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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 29.9 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 0.89% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

Lesotho vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Thailand
2100 3,280,784 45,712,111
2099 3,286,697 46,056,854
2098 3,292,498 46,406,925
2097 3,298,102 46,761,683
2096 3,303,027 47,122,446
2095 3,307,947 47,487,866
2094 3,312,002 47,857,414
2093 3,315,757 48,230,566
2092 3,319,661 48,609,149
2091 3,322,573 48,988,448
2090 3,324,769 49,372,024
2089 3,326,847 49,760,635
2088 3,328,480 50,146,313
2087 3,329,964 50,536,233
2086 3,330,456 50,929,394
2085 3,331,259 51,326,092
2084 3,331,485 51,728,619
2083 3,331,492 52,131,789
2082 3,331,234 52,537,598
2081 3,330,412 52,942,608
2080 3,329,267 53,352,029
2079 3,327,166 53,766,821
2078 3,324,646 54,181,891
2077 3,321,422 54,599,508
2076 3,317,850 55,019,721
2075 3,314,237 55,442,571
2074 3,309,174 55,872,412
2073 3,303,860 56,304,891
2072 3,298,181 56,739,842
2071 3,291,492 57,177,118
2070 3,283,654 57,621,370
2069 3,275,244 58,066,637
2068 3,266,152 58,516,959
2067 3,256,626 58,967,738
2066 3,246,903 59,418,676
2065 3,237,153 59,878,082
2064 3,226,489 60,336,709
2063 3,215,103 60,797,201
2062 3,202,287 61,262,000
2061 3,188,933 61,724,999
2060 3,174,998 62,192,387
2059 3,160,204 62,656,203
2058 3,145,053 63,118,413
2057 3,129,261 63,577,864
2056 3,113,129 64,032,675
2055 3,095,904 64,478,337
2054 3,078,567 64,917,436
2053 3,060,152 65,343,383
2052 3,040,649 65,763,356
2051 3,020,109 66,167,939
2050 2,999,457 66,558,274
2049 2,978,037 66,936,876
2048 2,955,727 67,296,897
2047 2,932,688 67,641,907
2046 2,909,307 67,972,603
2045 2,885,537 68,287,399
2044 2,861,372 68,585,177
2043 2,836,777 68,870,333
2042 2,811,663 69,139,548
2041 2,786,147 69,396,419
2040 2,760,391 69,632,464
2039 2,734,400 69,854,146
2038 2,708,216 70,062,543
2037 2,681,863 70,256,027
2036 2,654,755 70,435,348
2035 2,627,701 70,604,705
2034 2,600,880 70,756,791
2033 2,574,065 70,897,217
2032 2,547,344 71,025,384
2031 2,520,831 71,140,609
2030 2,494,646 71,247,320
2029 2,468,268 71,342,891
2028 2,441,871 71,428,869
2027 2,415,830 71,505,168
2026 2,389,516 71,571,743
2025 2,363,516 71,625,629
2024 2,337,423 71,668,011
2023 2,311,472 71,702,435
2022 2,286,110 71,735,329
2021 2,261,542 71,727,332
2020 2,235,727 71,641,484
2019 2,209,405 71,522,271
2018 2,183,603 71,376,079
2017 2,157,110 71,160,187
2016 2,130,422 70,859,841
2015 2,104,611 70,540,795
2014 2,080,089 70,216,367
2013 2,056,504 69,845,114
2012 2,034,354 69,436,098
2011 2,014,009 69,007,208
2010 1,996,251 68,579,447
2009 1,980,883 68,121,080
2008 1,966,541 67,619,830
2007 1,953,268 67,102,394
2006 1,945,063 66,567,687
2005 1,953,076 66,017,420
2004 1,971,129 65,452,047
2003 1,985,059 64,868,166
2002 1,994,679 64,266,437
2001 2,000,853 63,651,141
2000 2,003,913 63,007,815
1999 2,003,234 62,299,043
1998 1,998,049 61,522,630
1997 1,988,130 60,724,584
1996 1,972,418 59,920,064
1995 1,951,437 59,098,232
1994 1,927,707 58,260,854
1993 1,901,793 57,408,198
