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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 85,878,556 people in Turkey in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 86,225,430 in Turkey.

Population statistics:

  • Turkey's population is 35.9 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Turkey is the 18th.
  • The countries together account for 1.07% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 1.04% for Turkey.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.98% in Turkey.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Turkey has grown from 70M to 86.2M (23.1% growth).

Lesotho vs Turkey: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Turkey
2100 3,280,518 64,394,191
2099 3,286,430 65,045,868
2098 3,292,231 65,690,351
2097 3,297,835 66,342,622
2096 3,302,758 66,990,674
2095 3,307,678 67,642,188
2094 3,311,734 68,296,562
2093 3,315,488 68,963,773
2092 3,319,391 69,625,957
2091 3,322,303 70,290,255
2090 3,324,499 70,960,483
2089 3,326,577 71,623,547
2088 3,328,210 72,281,102
2087 3,329,694 72,928,397
2086 3,330,185 73,576,610
2085 3,330,989 74,223,570
2084 3,331,214 74,853,312
2083 3,331,221 75,483,067
2082 3,330,964 76,111,533
2081 3,330,141 76,726,689
2080 3,328,997 77,339,541
2079 3,326,895 77,938,889
2078 3,324,376 78,532,577
2077 3,321,152 79,120,573
2076 3,317,581 79,705,459
2075 3,313,968 80,277,544
2074 3,308,905 80,848,141
2073 3,303,592 81,396,237
2072 3,297,913 81,938,080
2071 3,291,224 82,465,112
2070 3,283,387 82,981,973
2069 3,274,978 83,480,362
2068 3,265,887 83,963,140
2067 3,256,362 84,428,242
2066 3,246,639 84,886,666
2065 3,236,890 85,336,225
2064 3,226,227 85,771,285
2063 3,214,843 86,187,013
2062 3,202,027 86,587,114
2061 3,188,674 86,962,577
2060 3,174,740 87,319,314
2059 3,159,947 87,663,392
2058 3,144,797 87,973,789
2057 3,129,007 88,264,809
2056 3,112,877 88,534,755
2055 3,095,653 88,764,080
2054 3,078,317 88,972,362
2053 3,059,904 89,151,673
2052 3,040,402 89,310,785
2051 3,019,864 89,437,110
2050 2,999,214 89,541,520
2049 2,977,795 89,614,107
2048 2,955,487 89,651,068
2047 2,932,450 89,659,415
2046 2,909,071 89,634,354
2045 2,885,303 89,608,012
2044 2,861,140 89,557,421
2043 2,836,547 89,493,042
2042 2,811,435 89,404,193
2041 2,785,921 89,303,546
2040 2,760,167 89,187,952
2039 2,734,178 89,051,669
2038 2,707,996 88,901,719
2037 2,681,646 88,727,471
2036 2,654,540 88,537,927
2035 2,627,488 88,343,153
2034 2,600,669 88,139,515
2033 2,573,856 87,918,397
2032 2,547,137 87,687,495
2031 2,520,626 87,437,150
2030 2,494,444 87,166,904
2029 2,468,067 86,903,490
2028 2,441,673 86,627,469
2027 2,415,634 86,350,539
2026 2,389,322 86,093,293
2025 2,363,325 85,878,556
2024 2,337,423 85,518,661
2023 2,311,472 85,325,965
2022 2,286,110 84,979,913
2021 2,261,542 84,147,318
2020 2,235,727 83,384,680
2019 2,209,405 82,579,440
2018 2,183,603 81,407,204
2017 2,157,110 80,312,698
2016 2,130,422 79,277,962
2015 2,104,611 78,218,479
2014 2,080,089 77,181,884
2013 2,056,504 76,147,624
2012 2,034,354 75,175,827
2011 2,014,009 74,223,629
2010 1,996,251 73,142,150
2009 1,980,883 72,039,206
2008 1,966,541 71,051,678
2007 1,953,268 70,158,112
2006 1,945,063 70,045,349
2005 1,953,076 69,329,557
2004 1,971,129 68,592,617
2003 1,985,059 67,831,730
2002 1,994,679 67,048,795
2001 2,000,853 66,245,128
2000 2,003,913 65,425,961
1999 2,003,234 64,591,923
1998 1,998,049 63,734,383
1997 1,988,130 62,852,966
1996 1,972,418 61,951,134
1995 1,951,437 61,024,503
1994 1,927,707 60,033,836
1993 1,901,793 58,999,167
1992 1,873,274 57,990,118
1991 1,842,379 57,009,887
1990 1,809,696 56,015,628
1989 1,775,436 54,976,723
1988 1,739,841 53,909,626
1987 1,703,390 52,843,670
1986 1,666,138 51,777,772
1985 1,624,379 50,687,115
1984 1,578,986 49,574,069
1983 1,534,413 48,447,410
1982 1,490,732 47,322,096
1981 1,448,069 46,321,190
1980 1,406,521 45,408,815
1979 1,366,169 44,510,429
1978 1,327,240 43,645,306
1977 1,289,967 42,773,298
1976 1,253,214 41,899,984
1975 1,213,643 41,053,126
1974 1,172,420 40,210,234
1973 1,132,697 39,329,533
1972 1,094,063 38,430,221
1971 1,056,246 37,518,611
1970 1,019,273 36,638,465
1969 983,202 35,787,774
1968 948,105 34,921,684
1967 913,982 34,050,421
1966 881,870 33,177,672
1965 854,090 32,345,220
1964 829,437 31,543,072
1963 805,373 30,726,841
1962 781,814 29,916,147
1961 758,824 29,119,238
1960 736,500 28,329,898

