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Population in Lesotho compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 9.13 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Lesotho vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Sri Lanka
2100 3,280,518 20,009,380
2099 3,286,430 20,121,095
2098 3,292,231 20,234,513
2097 3,297,835 20,345,619
2096 3,302,758 20,456,607
2095 3,307,678 20,566,246
2094 3,311,734 20,674,019
2093 3,315,488 20,780,946
2092 3,319,391 20,886,274
2091 3,322,303 20,990,047
2090 3,324,499 21,095,968
2089 3,326,577 21,198,788
2088 3,328,210 21,299,229
2087 3,329,694 21,398,269
2086 3,330,185 21,496,892
2085 3,330,989 21,594,661
2084 3,331,214 21,687,323
2083 3,331,221 21,778,597
2082 3,330,964 21,866,395
2081 3,330,141 21,954,337
2080 3,328,997 22,038,953
2079 3,326,895 22,122,744
2078 3,324,376 22,200,069
2077 3,321,152 22,274,355
2076 3,317,581 22,345,857
2075 3,313,968 22,414,609
2074 3,308,905 22,485,066
2073 3,303,592 22,550,427
2072 3,297,913 22,610,645
2071 3,291,224 22,669,042
2070 3,283,387 22,725,948
2069 3,274,978 22,779,050
2068 3,265,887 22,831,596
2067 3,256,362 22,885,941
2066 3,246,639 22,935,123
2065 3,236,890 22,985,942
2064 3,226,227 23,030,844
2063 3,214,843 23,071,114
2062 3,202,027 23,107,970
2061 3,188,674 23,139,924
2060 3,174,740 23,171,649
2059 3,159,947 23,199,387
2058 3,144,797 23,224,997
2057 3,129,007 23,247,211
2056 3,112,877 23,267,292
2055 3,095,653 23,278,653
2054 3,078,317 23,287,520
2053 3,059,904 23,297,347
2052 3,040,402 23,301,287
2051 3,019,864 23,302,108
2050 2,999,214 23,299,282
2049 2,977,795 23,293,630
2048 2,955,487 23,283,465
2047 2,932,450 23,267,251
2046 2,909,071 23,244,081
2045 2,885,303 23,212,221
2044 2,861,140 23,181,041
2043 2,836,547 23,144,217
2042 2,811,435 23,103,489
2041 2,785,921 23,056,478
2040 2,760,167 23,005,928
2039 2,734,178 22,948,866
2038 2,707,996 22,888,821
2037 2,681,646 22,822,943
2036 2,654,540 22,756,462
2035 2,627,488 22,685,766
2034 2,600,669 22,611,514
2033 2,573,856 22,532,374
2032 2,547,137 22,449,310
2031 2,520,626 22,364,063
2030 2,494,444 22,273,377
2029 2,468,067 22,181,300
2028 2,441,673 22,082,826
2027 2,415,634 21,979,196
2026 2,389,322 21,870,145
2025 2,363,325 21,756,000
2024 2,337,423 21,916,000
2023 2,311,472 22,037,000
2022 2,286,110 22,181,000
2021 2,261,542 22,156,000
2020 2,235,727 21,919,000
2019 2,209,405 21,803,000
2018 2,183,603 21,670,000
2017 2,157,110 21,453,000
2016 2,130,422 21,209,000
2015 2,104,611 20,970,000
2014 2,080,089 20,778,000
2013 2,056,504 20,585,000
2012 2,034,354 21,169,458
2011 2,014,009 21,009,048
2010 1,996,251 20,879,089
2009 1,980,883 20,756,435
2008 1,966,541 20,629,378
2007 1,953,268 20,492,545
2006 1,945,063 20,352,411
2005 1,953,076 20,216,524
2004 1,971,129 20,087,605
2003 1,985,059 19,951,521
2002 1,994,679 19,805,752
2001 2,000,853 19,600,362
2000 2,003,913 19,293,054
1999 2,003,234 18,944,731
1998 1,998,049 18,596,003
1997 1,988,130 18,248,200
1996 1,972,418 17,905,018
1995 1,951,437 17,564,068
1994 1,927,707 17,275,773
1993 1,901,793 17,025,918
