 2.19%
2030 1.07% 2.22%
2029 1.08% 2.25%
2028 1.08% 2.27%
2027 1.1% 2.28%
2026 1.1% 2.31%
2025 1.12% 2.34%
2024 1.12% 2.35%
2023 1.11% 2.42%
2022 1.09% 2.5%
2021 1.15% 2.57%
2020 1.19% 2.67%
2019 1.18% 2.75%
2018 1.23% 2.84%
2017 1.25% 2.93%
2016 1.23% 3.02%
2015 1.18% 3.12%
2014 1.15% 3.22%
2013 1.09% 3.01%
2012 1.01% 2.71%
2011 0.89% 2.56%
2010 0.78% 2.42%
2009 0.73% 2.39%
2008 0.68% 2.37%
2007 0.42% 2.35%
2006 -0.41% 2.36%
2005 -0.92% 2.37%
2004 -0.7% 2.37%
2003 -0.48% 2.44%
2002 -0.31% 2.48%
2001 -0.15% 2.45%
2000 0.03% 2.44%
1999 0.26% 2.4%
1998 0.5% 2.36%
1997 0.8% 2.39%
1996 1.08% 2.47%
1995 1.23% 2.6%
1994 1.36% 2.71%
1993 1.52% 2.79%
1992 1.68% 2.84%
1991 1.81% 2.88%
1990 1.93% 2.91%
1989 2.05% 2.92%
1988 2.14% 2.94%
1987 2.24% 2.96%
1986 2.57% 2.92%
1985 2.87% 2.83%
1984 2.9% 2.76%
1983 2.93% 2.72%
1982 2.95% 2.66%
1981 2.95% 2.59%
1980 2.95% 2.5%
1979 2.93% 2.42%
1978 2.89% 2.36%
1977 2.93% 2.47%
1976 3.26% 2.66%
1975 3.52% 2.81%
1974 3.51% 2.95%
1973 3.53% 3.03%
1972 3.58% 3.04%
1971 3.63% 3.03%
1970 3.67% 3.03%
1969 3.7% 3.03%
1968 3.73% 3.03%
1967 3.64% 3.02%
1966 3.25% 2.97%
1965 2.97% 2.92%
1964 2.99% 2.88%
1963 3.01% 2.86%
1962 3.03% 2.86%
1961 3.03% 2.86%

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/senegal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Senegal's population grew by 2.35%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Senegal
Current population
2396633
19491599
Population rank 143/197 68/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.24%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.24 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
59.3 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
5.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,163
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +424,411
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.35%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 35/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
41.7 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -12,636
Net migration rank 117/196 138/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 281,867
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 100/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1.5%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 146/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Senegal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Senegal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -12,636
2024 - -5,107 - -10,307
2023 31,115 -5,168 431,006 -9,999
2022 30,803 -6,023 415,507 16,425
2021 27,806 -3,449 403,019 25,519
2020 30,721 -3,449 400,910 33,848
2019 32,279 -6,896 399,436 38,386
2018 33,112 -6,892 405,454 33,567
2017 33,601 -6,850 410,366 29,605
2016 33,390 -6,766 411,480 29,498
2015 32,087 -7,087 407,008 34,387
2014 30,922 -6,877 405,019 36,030
2013 29,789 -6,659 406,582 34,878
2012 27,592 -6,425 402,243 -42,978
2011 25,647 -6,118 387,290 -43,350
2010 21,877 -5,886 372,934 -69,888
2009 20,335 -5,599 362,238 -69,239
2008 19,349 -5,392 351,661 -67,812
2007 17,763 -5,179 339,963 -66,580
2006 15,234 -11,416 331,364 -64,254
2005 15,831 -35,679 323,908 -61,781
2004 17,271 -33,530 317,286 -59,879
2003 20,133 -31,723 308,856 -57,213
2002 22,274 -29,924 298,842 -40,554
2001 23,190 -27,874 289,690 -41,422
2000 24,786 -26,220 283,946 -42,854
1999 27,393 -24,610 277,944 -44,284
1998 30,889 -23,299 267,404 -45,189
1997 34,637 -22,396 261,200 -44,506
1996 36,228 -17,042 255,418 -39,162
1995 37,370 -14,588 252,552 -31,001
1994 38,629 -13,953 249,115 -22,633
1993 40,505 -13,347 245,742 -16,649
1992 42,579 -12,707 241,482 -14,796
1991 44,026 -12,114 237,713 -13,783
1990 45,060 -11,598 234,155 -12,959
1989 46,264 -11,207 227,797 -12,362
1988 47,158 -11,028 221,772 -12,036
1987 47,718 -10,946 218,522 -12,086
1986 45,232 -7,501 212,887 -12,655
1985 44,575 1,222 208,218 -18,644
1984 43,785 1,199 203,125 -24,858
1983 42,899 1,253 197,673 -26,222
1982 41,941 1,281 191,309 -27,672
1981 40,808 1,307 185,917 -29,959
1980 39,617 1,361 179,707 -32,616
1979 38,440 1,285 173,425 -35,022
1978 37,084 1,047 167,744 -36,559
1977 35,654 746 161,636 -35,731
1976 34,117 2,986 154,776 -18,716
1975 32,311 9,723 147,311 -7,870
1974 30,444 9,972 139,974 3,347
1973 28,859 10,183 133,834 11,382
1972 27,841 10,386 128,024 13,852
1971 26,838 10,563 122,511 15,131
1970 25,935 10,605 117,264 16,168
1969 25,137 10,465 112,393 16,887
1968 24,490 10,108 108,240 17,264
1967 23,911 9,734 104,824 17,107
1966 23,326 7,248 101,359 15,849
1965 22,755 2,239 97,912 13,913
1964 22,116 2,198 94,797 11,892
1963 21,585 2,220 92,264 10,371
1962 21,132 2,172 89,937 9,809
1961 20,581 2,100 87,322 9,549
1960 19,981 1,989 84,735 9,337

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/senegal | 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 Senegal 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,089,205 people) and 6.13% is from migration (a gain of 267,266 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 281,867 people or 1.5% in Senegal.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Senegal
City Population
Dakar 1.44M
Thies 391K
Rufisque 295K
Saint-Louis 259K
Ziguinchor 205K
Kaolack 172K
Louga 113K
Kolda 62.3K
Fatick 39.4K

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/senegal | 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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