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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 68,560,157 people in Tanzania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 73,145,892 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 30.5 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Tanzania is the 20th.
  • The countries together account for 0.91% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.88% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +3.13% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.1M (81.5% growth).

Lesotho vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Tanzania
2100 3,280,784 265,496,854
2099 3,286,697 263,162,785
2098 3,292,498 260,809,535
2097 3,298,102 258,412,520
2096 3,303,027 255,996,677
2095 3,307,947 253,567,416
2094 3,312,002 251,119,386
2093 3,315,757 248,628,881
2092 3,319,661 246,107,108
2091 3,322,573 243,557,182
2090 3,324,769 241,002,065
2089 3,326,847 238,416,591
2088 3,328,480 235,797,530
2087 3,329,964 233,167,455
2086 3,330,456 230,496,041
2085 3,331,259 227,800,292
2084 3,331,485 225,111,530
2083 3,331,492 222,421,279
2082 3,331,234 219,718,263
2081 3,330,412 216,995,478
2080 3,329,267 214,255,926
2079 3,327,166 211,486,253
2078 3,324,646 208,708,063
2077 3,321,422 205,918,120
2076 3,317,850 203,106,125
2075 3,314,237 200,297,474
2074 3,309,174 197,468,017
2073 3,303,860 194,642,633
2072 3,298,181 191,824,103
2071 3,291,492 188,992,017
2070 3,283,654 186,152,377
2069 3,275,244 183,311,218
2068 3,266,152 180,475,586
2067 3,256,626 177,639,469
2066 3,246,903 174,803,090
2065 3,237,153 171,913,445
2064 3,226,489 169,064,549
2063 3,215,103 166,217,933
2062 3,202,287 163,370,044
2061 3,188,933 160,537,159
2060 3,174,998 157,722,273
2059 3,160,204 154,920,005
2058 3,145,053 152,120,539
2057 3,129,261 149,325,489
2056 3,113,129 146,519,472
2055 3,095,904 143,736,540
2054 3,078,567 140,983,905
2053 3,060,152 138,262,668
2052 3,040,649 135,553,723
2051 3,020,109 132,851,383
2050 2,999,457 130,157,751
2049 2,978,037 127,495,278
2048 2,955,727 124,821,109
2047 2,932,688 122,158,290
2046 2,909,307 119,522,516
2045 2,885,537 116,914,785
2044 2,861,372 114,329,740
2043 2,836,777 111,776,234
2042 2,811,663 109,241,835
2041 2,786,147 106,748,632
2040 2,760,391 104,272,418
2039 2,734,400 101,814,304
2038 2,708,216 99,380,232
2037 2,681,863 96,983,729
2036 2,654,755 94,601,865
2035 2,627,701 92,257,269
2034 2,600,880 89,929,444
2033 2,574,065 87,654,982
2032 2,547,344 85,409,993
2031 2,520,831 83,180,507
2030 2,494,646 80,997,163
2029 2,468,268 78,838,461
2028 2,441,871 76,730,649
2027 2,415,830 74,647,063
2026 2,389,516 72,589,279
2025 2,363,516 70,552,589
2024 2,337,423 68,560,157
2023 2,311,472 66,617,606
2022 2,286,110 64,711,821
2021 2,261,542 62,830,412
2020 2,235,727 60,972,798
2019 2,209,405 59,174,891
2018 2,183,603 57,437,145
2017 2,157,110 55,652,890
2016 2,130,422 53,824,013
2015 2,104,611 52,020,962
2014 2,080,089 50,351,512
2013 2,056,504 48,824,128
2012 2,034,354 47,374,260
2011 2,014,009 46,029,367
2010 1,996,251 44,758,488
2009 1,980,883 43,633,982
2008 1,966,541 42,570,728
2007 1,953,268 41,435,512
2006 1,945,063 40,294,902
2005 1,953,076 39,182,076
2004 1,971,129 38,109,668
2003 1,985,059 37,089,555
2002 1,994,679 36,121,304
2001 2,000,853 35,198,299
2000 2,003,913 34,260,139
1999 2,003,234 33,300,330
1998 1,998,049 32,420,458
1997 1,988,130 31,578,089
1996 1,972,418 30,945,762
1995 1,951,437 30,383,497
1994 1,927,707 29,442,356
1993 1,901,793 28,332,692
1992 1,873,274 27,457,588
1991 1,842,379 26,780,436
1990 1,809,696 26,110,207
1989 1,775,436 25,438,759
1988 1,739,841 24,769,686
1987 1,703,390 24,030,378
1986 1,666,138 23,258,959
1985 1,624,379 22,501,693
1984 1,578,986 21,779,066
1983 1,534,413 21,079,874
1982 1,490,732 20,398,571
1981 1,448,069 19,784,703
1980 1,406,521 19,189,769
1979 1,366,169 18,592,038
1978 1,327,240 17,976,566
1977 1,289,967 17,352,929
1976 1,253,214 16,736,211
1975 1,213,643 16,138,361
1974 1,172,420 15,561,630
1973 1,132,697 15,010,101
1972 1,094,063 14,479,308
1971 1,056,246 13,971,451
1970 1,019,273 13,492,677
1969 983,202 13,036,700
1968 948,105 12,602,076
1967 913,982 12,200,109
1966 881,870 11,827,459
1965 854,090 11,470,728
1964 829,437 11,127,826
1963 805,373 10,799,528
1962 781,814 10,487,756
1961 758,824 10,187,886
1960 736,500 9,901,419