1992 1,873,274 16,739,284
1991 1,842,379 16,475,354
1990 1,809,696 16,352,458
1989 1,775,436 16,248,557
1988 1,739,841 16,078,621
1987 1,703,390 15,916,576
1986 1,666,138 15,731,256
1985 1,624,379 15,544,154
1984 1,578,986 15,441,860
1983 1,534,413 15,388,794
1982 1,490,732 15,286,567
1981 1,448,069 15,099,414
1980 1,406,521 14,847,974
1979 1,366,169 14,579,614
1978 1,327,240 14,310,128
1977 1,289,967 14,049,371
1976 1,253,214 13,796,770
1975 1,213,643 13,548,984
1974 1,172,420 13,305,693
1973 1,132,697 13,060,916
1972 1,094,063 12,809,205
1971 1,056,246 12,551,910
1970 1,019,273 12,287,110
1969 983,202 12,013,858
1968 948,105 11,736,088
1967 913,982 11,457,328
1966 881,870 11,183,928
1965 854,090 10,916,965
1964 829,437 10,653,397
1963 805,373 10,395,040
1962 781,814 10,143,754
1961 758,824 9,899,372
1960 736,500 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Sri Lanka
2100 -0.18% -0.56%
2099 -0.18% -0.56%
2098 -0.17% -0.55%
2097 -0.15% -0.54%
2096 -0.15% -0.53%
2095 -0.12% -0.52%
2094 -0.11% -0.51%
2093 -0.12% -0.5%
2092 -0.09% -0.49%
2091 -0.07% -0.5%
2090 -0.06% -0.49%
2089 -0.05% -0.47%
2088 -0.04% -0.46%
2087 -0.01% -0.46%
2086 -0.02% -0.45%
2085 -0.007% -0.43%
2084 -0% -0.42%
2083 0.008% -0.4%
2082 0.02% -0.4%
2081 0.03% -0.38%
2080 0.06% -0.38%
2079 0.08% -0.35%
2078 0.1% -0.33%
2077 0.11% -0.32%
2076 0.11% -0.31%
2075 0.15% -0.31%
2074 0.16% -0.29%
2073 0.17% -0.27%
2072 0.2% -0.26%
2071 0.24% -0.25%
2070 0.26% -0.23%
2069 0.28% -0.23%
2068 0.29% -0.24%
2067 0.3% -0.21%
2066 0.3% -0.22%
2065 0.33% -0.19%
2064 0.35% -0.17%
2063 0.4% -0.16%
2062 0.42% -0.14%
2061 0.44% -0.14%
2060 0.47% -0.12%
2059 0.48% -0.11%
2058 0.5% -0.1%
2057 0.52% -0.09%
2056 0.56% -0.05%
2055 0.56% -0.04%
2054 0.6% -0.04%
2053 0.64% -0.02%
2052 0.68% -0.004%
2051 0.69% 0.01%
2050 0.72% 0.02%
2049 0.75% 0.04%
2048 0.79% 0.07%
2047 0.8% 0.1%
2046 0.82% 0.14%
2045 0.84% 0.13%
2044 0.87% 0.16%
2043 0.89% 0.18%
2042 0.92% 0.2%
2041 0.93% 0.22%
2040 0.95% 0.25%
2039 0.97% 0.26%
2038 0.98% 0.29%
2037 1.02% 0.29%
2036 1.03% 0.31%
2035 1.03% 0.33%
2034 1.04% 0.35%
2033 1.05% 0.37%
2032 1.05% 0.38%
2031 1.05% 0.41%
2030 1.07% 0.42%
2029 1.08% 0.45%
2028 1.08% 0.47%
2027 1.1% 0.5%
2026 1.1% 0.52%
2025 1.11% -0.73%
2024 1.12% -0.55%
2023 1.11% -0.65%
2022 1.09% 0.11%
2021 1.15% 1.08%
2020 1.19% 0.53%
2019 1.18% 0.61%
2018 1.23% 1.01%
2017 1.25% 1.15%
2016 1.23% 1.14%
2015 1.18% 0.92%
2014 1.15% 0.94%
2013 1.09% -2.76%
2012 1.01% 0.76%
2011 0.89% 0.62%
2010 0.78% 0.59%
2009 0.73% 0.62%
2008 0.68% 0.67%
2007 0.42% 0.69%
2006 -0.41% 0.67%
2005 -0.92% 0.64%
2004 -0.7% 0.68%
2003 -0.48% 0.74%
2002 -0.31% 1.05%
2001 -0.15% 1.59%
2000 0.03% 1.84%
1999 0.26% 1.88%
1998 0.5% 1.91%
1997 0.8% 1.92%
1996 1.08% 1.94%
1995 1.23% 1.67%
1994 1.36% 1.47%
1993 1.52% 1.71%
1992 1.68% 1.6%
1991 1.81% 0.75%
1990 1.93% 0.64%
1989 2.05% 1.06%
1988 2.14% 1.02%
1987 2.24% 1.18%
1986 2.57% 1.2%
1985 2.87% 0.66%
1984 2.9% 0.34%
1983 2.93% 0.67%
1982 2.95% 1.24%
1981 2.95% 1.69%
1980 2.95% 1.84%
1979 2.93% 1.88%
1978 2.89% 1.86%
1977 2.93% 1.83%
1976 3.26% 1.83%