1992 1,873,274 56,528,834
1991 1,842,379 55,637,434
1990 1,809,696 54,738,329
1989 1,775,436 53,848,956
1988 1,739,841 52,969,595
1987 1,703,390 52,074,105
1986 1,666,138 51,177,834
1985 1,624,379 50,270,753
1984 1,578,986 49,351,708
1983 1,534,413 48,423,309
1982 1,490,732 47,494,577
1981 1,448,069 46,575,855
1980 1,406,521 45,650,022
1979 1,366,169 44,718,434
1978 1,327,240 43,788,976
1977 1,289,967 42,843,974
1976 1,253,214 41,896,504
1975 1,213,643 40,940,005
1974 1,172,420 39,952,891
1973 1,132,697 38,947,787
1972 1,094,063 37,933,929
1971 1,056,246 36,937,387
1970 1,019,273 35,954,408
1969 983,202 34,973,782
1968 948,105 34,002,560
1967 913,982 33,037,801
1966 881,870 32,086,071
1965 854,090 31,149,337
1964 829,437 30,232,141
1963 805,373 29,342,322
1962 781,814 28,481,040
1961 758,824 27,650,334
1960 736,500 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Thailand
2100 -0.18% -0.75%
2099 -0.18% -0.75%
2098 -0.17% -0.76%
2097 -0.15% -0.77%
2096 -0.15% -0.77%
2095 -0.12% -0.77%
2094 -0.11% -0.77%
2093 -0.12% -0.78%
2092 -0.09% -0.77%
2091 -0.07% -0.78%
2090 -0.06% -0.78%
2089 -0.05% -0.77%
2088 -0.04% -0.77%
2087 -0.01% -0.77%
2086 -0.02% -0.77%
2085 -0.007% -0.78%
2084 -0% -0.77%
2083 0.008% -0.77%
2082 0.02% -0.76%
2081 0.03% -0.77%
2080 0.06% -0.77%
2079 0.08% -0.77%
2078 0.1% -0.76%
2077 0.11% -0.76%
2076 0.11% -0.76%
2075 0.15% -0.77%
2074 0.16% -0.77%
2073 0.17% -0.77%
2072 0.2% -0.76%
2071 0.24% -0.77%
2070 0.26% -0.77%
2069 0.28% -0.77%
2068 0.29% -0.76%
2067 0.3% -0.76%
2066 0.3% -0.77%
2065 0.33% -0.76%
2064 0.35% -0.76%
2063 0.4% -0.76%
2062 0.42% -0.75%
2061 0.44% -0.75%
2060 0.47% -0.74%
2059 0.48% -0.73%
2058 0.5% -0.72%
2057 0.52% -0.71%
2056 0.56% -0.69%
2055 0.56% -0.68%
2054 0.6% -0.65%
2053 0.64% -0.64%
2052 0.68% -0.61%
2051 0.69% -0.59%
2050 0.72% -0.57%
2049 0.75% -0.53%
2048 0.79% -0.51%
2047 0.8% -0.49%
2046 0.82% -0.46%
2045 0.84% -0.43%
2044 0.87% -0.41%
2043 0.89% -0.39%
2042 0.92% -0.37%
2041 0.93% -0.34%
2040 0.95% -0.32%
2039 0.97% -0.3%
2038 0.98% -0.28%
2037 1.02% -0.25%
2036 1.03% -0.24%
2035 1.03% -0.21%
2034 1.04% -0.2%
2033 1.05% -0.18%
2032 1.05% -0.16%
2031 1.05% -0.15%
2030 1.07% -0.13%
2029 1.08% -0.12%
2028 1.08% -0.11%
2027 1.1% -0.09%
2026 1.1% -0.08%
2025 1.12% -0.06%
2024 1.12% -0.05%
2023 1.11% -0.05%
2022 1.09% 0.01%
2021 1.15% 0.12%
2020 1.19% 0.17%
2019 1.18% 0.2%
2018 1.23% 0.3%
2017 1.25% 0.42%
2016 1.23% 0.45%
2015 1.18% 0.46%
2014 1.15% 0.53%
2013 1.09% 0.59%
2012 1.01% 0.62%
2011 0.89% 0.62%
2010 0.78% 0.67%
2009 0.73% 0.74%
2008 0.68% 0.77%
2007 0.42% 0.8%
2006 -0.41% 0.83%
2005 -0.92% 0.86%
2004 -0.7% 0.9%
2003 -0.48% 0.94%
2002 -0.31% 0.97%
2001 -0.15% 1.02%
2000 0.03% 1.14%
1999 0.26% 1.26%
1998 0.5% 1.31%
1997 0.8% 1.34%
1996 1.08% 1.39%
1995 1.23% 1.44%
1994 1.36% 1.49%
1993 1.52% 1.56%
1992 1.68% 1.6%
1991 1.81% 1.64%
1990 1.93% 1.65%
1989 2.05% 1.66%
1988 2.14% 1.72%
1987 2.24% 1.75%
1986 2.57% 1.8%
1985 2.87% 1.86%
1984 2.9% 1.92%
1983 2.93% 1.96%
1982 2.95% 1.97%
1981 2.95% 2.03%
1980 2.95% 2.08%
1979 2.93% 2.12%
1978 2.89% 2.21%
1977 2.93% 2.26%
1976 3.26% 2.34%
1975 3.52% 2.47%
1974 3.51% 2.58%
