Skip to content

Population in Lesotho compared to Spain: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 49,355,143 people in Spain in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 49,323,658 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 20.5 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.55% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 49.3M (11.1% growth).

Lesotho vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Spain
2100 3,280,518 34,221,514
2099 3,286,430 34,400,373
2098 3,292,231 34,577,450
2097 3,297,835 34,751,199
2096 3,302,758 34,917,831
2095 3,307,678 35,087,012
2094 3,311,734 35,251,362
2093 3,315,488 35,415,082
2092 3,319,391 35,577,396
2091 3,322,303 35,741,351
2090 3,324,499 35,912,083
2089 3,326,577 36,086,009
2088 3,328,210 36,257,546
2087 3,329,694 36,424,826
2086 3,330,185 36,594,101
2085 3,330,989 36,771,456
2084 3,331,214 36,951,760
2083 3,331,221 37,138,777
2082 3,330,964 37,327,720
2081 3,330,141 37,527,142
2080 3,328,997 37,732,838
2079 3,326,895 37,949,144
2078 3,324,376 38,171,047
2077 3,321,152 38,405,329
2076 3,317,581 38,654,221
2075 3,313,968 38,913,733
2074 3,308,905 39,188,284
2073 3,303,592 39,469,767
2072 3,297,913 39,765,059
2071 3,291,224 40,062,070
2070 3,283,387 40,372,388
2069 3,274,978 40,682,818
2068 3,265,887 41,005,148
2067 3,256,362 41,326,772
2066 3,246,639 41,654,672
2065 3,236,890 41,983,104
2064 3,226,227 42,321,736
2063 3,214,843 42,655,212
2062 3,202,027 42,993,328
2061 3,188,674 43,328,037
2060 3,174,740 43,648,753
2059 3,159,947 43,967,376
2058 3,144,797 44,273,756
2057 3,129,007 44,579,723
2056 3,112,877 44,885,952
2055 3,095,653 45,164,935
2054 3,078,317 45,434,986
2053 3,059,904 45,702,038
2052 3,040,402 45,951,973
2051 3,019,864 46,179,119
2050 2,999,214 46,397,620
2049 2,977,795 46,616,167
2048 2,955,487 46,812,693
2047 2,932,450 47,002,591
2046 2,909,071 47,182,235
2045 2,885,303 47,354,908
2044 2,861,140 47,514,076
2043 2,836,547 47,657,627
2042 2,811,435 47,801,904
2041 2,785,921 47,936,819
2040 2,760,167 48,066,825
2039 2,734,178 48,190,225
2038 2,707,996 48,304,880
2037 2,681,646 48,418,168
2036 2,654,540 48,528,778
2035 2,627,488 48,633,960
2034 2,600,669 48,730,594
2033 2,573,856 48,823,356
2032 2,547,137 48,914,944
2031 2,520,626 49,008,735
2030 2,494,444 49,094,273
2029 2,468,067 49,163,780
2028 2,441,673 49,223,677
2027 2,415,634 49,274,441
2026 2,389,322 49,323,658
2025 2,363,325 49,355,143
2024 2,337,423 48,848,840
2023 2,311,472 48,352,528
2022 2,286,110 47,786,102
2021 2,261,542 47,443,821
2020 2,235,727 47,359,424
2019 2,209,405 47,118,501
2018 2,183,603 46,782,011
2017 2,157,110 46,571,232
2016 2,130,422 46,458,139
2015 2,104,611 46,422,303
2014 2,080,089 46,460,733
2013 2,056,504 46,604,197
2012 2,034,354 46,773,055
2011 2,014,009 46,742,697
2010 1,996,251 46,576,897
2009 1,980,883 46,362,946
2008 1,966,541 45,954,106
2007 1,953,268 45,226,803
2006 1,945,063 44,397,319
2005 1,953,076 43,653,155
2004 1,971,129 42,921,895
2003 1,985,059 42,187,645
2002 1,994,679 41,431,558
2001 2,000,853 40,850,412
2000 2,003,913 40,567,864
1999 2,003,234 40,386,875
1998 1,998,049 40,223,509
1997 1,988,130 40,057,389
1996 1,972,418 39,889,852
1995 1,951,437 39,724,050
1994 1,927,707 39,549,108
1993 1,901,793 39,361,262
1992 1,873,274 39,157,685
1991 1,842,379 38,966,376
1990 1,809,696 38,867,322
1989 1,775,436 38,827,764
1988 1,739,841 38,766,939
1987 1,703,390 38,684,815
