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Population in Lesotho compared to the Solomon Islands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 819,198 people in the Solomon Islands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 863,951 in the Solomon Islands.

Population statistics:

  • Lesotho's population is 2.77 times bigger than the Solomon Islands'.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while the Solomon Islands is the 161st.
  • The countries together account for 0.04% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.01% for the Solomon Islands.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.95% in the Solomon Islands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while the Solomon Islands has grown from 492K to 864K (75.7% growth).

Lesotho vs Solomon Islands: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Solomon Islands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Solomon Islands
2100 3,280,784 1,869,358
2099 3,286,697 1,865,277
2098 3,292,498 1,861,047
2097 3,298,102 1,856,421
2096 3,303,027 1,851,585
2095 3,307,947 1,846,229
2094 3,312,002 1,840,799
2093 3,315,757 1,834,881
2092 3,319,661 1,828,545
2091 3,322,573 1,822,001
2090 3,324,769 1,815,153
2089 3,326,847 1,808,103
2088 3,328,480 1,800,741
2087 3,329,964 1,793,136
2086 3,330,456 1,785,209
2085 3,331,259 1,777,013
2084 3,331,485 1,768,444
2083 3,331,492 1,759,601
2082 3,331,234 1,750,433
2081 3,330,412 1,740,952
2080 3,329,267 1,731,110
2079 3,327,166 1,721,146
2078 3,324,646 1,710,785
2077 3,321,422 1,700,043
2076 3,317,850 1,688,876
2075 3,314,237 1,677,587
2074 3,309,174 1,666,185
2073 3,303,860 1,654,264
2072 3,298,181 1,642,044
2071 3,291,492 1,629,467
2070 3,283,654 1,616,736
2069 3,275,244 1,603,679
2068 3,266,152 1,590,304
2067 3,256,626 1,576,716
2066 3,246,903 1,563,005
2065 3,237,153 1,549,060
2064 3,226,489 1,534,862
2063 3,215,103 1,520,351
2062 3,202,287 1,505,792
2061 3,188,933 1,490,935
2060 3,174,998 1,476,028
2059 3,160,204 1,460,816
2058 3,145,053 1,445,385
2057 3,129,261 1,429,967
2056 3,113,129 1,414,320
2055 3,095,904 1,398,440
2054 3,078,567 1,382,426
2053 3,060,152 1,366,190
2052 3,040,649 1,349,703
2051 3,020,109 1,333,136
2050 2,999,457 1,316,322
2049 2,978,037 1,299,367
2048 2,955,727 1,282,258
2047 2,932,688 1,265,007
2046 2,909,307 1,247,608
2045 2,885,537 1,230,002
2044 2,861,372 1,212,277
2043 2,836,777 1,194,351
2042 2,811,663 1,176,271
2041 2,786,147 1,158,172
2040 2,760,391 1,139,832
2039 2,734,400 1,121,014
2038 2,708,216 1,101,787
2037 2,681,863 1,082,148
2036 2,654,755 1,062,197
2035 2,627,701 1,041,925
2034 2,600,880 1,021,492
2033 2,574,065 1,000,997
2032 2,547,344 980,329
2031 2,520,831 959,788
2030 2,494,646 939,300
2029 2,468,268 918,921
2028 2,441,871 898,660
2027 2,415,830 878,499
2026 2,389,516 858,557
2025 2,363,516 838,746
2024 2,337,423 819,198
2023 2,311,472 800,005
2022 2,286,110 781,066
2021 2,261,542 762,591
2020 2,235,727 744,498
2019 2,209,405 728,147
2018 2,183,603 709,101
2017 2,157,110 685,672
2016 2,130,422 662,379
2015 2,104,611 639,415
2014 2,080,089 616,908
2013 2,056,504 594,945
2012 2,034,354 573,606
2011 2,014,009 552,945
2010 1,996,251 532,968
2009 1,980,883 518,141
2008 1,966,541 508,790
2007 1,953,268 500,156
2006 1,945,063 491,594
2005 1,953,076 483,080
2004 1,971,129 474,611
2003 1,985,059 466,154
2002 1,994,679 457,671
2001 2,000,853 449,125
2000 2,003,913 440,469
1999 2,003,234 430,500
1998 1,998,049 419,071
1997 1,988,130 407,474
1996 1,972,418 396,009
1995 1,951,437 384,733
1994 1,927,707 373,675
1993 1,901,793 362,839
1992 1,873,274 352,205
1991 1,842,379 341,738
1990 1,809,696 331,435
1989 1,775,436 321,282
1988 1,739,841 311,265
1987 1,703,390 301,414
1986 1,666,138 291,842
1985 1,624,379 282,455
1984 1,578,986 273,163
1983 1,534,413 264,068
1982 1,490,732 255,200
1981 1,448,069 246,555
1980 1,406,521 238,135
1979 1,366,169 229,953
1978 1,327,240 222,029
1977 1,289,967 214,418
1976 1,253,214 207,194
1975 1,213,643 200,744
1974 1,172,420 195,041
1973 1,132,697 189,774
1972 1,094,063 184,994
1971 1,056,246 180,637
1970 1,019,273 176,579
1969 983,202 172,476
1968 948,105 168,282
1967 913,982 164,245
1966 881,870 160,393
1965 854,090 156,686
1964 829,437 153,085
1963 805,373 149,589
1962 781,814 146,201
1961 758,824 142,912
1960 736,500 139,688