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/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Tanzania gained 13,529,111 people (a 33.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,321,879 people (a 35.9% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Tanzania was ranked 30th in 2006 and ranked 20th 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 Tanzania will increase by 77.9% to 130,157,751 people and rank change from 20th to 15th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 265M people in 2100 for Tanzania.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Tanzania
2100 -0.18% 0.89%
2099 -0.18% 0.9%
2098 -0.17% 0.93%
2097 -0.15% 0.94%
2096 -0.15% 0.96%
2095 -0.12% 0.97%
2094 -0.11% 1%
2093 -0.12% 1.02%
2092 -0.09% 1.05%
2091 -0.07% 1.06%
2090 -0.06% 1.08%
2089 -0.05% 1.11%
2088 -0.04% 1.13%
2087 -0.01% 1.16%
2086 -0.02% 1.18%
2085 -0.007% 1.19%
2084 -0% 1.21%
2083 0.008% 1.23%
2082 0.02% 1.25%
2081 0.03% 1.28%
2080 0.06% 1.31%
2079 0.08% 1.33%
2078 0.1% 1.35%
2077 0.11% 1.38%
2076 0.11% 1.4%
2075 0.15% 1.43%
2074 0.16% 1.45%
2073 0.17% 1.47%
2072 0.2% 1.5%
2071 0.24% 1.53%
2070 0.26% 1.55%
2069 0.28% 1.57%
2068 0.29% 1.6%
2067 0.3% 1.62%
2066 0.3% 1.68%
2065 0.33% 1.69%
2064 0.35% 1.71%
2063 0.4% 1.74%
2062 0.42% 1.76%
2061 0.44% 1.78%
2060 0.47% 1.81%
2059 0.48% 1.84%
2058 0.5% 1.87%
2057 0.52% 1.92%
2056 0.56% 1.94%
2055 0.56% 1.95%
2054 0.6% 1.97%
2053 0.64% 2%
2052 0.68% 2.03%
2051 0.69% 2.07%
2050 0.72% 2.09%
2049 0.75% 2.14%
2048 0.79% 2.18%
2047 0.8% 2.21%
2046 0.82% 2.23%
2045 0.84% 2.26%
2044 0.87% 2.28%
2043 0.89% 2.32%
2042 0.92% 2.34%
2041 0.93% 2.37%
2040 0.95% 2.41%
2039 0.97% 2.45%
2038 0.98% 2.47%
2037 1.02% 2.52%
2036 1.03% 2.54%
2035 1.03% 2.59%
2034 1.04% 2.59%
2033 1.05% 2.63%
2032 1.05% 2.68%
2031 1.05% 2.7%
2030 1.07% 2.74%
2029 1.08% 2.75%
2028 1.08% 2.79%
2027 1.1% 2.83%
2026 1.1% 2.89%
2025 1.12% 2.91%
2024 1.12% 2.92%
2023 1.11% 2.95%
2022 1.09% 2.99%
2021 1.15% 3.05%
2020 1.19% 3.04%
2019 1.18% 3.03%
2018 1.23% 3.21%
2017 1.25% 3.4%
2016 1.23% 3.47%
2015 1.18% 3.32%
2014 1.15% 3.13%
2013 1.09% 3.06%
2012 1.01% 2.92%
2011 0.89% 2.84%
2010 0.78% 2.58%
2009 0.73% 2.5%
2008 0.68% 2.74%
2007 0.42% 2.83%
2006 -0.41% 2.84%
2005 -0.92% 2.81%
2004 -0.7% 2.75%
2003 -0.48% 2.68%
2002 -0.31% 2.62%
2001 -0.15% 2.74%
2000 0.03% 2.88%
1999 0.26% 2.71%
1998 0.5% 2.67%
1997 0.8% 2.04%
1996 1.08% 1.85%
1995 1.23% 3.2%
1994 1.36% 3.92%
1993 1.52% 3.19%
1992 1.68% 2.53%
1991 1.81% 2.57%
1990 1.93% 2.64%
1989 2.05% 2.7%
1988 2.14% 3.08%
1987 2.24% 3.32%
1986 2.57% 3.37%
1985 2.87% 3.32%
1984 2.9% 3.32%
1983 2.93% 3.34%
1982 2.95% 3.1%
1981 2.95% 3.1%
1980 2.95% 3.21%
1979 2.93% 3.42%
1978 2.89% 3.59%
1977 2.93% 3.68%
1976 3.26% 3.7%
1975 3.52% 3.71%
1974 3.51% 3.67%
1973 3.53% 3.67%
1972 3.58% 3.63%
1971 3.63% 3.55%
1970 3.67% 3.5%
1969 3.7% 3.45%
1968 3.73% 3.29%
1967 3.64% 3.15%
1966 3.25% 3.11%
1965 2.97% 3.08%
1964 2.99% 3.04%
1963 3.01% 2.97%
1962 3.03% 2.94%
1961 3.03% 2.89%

