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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 71,619,863 people in Thailand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 71,565,981 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 29.8 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 +0.18% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.51% growth).

Lesotho vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Thailand
2100 3,280,518 45,708,431
2099 3,286,430 46,053,146
2098 3,292,231 46,403,189
2097 3,297,835 46,757,918
2096 3,302,758 47,118,652
2095 3,307,678 47,484,043
2094 3,311,734 47,853,561
2093 3,315,488 48,226,682
2092 3,319,391 48,605,235
2091 3,322,303 48,984,504
2090 3,324,499 49,368,049
2089 3,326,577 49,756,629
2088 3,328,210 50,142,276
2087 3,329,694 50,532,164
2086 3,330,185 50,925,294
2085 3,330,989 51,321,960
2084 3,331,214 51,724,454
2083 3,331,221 52,127,592
2082 3,330,964 52,533,368
2081 3,330,141 52,938,345
2080 3,328,997 53,347,733
2079 3,326,895 53,762,492
2078 3,324,376 54,177,529
2077 3,321,152 54,595,112
2076 3,317,581 55,015,291
2075 3,313,968 55,438,108
2074 3,308,905 55,867,914
2073 3,303,592 56,300,358
2072 3,297,913 56,735,274
2071 3,291,224 57,172,515
2070 3,283,387 57,616,731
2069 3,274,978 58,061,962
2068 3,265,887 58,512,248
2067 3,256,362 58,962,990
2066 3,246,639 59,413,893
2065 3,236,890 59,873,261
2064 3,226,227 60,331,851
2063 3,214,843 60,792,306
2062 3,202,027 61,257,068
2061 3,188,674 61,720,030
2060 3,174,740 62,187,380
2059 3,159,947 62,651,158
2058 3,144,797 63,113,332
2057 3,129,007 63,572,746
2056 3,112,877 64,027,520
2055 3,095,653 64,473,146
2054 3,078,317 64,912,210
2053 3,059,904 65,338,122
2052 3,040,402 65,758,061
2051 3,019,864 66,162,612
2050 2,999,214 66,552,915
2049 2,977,795 66,931,487
2048 2,955,487 67,291,479
2047 2,932,450 67,636,461
2046 2,909,071 67,967,131
2045 2,885,303 68,281,902
2044 2,861,140 68,579,656
2043 2,836,547 68,864,788
2042 2,811,435 69,133,982
2041 2,785,921 69,390,832
2040 2,760,167 69,626,857
2039 2,734,178 69,848,522
2038 2,707,996 70,056,903
2037 2,681,646 70,250,371
2036 2,654,540 70,429,677
2035 2,627,488 70,599,021
2034 2,600,669 70,751,094
2033 2,573,856 70,891,510
2032 2,547,137 71,019,665
2031 2,520,626 71,134,882
2030 2,494,444 71,241,584
2029 2,468,067 71,337,147
2028 2,441,673 71,423,119
2027 2,415,634 71,499,411
2026 2,389,322 71,565,981
2025 2,363,325 71,619,863
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 706,140 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 24.8% to 2,999,214 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,552,915 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 1.11% -0.07%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Thailand
Current population
2402837
71565981
Population rank 143/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.86%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
10.9 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
48.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +71 -132
Annual growth/decline +25,902 -48,148
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% -0.07%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 164/197
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 31,050 -5,107 -65,720 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/thailand | 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 Thailand 74.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 932,180 people) and 25.8% is from migration (a gain of 323,324 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 (1960–2025, 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/thailand | 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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