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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 18,931,966 people in Senegal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 19,596,169 in Senegal.

Population statistics:

  • Senegal's population is 8.16 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 +2.68% in Senegal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Senegal has grown from 11.5M to 19.6M (70.4% growth).

Lesotho vs Senegal: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Senegal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Senegal
2100 3,280,518 47,474,574
2099 3,286,430 47,302,101
2098 3,292,231 47,124,428
2097 3,297,835 46,935,783
2096 3,302,758 46,742,299
2095 3,307,678 46,541,530
2094 3,311,734 46,331,819
2093 3,315,488 46,117,446
2092 3,319,391 45,896,926
2091 3,322,303 45,669,419
2090 3,324,499 45,435,395
2089 3,326,577 45,190,699
2088 3,328,210 44,942,408
2087 3,329,694 44,685,891
2086 3,330,185 44,418,490
2085 3,330,989 44,143,926
2084 3,331,214 43,864,819
2083 3,331,221 43,572,529
2082 3,330,964 43,279,061
2081 3,330,141 42,978,412
2080 3,328,997 42,673,206
2079 3,326,895 42,360,446
2078 3,324,376 42,038,513
2077 3,321,152 41,710,573
2076 3,317,581 41,373,492
2075 3,313,968 41,024,071
2074 3,308,905 40,668,576
2073 3,303,592 40,306,673
2072 3,297,913 39,937,069
2071 3,291,224 39,562,087
2070 3,283,387 39,181,827
2069 3,274,978 38,789,497
2068 3,265,887 38,392,382
2067 3,256,362 37,991,278
2066 3,246,639 37,578,685
2065 3,236,890 37,162,056
2064 3,226,227 36,738,762
2063 3,214,843 36,312,562
2062 3,202,027 35,879,325
2061 3,188,674 35,443,454
2060 3,174,740 35,004,974
2059 3,159,947 34,566,478
2058 3,144,797 34,117,578
2057 3,129,007 33,668,392
2056 3,112,877 33,214,418
2055 3,095,653 32,760,822
2054 3,078,317 32,308,761
2053 3,059,904 31,854,267
2052 3,040,402 31,400,703
2051 3,019,864 30,944,985
2050 2,999,214 30,486,035
2049 2,977,795 30,028,301
2048 2,955,487 29,566,333
2047 2,932,450 29,107,317
2046 2,909,071 28,644,370
2045 2,885,303 28,183,606
2044 2,861,140 27,720,422
2043 2,836,547 27,256,832
2042 2,811,435 26,792,904
2041 2,785,921 26,328,316
2040 2,760,167 25,862,356
2039 2,734,178 25,394,612
2038 2,707,996 24,924,728
2037 2,681,646 24,453,976
2036 2,654,540 23,983,290
2035 2,627,488 23,511,966
2034 2,600,669 23,043,425
2033 2,573,856 22,574,895
2032 2,547,137 22,106,910
2031 2,520,626 21,639,797
2030 2,494,444 21,175,234
2029 2,468,067 20,716,123
2028 2,441,673 20,260,670
2027 2,415,634 19,811,163
2026 2,389,322 19,369,097
2025 2,363,325 18,931,966
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Senegal's population increased by 4,561,648 people (a 30.3% 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 24.8% to 2,999,214 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Senegal will increase by 55.6% to 30,486,035 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 1.11% 2.32%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Senegal's population grew by 2.32%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Senegal
Current population
2402837
19596169
Population rank 143/197 68/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.24%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.23 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
58.4 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
5.16 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,178
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +429,982
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +2.32%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 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 31,050 -5,107 438,108 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/senegal | 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 Senegal 94.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,122,294 people) and 5.09% is from migration (a gain of 220,929 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 215K
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 (1960–2025, 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/senegal | 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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