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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 9.26 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 0.3% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Lesotho vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Sri Lanka
2100 3,280,784 20,270,496
2099 3,286,697 20,383,669
2098 3,292,498 20,498,567
2097 3,298,102 20,611,123
2096 3,303,027 20,723,560
2095 3,307,947 20,834,629
2094 3,312,002 20,943,809
2093 3,315,757 21,052,131
2092 3,319,661 21,158,833
2091 3,322,573 21,263,961
2090 3,324,769 21,371,263
2089 3,326,847 21,475,426
2088 3,328,480 21,577,177
2087 3,329,964 21,677,510
2086 3,330,456 21,777,420
2085 3,331,259 21,876,464
2084 3,331,485 21,970,336
2083 3,331,492 22,062,801
2082 3,331,234 22,151,745
2081 3,330,412 22,240,834
2080 3,329,267 22,326,555
2079 3,327,166 22,411,438
2078 3,324,646 22,489,772
2077 3,321,422 22,565,028
2076 3,317,850 22,637,463
2075 3,314,237 22,707,112
2074 3,309,174 22,778,489
2073 3,303,860 22,844,703
2072 3,298,181 22,905,707
2071 3,291,492 22,964,866
2070 3,283,654 23,022,515
2069 3,275,244 23,076,310
2068 3,266,152 23,129,541
2067 3,256,626 23,184,596
2066 3,246,903 23,234,419
2065 3,237,153 23,285,901
2064 3,226,489 23,331,390
2063 3,215,103 23,372,184
2062 3,202,287 23,409,522
2061 3,188,933 23,441,893
2060 3,174,998 23,474,032
2059 3,160,204 23,502,132
2058 3,145,053 23,528,076
2057 3,129,261 23,550,580
2056 3,113,129 23,570,923
2055 3,095,904 23,582,432
2054 3,078,567 23,591,414
2053 3,060,152 23,601,371
2052 3,040,649 23,605,361
2051 3,020,109 23,606,194
2050 2,999,457 23,603,330
2049 2,978,037 23,597,604
2048 2,955,727 23,587,307
2047 2,932,688 23,570,881
2046 2,909,307 23,547,409
2045 2,885,537 23,515,133
2044 2,861,372 23,483,546
2043 2,836,777 23,446,242
2042 2,811,663 23,404,983
2041 2,786,147 23,357,358
2040 2,760,391 23,306,148
2039 2,734,400 23,248,341
2038 2,708,216 23,187,512
2037 2,681,863 23,120,775
2036 2,654,755 23,053,427
2035 2,627,701 22,981,808
2034 2,600,880 22,906,587
2033 2,574,065 22,826,414
2032 2,547,344 22,742,267
2031 2,520,831 22,655,907
2030 2,494,646 22,564,038
2029 2,468,268 22,470,759
2028 2,441,871 22,370,999
2027 2,415,830 22,266,017
2026 2,389,516 22,155,543
2025 2,363,516 22,039,908
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 23.6M 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 1.12% 0.57%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Sri Lanka
Current population
2396633
22185425
Population rank 143/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.27%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 -332
Annual growth/decline +25,951 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 188/197
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 - -5,107 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 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 (1960–2024, 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/sri-lanka | 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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