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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 10,590,927 people in Tajikistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 11,038,274 in Tajikistan.

Population statistics:

  • Tajikistan's population is 4.61 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Tajikistan is the 88th.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.13% for Tajikistan.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.33% in Tajikistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Tajikistan has grown from 7.06M to 11M (56.4% growth).

Lesotho vs Tajikistan: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Tajikistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Tajikistan
2100 3,280,784 20,390,053
2099 3,286,697 20,381,074
2098 3,292,498 20,367,161
2097 3,298,102 20,348,897
2096 3,303,027 20,324,869
2095 3,307,947 20,297,885
2094 3,312,002 20,265,966
2093 3,315,757 20,234,160
2092 3,319,661 20,192,937
2091 3,322,573 20,148,873
2090 3,324,769 20,103,798
2089 3,326,847 20,056,079
2088 3,328,480 20,005,521
2087 3,329,964 19,950,317
2086 3,330,456 19,895,606
2085 3,331,259 19,836,988
2084 3,331,485 19,773,272
2083 3,331,492 19,706,082
2082 3,331,234 19,639,516
2081 3,330,412 19,572,596
2080 3,329,267 19,499,390
2079 3,327,166 19,425,502
2078 3,324,646 19,347,261
2077 3,321,422 19,265,447
2076 3,317,850 19,175,355
2075 3,314,237 19,083,859
2074 3,309,174 18,988,290
2073 3,303,860 18,889,470
2072 3,298,181 18,785,103
2071 3,291,492 18,674,697
2070 3,283,654 18,559,138
2069 3,275,244 18,437,873
2068 3,266,152 18,315,011
2067 3,256,626 18,187,508
2066 3,246,903 18,054,404
2065 3,237,153 17,921,674
2064 3,226,489 17,783,801
2063 3,215,103 17,641,066
2062 3,202,287 17,498,306
2061 3,188,933 17,356,130
2060 3,174,998 17,206,922
2059 3,160,204 17,056,085
2058 3,145,053 16,903,532
2057 3,129,261 16,749,284
2056 3,113,129 16,595,691
2055 3,095,904 16,441,650
2054 3,078,567 16,285,520
2053 3,060,152 16,130,235
2052 3,040,649 15,967,770
2051 3,020,109 15,805,253
2050 2,999,457 15,638,613
2049 2,978,037 15,468,883
2048 2,955,727 15,292,499
2047 2,932,688 15,112,083
2046 2,909,307 14,928,123
2045 2,885,537 14,739,540
2044 2,861,372 14,544,544
2043 2,836,777 14,349,357
2042 2,811,663 14,147,892
2041 2,786,147 13,945,694
2040 2,760,391 13,741,587
2039 2,734,400 13,536,704
2038 2,708,216 13,331,490
2037 2,681,863 13,125,051
2036 2,654,755 12,917,110
2035 2,627,701 12,714,184
2034 2,600,880 12,515,962
2033 2,574,065 12,321,294
2032 2,547,344 12,128,060
2031 2,520,831 11,938,351
2030 2,494,646 11,749,706
2029 2,468,268 11,559,235
2028 2,441,871 11,369,414
2027 2,415,830 11,178,605
2026 2,389,516 10,986,242
2025 2,363,516 10,791,246
2024 2,337,423 10,590,927
2023 2,311,472 10,389,799
2022 2,286,110 10,182,222
2021 2,261,542 9,966,908
2020 2,235,727 9,749,310
2019 2,209,405 9,529,966
2018 2,183,603 9,307,333
2017 2,157,110 9,085,946
2016 2,130,422 8,865,631
2015 2,104,611 8,643,840
2014 2,080,089 8,425,552
2013 2,056,504 8,216,724
2012 2,034,354 8,014,084
2011 2,014,009 7,824,785
2010 1,996,251 7,652,141
2009 1,980,883 7,490,230
2008 1,966,541 7,338,403
2007 1,953,268 7,194,477
2006 1,945,063 7,057,566
2005 1,953,076 6,924,720
2004 1,971,129 6,790,547
2003 1,985,059 6,658,575
2002 1,994,679 6,531,669
2001 2,000,853 6,407,377
2000 2,003,913 6,284,735
1999 2,003,234 6,208,370
1998 1,998,049 6,176,397
1997 1,988,130 6,139,829
1996 1,972,418 6,066,523
1995 1,951,437 5,948,584
1994 1,927,707 5,825,368
1993 1,901,793 5,724,993
1992 1,873,274 5,649,400
1991 1,842,379 5,541,205
1990 1,809,696 5,398,768
1989 1,775,436 5,267,249
1988 1,739,841 5,114,989
1987 1,703,390 4,939,059
1986 1,666,138 4,772,139
1985 1,624,379 4,619,003
1984 1,578,986 4,480,026
1983 1,534,413 4,350,874
1982 1,490,732 4,227,171
1981 1,448,069 4,109,022
1980 1,406,521 3,995,256
1979 1,366,169 3,882,691
1978 1,327,240 3,768,508
1977 1,289,967 3,653,265
1976 1,253,214 3,540,076
1975 1,213,643 3,430,425
1974 1,172,420 3,324,499
1973 1,132,697 3,222,290
1972 1,094,063 3,123,691
1971 1,056,246 3,028,837
1970 1,019,273 2,936,779
1969 983,202 2,845,273
1968 948,105 2,753,848
1967 913,982 2,664,130
1966 881,870 2,577,184
1965 854,090 2,492,998
1964 829,437 2,411,260
1963 805,373 2,331,736
1962 781,814 2,255,026
1961 758,824 2,181,805
1960 736,500 2,112,131

