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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 21.5 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Lesotho vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho South Korea
2100 3,280,518 22,001,649
2099 3,286,430 22,324,514
2098 3,292,231 22,657,541
2097 3,297,835 22,998,315
2096 3,302,758 23,348,632
2095 3,307,678 23,711,049
2094 3,311,734 24,081,510
2093 3,315,488 24,460,970
2092 3,319,391 24,848,715
2091 3,322,303 25,242,926
2090 3,324,499 25,642,926
2089 3,326,577 26,048,094
2088 3,328,210 26,457,020
2087 3,329,694 26,871,556
2086 3,330,185 27,288,450
2085 3,330,989 27,710,065
2084 3,331,214 28,133,600
2083 3,331,221 28,564,090
2082 3,330,964 28,998,646
2081 3,330,141 29,441,497
2080 3,328,997 29,887,135
2079 3,326,895 30,337,095
2078 3,324,376 30,793,984
2077 3,321,152 31,258,278
2076 3,317,581 31,728,826
2075 3,313,968 32,205,338
2074 3,308,905 32,689,892
2073 3,303,592 33,180,187
2072 3,297,913 33,679,874
2071 3,291,224 34,187,068
2070 3,283,387 34,702,204
2069 3,274,978 35,224,472
2068 3,265,887 35,745,164
2067 3,256,362 36,274,411
2066 3,246,639 36,808,495
2065 3,236,890 37,349,660
2064 3,226,227 37,897,742
2063 3,214,843 38,450,082
2062 3,202,027 39,009,227
2061 3,188,674 39,565,102
2060 3,174,740 40,130,032
2059 3,159,947 40,692,438
2058 3,144,797 41,256,780
2057 3,129,007 41,813,259
2056 3,112,877 42,356,530
2055 3,095,653 42,888,143
2054 3,078,317 43,405,840
2053 3,059,904 43,917,075
2052 3,040,402 44,419,192
2051 3,019,864 44,901,452
2050 2,999,214 45,362,931
2049 2,977,795 45,809,553
2048 2,955,487 46,235,718
2047 2,932,450 46,645,885
2046 2,909,071 47,033,200
2045 2,885,303 47,409,815
2044 2,861,140 47,773,842
2043 2,836,547 48,120,989
2042 2,811,435 48,455,085
2041 2,785,921 48,782,206
2040 2,760,167 49,091,438
2039 2,734,178 49,388,464
2038 2,707,996 49,669,835
2037 2,681,646 49,932,869
2036 2,654,540 50,175,947
2035 2,627,488 50,401,135
2034 2,600,669 50,607,994
2033 2,573,856 50,796,030
2032 2,547,137 50,961,878
2031 2,520,626 51,109,725
2030 2,494,444 51,242,628
2029 2,468,067 51,360,529
2028 2,441,673 51,461,403
2027 2,415,634 51,551,313
2026 2,389,322 51,624,449
2025 2,363,325 51,684,564
2024 2,337,423 51,751,065
2023 2,311,472 51,712,619
2022 2,286,110 51,672,569
2021 2,261,542 51,769,539
2020 2,235,727 51,836,239
2019 2,209,405 51,764,822
2018 2,183,603 51,585,058
2017 2,157,110 51,361,911
2016 2,130,422 51,217,803
2015 2,104,611 51,014,947
2014 2,080,089 50,746,659
2013 2,056,504 50,428,893
2012 2,034,354 50,199,853
2011 2,014,009 49,936,638
2010 1,996,251 49,554,112
2009 1,980,883 49,307,835
2008 1,966,541 49,054,708
2007 1,953,268 48,683,638
2006 1,945,063 48,438,292
2005 1,953,076 48,184,561
2004 1,971,129 48,082,519
2003 1,985,059 47,892,330
2002 1,994,679 47,644,736
2001 2,000,853 47,370,164
2000 2,003,913 47,008,111
1999 2,003,234 46,616,677
1998 1,998,049 46,286,503
1997 1,988,130 45,953,580
1996 1,972,418 45,524,681
1995 1,951,437 45,092,991
1994 1,927,707 44,641,540
1993 1,901,793 44,194,628
1992 1,873,274 43,747,962
1991 1,842,379 43,295,704
1990 1,809,696 42,869,283