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/solomon-islands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while the Solomon Islands gained 170,785 people (a 34.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while the Solomon Islands' population increased by 201,572 people (a 30.4% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. The Solomon Islands was ranked 165th in 2006 and ranked 161st 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 the Solomon Islands will increase by 52.4% to 1,316,322 people and rank change from 161st to 156th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 1.87M people in 2100 for the Solomon Islands.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Solomon Islands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Solomon Islands
2100 -0.18% 0.22%
2099 -0.18% 0.23%
2098 -0.17% 0.25%
2097 -0.15% 0.26%
2096 -0.15% 0.29%
2095 -0.12% 0.29%
2094 -0.11% 0.32%
2093 -0.12% 0.35%
2092 -0.09% 0.36%
2091 -0.07% 0.38%
2090 -0.06% 0.39%
2089 -0.05% 0.41%
2088 -0.04% 0.42%
2087 -0.01% 0.44%
2086 -0.02% 0.46%
2085 -0.007% 0.48%
2084 -0% 0.5%
2083 0.008% 0.52%
2082 0.02% 0.54%
2081 0.03% 0.57%
2080 0.06% 0.58%
2079 0.08% 0.61%
2078 0.1% 0.63%
2077 0.11% 0.66%
2076 0.11% 0.67%
2075 0.15% 0.68%
2074 0.16% 0.72%
2073 0.17% 0.74%
2072 0.2% 0.77%
2071 0.24% 0.79%
2070 0.26% 0.81%
2069 0.28% 0.84%
2068 0.29% 0.86%
2067 0.3% 0.88%
2066 0.3% 0.9%
2065 0.33% 0.93%
2064 0.35% 0.95%
2063 0.4% 0.97%
2062 0.42% 1%
2061 0.44% 1.01%
2060 0.47% 1.04%
2059 0.48% 1.07%
2058 0.5% 1.08%
2057 0.52% 1.11%
2056 0.56% 1.14%
2055 0.56% 1.16%
2054 0.6% 1.19%
2053 0.64% 1.22%
2052 0.68% 1.24%
2051 0.69% 1.28%
2050 0.72% 1.3%
2049 0.75% 1.33%
2048 0.79% 1.36%
2047 0.8% 1.39%
2046 0.82% 1.43%
2045 0.84% 1.46%
2044 0.87% 1.5%
2043 0.89% 1.54%
2042 0.92% 1.56%
2041 0.93% 1.61%
2040 0.95% 1.68%
2039 0.97% 1.75%
2038 0.98% 1.81%
2037 1.02% 1.88%
2036 1.03% 1.95%
2035 1.03% 2%
2034 1.04% 2.05%
2033 1.05% 2.11%
2032 1.05% 2.14%
2031 1.05% 2.18%
2030 1.07% 2.22%
2029 1.08% 2.25%
2028 1.08% 2.3%
2027 1.1% 2.32%
2026 1.1% 2.36%
2025 1.12% 2.39%
2024 1.12% 2.4%
2023 1.11% 2.42%
2022 1.09% 2.42%
2021 1.15% 2.43%
2020 1.19% 2.25%
2019 1.18% 2.69%
2018 1.23% 3.42%
2017 1.25% 3.52%
2016 1.23% 3.59%
2015 1.18% 3.65%
2014 1.15% 3.69%
2013 1.09% 3.72%
2012 1.01% 3.74%
2011 0.89% 3.75%
2010 0.78% 2.86%
2009 0.73% 1.84%
2008 0.68% 1.73%
2007 0.42% 1.74%
2006 -0.41% 1.76%
2005 -0.92% 1.78%
2004 -0.7% 1.81%
2003 -0.48% 1.85%
2002 -0.31% 1.9%
2001 -0.15% 1.97%
2000 0.03% 2.32%
1999 0.26% 2.73%
1998 0.5% 2.85%
1997 0.8% 2.9%
1996 1.08% 2.93%
1995 1.23% 2.96%
1994 1.36% 2.99%
1993 1.52% 3.02%
1992 1.68% 3.06%
1991 1.81% 3.11%
1990 1.93% 3.16%
1989 2.05% 3.22%
1988 2.14% 3.27%
1987 2.24% 3.28%
1986 2.57% 3.32%
1985 2.87% 3.4%
1984 2.9% 3.44%
1983 2.93% 3.47%
1982 2.95% 3.51%
1981 2.95% 3.54%
1980 2.95% 3.56%
1979 2.93% 3.57%
1978 2.89% 3.55%
1977 2.93% 3.49%
1976 3.26% 3.21%
1975 3.52% 2.92%
1974 3.51% 2.78%
1973 3.53% 2.58%
1972 3.58% 2.41%
1971 3.63% 2.3%
1970 3.67% 2.38%
1969 3.7% 2.49%
1968 3.73% 2.46%
1967 3.64% 2.4%
1966 3.25% 2.37%
1965 2.97% 2.35%
1964 2.99% 2.34%
1963 3.01% 2.32%
1962 3.03% 2.3%
1961 3.03% 2.31%

