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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 8.56 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Lesotho vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Somalia
2100 3,280,784 68,384,185
2099 3,286,697 68,040,371
2098 3,292,498 67,702,230
2097 3,298,102 67,362,336
2096 3,303,027 66,972,933
2095 3,307,947 66,585,659
2094 3,312,002 66,179,819
2093 3,315,757 65,760,590
2092 3,319,661 65,324,261
2091 3,322,573 64,852,843
2090 3,324,769 64,362,727
2089 3,326,847 63,922,797
2088 3,328,480 63,464,036
2087 3,329,964 62,987,028
2086 3,330,456 62,447,029
2085 3,331,259 61,873,597
2084 3,331,485 61,318,916
2083 3,331,492 60,761,800
2082 3,331,234 60,187,980
2081 3,330,412 59,676,722
2080 3,329,267 59,100,915
2079 3,327,166 58,477,428
2078 3,324,646 57,852,528
2077 3,321,422 57,211,821
2076 3,317,850 56,602,463
2075 3,314,237 56,005,600
2074 3,309,174 55,330,165
2073 3,303,860 54,651,918
2072 3,298,181 53,978,548
2071 3,291,492 53,284,016
2070 3,283,654 52,573,210
2069 3,275,244 51,878,214
2068 3,266,152 51,197,653
2067 3,256,626 50,493,028
2066 3,246,903 49,779,172
2065 3,237,153 49,024,665
2064 3,226,489 48,265,876
2063 3,215,103 47,522,361
2062 3,202,287 46,785,920
2061 3,188,933 46,037,526
2060 3,174,998 45,220,507
2059 3,160,204 44,397,936
2058 3,145,053 43,659,021
2057 3,129,261 42,897,422
2056 3,113,129 42,121,542
2055 3,095,904 41,318,179
2054 3,078,567 40,513,141
2053 3,060,152 39,744,995
2052 3,040,649 38,992,177
2051 3,020,109 38,228,872
2050 2,999,457 37,471,735
2049 2,978,037 36,739,905
2048 2,955,727 35,984,999
2047 2,932,688 35,218,863
2046 2,909,307 34,462,403
2045 2,885,537 33,717,596
2044 2,861,372 32,977,674
2043 2,836,777 32,247,710
2042 2,811,663 31,537,272
2041 2,786,147 30,794,853
2040 2,760,391 30,032,324
2039 2,734,400 29,312,883
2038 2,708,216 28,583,386
2037 2,681,863 27,838,646
2036 2,654,755 27,114,453
2035 2,627,701 26,385,421
2034 2,600,880 25,687,629
2033 2,574,065 25,018,509
2032 2,547,344 24,338,597
2031 2,520,831 23,657,353
2030 2,494,646 22,965,742
2029 2,468,268 22,299,610
2028 2,441,871 21,651,582
2027 2,415,830 20,991,860
2026 2,389,516 20,322,668
2025 2,363,516 19,666,990
2024 2,337,423 19,009,151
2023 2,311,472 18,358,615
2022 2,286,110 17,801,897
2021 2,261,542 17,271,431
2020 2,235,727 16,651,191
2019 2,209,405 16,030,971
2018 2,183,603 15,452,487
2017 2,157,110 14,916,629
2016 2,130,422 14,348,740
2015 2,104,611 13,806,963
2014 2,080,089 13,339,491
2013 2,056,504 12,869,594
2012 2,034,354 12,461,160
2011 2,014,009 12,348,830
2010 1,996,251 12,261,756
2009 1,980,883 11,961,201
2008 1,966,541 11,663,084
2007 1,953,268 11,322,582
2006 1,945,063 10,975,502
2005 1,953,076 10,644,228
2004 1,971,129 10,280,998
2003 1,985,059 9,909,157
2002 1,994,679 9,550,063
2001 2,000,853 9,198,493
2000 2,003,913 8,838,713
1999 2,003,234 8,492,059
1998 1,998,049 8,155,417
1997 1,988,130 7,824,525
1996 1,972,418 7,554,474
1995 1,951,437 7,285,007
