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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 10,665,077 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 4.44 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 93rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

Lesotho vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Sweden
2100 3,280,518 11,330,987
2099 3,286,430 11,334,835
2098 3,292,231 11,339,107
2097 3,297,835 11,340,268
2096 3,302,758 11,341,947
2095 3,307,678 11,344,893
2094 3,311,734 11,347,531
2093 3,315,488 11,349,412
2092 3,319,391 11,351,452
2091 3,322,303 11,352,899
2090 3,324,499 11,354,820
2089 3,326,577 11,357,746
2088 3,328,210 11,360,405
2087 3,329,694 11,364,197
2086 3,330,185 11,371,529
2085 3,330,989 11,376,573
2084 3,331,214 11,381,332
2083 3,331,221 11,384,862
2082 3,330,964 11,390,058
2081 3,330,141 11,391,696
2080 3,328,997 11,393,882
2079 3,326,895 11,393,412
2078 3,324,376 11,391,291
2077 3,321,152 11,389,212
2076 3,317,581 11,385,385
2075 3,313,968 11,381,261
2074 3,308,905 11,377,973
2073 3,303,592 11,375,051
2072 3,297,913 11,371,362
2071 3,291,224 11,366,451
2070 3,283,387 11,362,742
2069 3,274,978 11,358,895
2068 3,265,887 11,357,504
2067 3,256,362 11,356,672
2066 3,246,639 11,356,676
2065 3,236,890 11,355,953
2064 3,226,227 11,354,988
2063 3,214,843 11,354,834
2062 3,202,027 11,355,452
2061 3,188,674 11,353,198
2060 3,174,740 11,352,013
2059 3,159,947 11,349,674
2058 3,144,797 11,345,893
2057 3,129,007 11,340,487
2056 3,112,877 11,335,234
2055 3,095,653 11,328,291
2054 3,078,317 11,320,768
2053 3,059,904 11,310,127
2052 3,040,402 11,296,358
2051 3,019,864 11,280,503
2050 2,999,214 11,261,537
2049 2,977,795 11,242,070
2048 2,955,487 11,221,274
2047 2,932,450 11,199,365
2046 2,909,071 11,176,512
2045 2,885,303 11,152,739
2044 2,861,140 11,127,765
2043 2,836,547 11,102,354
2042 2,811,435 11,076,504
2041 2,785,921 11,052,951
2040 2,760,167 11,028,609
2039 2,734,178 11,005,487
2038 2,707,996 10,983,160
2037 2,681,646 10,961,591
2036 2,654,540 10,938,759
2035 2,627,488 10,916,327
2034 2,600,669 10,893,717
2033 2,573,856 10,869,588
2032 2,547,137 10,844,339
2031 2,520,626 10,819,037
2030 2,494,444 10,790,557
2029 2,468,067 10,759,017
2028 2,441,673 10,724,017
2027 2,415,634 10,685,143
2026 2,389,322 10,643,884
2025 2,363,325 10,596,620
2024 2,337,423 10,569,709
2023 2,311,472 10,536,632
2022 2,286,110 10,486,941
2021 2,261,542 10,415,811
2020 2,235,727 10,353,442
2019 2,209,405 10,278,887
2018 2,183,603 10,175,214
2017 2,157,110 10,057,698
2016 2,130,422 9,923,085
2015 2,104,611 9,799,186
2014 2,080,089 9,696,110
2013 2,056,504 9,600,379
2012 2,034,354 9,519,374
2011 2,014,009 9,449,213
2010 1,996,251 9,378,126
2009 1,980,883 9,298,515
2008 1,966,541 9,219,637
2007 1,953,268 9,148,092
2006 1,945,063 9,080,505
2005 1,953,076 9,029,572
2004 1,971,129 8,993,531
2003 1,985,059 8,958,229
2002 1,994,679 8,924,958
2001 2,000,853 8,895,960
2000 2,003,913 8,872,109
1999 2,003,234 8,857,874
1998 1,998,049 8,850,974
1997 1,988,130 8,846,062
1996 1,972,418 8,840,998
1995 1,951,437 8,826,939
1994 1,927,707 8,780,745
1993 1,901,793 8,718,561
1992 1,873,274 8,668,067
1991 1,842,379 8,617,375