1989 1,775,436 42,449,038
1988 1,739,841 42,031,247
1987 1,703,390 41,621,690
1986 1,666,138 41,213,674
1985 1,624,379 40,805,744
1984 1,578,986 40,405,956
1983 1,534,413 39,910,403
1982 1,490,732 39,326,352
1981 1,448,069 38,723,248
1980 1,406,521 38,123,775
1979 1,366,169 37,534,236
1978 1,327,240 36,969,185
1977 1,289,967 36,411,795
1976 1,253,214 35,848,523
1975 1,213,643 35,280,725
1974 1,172,420 34,692,266
1973 1,132,697 34,103,149
1972 1,094,063 33,505,406
1971 1,056,246 32,882,704
1970 1,019,273 32,240,827
1969 983,202 31,544,266
1968 948,105 30,838,302
1967 913,982 30,130,983
1966 881,870 29,435,571
1965 854,090 28,704,674
1964 829,437 27,984,155
1963 805,373 27,261,747
1962 781,814 26,513,030
1961 758,824 25,765,673
1960 736,500 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho South Korea
2100 -0.18% -1.45%
2099 -0.18% -1.47%
2098 -0.17% -1.48%
2097 -0.15% -1.5%
2096 -0.15% -1.53%
2095 -0.12% -1.54%
2094 -0.11% -1.55%
2093 -0.12% -1.56%
2092 -0.09% -1.56%
2091 -0.07% -1.56%
2090 -0.06% -1.56%
2089 -0.05% -1.55%
2088 -0.04% -1.54%
2087 -0.01% -1.53%
2086 -0.02% -1.52%
2085 -0.007% -1.51%
2084 -0% -1.51%
2083 0.008% -1.5%
2082 0.02% -1.5%
2081 0.03% -1.49%
2080 0.06% -1.48%
2079 0.08% -1.48%
2078 0.1% -1.49%
2077 0.11% -1.48%
2076 0.11% -1.48%
2075 0.15% -1.48%
2074 0.16% -1.48%
2073 0.17% -1.48%
2072 0.2% -1.48%
2071 0.24% -1.48%
2070 0.26% -1.48%
2069 0.28% -1.46%
2068 0.29% -1.46%
2067 0.3% -1.45%
2066 0.3% -1.45%
2065 0.33% -1.45%
2064 0.35% -1.44%
2063 0.4% -1.43%
2062 0.42% -1.4%
2061 0.44% -1.41%
2060 0.47% -1.38%
2059 0.48% -1.37%
2058 0.5% -1.33%
2057 0.52% -1.28%
2056 0.56% -1.24%
2055 0.56% -1.19%
2054 0.6% -1.16%
2053 0.64% -1.13%
2052 0.68% -1.07%
2051 0.69% -1.02%
2050 0.72% -0.97%
2049 0.75% -0.92%
2048 0.79% -0.88%
2047 0.8% -0.82%
2046 0.82% -0.79%
2045 0.84% -0.76%
2044 0.87% -0.72%
2043 0.89% -0.69%
2042 0.92% -0.67%
2041 0.93% -0.63%
2040 0.95% -0.6%
2039 0.97% -0.57%
2038 0.98% -0.53%
2037 1.02% -0.48%
2036 1.03% -0.45%
2035 1.03% -0.41%
2034 1.04% -0.37%
2033 1.05% -0.33%
2032 1.05% -0.29%
2031 1.05% -0.26%
2030 1.07% -0.23%
2029 1.08% -0.2%
2028 1.08% -0.17%
2027 1.1% -0.14%
2026 1.1% -0.12%
2025 1.11% -0.13%
2024 1.12% 0.07%
2023 1.11% 0.08%
2022 1.09% -0.19%
2021 1.15% -0.13%
2020 1.19% 0.14%
2019 1.18% 0.35%
2018 1.23% 0.43%
2017 1.25% 0.28%
2016 1.23% 0.4%
2015 1.18% 0.53%
2014 1.15% 0.63%
2013 1.09% 0.46%
2012 1.01% 0.53%
2011 0.89% 0.77%
2010 0.78% 0.5%
2009 0.73% 0.52%
2008 0.68% 0.76%
2007 0.42% 0.51%
2006 -0.41% 0.53%
2005 -0.92% 0.21%
2004 -0.7% 0.4%
2003 -0.48% 0.52%
2002 -0.31% 0.58%
2001 -0.15% 0.77%
2000 0.03% 0.84%
1999 0.26% 0.71%
1998 0.5% 0.72%
1997 0.8% 0.94%
1996 1.08% 0.96%
1995 1.23% 1.01%
1994 1.36% 1.01%
1993 1.52% 1.02%
1992 1.68% 1.04%
1991 1.81% 0.99%
1990 1.93% 0.99%
1989 2.05% 0.99%
1988 2.14% 0.98%
1987 2.24% 0.99%
1986 2.57% 1%
1985 2.87% 0.99%
1984 2.9% 1.24%
1983 2.93% 1.49%
1982 2.95% 1.56%
1981 2.95% 1.57%
1980 2.95% 1.57%
1979 2.93% 1.53%
1978 2.89% 1.53%
1977 2.93% 1.57%
1976 3.26% 1.61%
1975 3.52% 1.7%
1974 3.51% 1.73%
1973 3.53% 1.78%
1972 3.58% 1.89%
1971 3.63% 1.99%
1970 3.67% 2.21%
1969 3.7% 2.29%
