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

Updated on by Georank

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

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Syria
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

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 1.11% 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

Lesotho Syria
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

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Syria
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

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 (1960–2025, 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

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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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