Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 65,683,993 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 +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Lesotho vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho South Africa
2100 3,280,784 94,767,727
2099 3,286,697 94,556,931
2098 3,292,498 94,349,546
2097 3,298,102 94,158,472
2096 3,303,027 93,960,605
2095 3,307,947 93,752,736
2094 3,312,002 93,527,902
2093 3,315,757 93,300,398
2092 3,319,661 93,074,837
2091 3,322,573 92,826,204
2090 3,324,769 92,594,033
2089 3,326,847 92,355,184
2088 3,328,480 92,112,914
2087 3,329,964 91,866,024
2086 3,330,456 91,614,165
2085 3,331,259 91,385,350
2084 3,331,485 91,139,318
2083 3,331,492 90,877,425
2082 3,331,234 90,615,359
2081 3,330,412 90,345,492
2080 3,329,267 90,071,835
2079 3,327,166 89,801,998
2078 3,324,646 89,526,224
2077 3,321,422 89,249,206
2076 3,317,850 88,986,114
2075 3,314,237 88,713,215
2074 3,309,174 88,428,616
2073 3,303,860 88,149,885
2072 3,298,181 87,866,246
2071 3,291,492 87,540,177
2070 3,283,654 87,209,425
2069 3,275,244 86,901,512
2068 3,266,152 86,588,742
2067 3,256,626 86,268,392
2066 3,246,903 85,935,310
2065 3,237,153 85,604,376
2064 3,226,489 85,244,950
2063 3,215,103 84,875,503
2062 3,202,287 84,503,237
2061 3,188,933 84,132,885
2060 3,174,998 83,748,999
2059 3,160,204 83,354,923
2058 3,145,053 82,947,675
2057 3,129,261 82,538,045
2056 3,113,129 82,127,477
2055 3,095,904 81,698,196
2054 3,078,567 81,255,867
2053 3,060,152 80,818,632
2052 3,040,649 80,367,409
2051 3,020,109 79,886,672
2050 2,999,457 79,411,977
2049 2,978,037 78,925,493
2048 2,955,727 78,437,677
2047 2,932,688 77,922,211
2046 2,909,307 77,397,298
2045 2,885,537 76,879,838
2044 2,861,372 76,357,155
2043 2,836,777 75,827,709
2042 2,811,663 75,291,615
2041 2,786,147 74,748,408
2040 2,760,391 74,205,530
2039 2,734,400 73,663,047
2038 2,708,216 73,105,930
2037 2,681,863 72,532,742
2036 2,654,755 71,956,247
2035 2,627,701 71,362,555
2034 2,600,880 70,762,815
2033 2,574,065 70,153,205
2032 2,547,344 69,527,410
2031 2,520,831 68,890,002
2030 2,494,646 68,245,372
2029 2,468,268 67,573,179
2028 2,441,871 66,884,377
2027 2,415,830 66,190,258
2026 2,389,516 65,496,277
2025 2,363,516 64,770,314
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 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 94.8M 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 1.12% 1.19%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Lesotho South Africa
Current population
2396633
65683993
Population rank 143/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.79%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +71 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 85/197
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 - -5,107 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 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
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
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 (1960–2024, 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/south-africa | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.