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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 50,448,963 people in Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 53,335,233 in Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Sudan's population is 22.3 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Sudan is the 29th.
  • The countries together account for 0.67% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.64% for Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.67% in Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Sudan has grown from 32M to 53.3M (66.7% growth).

Lesotho vs Sudan: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Sudan
2100 3,280,784 137,695,876
2099 3,286,697 137,114,644
2098 3,292,498 136,500,499
2097 3,298,102 135,860,701
2096 3,303,027 135,222,218
2095 3,307,947 134,553,615
2094 3,312,002 133,902,112
2093 3,315,757 133,186,791
2092 3,319,661 132,427,642
2091 3,322,573 131,674,049
2090 3,324,769 130,893,042
2089 3,326,847 130,075,970
2088 3,328,480 129,234,968
2087 3,329,964 128,358,981
2086 3,330,456 127,463,823
2085 3,331,259 126,555,673
2084 3,331,485 125,612,419
2083 3,331,492 124,663,868
2082 3,331,234 123,716,124
2081 3,330,412 122,772,016
2080 3,329,267 121,805,246
2079 3,327,166 120,822,781
2078 3,324,646 119,802,944
2077 3,321,422 118,776,597
2076 3,317,850 117,748,457
2075 3,314,237 116,688,549
2074 3,309,174 115,601,159
2073 3,303,860 114,499,847
2072 3,298,181 113,374,089
2071 3,291,492 112,235,978
2070 3,283,654 111,102,687
2069 3,275,244 109,945,533
2068 3,266,152 108,791,037
2067 3,256,626 107,581,192
2066 3,246,903 106,357,353
2065 3,237,153 105,145,307
2064 3,226,489 103,903,801
2063 3,215,103 102,642,643
2062 3,202,287 101,354,095
2061 3,188,933 100,067,335
2060 3,174,998 98,765,585
2059 3,160,204 97,461,067
2058 3,145,053 96,135,716
2057 3,129,261 94,800,344
2056 3,113,129 93,458,640
2055 3,095,904 92,089,717
2054 3,078,567 90,711,253
2053 3,060,152 89,342,122
2052 3,040,649 87,962,125
2051 3,020,109 86,581,277
2050 2,999,457 85,194,794
2049 2,978,037 83,803,171
2048 2,955,727 82,442,635
2047 2,932,688 81,085,689
2046 2,909,307 79,725,126
2045 2,885,537 78,359,927
2044 2,861,372 77,006,049
2043 2,836,777 75,652,858
2042 2,811,663 74,312,465
2041 2,786,147 72,968,877
2040 2,760,391 71,640,015
2039 2,734,400 70,319,906
2038 2,708,216 69,001,239
2037 2,681,863 67,665,904
2036 2,654,755 66,337,650
2035 2,627,701 65,001,359
2034 2,600,880 63,664,516
2033 2,574,065 62,329,849
2032 2,547,344 61,007,985
2031 2,520,831 59,695,860
2030 2,494,646 58,384,521
2029 2,468,268 57,082,767
2028 2,441,871 55,800,806
2027 2,415,830 54,523,219
2026 2,389,516 52,894,744
2025 2,363,516 51,256,148
2024 2,337,423 50,448,963
2023 2,311,472 50,042,791
2022 2,286,110 49,383,346
2021 2,261,542 48,066,924
2020 2,235,727 46,789,231
2019 2,209,405 45,548,175
2018 2,183,603 44,230,596
2017 2,157,110 42,714,306
2016 2,130,422 41,259,892
2015 2,104,611 40,024,431
2014 2,080,089 38,823,318
2013 2,056,504 37,785,849
2012 2,034,354 36,923,178
2011 2,014,009 36,140,806
2010 1,996,251 35,414,399
2009 1,980,883 34,569,113
2008 1,966,541 33,623,980
2007 1,953,268 32,764,135
2006 1,945,063 31,992,435
2005 1,953,076 31,262,444
2004 1,971,129 30,556,637
2003 1,985,059 29,896,035
2002 1,994,679 29,228,727
2001 2,000,853 28,516,770
2000 2,003,913 27,816,745
1999 2,003,234 27,130,613
1998 1,998,049 26,458,999
1997 1,988,130 25,799,821
1996 1,972,418 25,231,528
1995 1,951,437 24,672,143
1994 1,927,707 24,043,948
1993 1,901,793 23,445,592
1992 1,873,274 22,927,355
1991 1,842,379 22,470,676
1990 1,809,696 22,021,481
1989 1,775,436 21,578,022
1988 1,739,841 21,138,431
1987 1,703,390 20,704,904
1986 1,666,138 20,288,238
1985 1,624,379 19,905,872
1984 1,578,986 19,546,528
1983 1,534,413 19,109,770
1982 1,490,732 18,486,645
1981 1,448,069 17,780,572
1980 1,406,521 17,058,905
1979 1,366,169 16,355,352
1978 1,327,240 15,695,003
1977 1,289,967 15,086,614
1976 1,253,214 14,569,716
1975 1,213,643 14,064,798
1974 1,172,420 13,580,723
1973 1,132,697 13,049,315
1972 1,094,063 12,527,856
1971 1,056,246 12,105,539
1970 1,019,273 11,695,771
1969 983,202 11,298,936
1968 948,105 10,917,999
1967 913,982 10,550,597
1966 881,870 10,197,578
1965 854,090 9,858,030
1964 829,437 9,531,109
1963 805,373 9,218,077
1962 781,814 8,919,028
1961 758,824 8,634,941
1960 736,500 8,364,489

