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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 20,653,532 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 8.6 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 +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% growth).

Lesotho vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Somalia
2100 3,280,518 68,341,587
2099 3,286,430 67,997,987
2098 3,292,231 67,660,056
2097 3,297,835 67,320,374
2096 3,302,758 66,931,214
2095 3,307,678 66,544,181
2094 3,311,734 66,138,594
2093 3,315,488 65,719,626
2092 3,319,391 65,283,569
2091 3,322,303 64,812,444
2090 3,324,499 64,322,633
2089 3,326,577 63,882,977
2088 3,328,210 63,424,502
2087 3,329,694 62,947,792
2086 3,330,185 62,408,129
2085 3,330,989 61,835,054
2084 3,331,214 61,280,718
2083 3,331,221 60,723,949
2082 3,330,964 60,150,487
2081 3,330,141 59,639,547
2080 3,328,997 59,064,099
2079 3,326,895 58,441,001
2078 3,324,376 57,816,490
2077 3,321,152 57,176,183
2076 3,317,581 56,567,204
2075 3,313,968 55,970,712
2074 3,308,905 55,295,699
2073 3,303,592 54,617,874
2072 3,297,913 53,944,923
2071 3,291,224 53,250,824
2070 3,283,387 52,540,460
2069 3,274,978 51,845,897
2068 3,265,887 51,165,760
2067 3,256,362 50,461,574
2066 3,246,639 49,748,163
2065 3,236,890 48,994,126
2064 3,226,227 48,235,809
2063 3,214,843 47,492,758
2062 3,202,027 46,756,776
2061 3,188,674 46,008,848
2060 3,174,740 45,192,338
2059 3,159,947 44,370,279
2058 3,144,797 43,631,825
2057 3,129,007 42,870,700
2056 3,112,877 42,095,303
2055 3,095,653 41,292,441
2054 3,078,317 40,487,904
2053 3,059,904 39,720,236
2052 3,040,402 38,967,888
2051 3,019,864 38,205,058
2050 2,999,214 37,448,393
2049 2,977,795 36,717,019
2048 2,955,487 35,962,583
2047 2,932,450 35,196,924
2046 2,909,071 34,440,935
2045 2,885,303 33,696,593
2044 2,861,140 32,957,131
2043 2,836,547 32,227,622
2042 2,811,435 31,517,627
2041 2,785,921 30,775,671
2040 2,760,167 30,013,616
2039 2,734,178 29,294,623
2038 2,707,996 28,565,580
2037 2,681,646 27,821,304
2036 2,654,540 27,097,563
2035 2,627,488 26,368,985
2034 2,600,669 25,671,628
2033 2,573,856 25,002,924
2032 2,547,137 24,323,435
2031 2,520,626 23,642,617
2030 2,494,444 22,951,436
2029 2,468,067 22,285,719
2028 2,441,673 21,638,095
2027 2,415,634 20,978,784
2026 2,389,322 20,310,008
2025 2,363,325 19,654,739
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% 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 24.8% to 2,999,214 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 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 68.3M 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 1.11% 3.4%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Somalia
Current population
2402837
20653532
Population rank 143/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.25%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
49 seconds
One birth every
9.46 minutes
39.2 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +3.4%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 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 31,050 -5,107 619,793 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 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 (1960–2025, 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/somalia | 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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