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Population in Lesotho compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 27.4 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.82% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Lesotho vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho South Africa
2100 3,280,518 94,734,082
2099 3,286,430 94,523,360
2098 3,292,231 94,316,049
2097 3,297,835 94,125,043
2096 3,302,758 93,927,246
2095 3,307,678 93,719,451
2094 3,311,734 93,494,697
2093 3,315,488 93,267,274
2092 3,319,391 93,041,793
2091 3,322,303 92,793,249
2090 3,324,499 92,561,159
2089 3,326,577 92,322,396
2088 3,328,210 92,080,212
2087 3,329,694 91,833,409
2086 3,330,185 91,581,639
2085 3,330,989 91,352,906
2084 3,331,214 91,106,961
2083 3,331,221 90,845,161
2082 3,330,964 90,583,188
2081 3,330,141 90,313,417
2080 3,328,997 90,039,857
2079 3,326,895 89,770,116
2078 3,324,376 89,494,440
2077 3,321,152 89,217,520
2076 3,317,581 88,954,522
2075 3,313,968 88,681,719
2074 3,308,905 88,397,221
2073 3,303,592 88,118,589
2072 3,297,913 87,835,051
2071 3,291,224 87,509,098
2070 3,283,387 87,178,463
2069 3,274,978 86,870,660
2068 3,265,887 86,558,000
2067 3,256,362 86,237,764
2066 3,246,639 85,904,801
2065 3,236,890 85,573,984
2064 3,226,227 85,214,686
2063 3,214,843 84,845,370
2062 3,202,027 84,473,236
2061 3,188,674 84,103,016
2060 3,174,740 83,719,266
2059 3,159,947 83,325,330
2058 3,144,797 82,918,226
2057 3,129,007 82,508,742
2056 3,112,877 82,098,320
2055 3,095,653 81,669,191
2054 3,078,317 81,227,019
2053 3,059,904 80,789,939
2052 3,040,402 80,338,877
2051 3,019,864 79,858,310
2050 2,999,214 79,383,784
2049 2,977,795 78,897,472
2048 2,955,487 78,409,829
2047 2,932,450 77,894,547
2046 2,909,071 77,369,819
2045 2,885,303 76,852,544
2044 2,861,140 76,330,046
2043 2,836,547 75,800,788
2042 2,811,435 75,264,885
2041 2,785,921 74,721,871
2040 2,760,167 74,179,185
2039 2,734,178 73,636,894
2038 2,707,996 73,079,976
2037 2,681,646 72,506,991
2036 2,654,540 71,930,701
2035 2,627,488 71,337,219
2034 2,600,669 70,737,692
2033 2,573,856 70,128,299
2032 2,547,137 69,502,726
2031 2,520,626 68,865,544
2030 2,494,444 68,221,143
2029 2,468,067 67,549,189
2028 2,441,673 66,860,631
2027 2,415,634 66,166,759
2026 2,389,322 65,473,024
2025 2,363,325 64,747,319
2024 2,337,423 64,007,187
2023 2,311,472 63,212,384
2022 2,286,110 62,378,410
2021 2,261,542 61,502,603
2020 2,235,727 60,562,381
2019 2,209,405 59,587,885
2018 2,183,603 58,613,001
2017 2,157,110 57,635,162
2016 2,130,422 57,259,551
2015 2,104,611 56,723,537
2014 2,080,089 55,594,838
2013 2,056,504 54,678,791
2012 2,034,354 53,782,567
2011 2,014,009 52,995,205
2010 1,996,251 52,344,051
2009 1,980,883 51,728,516
2008 1,966,541 51,114,599
2007 1,953,268 50,528,584
2006 1,945,063 49,998,277
2005 1,953,076 49,490,033
2004 1,971,129 48,991,421
2003 1,985,059 48,500,348
2002 1,994,679 48,019,415
2001 2,000,853 47,566,800
2000 2,003,913 47,159,719
1999 2,003,234 46,730,335
1998 1,998,049 46,223,880
1997 1,988,130 45,666,838
1996 1,972,418 45,123,018
1995 1,951,437 44,541,554