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/sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Sudan gained 9,267,457 people (a 29% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Sudan's population increased by 12,075,341 people (a 29.3% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Sudan was ranked 36th in 2006 and ranked 29th 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 Sudan will increase by 59.7% to 85,194,794 people and rank change from 29th to 21st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 138M people in 2100 for Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Sudan
2100 -0.18% 0.42%
2099 -0.18% 0.45%
2098 -0.17% 0.47%
2097 -0.15% 0.47%
2096 -0.15% 0.5%
2095 -0.12% 0.49%
2094 -0.11% 0.54%
2093 -0.12% 0.57%
2092 -0.09% 0.57%
2091 -0.07% 0.6%
2090 -0.06% 0.63%
2089 -0.05% 0.65%
2088 -0.04% 0.68%
2087 -0.01% 0.7%
2086 -0.02% 0.72%
2085 -0.007% 0.75%
2084 -0% 0.76%
2083 0.008% 0.77%
2082 0.02% 0.77%
2081 0.03% 0.79%
2080 0.06% 0.81%
2079 0.08% 0.85%
2078 0.1% 0.86%
2077 0.11% 0.87%
2076 0.11% 0.91%
2075 0.15% 0.94%
2074 0.16% 0.96%
2073 0.17% 0.99%
2072 0.2% 1.01%
2071 0.24% 1.02%
2070 0.26% 1.05%
2069 0.28% 1.06%
2068 0.29% 1.12%
2067 0.3% 1.15%
2066 0.3% 1.15%
2065 0.33% 1.19%
2064 0.35% 1.23%
2063 0.4% 1.27%
2062 0.42% 1.29%
2061 0.44% 1.32%
2060 0.47% 1.34%
2059 0.48% 1.38%
2058 0.5% 1.41%
2057 0.52% 1.44%
2056 0.56% 1.49%
2055 0.56% 1.52%
2054 0.6% 1.53%
2053 0.64% 1.57%
2052 0.68% 1.59%
2051 0.69% 1.63%
2050 0.72% 1.66%
2049 0.75% 1.65%
2048 0.79% 1.67%
2047 0.8% 1.71%
2046 0.82% 1.74%
2045 0.84% 1.76%
2044 0.87% 1.79%
2043 0.89% 1.8%
2042 0.92% 1.84%
2041 0.93% 1.85%
2040 0.95% 1.88%
2039 0.97% 1.91%
2038 0.98% 1.97%
2037 1.02% 2%
2036 1.03% 2.06%
2035 1.03% 2.1%
2034 1.04% 2.14%
2033 1.05% 2.17%
2032 1.05% 2.2%
2031 1.05% 2.25%
2030 1.07% 2.28%
2029 1.08% 2.3%
2028 1.08% 2.34%
2027 1.1% 3.08%
2026 1.1% 3.2%
2025 1.12% 1.6%
2024 1.12% 0.81%
2023 1.11% 1.34%
2022 1.09% 2.74%
2021 1.15% 2.73%
2020 1.19% 2.72%
2019 1.18% 2.98%
2018 1.23% 3.55%
2017 1.25% 3.53%
2016 1.23% 3.09%
2015 1.18% 3.09%
2014 1.15% 2.75%
2013 1.09% 2.34%
2012 1.01% 2.16%
2011 0.89% 2.05%
2010 0.78% 2.45%
2009 0.73% 2.81%
2008 0.68% 2.62%
2007 0.42% 2.41%
2006 -0.41% 2.34%
2005 -0.92% 2.31%
2004 -0.7% 2.21%
2003 -0.48% 2.28%
2002 -0.31% 2.5%
2001 -0.15% 2.52%
2000 0.03% 2.53%
1999 0.26% 2.54%
1998 0.5% 2.55%
1997 0.8% 2.25%
1996 1.08% 2.27%
1995 1.23% 2.61%
1994 1.36% 2.55%
1993 1.52% 2.26%
1992 1.68% 2.03%
1991 1.81% 2.04%
1990 1.93% 2.06%
1989 2.05% 2.08%
1988 2.14% 2.09%
1987 2.24% 2.05%
1986 2.57% 1.92%
1985 2.87% 1.84%
1984 2.9% 2.29%
1983 2.93% 3.37%
1982 2.95% 3.97%
1981 2.95% 4.23%
1980 2.95% 4.3%
1979 2.93% 4.21%
1978 2.89% 4.03%
1977 2.93% 3.55%
1976 3.26% 3.59%
1975 3.52% 3.56%
1974 3.51% 4.07%
1973 3.53% 4.16%
1972 3.58% 3.49%
1971 3.63% 3.5%
1970 3.67% 3.51%
1969 3.7% 3.49%
1968 3.73% 3.48%
1967 3.64% 3.46%
1966 3.25% 3.44%
1965 2.97% 3.43%
1964 2.99% 3.4%
1963 3.01% 3.35%
1962 3.03% 3.29%
1961 3.03% 3.23%