1973 3.53% 2.67%
1972 3.58% 2.7%
1971 3.63% 2.73%
1970 3.67% 2.8%
1969 3.7% 2.86%
1968 3.73% 2.92%
1967 3.64% 2.97%
1966 3.25% 3.01%
1965 2.97% 3.03%
1964 2.99% 3.03%
1963 3.01% 3.02%
1962 3.03% 3%
1961 3.03% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Thailand
Current population
2396633
71571743
Population rank 143/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.86%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
15.3 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
53.3 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +71 -94
Annual growth/decline +25,951 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 168/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +27,509
Net migration rank 117/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 27,509
2024 - -5,107 - 23,321
2023 31,115 -5,168 -46,105 19,648
2022 30,803 -6,023 -61,046 21,683
2021 27,806 -3,449 57,382 -2,093
2020 30,721 -3,449 84,107 32,277
2019 32,279 -6,896 116,867 5,221
2018 33,112 -6,892 159,383 10,984
2017 33,601 -6,850 194,695 66,805
2016 33,390 -6,766 226,255 112,978
2015 32,087 -7,087 266,362 32,500
2014 30,922 -6,877 294,628 55,358
2013 29,789 -6,659 325,059 67,452
2012 27,592 -6,425 351,485 74,033
2011 25,647 -6,118 365,670 66,607
2010 21,877 -5,886 370,466 52,791
2009 20,335 -5,599 382,636 110,883
2008 19,349 -5,392 401,730 107,333
2007 17,763 -5,179 425,362 100,486
2006 15,234 -11,416 441,211 102,362
2005 15,831 -35,679 456,378 100,542
2004 17,271 -33,530 466,542 107,199
2003 20,133 -31,723 488,003 105,917
2002 22,274 -29,924 504,299 105,215
2001 23,190 -27,874 524,230 96,817
2000 24,786 -26,220 543,884 121,640
1999 27,393 -24,610 578,073 173,924
1998 30,889 -23,299 617,318 183,471
1997 34,637 -22,396 644,834 150,411
1996 36,228 -17,042 661,397 152,397
1995 37,370 -14,588 682,703 147,226
1994 38,629 -13,953 712,589 132,271
1993 40,505 -13,347 737,696 122,746
1992 42,579 -12,707 754,999 143,318
1991 44,026 -12,114 760,508 124,034
1990 45,060 -11,598 760,808 152,916
1989 46,264 -11,207 774,563 90,497
1988 47,158 -11,028 765,252 128,469
1987 47,718 -10,946 774,498 122,791
1986 45,232 -7,501 783,430 111,820
1985 44,575 1,222 776,935 141,963
1984 43,785 1,199 779,856 139,345
1983 42,899 1,253 794,239 143,393
1982 41,941 1,281 817,951 101,885
1981 40,808 1,307 839,297 78,337
1980 39,617 1,361 845,575 88,478
1979 38,440 1,285 843,434 85,693
1978 37,084 1,047 847,799 82,011
1977 35,654 746 871,232 88,937
1976 34,117 2,986 894,072 40,656
1975 32,311 9,723 911,980 66,306
1974 30,444 9,972 923,151 72,801
1973 28,859 10,183 933,540 80,704
1972 27,841 10,386 940,420 73,082
1971 26,838 10,563 936,215 43,400
1970 25,935 10,605 937,116 49,221
1969 25,137 10,465 948,314 26,551
1968 24,490 10,108 953,806 13,718
1967 23,911 9,734 944,980 17,005
1966 23,326 7,248 929,469 12,016
1965 22,755 2,239 909,000 22,995
1964 22,116 2,198 885,137 17,249
1963 21,585 2,220 860,728 16,494
1962 21,132 2,172 828,741 16,605
1961 20,581 2,100 801,140 14,968
1960 19,981 1,989 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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