1994 1,927,707 44,004,139
1993 1,901,793 43,297,156
1992 1,873,274 42,443,509
1991 1,842,379 41,687,898
1990 1,809,696 40,746,268
1989 1,775,436 39,628,575
1988 1,739,841 38,480,649
1987 1,703,390 37,326,190
1986 1,666,138 36,180,515
1985 1,624,379 35,042,093
1984 1,578,986 33,892,788
1983 1,534,413 32,739,304
1982 1,490,732 31,615,339
1981 1,448,069 30,541,044
1980 1,406,521 29,518,857
1979 1,366,169 28,634,162
1978 1,327,240 27,869,507
1977 1,289,967 27,118,952
1976 1,253,214 26,395,450
1975 1,213,643 25,690,940
1974 1,172,420 24,989,108
1973 1,132,697 24,294,263
1972 1,094,063 23,609,456
1971 1,056,246 22,942,143
1970 1,019,273 22,279,984
1969 983,202 21,614,676
1968 948,105 20,957,287
1967 913,982 20,314,066
1966 881,870 19,690,087
1965 854,090 19,089,380
1964 829,437 18,511,361
1963 805,373 17,954,564
1962 781,814 17,418,522
1961 758,824 16,908,035
1960 736,500 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho South Africa
2100 -0.18% 0.22%
2099 -0.18% 0.22%
2098 -0.17% 0.2%
2097 -0.15% 0.21%
2096 -0.15% 0.22%
2095 -0.12% 0.24%
2094 -0.11% 0.24%
2093 -0.12% 0.24%
2092 -0.09% 0.27%
2091 -0.07% 0.25%
2090 -0.06% 0.26%
2089 -0.05% 0.26%
2088 -0.04% 0.27%
2087 -0.01% 0.27%
2086 -0.02% 0.25%
2085 -0.007% 0.27%
2084 -0% 0.29%
2083 0.008% 0.29%
2082 0.02% 0.3%
2081 0.03% 0.3%
2080 0.06% 0.3%
2079 0.08% 0.31%
2078 0.1% 0.31%
2077 0.11% 0.3%
2076 0.11% 0.31%
2075 0.15% 0.32%
2074 0.16% 0.32%
2073 0.17% 0.32%
2072 0.2% 0.37%
2071 0.24% 0.38%
2070 0.26% 0.35%
2069 0.28% 0.36%
2068 0.29% 0.37%
2067 0.3% 0.39%
2066 0.3% 0.39%
2065 0.33% 0.42%
2064 0.35% 0.44%
2063 0.4% 0.44%
2062 0.42% 0.44%
2061 0.44% 0.46%
2060 0.47% 0.47%
2059 0.48% 0.49%
2058 0.5% 0.5%
2057 0.52% 0.5%
2056 0.56% 0.53%
2055 0.56% 0.54%
2054 0.6% 0.54%
2053 0.64% 0.56%
2052 0.68% 0.6%
2051 0.69% 0.6%
2050 0.72% 0.62%
2049 0.75% 0.62%
2048 0.79% 0.66%
2047 0.8% 0.68%
2046 0.82% 0.67%
2045 0.84% 0.68%
2044 0.87% 0.7%
2043 0.89% 0.71%
2042 0.92% 0.73%
2041 0.93% 0.73%
2040 0.95% 0.74%
2039 0.97% 0.76%
2038 0.98% 0.79%
2037 1.02% 0.8%
2036 1.03% 0.83%
2035 1.03% 0.85%
2034 1.04% 0.87%
2033 1.05% 0.9%
2032 1.05% 0.93%
2031 1.05% 0.94%
2030 1.07% 0.99%
2029 1.08% 1.03%
2028 1.08% 1.05%
2027 1.1% 1.06%
2026 1.1% 1.12%
2025 1.11% 1.16%
2024 1.12% 1.26%
2023 1.11% 1.34%
2022 1.09% 1.42%
2021 1.15% 1.55%
2020 1.19% 1.64%
2019 1.18% 1.66%
2018 1.23% 1.7%
2017 1.25% 0.66%
2016 1.23% 0.94%
2015 1.18% 2.03%
2014 1.15% 1.68%
2013 1.09% 1.67%
2012 1.01% 1.49%
2011 0.89% 1.24%
2010 0.78% 1.19%
2009 0.73% 1.2%
2008 0.68% 1.16%
2007 0.42% 1.06%
2006 -0.41% 1.03%
2005 -0.92% 1.02%
2004 -0.7% 1.01%
2003 -0.48% 1%
2002 -0.31% 0.95%
2001 -0.15% 0.86%
2000 0.03% 0.92%
1999 0.26% 1.1%
1998 0.5% 1.22%
1997 0.8% 1.21%
1996 1.08% 1.31%
1995 1.23% 1.22%
1994 1.36% 1.63%
1993 1.52% 2.01%
1992 1.68% 1.81%
1991 1.81% 2.31%
1990 1.93% 2.82%
1989 2.05% 2.98%
1988 2.14% 3.09%
1987 2.24% 3.17%
1986 2.57% 3.25%
1985 2.87% 3.39%
1984 2.9% 3.52%
1983 2.93% 3.56%
1982 2.95% 3.52%
1981 2.95% 3.46%
1980 2.95% 3.09%
1979 2.93% 2.74%
1978 2.89% 2.77%
1977 2.93% 2.74%
1976 3.26% 2.74%
1975 3.52% 2.81%