1994 1,927,707 7,026,797
1993 1,901,793 6,681,399
1992 1,873,274 6,495,107
1991 1,842,379 6,813,760
1990 1,809,696 7,082,811
1989 1,775,436 7,114,817
1988 1,739,841 7,235,360
1987 1,703,390 7,228,302
1986 1,666,138 6,974,788
1985 1,624,379 6,693,289
1984 1,578,986 6,428,389
1983 1,534,413 6,198,430
1982 1,490,732 6,003,840
1981 1,448,069 5,982,849
1980 1,406,521 5,936,154
1979 1,366,169 5,449,117
1978 1,327,240 4,814,892
1977 1,289,967 4,484,050
1976 1,253,214 4,365,812
1975 1,213,643 4,257,535
1974 1,172,420 4,151,842
1973 1,132,697 4,045,592
1972 1,094,063 3,939,436
1971 1,056,246 3,837,691
1970 1,019,273 3,738,448
1969 983,202 3,641,015
1968 948,105 3,546,590
1967 913,982 3,454,537
1966 881,870 3,365,106
1965 854,090 3,277,874
1964 829,437 3,192,796
1963 805,373 3,110,361
1962 781,814 3,030,091
1961 758,824 2,952,054
1960 736,500 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Somalia
2100 -0.18% 0.51%
2099 -0.18% 0.5%
2098 -0.17% 0.5%
2097 -0.15% 0.58%
2096 -0.15% 0.58%
2095 -0.12% 0.61%
2094 -0.11% 0.64%
2093 -0.12% 0.67%
2092 -0.09% 0.73%
2091 -0.07% 0.76%
2090 -0.06% 0.69%
2089 -0.05% 0.72%
2088 -0.04% 0.76%
2087 -0.01% 0.86%
2086 -0.02% 0.93%
2085 -0.007% 0.9%
2084 -0% 0.92%
2083 0.008% 0.95%
2082 0.02% 0.86%
2081 0.03% 0.97%
2080 0.06% 1.07%
2079 0.08% 1.08%
2078 0.1% 1.12%
2077 0.11% 1.08%
2076 0.11% 1.07%
2075 0.15% 1.22%
2074 0.16% 1.24%
2073 0.17% 1.25%
2072 0.2% 1.3%
2071 0.24% 1.35%
2070 0.26% 1.34%
2069 0.28% 1.33%
2068 0.29% 1.4%
2067 0.3% 1.43%
2066 0.3% 1.54%
2065 0.33% 1.57%
2064 0.35% 1.56%
2063 0.4% 1.57%
2062 0.42% 1.63%
2061 0.44% 1.81%
2060 0.47% 1.85%
2059 0.48% 1.69%
2058 0.5% 1.78%
2057 0.52% 1.84%
2056 0.56% 1.94%
2055 0.56% 1.99%
2054 0.6% 1.93%
2053 0.64% 1.93%
2052 0.68% 2%
2051 0.69% 2.02%
2050 0.72% 1.99%
2049 0.75% 2.1%
2048 0.79% 2.18%
2047 0.8% 2.2%
2046 0.82% 2.21%
2045 0.84% 2.24%
2044 0.87% 2.26%
2043 0.89% 2.25%
2042 0.92% 2.41%
2041 0.93% 2.54%
2040 0.95% 2.45%
2039 0.97% 2.55%
2038 0.98% 2.68%
2037 1.02% 2.67%
2036 1.03% 2.76%
2035 1.03% 2.72%
2034 1.04% 2.67%
2033 1.05% 2.79%
2032 1.05% 2.88%
2031 1.05% 3.01%
2030 1.07% 2.99%
2029 1.08% 2.99%
2028 1.08% 3.14%
2027 1.1% 3.29%
2026 1.1% 3.33%
2025 1.12% 3.46%
2024 1.12% 3.54%
2023 1.11% 3.13%
2022 1.09% 3.07%
2021 1.15% 3.72%
2020 1.19% 3.87%
2019 1.18% 3.74%
2018 1.23% 3.59%
2017 1.25% 3.96%
2016 1.23% 3.92%
2015 1.18% 3.5%
2014 1.15% 3.65%
2013 1.09% 3.28%
2012 1.01% 0.91%
2011 0.89% 0.71%
2010 0.78% 2.51%
2009 0.73% 2.56%
2008 0.68% 3.01%
2007 0.42% 3.16%
2006 -0.41% 3.11%
2005 -0.92% 3.53%
2004 -0.7% 3.75%
2003 -0.48% 3.76%
2002 -0.31% 3.82%
2001 -0.15% 4.07%
2000 0.03% 4.08%
1999 0.26% 4.13%
1998 0.5% 4.23%
1997 0.8% 3.57%
1996 1.08% 3.7%
1995 1.23% 3.67%
1994 1.36% 5.17%
1993 1.52% 2.87%
1992 1.68% -4.68%
1991 1.81% -3.8%
1990 1.93% -0.45%
1989 2.05% -1.67%
1988 2.14% 0.1%
1987 2.24% 3.63%
1986 2.57% 4.21%
1985 2.87% 4.12%
1984 2.9% 3.71%
1983 2.93% 3.24%
1982 2.95% 0.35%
1981 2.95% 0.79%
1980 2.95% 8.94%
