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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 5.22 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Lesotho vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho South Sudan
2100 3,280,784 24,086,901
2099 3,286,697 24,081,477
2098 3,292,498 24,063,461
2097 3,298,102 24,065,268
2096 3,303,027 24,054,483
2095 3,307,947 24,046,345
2094 3,312,002 24,047,776
2093 3,315,757 24,039,017
2092 3,319,661 24,019,054
2091 3,322,573 24,000,308
2090 3,324,769 23,978,496
2089 3,326,847 23,937,487
2088 3,328,480 23,892,166
2087 3,329,964 23,857,250
2086 3,330,456 23,803,312
2085 3,331,259 23,759,178
2084 3,331,485 23,687,109
2083 3,331,492 23,617,646
2082 3,331,234 23,541,119
2081 3,330,412 23,466,449
2080 3,329,267 23,391,758
2079 3,327,166 23,294,252
2078 3,324,646 23,197,067
2077 3,321,422 23,086,584
2076 3,317,850 22,987,331
2075 3,314,237 22,868,587
2074 3,309,174 22,726,189
2073 3,303,860 22,583,672
2072 3,298,181 22,438,943
2071 3,291,492 22,288,026
2070 3,283,654 22,151,650
2069 3,275,244 22,003,659
2068 3,266,152 21,829,800
2067 3,256,626 21,662,211
2066 3,246,903 21,496,881
2065 3,237,153 21,317,455
2064 3,226,489 21,142,002
2063 3,215,103 20,965,122
2062 3,202,287 20,785,055
2061 3,188,933 20,608,964
2060 3,174,998 20,430,857
2059 3,160,204 20,235,022
2058 3,145,053 20,048,974
2057 3,129,261 19,853,696
2056 3,113,129 19,659,362
2055 3,095,904 19,464,297
2054 3,078,567 19,257,481
2053 3,060,152 19,060,517
2052 3,040,649 18,840,461
2051 3,020,109 18,633,198
2050 2,999,457 18,434,212
2049 2,978,037 18,230,881
2048 2,955,727 18,021,026
2047 2,932,688 17,806,282
2046 2,909,307 17,579,173
2045 2,885,537 17,355,041
2044 2,861,372 17,121,972
2043 2,836,777 16,888,278
2042 2,811,663 16,645,354
2041 2,786,147 16,396,768
2040 2,760,391 16,142,816
2039 2,734,400 15,889,952
2038 2,708,216 15,628,043
2037 2,681,863 15,363,975
2036 2,654,755 15,091,275
2035 2,627,701 14,815,307
2034 2,600,880 14,543,511
2033 2,574,065 14,278,180
2032 2,547,344 14,007,134
2031 2,520,831 13,730,637
2030 2,494,646 13,465,615
2029 2,468,268 13,206,477
2028 2,441,871 12,947,082
2027 2,415,830 12,692,769
2026 2,389,516 12,439,296
2025 2,363,516 12,193,102
2024 2,337,423 11,943,408
2023 2,311,472 11,483,374
2022 2,286,110 11,021,177
2021 2,261,542 10,865,780
2020 2,235,727 10,698,467
2019 2,209,405 10,423,384
2018 2,183,603 10,122,977
2017 2,157,110 10,259,154
2016 2,130,422 10,830,102
2015 2,104,611 11,107,561
2014 2,080,089 11,235,073
2013 2,056,504 11,166,275
2012 2,034,354 10,756,240
2011 2,014,009 10,288,109
2010 1,996,251 9,745,953
2009 1,980,883 9,243,556
2008 1,966,541 8,817,647
2007 1,953,268 8,388,788
2006 1,945,063 7,976,526
2005 1,953,076 7,590,143
2004 1,971,129 7,233,041
2003 1,985,059 6,903,127
2002 1,994,679 6,596,806
2001 2,000,853 6,308,391
2000 2,003,913 6,032,267
1999 2,003,234 5,771,628
1998 1,998,049 5,620,068
1997 1,988,130 5,509,136
1996 1,972,418 5,356,925
1995 1,951,437 5,225,836
1994 1,927,707 5,071,184