1975 3.52% 1.83%
1974 3.51% 1.87%
1973 3.53% 1.97%
1972 3.58% 2.05%
1971 3.63% 2.16%
1970 3.67% 2.27%
1969 3.7% 2.37%
1968 3.73% 2.43%
1967 3.64% 2.44%
1966 3.25% 2.45%
1965 2.97% 2.47%
1964 2.99% 2.49%
1963 3.01% 2.48%
1962 3.03% 2.47%
1961 3.03% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Sri Lanka
Current population
2402837
21926160
Population rank 143/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.26%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 -438
Annual growth/decline +25,902 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 190/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -30,724
Net migration rank 117/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -30,724
2024 31,050 -5,107 50,407 -27,245
2023 31,115 -5,168 66,111 -28,011
2022 30,803 -6,023 95,378 -27,435
2021 27,806 -3,449 121,858 -29,586
2020 30,721 -3,449 170,968 -29,875
2019 32,279 -6,896 172,243 -28,426
2018 33,112 -6,892 183,610 -28,607
2017 33,601 -6,850 187,993 -22,324
2016 33,390 -6,766 194,232 -18,388
2015 32,087 -7,087 201,815 -29,797
2014 30,922 -6,877 211,541 -33,672
2013 29,789 -6,659 221,021 -37,754
2012 27,592 -6,425 229,138 -41,955
2011 25,647 -6,118 224,461 -90,839
2010 21,877 -5,886 224,325 -98,060
2009 20,335 -5,599 200,175 -81,130
2008 19,349 -5,392 232,225 -97,144
2007 17,763 -5,179 248,287 -109,695
2006 15,234 -11,416 248,706 -107,045
2005 15,831 -35,679 248,683 -118,594
2004 17,271 -33,530 212,527 -84,795
2003 20,133 -31,723 252,008 -107,573
2002 22,274 -29,924 252,840 -105,718
2001 23,190 -27,874 244,377 19,273
2000 24,786 -26,220 227,060 123,894
1999 27,393 -24,610 206,876 138,799
1998 30,889 -23,299 201,059 150,724
1997 34,637 -22,396 208,193 135,636
1996 36,228 -17,042 215,290 127,236
1995 37,370 -14,588 221,957 117,416
1994 38,629 -13,953 228,904 8,323
1993 40,505 -13,347 226,257 36,232
1992 42,579 -12,707 222,230 88,542
1991 44,026 -12,114 218,117 -1,047
1990 45,060 -11,598 224,454 -195,736
1989 46,264 -11,207 212,401 -33,305
1988 47,158 -11,028 219,184 -58,415
1987 47,718 -10,946 226,414 -63,105
1986 45,232 -7,501 233,782 -26,460
1985 44,575 1,222 247,836 -80,950
1984 43,785 1,199 263,175 -225,450
1983 42,899 1,253 277,768 -209,362
1982 41,941 1,281 300,030 -163,987
1981 40,808 1,307 328,096 -89,824
1980 39,617 1,361 328,155 -63,541
1979 38,440 1,285 329,791 -57,683
1978 37,084 1,047 317,055 -50,189
1977 35,654 746 300,038 -45,383
1976 34,117 2,986 291,816 -41,258
1975 32,311 9,723 282,496 -37,475
1974 30,444 9,972 275,521 -33,979
1973 28,859 10,183 278,577 -30,582
1972 27,841 10,386 282,494 -27,071
1971 26,838 10,563 281,200 -22,021
1970 25,935 10,605 286,719 -16,299
1969 25,137 10,465 286,218 -10,152
1968 24,490 10,108 286,642 -7,163
1967 23,911 9,734 284,738 -6,696
1966 23,326 7,248 275,549 -6,794
1965 22,755 2,239 272,422 -7,249
1964 22,116 2,198 269,584 -7,614
1963 21,585 2,220 262,880 -8,118
1962 21,132 2,172 256,719 -8,909
1961 20,581 2,100 251,087 -10,144
1960 19,981 1,989 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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