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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 10,569,709 people in Sweden in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 10,680,056 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 4.46 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 91st.
  • 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 +0.88% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.6% growth).

Lesotho vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Sweden
2100 3,280,784 11,357,586
2099 3,286,697 11,361,443
2098 3,292,498 11,365,725
2097 3,298,102 11,366,889
2096 3,303,027 11,368,572
2095 3,307,947 11,371,525
2094 3,312,002 11,374,169
2093 3,315,757 11,376,054
2092 3,319,661 11,378,099
2091 3,322,573 11,379,549
2090 3,324,769 11,381,475
2089 3,326,847 11,384,408
2088 3,328,480 11,387,073
2087 3,329,964 11,390,874
2086 3,330,456 11,398,223
2085 3,331,259 11,403,279
2084 3,331,485 11,408,050
2083 3,331,492 11,411,588
2082 3,331,234 11,416,796
2081 3,330,412 11,418,438
2080 3,329,267 11,420,629
2079 3,327,166 11,420,158
2078 3,324,646 11,418,032
2077 3,321,422 11,415,948
2076 3,317,850 11,412,112
2075 3,314,237 11,407,978
2074 3,309,174 11,404,682
2073 3,303,860 11,401,754
2072 3,298,181 11,398,056
2071 3,291,492 11,393,134
2070 3,283,654 11,389,416
2069 3,275,244 11,385,560
2068 3,266,152 11,384,165
2067 3,256,626 11,383,331
2066 3,246,903 11,383,335
2065 3,237,153 11,382,611
2064 3,226,489 11,381,643
2063 3,215,103 11,381,489
2062 3,202,287 11,382,109
2061 3,188,933 11,379,849
2060 3,174,998 11,378,661
2059 3,160,204 11,376,317
2058 3,145,053 11,372,527
2057 3,129,261 11,367,109
2056 3,113,129 11,361,843
2055 3,095,904 11,354,884
2054 3,078,567 11,347,343
2053 3,060,152 11,336,678
2052 3,040,649 11,322,876
2051 3,020,109 11,306,983
2050 2,999,457 11,287,973
2049 2,978,037 11,268,461
2048 2,955,727 11,247,615
2047 2,932,688 11,225,655
2046 2,909,307 11,202,749
2045 2,885,537 11,178,920
2044 2,861,372 11,153,887
2043 2,836,777 11,128,417
2042 2,811,663 11,102,505
2041 2,786,147 11,078,898
2040 2,760,391 11,054,498
2039 2,734,400 11,031,322
2038 2,708,216 11,008,943
2037 2,681,863 10,987,323
2036 2,654,755 10,964,438
2035 2,627,701 10,941,953
2034 2,600,880 10,919,289
2033 2,574,065 10,895,104
2032 2,547,344 10,869,796
2031 2,520,831 10,844,434
2030 2,494,646 10,815,888
2029 2,468,268 10,784,274
2028 2,441,871 10,749,191
2027 2,415,830 10,710,226
2026 2,389,516 10,668,870
2025 2,363,516 10,621,495
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 756,971 people (a 7.63% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Sweden will increase by 5.69% to 11,287,973 people and rank change from 91st to 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 1.12% 0.49%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Sweden
Current population
2396633
10680056
Population rank 143/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.13%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
15.9 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
5.25 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
5.54 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +91
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +33,077
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 149/197
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 - -5,107 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/sweden | 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 Sweden 21.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 201,900 people) and 78.6% is from migration (a gain of 743,642 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 (1960–2024, 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/sweden | 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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