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/solomon-islands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while the Solomon Islands' population grew by 2.4%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Solomon Islands
Current population
2396633
863951
Population rank 143/197 161/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.01%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
27.4 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
24.4 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.13 hours
Daily growth/decline +71 +53
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +19,193
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.4%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 33/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
5.39 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 +1,631
Net migration rank 117/196 59/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 2,469
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 192/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 184/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Solomon Islands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Solomon Islands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 1,631
2024 - -5,107 - 1,610
2023 31,115 -5,168 17,436 1,636
2022 30,803 -6,023 17,253 1,567
2021 27,806 -3,449 16,626 1,499
2020 30,721 -3,449 16,488 1,556
2019 32,279 -6,896 16,649 -1,990
2018 33,112 -6,892 16,790 6,653
2017 33,601 -6,850 16,897 6,513
2016 33,390 -6,766 17,027 6,146
2015 32,087 -7,087 16,909 5,853
2014 30,922 -6,877 16,652 5,598
2013 29,789 -6,659 16,038 5,631
2012 27,592 -6,425 15,585 5,420
2011 25,647 -6,118 15,095 5,219
2010 21,877 -5,886 14,604 5,040
2009 20,335 -5,599 14,381 -4,360
2008 19,349 -5,392 14,225 -5,538
2007 17,763 -5,179 13,963 -5,383
2006 15,234 -11,416 13,799 -5,262
2005 15,831 -35,679 13,568 -5,082
2004 17,271 -33,530 13,444 -4,985
2003 20,133 -31,723 13,344 -4,881
2002 22,274 -29,924 13,195 -4,691
2001 23,190 -27,874 13,061 -4,474
2000 24,786 -26,220 12,938 -4,219
1999 27,393 -24,610 12,809 -1,588
1998 30,889 -23,299 12,658 -1,019
1997 34,637 -22,396 12,478 -931
1996 36,228 -17,042 12,328 -947
1995 37,370 -14,588 12,124 -952
1994 38,629 -13,953 11,771 -828
1993 40,505 -13,347 11,396 -665
1992 42,579 -12,707 11,029 -482
1991 44,026 -12,114 10,789 -410
1990 45,060 -11,598 10,561 -335
1989 46,264 -11,207 10,354 -270
1988 47,158 -11,028 10,142 -197
1987 47,718 -10,946 9,943 -179
1986 45,232 -7,501 9,656 -269
1985 44,575 1,222 9,534 -150
1984 43,785 1,199 9,299 -102
1983 42,899 1,253 9,011 -30
1982 41,941 1,281 8,720 40
1981 40,808 1,307 8,436 99
1980 39,617 1,361 8,156 151
1979 38,440 1,285 7,874 188
1978 37,084 1,047 7,598 174
1977 35,654 746 7,290 159
1976 34,117 2,986 7,058 -48
1975 32,311 9,723 6,635 -760
1974 30,444 9,972 6,612 -1,084
1973 28,859 10,183 6,343 -1,329
1972 27,841 10,386 6,074 -1,520
1971 26,838 10,563 5,814 -1,646
1970 25,935 10,605 5,575 -1,632
1969 25,137 10,465 5,444 -1,187
1968 24,490 10,108 5,285 -1,154
1967 23,911 9,734 5,151 -1,213
1966 23,326 7,248 5,028 -1,256
1965 22,755 2,239 4,885 -1,237
1964 22,116 2,198 4,747 -1,200
1963 21,585 2,220 4,571 -1,129
1962 21,132 2,172 4,408 -1,073
1961 20,581 2,100 4,257 -1,016
1960 19,981 1,989 4,119 -917

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/solomon-islands | 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 the Solomon Islands 82.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 168,727 people) and 17.2% is from migration (a gain of 35,031 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 2,469 people or 0.3% in the Solomon Islands.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Solomon Islands
City Population
Honiara 84.5K
Auki 6.81K

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/solomon-islands | 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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