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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 26,829,400 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 +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Lesotho vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Syria
2100 3,280,784 44,620,090
2099 3,286,697 44,690,260
2098 3,292,498 44,750,249
2097 3,298,102 44,813,148
2096 3,303,027 44,867,740
2095 3,307,947 44,895,489
2094 3,312,002 44,945,231
2093 3,315,757 44,974,311
2092 3,319,661 45,003,795
2091 3,322,573 45,016,478
2090 3,324,769 45,048,083
2089 3,326,847 45,047,102
2088 3,328,480 45,041,864
2087 3,329,964 45,049,516
2086 3,330,456 45,068,928
2085 3,331,259 45,034,847
2084 3,331,485 44,999,929
2083 3,331,492 44,971,600
2082 3,331,234 44,910,859
2081 3,330,412 44,843,908
2080 3,329,267 44,744,718
2079 3,327,166 44,687,371
2078 3,324,646 44,649,760
2077 3,321,422 44,604,175
2076 3,317,850 44,520,132
2075 3,314,237 44,426,423
2074 3,309,174 44,328,795
2073 3,303,860 44,221,016
2072 3,298,181 44,084,262
2071 3,291,492 43,939,848
2070 3,283,654 43,795,999
2069 3,275,244 43,648,130
2068 3,266,152 43,465,442
2067 3,256,626 43,271,173
2066 3,246,903 43,060,752
2065 3,237,153 42,810,442
2064 3,226,489 42,559,554
2063 3,215,103 42,311,907
2062 3,202,287 42,062,193
2061 3,188,933 41,808,082
2060 3,174,998 41,522,274
2059 3,160,204 41,208,825
2058 3,145,053 40,925,728
2057 3,129,261 40,643,453
2056 3,113,129 40,332,578
2055 3,095,904 40,026,632
2054 3,078,567 39,691,425
2053 3,060,152 39,348,020
2052 3,040,649 39,045,268
2051 3,020,109 38,733,827
2050 2,999,457 38,410,423
2049 2,978,037 38,089,455
2048 2,955,727 37,784,449
2047 2,932,688 37,492,636
2046 2,909,307 37,181,526
2045 2,885,537 36,843,579
2044 2,861,372 36,526,509
2043 2,836,777 36,188,225
2042 2,811,663 35,825,419
2041 2,786,147 35,447,414
2040 2,760,391 35,042,107
2039 2,734,400 34,626,945
2038 2,708,216 34,183,740
2037 2,681,863 33,703,682
2036 2,654,755 33,223,843
2035 2,627,701 32,696,648
2034 2,600,880 32,148,814
2033 2,574,065 31,562,427
2032 2,547,344 30,967,322
2031 2,520,831 30,329,874
2030 2,494,646 29,672,629
2029 2,468,268 28,949,535
2028 2,441,871 28,217,748
2027 2,415,830 27,428,807
2026 2,389,516 26,607,148
2025 2,363,516 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 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 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Syria
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 1.12% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Syria
Current population
2396633
26829400
Population rank 143/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.32%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 6/197
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

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 421,693
2024 - -5,107 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 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

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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