1986 1,666,138 38,584,624
1985 1,624,379 38,469,512
1984 1,578,986 38,330,364
1983 1,534,413 38,171,525
1982 1,490,732 37,986,012
1981 1,448,069 37,758,631
1980 1,406,521 37,491,165
1979 1,366,169 37,191,330
1978 1,327,240 36,864,898
1977 1,289,967 36,511,638
1976 1,253,214 36,137,812
1975 1,213,643 35,757,900
1974 1,172,420 35,373,335
1973 1,132,697 34,988,947
1972 1,094,063 34,604,469
1971 1,056,246 34,224,490
1970 1,019,273 33,814,531
1969 983,202 33,441,054
1968 948,105 33,113,134
1967 913,982 32,682,947
1966 881,870 32,283,194
1965 854,090 31,954,292
1964 829,437 31,609,195
1963 805,373 31,296,651
1962 781,814 31,023,366
1961 758,824 30,739,250
1960 736,500 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,865,519 people (a 6.17% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 46,397,620 people and rank change from 32nd to 46th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2025 at 49.4M people and is projected to decrease to 34.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Spain
2100 -0.18% -0.52%
2099 -0.18% -0.51%
2098 -0.17% -0.5%
2097 -0.15% -0.48%
2096 -0.15% -0.48%
2095 -0.12% -0.47%
2094 -0.11% -0.46%
2093 -0.12% -0.46%
2092 -0.09% -0.46%
2091 -0.07% -0.48%
2090 -0.06% -0.48%
2089 -0.05% -0.47%
2088 -0.04% -0.46%
2087 -0.01% -0.46%
2086 -0.02% -0.48%
2085 -0.007% -0.49%
2084 -0% -0.5%
2083 0.008% -0.51%
2082 0.02% -0.53%
2081 0.03% -0.55%
2080 0.06% -0.57%
2079 0.08% -0.58%
2078 0.1% -0.61%
2077 0.11% -0.64%
2076 0.11% -0.67%
2075 0.15% -0.7%
2074 0.16% -0.71%
2073 0.17% -0.74%
2072 0.2% -0.74%
2071 0.24% -0.77%
2070 0.26% -0.76%
2069 0.28% -0.79%
2068 0.29% -0.78%
2067 0.3% -0.79%
2066 0.3% -0.78%
2065 0.33% -0.8%
2064 0.35% -0.78%
2063 0.4% -0.79%
2062 0.42% -0.77%
2061 0.44% -0.73%
2060 0.47% -0.72%
2059 0.48% -0.69%
2058 0.5% -0.69%
2057 0.52% -0.68%
2056 0.56% -0.62%
2055 0.56% -0.59%
2054 0.6% -0.58%
2053 0.64% -0.54%
2052 0.68% -0.49%
2051 0.69% -0.47%
2050 0.72% -0.47%
2049 0.75% -0.42%
2048 0.79% -0.4%
2047 0.8% -0.38%
2046 0.82% -0.36%
2045 0.84% -0.33%
2044 0.87% -0.3%
2043 0.89% -0.3%
2042 0.92% -0.28%
2041 0.93% -0.27%
2040 0.95% -0.26%
2039 0.97% -0.24%
2038 0.98% -0.23%
2037 1.02% -0.23%
2036 1.03% -0.22%
2035 1.03% -0.2%
2034 1.04% -0.19%
2033 1.05% -0.19%
2032 1.05% -0.19%
2031 1.05% -0.17%
2030 1.07% -0.14%
2029 1.08% -0.12%
2028 1.08% -0.1%
2027 1.1% -0.1%
2026 1.1% -0.06%
2025 1.11% 1.04%
2024 1.12% 1.03%
2023 1.11% 1.19%
2022 1.09% 0.72%
2021 1.15% 0.18%
2020 1.19% 0.51%
2019 1.18% 0.72%
2018 1.23% 0.45%
2017 1.25% 0.24%
2016 1.23% 0.08%
2015 1.18% -0.08%
2014 1.15% -0.31%
2013 1.09% -0.36%
2012 1.01% 0.06%
2011 0.89% 0.36%
2010 0.78% 0.46%
2009 0.73% 0.89%
2008 0.68% 1.61%
2007 0.42% 1.87%
2006 -0.41% 1.7%
2005 -0.92% 1.7%
2004 -0.7% 1.74%
2003 -0.48% 1.82%
2002 -0.31% 1.42%
2001 -0.15% 0.7%
2000 0.03% 0.45%
1999 0.26% 0.41%
1998 0.5% 0.41%
1997 0.8% 0.42%
1996 1.08% 0.42%
1995 1.23% 0.44%
1994 1.36% 0.48%
1993 1.52% 0.52%
1992 1.68% 0.49%
1991 1.81% 0.25%
1990 1.93% 0.1%
1989 2.05% 0.16%
1988 2.14% 0.21%
1987 2.24% 0.26%
1986 2.57% 0.3%
1985 2.87% 0.36%
1984 2.9% 0.42%
1983 2.93% 0.49%
1982 2.95% 0.6%
1981 2.95% 0.71%
1980 2.95% 0.81%
1979 2.93% 0.89%
1978 2.89% 0.97%
1977 2.93% 1.03%
1976 3.26% 1.06%
1975 3.52% 1.09%
1974 3.51% 1.1%
1973 3.53% 1.11%
1972 3.58% 1.11%
1971 3.63% 1.21%
1970 3.67% 1.12%
1969 3.7% 0.99%
1968 3.73% 1.32%
1967 3.64% 1.24%
1966 3.25% 1.03%
1965 2.97% 1.09%
1964 2.99% 1%
1963 3.01% 0.88%
1962 3.03% 0.92%
