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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 6,586,476 people in Serbia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 6,494,521 in Serbia.

Population statistics:

  • Serbia's population is 2.71 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Serbia is the 110th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.08% for Serbia.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -0.76% in Serbia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Serbia has declined from 7.41M to 6.49M (12.4% decline).

Lesotho vs Serbia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Serbia
2100 3,280,784 3,621,418
2099 3,286,697 3,649,584
2098 3,292,498 3,677,789
2097 3,298,102 3,706,279
2096 3,303,027 3,734,933
2095 3,307,947 3,763,769
2094 3,312,002 3,792,851
2093 3,315,757 3,822,147
2092 3,319,661 3,851,865
2091 3,322,573 3,881,833
2090 3,324,769 3,911,964
2089 3,326,847 3,942,571
2088 3,328,480 3,973,274
2087 3,329,964 4,004,485
2086 3,330,456 4,036,066
2085 3,331,259 4,068,021
2084 3,331,485 4,100,403
2083 3,331,492 4,133,391
2082 3,331,234 4,166,924
2081 3,330,412 4,200,811
2080 3,329,267 4,235,306
2079 3,327,166 4,270,442
2078 3,324,646 4,306,246
2077 3,321,422 4,342,382
2076 3,317,850 4,378,754
2075 3,314,237 4,415,505
2074 3,309,174 4,452,888
2073 3,303,860 4,490,589
2072 3,298,181 4,528,672
2071 3,291,492 4,567,167
2070 3,283,654 4,606,212
2069 3,275,244 4,645,524
2068 3,266,152 4,685,090
2067 3,256,626 4,724,796
2066 3,246,903 4,764,445
2065 3,237,153 4,804,405
2064 3,226,489 4,844,434
2063 3,215,103 4,884,574
2062 3,202,287 4,924,899
2061 3,188,933 4,964,985
2060 3,174,998 5,005,138
2059 3,160,204 5,045,125
2058 3,145,053 5,085,292
2057 3,129,261 5,125,901
2056 3,113,129 5,166,530
2055 3,095,904 5,207,137
2054 3,078,567 5,247,793
2053 3,060,152 5,288,369
2052 3,040,649 5,329,487
2051 3,020,109 5,371,281
2050 2,999,457 5,413,067
2049 2,978,037 5,455,402
2048 2,955,727 5,498,031
2047 2,932,688 5,541,158
2046 2,909,307 5,584,824
2045 2,885,537 5,629,108
2044 2,861,372 5,673,908
2043 2,836,777 5,719,287
2042 2,811,663 5,765,400
2041 2,786,147 5,811,936
2040 2,760,391 5,858,464
2039 2,734,400 5,905,404
2038 2,708,216 5,952,107
2037 2,681,863 5,998,763
2036 2,654,755 6,045,097
2035 2,627,701 6,091,385
2034 2,600,880 6,137,447
2033 2,574,065 6,183,536
2032 2,547,344 6,229,136
2031 2,520,831 6,274,395
2030 2,494,646 6,319,422
2029 2,468,268 6,363,799
2028 2,441,871 6,407,914
2027 2,415,830 6,451,609
2026 2,389,516 6,494,521
2025 2,363,516 6,543,364
2024 2,337,423 6,586,476
2023 2,311,472 6,623,183
2022 2,286,110 6,664,449
2021 2,261,542 6,834,326
2020 2,235,727 6,899,126
2019 2,209,405 6,945,235
2018 2,183,603 6,982,604
2017 2,157,110 7,020,858
2016 2,130,422 7,058,322
2015 2,104,611 7,095,383
2014 2,080,089 7,131,787
2013 2,056,504 7,166,553
2012 2,034,354 7,201,497
2011 2,014,009 7,236,519
2010 1,996,251 7,291,436
2009 1,980,883 7,320,807
2008 1,966,541 7,350,222
2007 1,953,268 7,381,579
2006 1,945,063 7,411,569
2005 1,953,076 7,440,769
2004 1,971,129 7,463,157
2003 1,985,059 7,480,591
2002 1,994,679 7,500,031
2001 2,000,853 7,503,433
2000 2,003,913 7,516,346
1999 2,003,234 7,540,401
1998 1,998,049 7,567,745
1997 1,988,130 7,598,538
1996 1,972,418 7,622,185
1995 1,951,437 7,628,264
1994 1,927,707 7,622,711
1993 1,901,793 7,614,328
1992 1,873,274 7,604,063
1991 1,842,379 7,595,636
1990 1,809,696 7,897,937
1989 1,775,436 7,893,787
1988 1,739,841 7,884,218
1987 1,703,390 7,868,027
1986 1,666,138 7,853,824
1985 1,624,379 7,835,902
1984 1,578,986 7,813,549
1983 1,534,413 7,788,100
1982 1,490,732 7,763,335
1981 1,448,069 7,736,787
1980 1,406,521 7,709,544
1979 1,366,169 7,541,997
1978 1,327,240 7,504,017
1977 1,289,967 7,462,783
1976 1,253,214 7,418,973
1975 1,213,643 7,368,717
1974 1,172,420 7,326,043
1973 1,132,697 7,283,902
1972 1,094,063 7,252,012
1971 1,056,246 7,211,716
1970 1,019,273 7,164,993
1969 983,202 7,123,249
1968 948,105 7,007,586
1967 913,982 6,966,522
1966 881,870 6,927,969
1965 854,090 6,876,624
1964 829,437 6,832,855
1963 805,373 6,787,950
1962 781,814 6,740,264
1961 758,824 6,689,077
1960 736,500 6,638,992

