The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.
Population statistics:
- Syria's population is 11.2 times bigger than Lesotho's.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
- The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.32% for Syria.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).
Lesotho vs Syria: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,518 | 44,500,028 |
| 2099 | 3,286,430 | 44,570,009 |
| 2098 | 3,292,231 | 44,629,837 |
| 2097 | 3,297,835 | 44,692,566 |
| 2096 | 3,302,758 | 44,747,012 |
| 2095 | 3,307,678 | 44,774,686 |
| 2094 | 3,311,734 | 44,824,294 |
| 2093 | 3,315,488 | 44,853,295 |
| 2092 | 3,319,391 | 44,882,700 |
| 2091 | 3,322,303 | 44,895,349 |
| 2090 | 3,324,499 | 44,926,869 |
| 2089 | 3,326,577 | 44,925,891 |
| 2088 | 3,328,210 | 44,920,667 |
| 2087 | 3,329,694 | 44,928,298 |
| 2086 | 3,330,185 | 44,947,658 |
| 2085 | 3,330,989 | 44,913,669 |
| 2084 | 3,331,214 | 44,878,845 |
| 2083 | 3,331,221 | 44,850,592 |
| 2082 | 3,330,964 | 44,790,014 |
| 2081 | 3,330,141 | 44,723,244 |
| 2080 | 3,328,997 | 44,624,321 |
| 2079 | 3,326,895 | 44,567,127 |
| 2078 | 3,324,376 | 44,529,618 |
| 2077 | 3,321,152 | 44,484,155 |
| 2076 | 3,317,581 | 44,400,339 |
| 2075 | 3,313,968 | 44,306,882 |
| 2074 | 3,308,905 | 44,209,517 |
| 2073 | 3,303,592 | 44,102,028 |
| 2072 | 3,297,913 | 43,965,642 |
| 2071 | 3,291,224 | 43,821,617 |
| 2070 | 3,283,387 | 43,678,154 |
| 2069 | 3,274,978 | 43,530,683 |
| 2068 | 3,265,887 | 43,348,487 |
| 2067 | 3,256,362 | 43,154,741 |
| 2066 | 3,246,639 | 42,944,885 |
| 2065 | 3,236,890 | 42,695,249 |
| 2064 | 3,226,227 | 42,445,036 |
| 2063 | 3,214,843 | 42,198,056 |
| 2062 | 3,202,027 | 41,949,014 |
| 2061 | 3,188,674 | 41,695,586 |
| 2060 | 3,174,740 | 41,410,547 |
| 2059 | 3,159,947 | 41,097,942 |
| 2058 | 3,144,797 | 40,815,606 |
| 2057 | 3,129,007 | 40,534,091 |
| 2056 | 3,112,877 | 40,224,053 |
| 2055 | 3,095,653 | 39,918,930 |
| 2054 | 3,078,317 | 39,584,624 |
| 2053 | 3,059,904 | 39,242,144 |
| 2052 | 3,040,402 | 38,940,206 |
| 2051 | 3,019,864 | 38,629,604 |
| 2050 | 2,999,214 | 38,307,069 |
| 2049 | 2,977,795 | 37,986,965 |
| 2048 | 2,955,487 | 37,682,780 |
| 2047 | 2,932,450 | 37,391,752 |
| 2046 | 2,909,071 | 37,081,479 |
| 2045 | 2,885,303 | 36,744,441 |
| 2044 | 2,861,140 | 36,428,225 |
| 2043 | 2,836,547 | 36,090,851 |
| 2042 | 2,811,435 | 35,729,021 |
| 2041 | 2,785,921 | 35,352,033 |
| 2040 | 2,760,167 | 34,947,817 |
| 2039 | 2,734,178 | 34,533,772 |
| 2038 | 2,707,996 | 34,091,760 |
| 2037 | 2,681,646 | 33,612,993 |
| 2036 | 2,654,540 | 33,134,445 |
| 2035 | 2,627,488 | 32,608,669 |
| 2034 | 2,600,669 | 32,062,309 |
| 2033 | 2,573,856 | 31,477,500 |
| 2032 | 2,547,137 | 30,883,996 |
| 2031 | 2,520,626 | 30,248,264 |
| 2030 | 2,494,444 | 29,592,787 |
| 2029 | 2,468,067 | 28,871,638 |
| 2028 | 2,441,673 | 28,141,821 |
| 2027 | 2,415,634 | 27,355,002 |
| 2026 | 2,389,322 | 26,535,554 |
| 2025 | 2,363,325 | 25,620,427 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 24,672,760 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 23,594,623 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 22,462,173 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 21,628,839 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 21,049,429 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 20,353,534 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 19,577,845 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 19,224,668 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 19,193,834 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 19,424,618 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 20,273,659 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 21,666,917 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 22,759,763 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 22,878,098 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 22,482,421 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 21,976,969 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 21,636,564 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 20,884,125 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 19,637,022 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 18,814,091 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 18,336,875 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 17,889,296 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 17,468,332 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 17,051,338 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 16,637,888 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 16,228,061 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 15,820,413 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 15,417,542 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 15,018,104 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 14,616,801 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 14,208,583 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 13,795,686 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 13,385,571 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 12,980,821 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 12,579,208 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 12,179,060 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 11,782,264 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 11,388,923 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 11,002,844 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 10,625,672 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 10,258,398 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 9,904,809 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 9,572,511 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 9,260,189 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 8,957,663 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 8,661,909 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 8,372,759 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 8,090,501 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 7,817,320 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 7,554,364 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 7,302,160 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 7,060,321 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 6,826,024 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 6,598,094 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 6,380,609 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 6,175,166 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 5,978,742 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 5,790,198 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 5,609,047 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 5,435,267 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 5,269,087 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 5,110,467 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 4,959,340 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 4,815,466 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 4,673,500 |
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/syria | CC BY
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | -0.16% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | -0.13% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | -0.14% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | -0.12% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | -0.06% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | -0.11% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | -0.06% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | -0.07% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | -0.03% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | -0.07% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | 0.002% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | 0.01% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | -0.02% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | -0.04% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | 0.08% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | 0.08% |
| 2084 | -0% | 0.06% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | 0.14% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | 0.15% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | 0.22% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | 0.13% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | 0.19% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | 0.21% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | 0.22% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | 0.24% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | 0.31% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | 0.33% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | 0.33% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 0.34% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | 0.42% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | 0.45% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | 0.49% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | 0.58% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | 0.59% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | 0.59% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | 0.59% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | 0.61% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | 0.69% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 0.76% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | 0.69% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 0.69% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | 0.77% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | 0.76% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | 0.84% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | 0.87% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | 0.78% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | 0.8% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | 0.84% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | 0.84% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | 0.81% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | 0.78% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | 0.84% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | 0.92% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | 0.87% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | 0.93% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | 1.01% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | 1.07% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | 1.16% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | 1.2% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | 1.3% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | 1.42% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | 1.44% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | 1.61% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | 1.7% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | 1.86% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | 1.92% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | 2.1% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | 2.21% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | 2.5% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | 2.59% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | 2.88% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | 3.09% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | 3.57% |