1968 3.73% 2.35%
1967 3.64% 2.36%
1966 3.25% 2.55%
1965 2.97% 2.57%
1964 2.99% 2.65%
1963 3.01% 2.82%
1962 3.03% 2.9%
1961 3.03% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Lesotho South Korea
Current population
2402837
51624449
Population rank 143/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.62%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 -182
Annual growth/decline +25,902 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 169/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +65,731
Net migration rank 117/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 65,731
2024 31,050 -5,107 -119,027 75,963
2023 31,115 -5,168 -124,111 87,800
2022 30,803 -6,023 -124,014 87,800
2021 27,806 -3,449 -56,947 -16,778
2020 30,721 -3,449 -31,101 112,631
2019 32,279 -6,896 10,353 128,622
2018 33,112 -6,892 30,951 118,220
2017 33,601 -6,850 71,907 104,029
2016 33,390 -6,766 122,923 91,568
2015 32,087 -7,087 163,248 276,427
2014 30,922 -6,877 167,464 308,037
2013 29,789 -6,659 166,415 301,926
2012 27,592 -6,425 215,859 281,866
2011 25,647 -6,118 214,728 269,958
2010 21,877 -5,886 213,083 52,042
2009 20,335 -5,599 197,231 5,308
2008 19,349 -5,392 215,841 -19,630
2007 17,763 -5,179 248,286 -42,293
2006 15,234 -11,416 203,441 -28,434
2005 15,831 -35,679 187,920 -47,821
2004 17,271 -33,530 225,988 -42,549
2003 20,133 -31,723 244,251 -31,994
2002 22,274 -29,924 247,752 -18,105
2001 23,190 -27,874 312,643 -28,006
2000 24,786 -26,220 390,167 -84,960
1999 27,393 -24,610 368,272 -107,448
1998 30,889 -23,299 393,436 -98,044
1997 34,637 -22,396 422,773 -109,130
1996 36,228 -17,042 446,142 -115,705
1995 37,370 -14,588 468,967 -208,491
1994 38,629 -13,953 473,200 -208,309
1993 40,505 -13,347 477,302 -222,802
1992 42,579 -12,707 494,352 -265,849
1991 44,026 -12,114 467,594 -270,754
1990 45,060 -11,598 411,546 79,294
1989 46,264 -11,207 403,266 186,120
1988 47,158 -11,028 399,297 192,534
1987 47,718 -10,946 378,758 198,057
1986 45,232 -7,501 395,651 189,782
1985 44,575 1,222 416,219 97,949
1984 43,785 1,199 436,384 101,394
1983 42,899 1,253 514,844 102,167
1982 41,941 1,281 605,626 48,638
1981 40,808 1,307 631,189 18,442
1980 39,617 1,361 583,294 -148,341
1979 38,440 1,285 623,068 -139,566
1978 37,084 1,047 499,084 -85,721
1977 35,654 746 578,947 -90,737
1976 34,117 2,986 530,558 -92,314
1975 32,311 9,723 603,300 -52,332
1974 30,444 9,972 673,030 27,005
1973 28,859 10,183 699,115 35,779
1972 27,841 10,386 740,469 25,382
1971 26,838 10,563 789,185 -6,326
1970 25,935 10,605 747,987 -27,999
1969 25,137 10,465 694,227 -21,175
1968 24,490 10,108 684,487 -16,868
1967 23,911 9,734 692,169 -16,484
1966 23,326 7,248 623,534 -16,688
1965 22,755 2,239 641,090 -146,386
1964 22,116 2,198 655,501 -102,284
1963 21,585 2,220 685,824 -80,226
1962 21,132 2,172 712,590 -94,606
1961 20,581 2,100 730,173 -93,179
1960 19,981 1,989 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/south-korea | 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 Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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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