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/serbia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Serbia lost 353,247 people (a 4.77% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Serbia's population decreased by 563,801 people (a 7.99% decline).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Serbia was ranked 97th in 2006 and ranked 110th 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 Serbia will decrease by 16.7% to 5,413,067 people and rank change from 110th to 125th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Serbia's population already peaked in 1990 at 7.9M people and is projected to decrease to 3.62M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Serbia
2100 -0.18% -0.77%
2099 -0.18% -0.77%
2098 -0.17% -0.77%
2097 -0.15% -0.77%
2096 -0.15% -0.77%
2095 -0.12% -0.77%
2094 -0.11% -0.77%
2093 -0.12% -0.77%
2092 -0.09% -0.77%
2091 -0.07% -0.77%
2090 -0.06% -0.78%
2089 -0.05% -0.77%
2088 -0.04% -0.78%
2087 -0.01% -0.78%
2086 -0.02% -0.79%
2085 -0.007% -0.79%
2084 -0% -0.8%
2083 0.008% -0.8%
2082 0.02% -0.81%
2081 0.03% -0.81%
2080 0.06% -0.82%
2079 0.08% -0.83%
2078 0.1% -0.83%
2077 0.11% -0.83%
2076 0.11% -0.83%
2075 0.15% -0.84%
2074 0.16% -0.84%
2073 0.17% -0.84%
2072 0.2% -0.84%
2071 0.24% -0.85%
2070 0.26% -0.85%
2069 0.28% -0.84%
2068 0.29% -0.84%
2067 0.3% -0.83%
2066 0.3% -0.83%
2065 0.33% -0.83%
2064 0.35% -0.82%
2063 0.4% -0.82%
2062 0.42% -0.81%
2061 0.44% -0.8%
2060 0.47% -0.79%
2059 0.48% -0.79%
2058 0.5% -0.79%
2057 0.52% -0.79%
2056 0.56% -0.78%
2055 0.56% -0.77%
2054 0.6% -0.77%
2053 0.64% -0.77%
2052 0.68% -0.78%
2051 0.69% -0.77%
2050 0.72% -0.78%
2049 0.75% -0.78%
2048 0.79% -0.78%
2047 0.8% -0.78%
2046 0.82% -0.79%
2045 0.84% -0.79%
2044 0.87% -0.79%
2043 0.89% -0.8%
2042 0.92% -0.8%
2041 0.93% -0.79%
2040 0.95% -0.79%
2039 0.97% -0.78%
2038 0.98% -0.78%
2037 1.02% -0.77%
2036 1.03% -0.76%
2035 1.03% -0.75%
2034 1.04% -0.75%
2033 1.05% -0.73%
2032 1.05% -0.72%
2031 1.05% -0.71%
2030 1.07% -0.7%
2029 1.08% -0.69%
2028 1.08% -0.68%
2027 1.1% -0.66%
2026 1.1% -0.75%
2025 1.12% -0.65%
2024 1.12% -0.55%
2023 1.11% -0.62%
2022 1.09% -2.49%
2021 1.15% -0.94%
2020 1.19% -0.66%
2019 1.18% -0.54%
2018 1.23% -0.54%
2017 1.25% -0.53%
2016 1.23% -0.52%
2015 1.18% -0.51%
2014 1.15% -0.49%
2013 1.09% -0.49%
2012 1.01% -0.48%
2011 0.89% -0.75%
2010 0.78% -0.4%
2009 0.73% -0.4%
2008 0.68% -0.42%
2007 0.42% -0.4%
2006 -0.41% -0.39%
2005 -0.92% -0.3%
2004 -0.7% -0.23%
2003 -0.48% -0.26%
2002 -0.31% -0.05%
2001 -0.15% -0.17%
2000 0.03% -0.32%
1999 0.26% -0.36%
1998 0.5% -0.41%
1997 0.8% -0.31%
1996 1.08% -0.08%
1995 1.23% 0.07%
1994 1.36% 0.11%
1993 1.52% 0.13%
1992 1.68% 0.11%
1991 1.81% -3.83%
1990 1.93% 0.05%
1989 2.05% 0.12%
1988 2.14% 0.21%
1987 2.24% 0.18%
1986 2.57% 0.23%
1985 2.87% 0.29%
1984 2.9% 0.33%
1983 2.93% 0.32%
1982 2.95% 0.34%
1981 2.95% 0.35%
1980 2.95% 2.22%
1979 2.93% 0.51%
1978 2.89% 0.55%
1977 2.93% 0.59%
1976 3.26% 0.68%
1975 3.52% 0.58%
1974 3.51% 0.58%
1973 3.53% 0.44%
1972 3.58% 0.56%
1971 3.63% 0.65%
1970 3.67% 0.59%
1969 3.7% 1.65%
1968 3.73% 0.59%
1967 3.64% 0.56%
1966 3.25% 0.75%
1965 2.97% 0.64%
1964 2.99% 0.66%
1963 3.01% 0.71%
1962 3.03% 0.77%
1961 3.03% 0.75%