1974 3.51% 2.86%
1973 3.53% 2.9%
1972 3.58% 2.91%
1971 3.63% 2.97%
1970 3.67% 3.08%
1969 3.7% 3.14%
1968 3.73% 3.17%
1967 3.64% 3.17%
1966 3.25% 3.15%
1965 2.97% 3.12%
1964 2.99% 3.1%
1963 3.01% 3.08%
1962 3.03% 3.02%
1961 3.03% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Lesotho South Africa
Current population
2402837
65829368
Population rank 143/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.79%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
9.46 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +71 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 91/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +146,370
Net migration rank 117/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 146,370
2024 31,050 -5,107 591,618 166,972
2023 31,115 -5,168 602,793 228,222
2022 30,803 -6,023 603,636 233,284
2021 27,806 -3,449 456,411 458,246
2020 30,721 -3,449 595,873 369,901
2019 32,279 -6,896 652,130 331,124
2018 33,112 -6,892 648,319 318,260
2017 33,601 -6,850 645,975 343,146
2016 33,390 -6,766 641,365 -879,235
2015 32,087 -7,087 668,771 641,150
2014 30,922 -6,877 674,754 272,697
2013 29,789 -6,659 652,427 232,230
2012 27,592 -6,425 643,723 264,091
2011 25,647 -6,118 601,708 65,166
2010 21,877 -5,886 566,834 68,563
2009 20,335 -5,599 554,115 41,528
2008 19,349 -5,392 595,332 36,869
2007 17,763 -5,179 503,567 36,339
2006 15,234 -11,416 487,584 33,159
2005 15,831 -35,679 464,464 31,286
2004 17,271 -33,530 442,540 58,924
2003 20,133 -31,723 415,018 65,604
2002 22,274 -29,924 430,926 50,313
2001 23,190 -27,874 484,801 -60,793
2000 24,786 -26,220 526,963 -136,794
1999 27,393 -24,610 594,643 -126,011
1998 30,889 -23,299 627,027 -82,722
1997 34,637 -22,396 667,969 -98,181
1996 36,228 -17,042 710,868 -193,007
1995 37,370 -14,588 743,488 -98,403
1994 38,629 -13,953 698,609 -268,849
1993 40,505 -13,347 789,220 194,977
1992 42,579 -12,707 794,415 -71,342
1991 44,026 -12,114 827,296 -39,131
1990 45,060 -11,598 835,421 259,718
1989 46,264 -11,207 884,629 255,605
1988 47,158 -11,028 909,221 246,382
1987 47,718 -10,946 922,330 231,009
1986 45,232 -7,501 903,644 234,378
1985 44,575 1,222 893,889 244,940
1984 43,785 1,199 869,011 290,789
1983 42,899 1,253 837,013 310,172
1982 41,941 1,281 807,550 293,195
1981 40,808 1,307 767,833 279,985
1980 39,617 1,361 738,415 258,127
1979 38,440 1,285 716,541 56,323
1978 37,084 1,047 694,341 62,121
1977 35,654 746 680,929 63,739
1976 34,117 2,986 675,011 27,333
1975 32,311 9,723 667,862 38,809
1974 30,444 9,972 658,438 38,518
1973 28,859 10,183 651,596 41,125
1972 27,841 10,386 638,754 38,163
1971 26,838 10,563 624,761 32,961
1970 25,935 10,605 605,102 61,514
1969 25,137 10,465 590,794 73,225
1968 24,490 10,108 571,841 78,932
1967 23,911 9,734 553,741 81,932
1966 23,326 7,248 534,862 77,417
1965 22,755 2,239 506,632 82,514
1964 22,116 2,198 490,606 76,298
1963 21,585 2,220 473,821 72,844
1962 21,132 2,172 455,634 69,771
1961 20,581 2,100 437,851 57,728
1960 19,981 1,989 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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