| 2025 | 1.11% | 3.84% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | 4.57% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | 5.04% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | 3.85% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | 2.75% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | 3.42% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 3.96% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 1.84% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 0.16% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | -1.19% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | -4.19% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | -6.43% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | -0.52% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | 1.76% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 2.3% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 1.57% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 3.6% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | 6.35% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 4.37% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 2.6% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 2.5% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 2.41% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 2.45% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 2.48% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | 2.53% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | 2.58% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 2.61% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 2.66% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 2.75% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 2.87% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 2.99% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 3.06% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 3.12% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 3.19% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | 3.29% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 3.37% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | 3.45% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 3.51% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 3.55% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 3.58% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 3.57% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | 3.47% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 3.37% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 3.38% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | 3.41% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | 3.45% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | 3.49% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | 3.49% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | 3.48% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | 3.45% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 3.43% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 3.43% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 3.45% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 3.41% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | 3.33% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | 3.29% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | 3.26% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | 3.23% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 3.2% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 3.15% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 3.05% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 2.99% |
| 1961 | 3.03% | 3.04% |
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/syria | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.
Live population counters
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2402837
|
26956472
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 56/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.32% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
33.4 seconds
|
| One birth every |
9.46 minutes
|
55.2 seconds
|
| One death every |
21.5 minutes
|
4.32 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | +2,596 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,902 | +947,667 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.11% | +3.84% |
| Population growth rate rank | 94/197 | 5/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
1.25 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | +421,693 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 3/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 896,042 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 64/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 3.6% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 110/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | 421,693 |
| 2024 | 31,050 | -5,107 | 449,784 | 546,494 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 402,713 | 757,309 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | 369,750 | 735,142 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | 350,560 | 211,220 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 327,992 | 269,050 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 293,762 | 500,985 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 242,530 | 514,102 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 237,214 | -287,501 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 236,007 | -124,063 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 253,977 | -827,496 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 333,116 | -1,457,679 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 419,341 | -2,081,303 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 475,520 | -999,267 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 543,950 | -256,888 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 558,666 | -54,359 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 559,314 | -52,703 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 576,593 | -402,393 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 529,162 | 801,514 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 480,616 | 682,911 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 468,960 | 13,382 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 461,209 | 10,881 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 457,000 | -33,920 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 453,967 | -35,096 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 451,503 | -36,383 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 446,211 | -34,425 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 439,261 | -31,394 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 433,447 | -26,025 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 429,887 | -31,571 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 430,765 | -30,197 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 430,172 | -28,122 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 426,996 | -12,630 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 420,244 | -8,828 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 412,878 | -4,063 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 410,830 | -10,154 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 409,177 | -6,620 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 406,111 | -8,379 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 404,285 | -8,426 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 399,159 | -8,335 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 390,821 | -9,485 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 379,231 | -6,221 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 366,768 | -5,245 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 355,375 | -9,729 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 319,664 | -721 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 330,237 | -24,536 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 332,464 | -33,114 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 324,943 | -32,793 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 316,724 | -30,567 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 306,630 | -28,275 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 294,267 | -26,268 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 282,299 | -24,389 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 270,735 | -24,242 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 254,687 | -17,502 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 249,027 | -17,610 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 239,610 | -15,167 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 230,117 | -19,594 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 219,114 | -18,749 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 209,454 | -16,968 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 199,223 | -14,618 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 191,122 | -13,434 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 182,560 | -12,704 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 174,549 | -12,044 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 166,555 | -11,817 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 159,155 | -11,641 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 151,485 | -11,237 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 143,687 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Lesotho and Syria
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 73.4 years |
| Average age | 26 years | 28 years |
| Median age | 22.9 years | 24.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.8:51.2 | 50.1:49.9 |
| Fertility rate | 2.66 births per woman | 2.7 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 374 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/syria | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.