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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Switzerland's population is 3.8 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Lesotho vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Switzerland
2100 3,280,784 9,234,296
2099 3,286,697 9,226,472
2098 3,292,498 9,220,109
2097 3,298,102 9,212,728
2096 3,303,027 9,208,997
2095 3,307,947 9,203,477
2094 3,312,002 9,199,095
2093 3,315,757 9,196,672
2092 3,319,661 9,194,082
2091 3,322,573 9,191,145
2090 3,324,769 9,189,122
2089 3,326,847 9,188,754
2088 3,328,480 9,190,102
2087 3,329,964 9,189,763
2086 3,330,456 9,191,494
2085 3,331,259 9,195,728
2084 3,331,485 9,199,983
2083 3,331,492 9,204,908
2082 3,331,234 9,210,695
2081 3,330,412 9,217,065
2080 3,329,267 9,223,475
2079 3,327,166 9,230,920
2078 3,324,646 9,237,649
2077 3,321,422 9,245,300
2076 3,317,850 9,250,248
2075 3,314,237 9,255,753
2074 3,309,174 9,266,455
2073 3,303,860 9,275,439
2072 3,298,181 9,283,185
2071 3,291,492 9,292,913
2070 3,283,654 9,303,843
2069 3,275,244 9,311,935
2068 3,266,152 9,320,335
2067 3,256,626 9,327,741
2066 3,246,903 9,339,455
2065 3,237,153 9,351,481
2064 3,226,489 9,362,413
2063 3,215,103 9,372,441
2062 3,202,287 9,383,258
2061 3,188,933 9,395,036
2060 3,174,998 9,403,920
2059 3,160,204 9,414,241
2058 3,145,053 9,422,560
2057 3,129,261 9,428,212
2056 3,113,129 9,435,441
2055 3,095,904 9,443,890
2054 3,078,567 9,451,268
2053 3,060,152 9,456,389
2052 3,040,649 9,456,418
2051 3,020,109 9,456,395
2050 2,999,457 9,454,544
2049 2,978,037 9,451,083
2048 2,955,727 9,444,091
2047 2,932,688 9,437,061
2046 2,909,307 9,430,954
2045 2,885,537 9,425,155
2044 2,861,372 9,418,152
2043 2,836,777 9,410,763
2042 2,811,663 9,400,808
2041 2,786,147 9,393,857
2040 2,760,391 9,382,662
2039 2,734,400 9,373,984
2038 2,708,216 9,365,030
2037 2,681,863 9,354,254
2036 2,654,755 9,342,450
2035 2,627,701 9,328,907
2034 2,600,880 9,312,054
2033 2,574,065 9,294,881
2032 2,547,344 9,276,221
2031 2,520,831 9,253,034
2030 2,494,646 9,228,188
2029 2,468,268 9,201,743
2028 2,441,871 9,170,620
2027 2,415,830 9,135,740
2026 2,389,516 9,097,532
2025 2,363,516 9,053,983
2024 2,337,423 9,005,582
2023 2,311,472 8,888,822
2022 2,286,110 8,777,088
2021 2,261,542 8,704,546
2020 2,235,727 8,638,167
2019 2,209,405 8,575,280
2018 2,183,603 8,514,329
2017 2,157,110 8,451,840
2016 2,130,422 8,373,338
2015 2,104,611 8,282,396
2014 2,080,089 8,188,649
2013 2,056,504 8,089,346
2012 2,034,354 7,996,861
2011 2,014,009 7,912,398
2010 1,996,251 7,824,909
2009 1,980,883 7,743,831
2008 1,966,541 7,647,675
2007 1,953,268 7,551,117
2006 1,945,063 7,483,934
2005 1,953,076 7,437,115
2004 1,971,129 7,389,625
2003 1,985,059 7,339,001
2002 1,994,679 7,284,753
2001 2,000,853 7,229,854
2000 2,003,913 7,184,250
1999 2,003,234 7,143,991
1998 1,998,049 7,110,001
1997 1,988,130 7,088,906
1996 1,972,418 7,071,850
1995 1,951,437 7,040,687
1994 1,927,707 6,993,795
1993 1,901,793 6,938,265
1992 1,873,274 6,875,364
