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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 20.4 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 +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Lesotho vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Spain
2100 3,280,784 33,862,981
2099 3,286,697 34,039,965
2098 3,292,498 34,215,187
2097 3,298,102 34,387,116
2096 3,303,027 34,552,002
2095 3,307,947 34,719,411
2094 3,312,002 34,882,039
2093 3,315,757 35,044,043
2092 3,319,661 35,204,657
2091 3,322,573 35,366,895
2090 3,324,769 35,535,838
2089 3,326,847 35,707,942
2088 3,328,480 35,877,681
2087 3,329,964 36,043,209
2086 3,330,456 36,210,710
2085 3,331,259 36,386,207
2084 3,331,485 36,564,622
2083 3,331,492 36,749,680
2082 3,331,234 36,936,644
2081 3,330,412 37,133,976
2080 3,329,267 37,337,517
2079 3,327,166 37,551,557
2078 3,324,646 37,771,135
2077 3,321,422 38,002,963
2076 3,317,850 38,249,247
2075 3,314,237 38,506,040
2074 3,309,174 38,777,715
2073 3,303,860 39,056,249
2072 3,298,181 39,348,447
2071 3,291,492 39,642,346
2070 3,283,654 39,949,413
2069 3,275,244 40,256,590
2068 3,266,152 40,575,543
2067 3,256,626 40,893,798
2066 3,246,903 41,218,263
2065 3,237,153 41,543,254
2064 3,226,489 41,878,338
2063 3,215,103 42,208,320
2062 3,202,287 42,542,893
2061 3,188,933 42,874,096
2060 3,174,998 43,191,452
2059 3,160,204 43,506,737
2058 3,145,053 43,809,907
2057 3,129,261 44,112,668
2056 3,113,129 44,415,689
2055 3,095,904 44,691,749
2054 3,078,567 44,958,971
2053 3,060,152 45,223,225
2052 3,040,649 45,470,541
2051 3,020,109 45,695,307
2050 2,999,457 45,911,520
2049 2,978,037 46,127,777
2048 2,955,727 46,322,244
2047 2,932,688 46,510,152
2046 2,909,307 46,687,914
2045 2,885,537 46,858,778
2044 2,861,372 47,016,278
2043 2,836,777 47,158,325
2042 2,811,663 47,301,091
2041 2,786,147 47,434,593
2040 2,760,391 47,563,236
2039 2,734,400 47,685,343
2038 2,708,216 47,798,797
2037 2,681,863 47,910,899
2036 2,654,755 48,020,350
2035 2,627,701 48,124,430
2034 2,600,880 48,220,051
2033 2,574,065 48,311,842
2032 2,547,344 48,402,470
2031 2,520,831 48,495,278
2030 2,494,646 48,579,920
2029 2,468,268 48,648,699
2028 2,441,871 48,707,969
2027 2,415,830 48,758,200
2026 2,389,516 48,806,901
2025 2,363,516 48,838,057
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M 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 1.12% -0.02%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Spain
Current population
2396633
48806901
Population rank 143/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.59%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 100/197
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 - -5,107 - 111,674
2023 31,115 -5,168 -111,211 119,099
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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 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 (1960–2024, 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/spain | 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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