1990 1,809,696 8,558,835
1989 1,775,436 8,492,964
1988 1,739,841 8,436,489
1987 1,703,390 8,397,804
1986 1,666,138 8,369,829
1985 1,624,379 8,350,386
1984 1,578,986 8,336,605
1983 1,534,413 8,329,033
1982 1,490,732 8,325,263
1981 1,448,069 8,320,503
1980 1,406,521 8,310,531
1979 1,366,169 8,293,678
1978 1,327,240 8,275,599
1977 1,289,967 8,251,540
1976 1,253,214 8,222,286
1975 1,213,643 8,192,437
1974 1,172,420 8,159,955
1973 1,132,697 8,136,312
1972 1,094,063 8,122,300
1971 1,056,246 8,098,334
1970 1,019,273 8,042,801
1969 983,202 7,968,072
1968 948,105 7,912,273
1967 913,982 7,867,931
1966 881,870 7,807,797
1965 854,090 7,733,853
1964 829,437 7,661,354
1963 805,373 7,604,328
1962 781,814 7,561,588
1961 758,824 7,519,998
1960 736,500 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd 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 Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 93rd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 11.4M people in 2080 for Sweden.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Sweden
2100 -0.18% -0.03%
2099 -0.18% -0.04%
2098 -0.17% -0.01%
2097 -0.15% -0.01%
2096 -0.15% -0.03%
2095 -0.12% -0.02%
2094 -0.11% -0.02%
2093 -0.12% -0.02%
2092 -0.09% -0.01%
2091 -0.07% -0.02%
2090 -0.06% -0.03%
2089 -0.05% -0.02%
2088 -0.04% -0.03%
2087 -0.01% -0.06%
2086 -0.02% -0.04%
2085 -0.007% -0.04%
2084 -0% -0.03%
2083 0.008% -0.05%
2082 0.02% -0.01%
2081 0.03% -0.02%
2080 0.06% 0.004%
2079 0.08% 0.02%
2078 0.1% 0.02%
2077 0.11% 0.03%
2076 0.11% 0.04%
2075 0.15% 0.03%
2074 0.16% 0.03%
2073 0.17% 0.03%
2072 0.2% 0.04%
2071 0.24% 0.03%
2070 0.26% 0.03%
2069 0.28% 0.01%
2068 0.29% 0.007%
2067 0.3% -0%
2066 0.3% 0.006%
2065 0.33% 0.009%
2064 0.35% 0.001%
2063 0.4% -0.005%
2062 0.42% 0.02%
2061 0.44% 0.01%
2060 0.47% 0.02%
2059 0.48% 0.03%
2058 0.5% 0.05%
2057 0.52% 0.05%
2056 0.56% 0.06%
2055 0.56% 0.07%
2054 0.6% 0.09%
2053 0.64% 0.12%
2052 0.68% 0.14%
2051 0.69% 0.17%
2050 0.72% 0.17%
2049 0.75% 0.19%
2048 0.79% 0.2%
2047 0.8% 0.2%
2046 0.82% 0.21%
2045 0.84% 0.22%
2044 0.87% 0.23%
2043 0.89% 0.23%
2042 0.92% 0.21%
2041 0.93% 0.22%
2040 0.95% 0.21%
2039 0.97% 0.2%
2038 0.98% 0.2%
2037 1.02% 0.21%
2036 1.03% 0.21%
2035 1.03% 0.21%
2034 1.04% 0.22%
2033 1.05% 0.23%
2032 1.05% 0.23%
2031 1.05% 0.26%
2030 1.07% 0.29%
2029 1.08% 0.33%
2028 1.08% 0.36%
2027 1.1% 0.39%
2026 1.1% 0.45%
2025 1.11% 0.25%
2024 1.12% 0.31%
2023 1.11% 0.47%
2022 1.09% 0.68%
2021 1.15% 0.6%
2020 1.19% 0.73%
2019 1.18% 1.02%
2018 1.23% 1.17%
2017 1.25% 1.36%
2016 1.23% 1.26%
2015 1.18% 1.06%
2014 1.15% 1%
2013 1.09% 0.85%
2012 1.01% 0.74%
2011 0.89% 0.76%
2010 0.78% 0.86%
2009 0.73% 0.86%
2008 0.68% 0.78%
2007 0.42% 0.74%
2006 -0.41% 0.56%
2005 -0.92% 0.4%
2004 -0.7% 0.39%
2003 -0.48% 0.37%
2002 -0.31% 0.33%
2001 -0.15% 0.27%
2000 0.03% 0.16%
1999 0.26% 0.08%
1998 0.5% 0.06%
1997 0.8% 0.06%
1996 1.08% 0.16%
1995 1.23% 0.53%
1994 1.36% 0.71%
1993 1.52% 0.58%
1992 1.68% 0.59%
1991 1.81% 0.68%
1990 1.93% 0.78%
1989 2.05% 0.67%
1988 2.14% 0.46%
1987 2.24% 0.33%
1986 2.57% 0.23%
1985 2.87% 0.17%
1984 2.9% 0.09%
1983 2.93% 0.05%
1982 2.95% 0.06%
1981 2.95% 0.12%
1980 2.95% 0.2%
1979 2.93% 0.22%
1978 2.89% 0.29%
1977 2.93% 0.36%