1991 1,842,379 6,799,978
1990 1,809,696 6,715,519
1989 1,775,436 6,646,912
1988 1,739,841 6,593,386
1987 1,703,390 6,545,106
1986 1,666,138 6,504,124
1985 1,624,379 6,470,365
1984 1,578,986 6,441,865
1983 1,534,413 6,418,773
1982 1,490,732 6,391,309
1981 1,448,069 6,354,074
1980 1,406,521 6,319,408
1979 1,366,169 6,294,365
1978 1,327,240 6,281,738
1977 1,289,967 6,281,174
1976 1,253,214 6,302,504
1975 1,213,643 6,338,632
1974 1,172,420 6,341,405
1973 1,132,697 6,307,347
1972 1,094,063 6,260,956
1971 1,056,246 6,213,399
1970 1,019,273 6,180,877
1969 983,202 6,136,387
1968 948,105 6,067,714
1967 913,982 5,991,785
1966 881,870 5,918,002
1965 854,090 5,856,472
1964 829,437 5,789,228
1963 805,373 5,694,247
1962 781,814 5,573,815
1961 758,824 5,434,294
1960 736,500 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Switzerland
2100 -0.18% 0.08%
2099 -0.18% 0.07%
2098 -0.17% 0.08%
2097 -0.15% 0.04%
2096 -0.15% 0.06%
2095 -0.12% 0.05%
2094 -0.11% 0.03%
2093 -0.12% 0.03%
2092 -0.09% 0.03%
2091 -0.07% 0.02%
2090 -0.06% 0.004%
2089 -0.05% -0.01%
2088 -0.04% 0.004%
2087 -0.01% -0.02%
2086 -0.02% -0.05%
2085 -0.007% -0.05%
2084 -0% -0.05%
2083 0.008% -0.06%
2082 0.02% -0.07%
2081 0.03% -0.07%
2080 0.06% -0.08%
2079 0.08% -0.07%
2078 0.1% -0.08%
2077 0.11% -0.05%
2076 0.11% -0.06%
2075 0.15% -0.12%
2074 0.16% -0.1%
2073 0.17% -0.08%
2072 0.2% -0.1%
2071 0.24% -0.12%
2070 0.26% -0.09%
2069 0.28% -0.09%
2068 0.29% -0.08%
2067 0.3% -0.13%
2066 0.3% -0.13%
2065 0.33% -0.12%
2064 0.35% -0.11%
2063 0.4% -0.12%
2062 0.42% -0.13%
2061 0.44% -0.09%
2060 0.47% -0.11%
2059 0.48% -0.09%
2058 0.5% -0.06%
2057 0.52% -0.08%
2056 0.56% -0.09%
2055 0.56% -0.08%
2054 0.6% -0.05%
2053 0.64% -0%
2052 0.68% 0%
2051 0.69% 0.02%
2050 0.72% 0.04%
2049 0.75% 0.07%
2048 0.79% 0.07%
2047 0.8% 0.06%
2046 0.82% 0.06%
2045 0.84% 0.07%
2044 0.87% 0.08%
2043 0.89% 0.11%
2042 0.92% 0.07%
2041 0.93% 0.12%
2040 0.95% 0.09%
2039 0.97% 0.1%
2038 0.98% 0.12%
2037 1.02% 0.13%
2036 1.03% 0.15%
2035 1.03% 0.18%
2034 1.04% 0.18%
2033 1.05% 0.2%
2032 1.05% 0.25%
2031 1.05% 0.27%
2030 1.07% 0.29%
2029 1.08% 0.34%
2028 1.08% 0.38%
2027 1.1% 0.42%
2026 1.1% 0.48%
2025 1.12% 0.54%
2024 1.12% 1.31%
2023 1.11% 1.27%
2022 1.09% 0.83%
2021 1.15% 0.77%
2020 1.19% 0.73%
2019 1.18% 0.72%
2018 1.23% 0.74%
2017 1.25% 0.94%
2016 1.23% 1.1%
2015 1.18% 1.14%
2014 1.15% 1.23%
2013 1.09% 1.16%
2012 1.01% 1.07%
2011 0.89% 1.12%
2010 0.78% 1.05%
2009 0.73% 1.26%
2008 0.68% 1.28%
2007 0.42% 0.9%
2006 -0.41% 0.63%
2005 -0.92% 0.64%
2004 -0.7% 0.69%
2003 -0.48% 0.74%
2002 -0.31% 0.76%
2001 -0.15% 0.63%
2000 0.03% 0.56%
1999 0.26% 0.48%
1998 0.5% 0.3%
1997 0.8% 0.24%
1996 1.08% 0.44%
1995 1.23% 0.67%
1994 1.36% 0.8%
1993 1.52% 0.91%
1992 1.68% 1.11%
1991 1.81% 1.26%
1990 1.93% 1.03%
1989 2.05% 0.81%
1988 2.14% 0.74%
1987 2.24% 0.63%
1986 2.57% 0.52%
1985 2.87% 0.44%
1984 2.9% 0.36%
1983 2.93% 0.43%
1982 2.95% 0.59%
1981 2.95% 0.55%
1980 2.95% 0.4%
1979 2.93% 0.2%
1978 2.89% 0.009%
1977 2.93% -0.34%
1976 3.26% -0.57%
1975 3.52% -0.04%