1993 1,901,793 4,956,002
1992 1,873,274 4,909,749
1991 1,842,379 4,836,677
1990 1,809,696 4,737,633
1989 1,775,436 4,713,229
1988 1,739,841 4,848,029
1987 1,703,390 4,962,395
1986 1,666,138 4,921,240
1985 1,624,379 4,834,296
1984 1,578,986 4,750,627
1983 1,534,413 4,661,574
1982 1,490,732 4,557,686
1981 1,448,069 4,447,272
1980 1,406,521 4,339,030
1979 1,366,169 4,232,605
1978 1,327,240 4,127,657
1977 1,289,967 4,024,032
1976 1,253,214 3,921,910
1975 1,213,643 3,821,494
1974 1,172,420 3,723,259
1973 1,132,697 3,627,383
1972 1,094,063 3,542,497
1971 1,056,246 3,468,646
1970 1,019,273 3,409,614
1969 983,202 3,365,533
1968 948,105 3,321,528
1967 913,982 3,277,648
1966 881,870 3,236,423
1965 854,090 3,189,835
1964 829,437 3,129,918
1963 805,373 3,072,669
1962 781,814 3,024,308
1961 758,824 2,976,724
1960 736,500 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho South Sudan
2100 -0.18% 0.02%
2099 -0.18% 0.07%
2098 -0.17% -0.008%
2097 -0.15% 0.04%
2096 -0.15% 0.03%
2095 -0.12% -0.006%
2094 -0.11% 0.04%
2093 -0.12% 0.08%
2092 -0.09% 0.08%
2091 -0.07% 0.09%
2090 -0.06% 0.17%
2089 -0.05% 0.19%
2088 -0.04% 0.15%
2087 -0.01% 0.23%
2086 -0.02% 0.19%
2085 -0.007% 0.3%
2084 -0% 0.29%
2083 0.008% 0.33%
2082 0.02% 0.32%
2081 0.03% 0.32%
2080 0.06% 0.42%
2079 0.08% 0.42%
2078 0.1% 0.48%
2077 0.11% 0.43%
2076 0.11% 0.52%
2075 0.15% 0.63%
2074 0.16% 0.63%
2073 0.17% 0.64%
2072 0.2% 0.68%
2071 0.24% 0.62%
2070 0.26% 0.67%
2069 0.28% 0.8%
2068 0.29% 0.77%
2067 0.3% 0.77%
2066 0.3% 0.84%
2065 0.33% 0.83%
2064 0.35% 0.84%
2063 0.4% 0.87%
2062 0.42% 0.85%
2061 0.44% 0.87%
2060 0.47% 0.97%
2059 0.48% 0.93%
2058 0.5% 0.98%
2057 0.52% 0.99%
2056 0.56% 1%
2055 0.56% 1.07%
2054 0.6% 1.03%
2053 0.64% 1.17%
2052 0.68% 1.11%
2051 0.69% 1.08%
2050 0.72% 1.12%
2049 0.75% 1.16%
2048 0.79% 1.21%
2047 0.8% 1.29%
2046 0.82% 1.29%
2045 0.84% 1.36%
2044 0.87% 1.38%
2043 0.89% 1.46%
2042 0.92% 1.52%
2041 0.93% 1.57%
2040 0.95% 1.59%
2039 0.97% 1.68%
2038 0.98% 1.72%
2037 1.02% 1.81%
2036 1.03% 1.86%
2035 1.03% 1.87%
2034 1.04% 1.86%
2033 1.05% 1.94%
2032 1.05% 2.01%
2031 1.05% 1.97%
2030 1.07% 1.96%
2029 1.08% 2%
2028 1.08% 2%
2027 1.1% 2.04%
2026 1.1% 2.02%
2025 1.12% 2.09%
2024 1.12% 4.01%
2023 1.11% 4.19%
2022 1.09% 1.43%
2021 1.15% 1.56%
2020 1.19% 2.64%
2019 1.18% 2.97%
2018 1.23% -1.33%
2017 1.25% -5.27%
2016 1.23% -2.5%
2015 1.18% -1.13%
2014 1.15% 0.62%
2013 1.09% 3.81%
2012 1.01% 4.55%
2011 0.89% 5.56%
2010 0.78% 5.44%
2009 0.73% 4.83%
2008 0.68% 5.11%
2007 0.42% 5.17%
2006 -0.41% 5.09%
2005 -0.92% 4.94%
2004 -0.7% 4.78%
2003 -0.48% 4.64%
2002 -0.31% 4.57%
2001 -0.15% 4.58%
2000 0.03% 4.52%
1999 0.26% 2.7%
1998 0.5% 2.01%
1997 0.8% 2.84%
1996 1.08% 2.51%
1995 1.23% 3.05%
1994 1.36% 2.32%
1993 1.52% 0.94%
1992 1.68% 1.51%
1991 1.81% 2.09%
1990 1.93% 0.52%
1989 2.05% -2.78%
1988 2.14% -2.3%
1987 2.24% 0.84%
1986 2.57% 1.8%
1985 2.87% 1.76%
1984 2.9% 1.91%
1983 2.93% 2.28%
1982 2.95% 2.48%
1981 2.95% 2.49%
1980 2.95% 2.51%
1979 2.93% 2.54%
1978 2.89% 2.58%
1977 2.93% 2.6%
1976 3.26% 2.63%