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/sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Sudan's population grew by 0.81%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Sudan
Current population
2396633
53335233
Population rank 143/197 29/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.64%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.29 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
18.7 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
1.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,113
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +406,172
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +0.81%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 116/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.81 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +291,469
Net migration rank 117/196 6/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 2,397,113
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 29/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.8%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 94/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 291,469
2024 - -5,107 - -544,257
2023 31,115 -5,168 1,361,564 -1,349,998
2022 30,803 -6,023 1,333,992 -26,668
2021 27,806 -3,449 1,293,817 31,664
2020 30,721 -3,449 1,295,781 -65,933
2019 32,279 -6,896 1,291,747 -39,491
2018 33,112 -6,892 1,257,387 125,499
2017 33,601 -6,850 1,208,046 441,623
2016 33,390 -6,766 1,174,422 84,728
2015 32,087 -7,087 1,145,259 66,476
2014 30,922 -6,877 1,097,962 92,504
2013 29,789 -6,659 1,078,446 -194,001
2012 27,592 -6,425 1,073,062 -232,196
2011 25,647 -6,118 1,070,888 -347,024
2010 21,877 -5,886 1,068,381 -339,466
2009 20,335 -5,599 1,041,810 -80,159
2008 19,349 -5,392 1,001,826 -73,188
2007 17,763 -5,179 992,819 -201,769
2006 15,234 -11,416 963,740 -211,387
2005 15,831 -35,679 907,017 -199,378
2004 17,271 -33,530 889,382 -185,392
2003 20,133 -31,723 898,226 -281,001
2002 22,274 -29,924 897,965 -180,603
2001 23,190 -27,874 880,284 -173,745
2000 24,786 -26,220 858,536 -165,030
1999 27,393 -24,610 835,840 -157,090
1998 30,889 -23,299 814,752 -150,271
1997 34,637 -22,396 802,245 -148,368
1996 36,228 -17,042 792,926 -310,221
1995 37,370 -14,588 780,700 -144,670
1994 38,629 -13,953 764,645 -144,324
1993 40,505 -13,347 743,249 -166,861
1992 42,579 -12,707 731,177 -271,093
1991 44,026 -12,114 714,612 -261,341
1990 45,060 -11,598 699,953 -254,825
1989 46,264 -11,207 683,743 -241,979
1988 47,158 -11,028 672,604 -235,213
1987 47,718 -10,946 658,416 -228,756
1986 45,232 -7,501 649,649 -245,968
1985 44,575 1,222 583,382 -222,315
1984 43,785 1,199 577,405 -219,755
1983 42,899 1,253 570,198 -54,325
1982 41,941 1,281 606,362 124,007
1981 40,808 1,307 585,087 96,697
1980 39,617 1,361 552,930 208,602
1979 38,440 1,285 524,942 120,613
1978 37,084 1,047 497,987 177,153
1977 35,654 746 483,089 58,540
1976 34,117 2,986 470,019 22,147
1975 32,311 9,723 454,813 62,843
1974 30,444 9,972 444,456 6,023
1973 28,859 10,183 439,201 173,143
1972 27,841 10,386 428,340 2,238
1971 26,838 10,563 417,641 -3,577
1970 25,935 10,605 401,013 4,479
1969 25,137 10,465 385,712 2,476
1968 24,490 10,108 370,917 2,776
1967 23,911 9,734 356,599 4,508
1966 23,326 7,248 342,118 2,813
1965 22,755 2,239 327,799 6,367
1964 22,116 2,198 315,166 4,505
1963 21,585 2,220 302,132 4,263
1962 21,132 2,172 287,317 4,387
1961 20,581 2,100 272,562 3,904
1960 19,981 1,989 262,235 2,194

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/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 Sudan 95.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 12,459,977 people) and 4.88% is from migration (a loss of 639,596 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 2,397,113 people or 4.8% in Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Sudan
City Population
Khartoum 5.34M
Omdurman 2.81M
Khartoum North 936K
Port Sudan 580K
El-Obeid 560K
Kassala 536K
Kosti 528K
Nyala 493K
El-Gadarif 355K
Al-Fashir 286K

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/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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