1976 3.26% 0.36%
1975 3.52% 0.4%
1974 3.51% 0.29%
1973 3.53% 0.17%
1972 3.58% 0.3%
1971 3.63% 0.69%
1970 3.67% 0.94%
1969 3.7% 0.71%
1968 3.73% 0.56%
1967 3.64% 0.77%
1966 3.25% 0.96%
1965 2.97% 0.95%
1964 2.99% 0.75%
1963 3.01% 0.57%
1962 3.03% 0.55%
1961 3.03% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Sweden
Current population
2402837
10665077
Population rank 143/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.13%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
19.6 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
5.35 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +74
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 148/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +47,079
Net migration rank 117/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 47,079
2024 31,050 -5,107 7,399 50,115
2023 31,115 -5,168 5,269 55,209
2022 30,803 -6,023 10,487 58,955
2021 27,806 -3,449 22,914 51,947
2020 30,721 -3,449 14,495 37,302
2019 32,279 -6,896 25,697 72,619
2018 33,112 -6,892 23,403 87,517
2017 33,601 -6,850 24,138 102,671
2016 33,390 -6,766 25,800 119,234
2015 32,087 -7,087 23,518 80,534
2014 30,922 -6,877 26,179 77,654
2013 29,789 -6,659 23,041 66,760
2012 27,592 -6,425 20,943 52,879
2011 25,647 -6,118 21,733 46,049
2010 21,877 -5,886 25,320 51,175
2009 20,335 -5,599 21,387 63,638
2008 19,349 -5,392 18,439 56,452
2007 17,763 -5,179 15,552 54,907
2006 15,234 -11,416 15,436 51,675
2005 15,831 -35,679 9,030 27,030
2004 17,271 -33,530 9,893 25,842
2003 20,133 -31,723 6,271 29,161
2002 22,274 -29,924 893 31,364
2001 23,190 -27,874 -1,779 28,856
2000 24,786 -26,220 -2,662 24,900
1999 27,393 -24,610 -6,201 13,940
1998 30,889 -23,299 -3,541 11,325
1997 34,637 -22,396 -3,539 6,047
1996 36,228 -17,042 1,768 5,773
1995 37,370 -14,588 9,710 11,621
1994 38,629 -13,953 20,196 51,545
1993 40,505 -13,347 20,924 32,725
1992 42,579 -12,707 28,605 20,507
1991 44,026 -12,114 29,299 25,314
1990 45,060 -11,598 29,100 35,668
1989 46,264 -11,207 24,629 44,565
1988 47,158 -11,028 15,186 30,064
1987 47,718 -10,946 11,757 21,335
1986 45,232 -7,501 9,206 15,211
1985 44,575 1,222 4,175 11,464
1984 43,785 1,199 3,335 8,668
1983 42,899 1,253 833 2,105
1982 41,941 1,281 1,665 2,524
1981 40,808 1,307 1,664 3,209
1980 39,617 1,361 5,818 10,040
1979 38,440 1,285 4,976 13,895
1978 37,084 1,047 4,138 13,807
1977 35,654 746 7,426 23,528
1976 34,117 2,986 8,222 20,324
1975 32,311 9,723 14,746 16,564
1974 30,444 9,972 23,664 9,217
1973 28,859 10,183 24,409 -9,551
1972 27,841 10,386 28,428 -13,519
1971 26,838 10,563 31,583 2,334
1970 25,935 10,605 30,563 47,242
1969 25,137 10,465 23,904 48,824
1968 24,490 10,108 30,858 8,545
1967 23,911 9,734 41,700 11,075
1966 23,326 7,248 45,286 24,920
1965 22,755 2,239 44,857 32,444
1964 22,116 2,198 45,968 23,581
1963 21,585 2,220 35,741 11,009
1962 21,132 2,172 30,246 9,627
1961 20,581 2,100 30,832 14,401
1960 19,981 1,989 27,693 1,080

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/sweden | 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 Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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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