1975 3.52% 2.64%
1974 3.51% 2.64%
1973 3.53% 2.4%
1972 3.58% 2.13%
1971 3.63% 1.73%
1970 3.67% 1.31%
1969 3.7% 1.32%
1968 3.73% 1.34%
1967 3.64% 1.27%
1966 3.25% 1.46%
1965 2.97% 1.91%
1964 2.99% 1.86%
1963 3.01% 1.6%
1962 3.03% 1.6%
1961 3.03% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Lesotho South Sudan
Current population
2396633
12507858
Population rank 143/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.15%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 7/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 +6,145
Net migration rank 117/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 6,145
2024 - -5,107 - 15,374
2023 31,115 -5,168 217,966 455,000
2022 30,803 -6,023 211,166 40,259
2021 27,806 -3,449 213,567 -154,359
2020 30,721 -3,449 212,332 62,935
2019 32,279 -6,896 209,708 65,198
2018 33,112 -6,892 168,497 157,408
2017 33,601 -6,850 72,193 -670,477
2016 33,390 -6,766 110,553 -654,225
2015 32,087 -7,087 148,542 -159,822
2014 30,922 -6,877 227,611 -471,523
2013 29,789 -6,659 315,983 65,337
2012 27,592 -6,425 312,974 125,771
2011 25,647 -6,118 303,181 194,325
2010 21,877 -5,886 287,409 299,402
2009 20,335 -5,599 278,859 139,129
2008 19,349 -5,392 268,268 165,557
2007 17,763 -5,179 256,546 167,350
2006 15,234 -11,416 246,706 153,926
2005 15,831 -35,679 239,272 132,869
2004 17,271 -33,530 231,877 110,182
2003 20,133 -31,723 225,822 91,951
2002 22,274 -29,924 212,014 82,847
2001 23,190 -27,874 204,108 77,856
2000 24,786 -26,220 196,055 74,227
1999 27,393 -24,610 180,721 70,271
1998 30,889 -23,299 -12,157 64,285
1997 34,637 -22,396 121,454 48,280
1996 36,228 -17,042 116,728 17,953
1995 37,370 -14,588 110,417 17,077
1994 38,629 -13,953 165,407 16,407
1993 40,505 -13,347 32,779 15,772
1992 42,579 -12,707 28,874 15,077
1991 44,026 -12,114 87,873 14,327
1990 45,060 -11,598 82,900 12,988
1989 46,264 -11,207 83,735 -130,821
1988 47,158 -11,028 -125,447 -97,065
1987 47,718 -10,946 5,756 -11,976
1986 45,232 -7,501 99,502 -10,973
1985 44,575 1,222 95,342 -9,986
1984 43,785 1,199 90,970 -8,984
1983 42,899 1,253 104,107 -7,986
1982 41,941 1,281 118,641 -6,983
1981 40,808 1,307 115,163 -5,994
1980 39,617 1,361 112,307 -4,997
1979 38,440 1,285 109,540 -3,997
1978 37,084 1,047 107,352 -2,998
1977 35,654 746 104,886 -1,997
1976 34,117 2,986 102,346 -995
1975 32,311 9,723 99,882 -395
1974 30,444 9,972 97,181 -192
1973 28,859 10,183 94,765 0
1972 27,841 10,386 74,803 193
1971 26,838 10,563 72,308 394
1970 25,935 10,605 44,776 587
1969 25,137 10,465 42,015 786
1968 24,490 10,108 44,213 995
1967 23,911 9,734 41,357 1,194
1966 23,326 7,248 38,523 1,386
1965 22,755 2,239 51,682 1,591
1964 22,116 2,198 64,786 1,785
1963 21,585 2,220 46,333 1,591
1962 21,132 2,172 47,406 1,386
1961 20,581 2,100 45,186 1,194
1960 19,981 1,989 42,945 995

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | CC BY

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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)

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