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/serbia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Serbia's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Serbia
Current population
2396633
6494521
Population rank 143/197 110/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.08%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
14.3 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
8.63 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
5.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 -101
Annual growth/decline +25,951 -36,707
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 189/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
40.3 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -13,086
Net migration rank 117/196 140/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 712,550
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 70/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 64/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Serbia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Serbia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -13,086
2024 - -5,107 - -8,132
2023 31,115 -5,168 -36,427 4,348
2022 30,803 -6,023 -46,651 40,118
2021 27,806 -3,449 -74,494 -8,974
2020 30,721 -3,449 -55,193 -10,220
2019 32,279 -6,896 -36,810 -18,891
2018 33,112 -6,892 -37,707 -18,883
2017 33,601 -6,850 -39,317 -18,651
2016 33,390 -6,766 -35,998 -18,322
2015 32,087 -7,087 -37,605 -18,789
2014 30,922 -6,877 -34,946 -18,846
2013 29,789 -6,659 -34,399 -17,866
2012 27,592 -6,425 -35,288 -18,513
2011 25,647 -6,118 -36,906 611
2010 21,877 -5,886 -34,999 3,632
2009 20,335 -5,599 -33,676 6,043
2008 19,349 -5,392 -33,590 7,070
2007 17,763 -5,179 -34,693 7,045
2006 15,234 -11,416 -31,870 8,018
2005 15,831 -35,679 -34,227 7,945
2004 17,271 -33,530 -26,121 7,300
2003 20,133 -31,723 -24,686 6,854
2002 22,274 -29,924 -24,750 1,562
2001 23,190 -27,874 -20,259 -12,007
2000 24,786 -26,220 -30,065 -14,368
1999 27,393 -24,610 -29,408 -4,073
1998 30,889 -23,299 -23,006 -5,665
1997 34,637 -22,396 -18,389 -5,817
1996 36,228 -17,042 -16,007 -5,598
1995 37,370 -14,588 -7,628 -6,019
1994 38,629 -13,953 -7,157 -5,934
1993 40,505 -13,347 -5,703 -5,972
1992 42,579 -12,707 -3,779 -4,415
1991 44,026 -12,114 2,210 -8,483
1990 45,060 -11,598 7,416 -16,260
1989 46,264 -11,207 11,872 -16,360
1988 47,158 -11,028 13,852 -15,715
1987 47,718 -10,946 16,711 -16,686
1986 45,232 -7,501 19,407 -17,990
1985 44,575 1,222 22,090 -17,646
1984 43,785 1,199 23,815 -15,567
1983 42,899 1,253 27,515 -15,301
1982 41,941 1,281 30,603 -13,550
1981 40,808 1,307 34,304 -8,531
1980 39,617 1,361 36,273 287
1979 38,440 1,285 39,022 -960
1978 37,084 1,047 43,636 -1,481
1977 35,654 746 48,105 -1,953
1976 34,117 2,986 51,399 -2,744
1975 32,311 9,723 52,502 -3,490
1974 30,444 9,972 51,583 -3,525
1973 28,859 10,183 49,596 -2,396
1972 27,841 10,386 48,248 -348
1971 26,838 10,563 47,424 1,655
1970 25,935 10,605 48,343 1,861
1969 25,137 10,465 50,304 4,112
1968 24,490 10,108 51,653 5,430
1967 23,911 9,734 53,120 6,114
1966 23,326 7,248 53,338 7,037
1965 22,755 2,239 53,383 7,957
1964 22,116 2,198 54,185 8,045
1963 21,585 2,220 55,580 8,276
1962 21,132 2,172 59,307 6,064
1961 20,581 2,100 61,065 6,422
1960 19,981 1,989 63,642 4,377

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/serbia | 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 Serbia 83.3% is from natural causes (a loss of 435,148 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 87,110 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 712,550 people or 10.6% in Serbia.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K

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/serbia | 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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