1979 2.93% 13.2%
1978 2.89% 7.38%
1977 2.93% 2.71%
1976 3.26% 2.54%
1975 3.52% 2.55%
1974 3.51% 2.63%
1973 3.53% 2.69%
1972 3.58% 2.65%
1971 3.63% 2.65%
1970 3.67% 2.68%
1969 3.7% 2.66%
1968 3.73% 2.66%
1967 3.64% 2.66%
1966 3.25% 2.66%
1965 2.97% 2.66%
1964 2.99% 2.65%
1963 3.01% 2.65%
1962 3.03% 2.64%
1961 3.03% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Somalia
Current population
2396633
20503678
Population rank 143/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.25%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 8/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +12,077
Net migration rank 117/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 12,077
2024 - -5,107 - 26,859
2023 31,115 -5,168 608,203 46,217
2022 30,803 -6,023 551,450 -92,434
2021 27,806 -3,449 566,399 35,506
2020 30,721 -3,449 561,311 77,259
2019 32,279 -6,896 548,756 53,124
2018 33,112 -6,892 514,244 40,844
2017 33,601 -6,850 478,556 38,067
2016 33,390 -6,766 495,132 124,017
2015 32,087 -7,087 481,573 -17,178
2014 30,922 -6,877 464,481 6,065
2013 29,789 -6,659 448,518 20,723
2012 27,592 -6,425 399,468 -51,833
2011 25,647 -6,118 203,213 -326,192
2010 21,877 -5,886 385,571 -88,448
2009 20,335 -5,599 405,784 -101,795
2008 19,349 -5,392 394,258 -102,035
2007 17,763 -5,179 380,303 8,476
2006 15,234 -11,416 372,597 -67,200
2005 15,831 -35,679 363,117 -5,955
2004 17,271 -33,530 351,959 17,353
2003 20,133 -31,723 341,192 33,174
2002 22,274 -29,924 331,215 12,603
2001 23,190 -27,874 319,059 40,274
2000 24,786 -26,220 306,651 53,580
1999 27,393 -24,610 295,523 37,548
1998 30,889 -23,299 284,779 55,426
1997 34,637 -22,396 271,894 49,692
1996 36,228 -17,042 264,807 -46,291
1995 37,370 -14,588 254,509 65,888
1994 38,629 -13,953 246,950 -50,921
1993 40,505 -13,347 232,960 261,815
1992 42,579 -12,707 57,495 -179,675
1991 44,026 -12,114 53,052 -568,166
1990 45,060 -11,598 225,162 -248,155
1989 46,264 -11,207 225,255 -266,281
1988 47,158 -11,028 215,599 -415,660
1987 47,718 -10,946 231,580 -17,391
1986 45,232 -7,501 218,416 74,424
1985 44,575 1,222 207,960 62,183
1984 43,785 1,199 199,017 60,630
1983 42,899 1,253 190,775 9,505
1982 41,941 1,281 182,793 6,115
1981 40,808 1,307 185,211 -332,129
1980 39,617 1,361 174,790 65,519
1979 38,440 1,285 151,016 582,746
1978 37,084 1,047 132,689 402,005
1977 35,654 746 124,818 2,170
1976 34,117 2,986 113,319 -3,831
1975 32,311 9,723 108,998 -1,934
1974 30,444 9,972 104,813 -495
1973 28,859 10,183 108,038 143
1972 27,841 10,386 104,493 -351
1971 26,838 10,563 101,196 -1,850
1970 25,935 10,605 98,025 1,104
1969 25,137 10,465 95,045 690
1968 24,490 10,108 92,208 906
1967 23,911 9,734 89,497 1,498
1966 23,326 7,248 86,930 941
1965 22,755 2,239 84,448 2,142
1964 22,116 2,198 82,042 1,518
1963 21,585 2,220 79,859 1,449
1962 21,132 2,172 77,737 1,496
1961 20,581 2,100 75,513 1,336
1960 19,981 1,989 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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