Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 21.6 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 +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Lesotho vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho South Korea
2100 3,280,784 22,012,503
2099 3,286,697 22,335,528
2098 3,292,498 22,668,719
2097 3,298,102 23,009,661
2096 3,303,027 23,360,151
2095 3,307,947 23,722,747
2094 3,312,002 24,093,391
2093 3,315,757 24,473,038
2092 3,319,661 24,860,975
2091 3,322,573 25,255,379
2090 3,324,769 25,655,577
2089 3,326,847 26,060,945
2088 3,328,480 26,470,073
2087 3,329,964 26,884,813
2086 3,330,456 27,301,913
2085 3,331,259 27,723,736
2084 3,331,485 28,147,480
2083 3,331,492 28,578,182
2082 3,331,234 29,012,953
2081 3,330,412 29,456,022
2080 3,329,267 29,901,880
2079 3,327,166 30,352,062
2078 3,324,646 30,809,176
2077 3,321,422 31,273,700
2076 3,317,850 31,744,480
2075 3,314,237 32,221,226
2074 3,309,174 32,706,020
2073 3,303,860 33,196,556
2072 3,298,181 33,696,490
2071 3,291,492 34,203,935
2070 3,283,654 34,719,324
2069 3,275,244 35,241,850
2068 3,266,152 35,762,799
2067 3,256,626 36,292,307
2066 3,246,903 36,826,655
2065 3,237,153 37,368,086
2064 3,226,489 37,916,439
2063 3,215,103 38,469,051
2062 3,202,287 39,028,473
2061 3,188,933 39,584,621
2060 3,174,998 40,149,830
2059 3,160,204 40,712,514
2058 3,145,053 41,277,134
2057 3,129,261 41,833,887
2056 3,113,129 42,377,427
2055 3,095,904 42,909,302
2054 3,078,567 43,427,254
2053 3,060,152 43,938,741
2052 3,040,649 44,441,106
2051 3,020,109 44,923,604
2050 2,999,457 45,385,311
2049 2,978,037 45,832,153
2048 2,955,727 46,258,529
2047 2,932,688 46,668,898
2046 2,909,307 47,056,404
2045 2,885,537 47,433,205
2044 2,861,372 47,797,411
2043 2,836,777 48,144,730
2042 2,811,663 48,478,991
2041 2,786,147 48,806,273
2040 2,760,391 49,115,658
2039 2,734,400 49,412,830
2038 2,708,216 49,694,340
2037 2,681,863 49,957,504
2036 2,654,755 50,200,702
2035 2,627,701 50,426,000
2034 2,600,880 50,632,962
2033 2,574,065 50,821,090
2032 2,547,344 50,987,020
2031 2,520,831 51,134,940
2030 2,494,646 51,267,908
2029 2,468,268 51,385,868
2028 2,441,871 51,486,791
2027 2,415,830 51,576,746
2026 2,389,516 51,649,918
2025 2,363,516 51,710,062
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 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 1.12% -0.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Lesotho South Korea
Current population
2396633
51649918
Population rank 143/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.62%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +105
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 160/197
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 - -5,107 - 75,963
2023 31,115 -5,168 -77,569 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 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 (1960–2024, 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-korea | 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.