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/tajikistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Tajikistan gained 1,808,065 people (a 25.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Tajikistan's population increased by 2,172,643 people (a 24.5% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Tajikistan was ranked 98th in 2006 and ranked 88th 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 Tajikistan will increase by 41.7% to 15,638,613 people and rank change from 88th to 82nd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 20.4M people in 2100 for Tajikistan.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Tajikistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Tajikistan
2100 -0.18% 0.04%
2099 -0.18% 0.07%
2098 -0.17% 0.09%
2097 -0.15% 0.12%
2096 -0.15% 0.13%
2095 -0.12% 0.16%
2094 -0.11% 0.16%
2093 -0.12% 0.2%
2092 -0.09% 0.22%
2091 -0.07% 0.22%
2090 -0.06% 0.24%
2089 -0.05% 0.25%
2088 -0.04% 0.28%
2087 -0.01% 0.27%
2086 -0.02% 0.3%
2085 -0.007% 0.32%
2084 -0% 0.34%
2083 0.008% 0.34%
2082 0.02% 0.34%
2081 0.03% 0.38%
2080 0.06% 0.38%
2079 0.08% 0.4%
2078 0.1% 0.42%
2077 0.11% 0.47%
2076 0.11% 0.48%
2075 0.15% 0.5%
2074 0.16% 0.52%
2073 0.17% 0.56%
2072 0.2% 0.59%
2071 0.24% 0.62%
2070 0.26% 0.66%
2069 0.28% 0.67%
2068 0.29% 0.7%
2067 0.3% 0.74%
2066 0.3% 0.74%
2065 0.33% 0.78%
2064 0.35% 0.81%
2063 0.4% 0.82%
2062 0.42% 0.82%
2061 0.44% 0.87%
2060 0.47% 0.88%
2059 0.48% 0.9%
2058 0.5% 0.92%
2057 0.52% 0.93%
2056 0.56% 0.94%
2055 0.56% 0.96%
2054 0.6% 0.96%
2053 0.64% 1.02%
2052 0.68% 1.03%
2051 0.69% 1.07%
2050 0.72% 1.1%
2049 0.75% 1.15%
2048 0.79% 1.19%
2047 0.8% 1.23%
2046 0.82% 1.28%
2045 0.84% 1.34%
2044 0.87% 1.36%
2043 0.89% 1.42%
2042 0.92% 1.45%
2041 0.93% 1.49%
2040 0.95% 1.51%
2039 0.97% 1.54%
2038 0.98% 1.57%
2037 1.02% 1.61%
2036 1.03% 1.6%
2035 1.03% 1.58%
2034 1.04% 1.58%
2033 1.05% 1.59%
2032 1.05% 1.59%
2031 1.05% 1.61%
2030 1.07% 1.65%
2029 1.08% 1.67%
2028 1.08% 1.71%
2027 1.1% 1.75%
2026 1.1% 1.81%
2025 1.12% 1.89%
2024 1.12% 1.94%
2023 1.11% 2.04%
2022 1.09% 2.16%
2021 1.15% 2.23%
2020 1.19% 2.3%
2019 1.18% 2.39%
2018 1.23% 2.44%
2017 1.25% 2.49%
2016 1.23% 2.57%
2015 1.18% 2.59%
2014 1.15% 2.54%
2013 1.09% 2.53%
2012 1.01% 2.42%
2011 0.89% 2.26%
2010 0.78% 2.16%
2009 0.73% 2.07%
2008 0.68% 2%
2007 0.42% 1.94%
2006 -0.41% 1.92%
2005 -0.92% 1.98%
2004 -0.7% 1.98%
2003 -0.48% 1.94%
2002 -0.31% 1.94%
2001 -0.15% 1.95%
2000 0.03% 1.23%
1999 0.26% 0.52%
1998 0.5% 0.6%
1997 0.8% 1.21%
1996 1.08% 1.98%
1995 1.23% 2.12%
1994 1.36% 1.75%
1993 1.52% 1.34%
1992 1.68% 1.95%
1991 1.81% 2.64%
1990 1.93% 2.5%
1989 2.05% 2.98%
1988 2.14% 3.56%
1987 2.24% 3.5%
1986 2.57% 3.32%
1985 2.87% 3.1%
1984 2.9% 2.97%
1983 2.93% 2.93%
1982 2.95% 2.88%
1981 2.95% 2.85%
1980 2.95% 2.9%
1979 2.93% 3.03%
1978 2.89% 3.15%
1977 2.93% 3.2%
1976 3.26% 3.2%
1975 3.52% 3.19%
1974 3.51% 3.17%
1973 3.53% 3.16%
1972 3.58% 3.13%
1971 3.63% 3.13%
1970 3.67% 3.22%
1969 3.7% 3.32%
1968 3.73% 3.37%
1967 3.64% 3.37%
1966 3.25% 3.38%
1965 2.97% 3.39%
1964 2.99% 3.41%
1963 3.01% 3.4%
1962 3.03% 3.36%
1961 3.03% 3.3%