1961 3.03% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Spain's population grew by 1.04%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Spain
Current population
2402837
49323658
Population rank 143/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.59%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.04 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
1.66 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,387
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +506,303
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +1.04%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 98/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +96,630
Net migration rank 117/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 96,630
2024 31,050 -5,107 -117,237 111,674
2023 31,115 -5,168 -116,046 119,099
2022 30,803 -6,023 -133,801 299,779
2021 27,806 -3,449 -113,865 144,385
2020 30,721 -3,449 -151,551 236,854
2019 32,279 -6,896 -56,542 464,783
2018 33,112 -6,892 -56,139 337,467
2017 33,601 -6,850 -32,600 201,135
2016 33,390 -6,766 0 106,474
2015 32,087 -7,087 -4,642 -1,979
2014 30,922 -6,877 32,522 -97,870
2013 29,789 -6,659 37,284 -250,741
2012 27,592 -6,425 51,450 -153,486
2011 25,647 -6,118 84,137 60,761
2010 21,877 -5,886 102,469 69,406
2009 20,335 -5,599 106,635 129,557
2008 19,349 -5,392 133,267 434,135
2007 17,763 -5,179 108,545 772,317
2006 15,234 -11,416 110,994 659,720
2005 15,831 -35,679 78,576 629,803
2004 17,271 -33,530 85,844 661,158
2003 20,133 -31,723 54,844 658,428
2002 22,274 -29,924 53,861 737,880
2001 23,190 -27,874 44,936 181,307
2000 24,786 -26,220 36,512 176,269
1999 27,393 -24,610 8,077 178,559
1998 30,889 -23,299 4,022 182,926
1997 34,637 -22,396 20,028 165,345
1996 36,228 -17,042 11,967 162,704
1995 37,370 -14,588 15,889 162,434
1994 38,629 -13,953 31,639 160,407
1993 40,505 -13,347 47,234 160,907
1992 42,579 -12,707 62,652 177,544
1991 44,026 -12,114 58,450 122,841
1990 45,060 -11,598 66,075 -30,684
1989 46,264 -11,207 81,538 -25,892
1988 47,158 -11,028 100,794 -17,663
1987 47,718 -10,946 116,054 -12,681
1986 45,232 -7,501 131,188 -13,540
1985 44,575 1,222 146,184 -589
1984 43,785 1,199 172,487 2,754
1983 42,899 1,253 183,223 1,241
1982 41,941 1,281 231,714 -7,384
1981 40,808 1,307 237,879 2,563
1980 39,617 1,361 281,184 20,166
1979 38,440 1,285 312,407 -5,929
1978 37,084 1,047 339,157 -2,504
1977 35,654 746 361,465 -1,332
1976 34,117 2,986 375,834 2,804
1975 32,311 9,723 371,882 -218
1974 30,444 9,972 396,182 105,838
1973 28,859 10,183 374,381 8,624
1972 27,841 10,386 391,030 7,935
1971 26,838 10,563 369,625 7,363
1970 25,935 10,605 378,723 -60,580
1969 25,137 10,465 367,851 -49,956
1968 24,490 10,108 387,423 -46,088
1967 23,911 9,734 402,001 -42,344
1966 23,326 7,248 397,084 -41,467
1965 22,755 2,239 405,819 -42,476
1964 22,116 2,198 429,885 -41,461
1963 21,585 2,220 394,338 -44,446
1962 21,132 2,172 384,690 -45,211
1961 20,581 2,100 396,537 -46,517
1960 19,981 1,989 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/spain | 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 Spain 27.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 782,423 people) and 72.1% is from migration (a gain of 2,019,671 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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 2026-07-08)
  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)

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.