1974 3.51% 0.54%
1973 3.53% 0.74%
1972 3.58% 0.77%
1971 3.63% 0.53%
1970 3.67% 0.73%
1969 3.7% 1.13%
1968 3.73% 1.27%
1967 3.64% 1.25%
1966 3.25% 1.05%
1965 2.97% 1.16%
1964 2.99% 1.67%
1963 3.01% 2.16%
1962 3.03% 2.57%
1961 3.03% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Switzerland
Current population
2396633
9107866
Population rank 143/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.11%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
4.5 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
6.57 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +320
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 81/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +37,253
Net migration rank 117/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 37,253
2024 - -5,107 - 40,099
2023 31,115 -5,168 8,000 45,098
2022 30,803 -6,023 7,899 96,424
2021 27,806 -3,449 18,279 50,665
2020 30,721 -3,449 9,502 55,523
2019 32,279 -6,896 18,008 44,517
2018 33,112 -6,892 20,434 41,253
2017 33,601 -6,850 20,284 45,658
2016 33,390 -6,766 22,608 71,009
2015 32,087 -7,087 19,050 71,876
2014 30,922 -6,877 21,290 78,122
2013 29,789 -6,659 17,797 83,823
2012 27,592 -6,425 18,393 67,840
2011 25,647 -6,118 18,990 67,194
2010 21,877 -5,886 17,997 76,388
2009 20,335 -5,599 15,487 69,324
2008 19,349 -5,392 15,295 94,430
2007 17,763 -5,179 13,592 72,475
2006 15,234 -11,416 12,723 37,308
2005 15,831 -35,679 11,899 33,203
2004 17,271 -33,530 13,302 39,484
2003 20,133 -31,723 8,807 42,567
2002 22,274 -29,924 10,199 49,650
2001 23,190 -27,874 10,845 35,420
2000 24,786 -26,220 15,806 24,463
1999 27,393 -24,610 16,431 25,599
1998 30,889 -23,299 16,353 11,325
1997 34,637 -22,396 17,722 -1,939
1996 36,228 -17,042 19,801 -131
1995 37,370 -14,588 19,010 25,343
1994 38,629 -13,953 20,982 30,274
1993 40,505 -13,347 21,509 40,267
1992 42,579 -12,707 24,064 42,014
1991 44,026 -12,114 23,800 69,738
1990 45,060 -11,598 20,146 58,428
1989 46,264 -11,207 19,941 34,432
1988 47,158 -11,028 21,099 34,602
1987 47,718 -10,946 15,708 27,081
1986 45,232 -7,501 16,261 23,242
1985 44,575 1,222 14,882 14,402
1984 43,785 1,199 16,105 12,532
1983 42,899 1,253 12,837 5,663
1982 41,941 1,281 15,339 21,929
1981 40,808 1,307 13,979 24,229
1980 39,617 1,361 14,535 17,841
1979 38,440 1,285 14,477 4,262
1978 37,084 1,047 13,820 -6,552
1977 35,654 746 16,959 -22,516
1976 34,117 2,986 17,017 -54,255
1975 32,311 9,723 22,820 -58,187
1974 30,444 9,972 27,902 2,008
1973 28,859 10,183 30,906 8,158
1972 27,841 10,386 35,061 19,991
1971 26,838 10,563 38,523 2,636
1970 25,935 10,605 42,648 -18,326
1969 25,137 10,465 44,182 20,754
1968 24,490 10,108 47,328 25,828
1967 23,911 9,734 52,128 27,697
1966 23,326 7,248 53,854 14,979
1965 22,755 2,239 56,222 -1,351
1964 22,116 2,198 59,050 21,455
1963 21,585 2,220 52,956 58,415
1962 21,132 2,172 49,050 82,798
1961 20,581 2,100 48,365 101,278
1960 19,981 1,989 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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