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/tajikistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Tajikistan's population grew by 1.94%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Tajikistan
Current population
2396633
11038274
Population rank 143/197 88/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.13%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
2.61 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
1.94 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +551
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +201,128
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.94%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 55/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
24.4 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -21,606
Net migration rank 117/196 152/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 276,777
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 101/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 124/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Tajikistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Tajikistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -21,606
2024 - -5,107 - -21,236
2023 31,115 -5,168 223,828 -19,999
2022 30,803 -6,023 228,336 -17,001
2021 27,806 -3,449 222,850 -3,564
2020 30,721 -3,449 219,467 -3,564
2019 32,279 -6,896 231,817 -9,041
2018 33,112 -6,892 228,597 -6,111
2017 33,601 -6,850 224,396 -4,093
2016 33,390 -6,766 228,547 -8,210
2015 32,087 -7,087 230,903 -7,660
2014 30,922 -6,877 227,304 -13,962
2013 29,789 -6,659 220,693 -16,362
2012 27,592 -6,425 213,078 -12,132
2011 25,647 -6,118 208,429 -30,783
2010 21,877 -5,886 201,389 -33,733
2009 20,335 -5,599 192,851 -36,677
2008 19,349 -5,392 182,337 -34,855
2007 17,763 -5,179 173,200 -32,831
2006 15,234 -11,416 164,046 -30,591
2005 15,831 -35,679 160,189 -27,954
2004 17,271 -33,530 161,201 -25,082
2003 20,133 -31,723 150,391 -22,562
2002 22,274 -29,924 146,492 -20,526
2001 23,190 -27,874 142,276 -19,657
2000 24,786 -26,220 136,549 -13,871
1999 27,393 -24,610 147,622 -117,571
1998 30,889 -23,299 153,508 -119,621
1997 34,637 -22,396 149,825 -110,572
1996 36,228 -17,042 138,287 -30,922
1995 37,370 -14,588 168,934 -40,418
1994 38,629 -13,953 167,590 -49,668
1993 40,505 -13,347 157,975 -75,147
1992 42,579 -12,707 163,652 -95,280
1991 44,026 -12,114 177,585 -29,553
1990 45,060 -11,598 178,429 -41,596
1989 46,264 -11,207 179,212 -53,020
1988 47,158 -11,028 172,805 5,523
1987 47,718 -10,946 163,611 9,923
1986 45,232 -7,501 155,987 4,321
1985 44,575 1,222 145,720 247
1984 43,785 1,199 139,145 -7,152
1983 42,899 1,253 133,280 -6,972
1982 41,941 1,281 127,838 -6,730
1981 40,808 1,307 121,418 -6,221
1980 39,617 1,361 117,888 -5,557
1979 38,440 1,285 114,496 -1,703
1978 37,084 1,047 110,564 5,006
1977 35,654 746 106,920 7,999
1976 34,117 2,986 103,777 7,679
1975 32,311 9,723 100,604 7,237
1974 30,444 9,972 97,481 6,531
1973 28,859 10,183 94,523 5,876
1972 27,841 10,386 91,677 5,123
1971 26,838 10,563 88,618 4,293
1970 25,935 10,605 85,645 5,559
1969 25,137 10,465 82,931 8,886
1968 24,490 10,108 80,698 10,323
1967 23,911 9,734 78,733 9,670
1966 23,326 7,248 76,702 8,796
1965 22,755 2,239 75,139 7,744
1964 22,116 2,198 74,030 6,568
1963 21,585 2,220 73,065 5,379
1962 21,132 2,172 70,700 4,270
1961 20,581 2,100 68,182 3,291
1960 19,981 1,989 65,415 2,457

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/tajikistan | 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 Tajikistan 96% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,266,045 people) and 3.95% is from migration (a loss of 93,205 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 276,777 people or 2.6% in Tajikistan.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Tajikistan
City Population
Dushanbe 948K
Khujand 199K
Qurghonteppa 127K
Istaravshan 64.3K
Konibodom 54.4K
Tursunzoda 46.7K
Panjakent 33K
Buston 29.8K
Ghafurov 18.4K
Istiklol 14.2K

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/tajikistan | 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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