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/tanzania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.92%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Tanzania
Current population
2396633
73145892
Population rank 143/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.88%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
16.2 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
13.4 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
1.36 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +5,322
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +1,942,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.92%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 18/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
41.4 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -12,730
Net migration rank 117/196 139/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 462,371
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 83/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 167/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Tanzania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Tanzania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -12,730
2024 - -5,107 - -29,865
2023 31,115 -5,168 1,960,623 -39,388
2022 30,803 -6,023 1,927,960 -37,557
2021 27,806 -3,449 1,880,137 -7,704
2020 30,721 -3,449 1,861,377 -18,587
2019 32,279 -6,896 1,816,669 -63,602
2018 33,112 -6,892 1,777,852 -55,444
2017 33,601 -6,850 1,726,909 119,142
2016 33,390 -6,766 1,659,502 152,194
2015 32,087 -7,087 1,592,882 201,495
2014 30,922 -6,877 1,565,630 -21,083
2013 29,789 -6,659 1,509,008 1,241
2012 27,592 -6,425 1,439,325 -49,875
2011 25,647 -6,118 1,384,886 -84,546
2010 21,877 -5,886 1,363,477 -122,020
2009 20,335 -5,599 1,332,015 -324,478
2008 19,349 -5,392 1,303,728 -184,816
2007 17,763 -5,179 1,278,285 -126,793
2006 15,234 -11,416 1,257,927 -128,231
2005 15,831 -35,679 1,224,165 -128,251
2004 17,271 -33,530 1,175,379 -126,490
2003 20,133 -31,723 1,118,435 -127,101
2002 22,274 -29,924 1,063,195 -118,047
2001 23,190 -27,874 1,026,242 -125,375
2000 24,786 -26,220 985,185 -9,701
1999 27,393 -24,610 948,659 -4,489
1998 30,889 -23,299 920,806 -105,184
1997 34,637 -22,396 882,544 -13,400
1996 36,228 -17,042 868,524 -473,007
1995 37,370 -14,588 838,980 -109,971
1994 38,629 -13,953 803,953 349,348
1993 40,505 -13,347 778,044 288,004
1992 42,579 -12,707 767,961 -83,825
1991 44,026 -12,114 762,011 -91,851
1990 45,060 -11,598 750,825 -80,529
1989 46,264 -11,207 743,854 -71,268
1988 47,158 -11,028 736,551 -71,012
1987 47,718 -10,946 718,580 94,498
1986 45,232 -7,501 705,677 24,101
1985 44,575 1,222 697,867 86,864
1984 43,785 1,199 687,435 -26,938
1983 42,899 1,253 679,720 58,161
1982 41,941 1,281 662,627 -37,883
1981 40,808 1,307 645,496 -42,485
1980 39,617 1,361 629,444 -42,588
1979 38,440 1,285 613,388 -4,792
1978 37,084 1,047 595,024 27,307
1977 35,654 746 574,938 49,997
1976 34,117 2,986 553,617 54,875
1975 32,311 9,723 533,906 53,290
1974 30,444 9,972 515,152 51,127
1973 28,859 10,183 488,429 48,363
1972 27,841 10,386 467,305 57,489
1971 26,838 10,563 449,014 41,900
1970 25,935 10,605 427,988 38,635
1969 25,137 10,465 408,322 37,006
1968 24,490 10,108 389,467 34,455
1967 23,911 9,734 374,763 5,265
1966 23,326 7,248 360,229 5,049
1965 22,755 2,239 343,456 4,742
1964 22,116 2,198 328,527 9,090
1963 21,585 2,220 314,644 4,333
1962 21,132 2,172 300,663 3,916
1961 20,581 2,100 286,839 8,338
1960 19,981 1,989 275,814 1,946

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 17,769,541 people) and 1.27% is from migration (a gain of 229,466 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 462,371 people or 0.7% in Tanzania.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K
Stone Town 18K

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/tanzania | 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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