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/turkey | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Turkey gained 9,232,613 people (a 13.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Turkey's population increased by 6,947,468 people (a 8.76% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Turkey was ranked 18th in 2006 and still ranked 18th 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 Turkey will increase by 3.85% to 89,541,520 people and rank change from 18th to 19th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 89.7M people in 2047 for Turkey.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Turkey
2100 -0.18% -1%
2099 -0.18% -0.98%
2098 -0.17% -0.98%
2097 -0.15% -0.97%
2096 -0.15% -0.96%
2095 -0.12% -0.96%
2094 -0.11% -0.97%
2093 -0.12% -0.95%
2092 -0.09% -0.95%
2091 -0.07% -0.94%
2090 -0.06% -0.93%
2089 -0.05% -0.91%
2088 -0.04% -0.89%
2087 -0.01% -0.88%
2086 -0.02% -0.87%
2085 -0.007% -0.84%
2084 -0% -0.83%
2083 0.008% -0.83%
2082 0.02% -0.8%
2081 0.03% -0.79%
2080 0.06% -0.77%
2079 0.08% -0.76%
2078 0.1% -0.74%
2077 0.11% -0.73%
2076 0.11% -0.71%
2075 0.15% -0.71%
2074 0.16% -0.67%
2073 0.17% -0.66%
2072 0.2% -0.64%
2071 0.24% -0.62%
2070 0.26% -0.6%
2069 0.28% -0.57%
2068 0.29% -0.55%
2067 0.3% -0.54%
2066 0.3% -0.53%
2065 0.33% -0.51%
2064 0.35% -0.48%
2063 0.4% -0.46%
2062 0.42% -0.43%
2061 0.44% -0.41%
2060 0.47% -0.39%
2059 0.48% -0.35%
2058 0.5% -0.33%
2057 0.52% -0.3%
2056 0.56% -0.26%
2055 0.56% -0.23%
2054 0.6% -0.2%
2053 0.64% -0.18%
2052 0.68% -0.14%
2051 0.69% -0.12%
2050 0.72% -0.08%
2049 0.75% -0.04%
2048 0.79% -0.009%
2047 0.8% 0.03%
2046 0.82% 0.03%
2045 0.84% 0.06%
2044 0.87% 0.07%
2043 0.89% 0.1%
2042 0.92% 0.11%
2041 0.93% 0.13%
2040 0.95% 0.15%
2039 0.97% 0.17%
2038 0.98% 0.2%
2037 1.02% 0.21%
2036 1.03% 0.22%
2035 1.03% 0.23%
2034 1.04% 0.25%
2033 1.05% 0.26%
2032 1.05% 0.29%
2031 1.05% 0.31%
2030 1.07% 0.3%
2029 1.08% 0.32%
2028 1.08% 0.32%
2027 1.1% 0.3%
2026 1.1% 0.25%
2025 1.11% 0.42%
2024 1.12% 0.23%
2023 1.11% 0.41%
2022 1.09% 0.99%
2021 1.15% 0.91%
2020 1.19% 0.98%
2019 1.18% 1.44%
2018 1.23% 1.36%
2017 1.25% 1.31%
2016 1.23% 1.35%
2015 1.18% 1.34%
2014 1.15% 1.36%
2013 1.09% 1.29%
2012 1.01% 1.28%
2011 0.89% 1.48%
2010 0.78% 1.53%
2009 0.73% 1.39%
2008 0.68% 1.27%
2007 0.42% 0.16%
2006 -0.41% 1.03%
2005 -0.92% 1.07%
2004 -0.7% 1.12%
2003 -0.48% 1.17%
2002 -0.31% 1.21%
2001 -0.15% 1.25%
2000 0.03% 1.29%
1999 0.26% 1.35%
1998 0.5% 1.4%
1997 0.8% 1.46%
1996 1.08% 1.52%
1995 1.23% 1.65%
1994 1.36% 1.75%
1993 1.52% 1.74%
1992 1.68% 1.72%
1991 1.81% 1.77%
1990 1.93% 1.89%
1989 2.05% 1.98%
1988 2.14% 2.02%
1987 2.24% 2.06%
1986 2.57% 2.15%
1985 2.87% 2.25%
1984 2.9% 2.33%
1983 2.93% 2.38%
1982 2.95% 2.16%
1981 2.95% 2.01%
1980 2.95% 2.02%
1979 2.93% 1.98%
1978 2.89% 2.04%
1977 2.93% 2.08%
1976 3.26% 2.06%
1975 3.52% 2.1%
1974 3.51% 2.24%
1973 3.53% 2.34%
1972 3.58% 2.43%
1971 3.63% 2.4%
1970 3.67% 2.38%
1969 3.7% 2.48%
1968 3.73% 2.56%
1967 3.64% 2.63%
1966 3.25% 2.57%
1965 2.97% 2.54%
1964 2.99% 2.66%
1963 3.01% 2.71%
1962 3.03% 2.74%
1961 3.03% 2.79%

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/turkey | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Turkey's population grew by 0.42%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Turkey
Current population
2402837
86225430
Population rank 143/197 18/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 1.04%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.46 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
33.5 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
1.08 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +986
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +359,895
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +0.42%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 138/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
2.04 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -258,205
Net migration rank 117/196 188/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 7,083,501
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 11/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 8.1%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 75/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Turkey
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Turkey
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -258,205
2024 31,050 -5,107 453,249 -275,952
2023 31,115 -5,168 426,630 -318,070
2022 30,803 -6,023 535,373 -301,544
2021 27,806 -3,449 521,713 20,283
2020 30,721 -3,449 608,708 37,934
2019 32,279 -6,896 751,472 -15,690
2018 33,112 -6,892 830,353 187,570
2017 33,601 -6,850 875,408 659,846
2016 33,390 -6,766 895,841 352,063
2015 32,087 -7,087 930,799 1,063,140
2014 30,922 -6,877 957,055 1,033,384
2013 29,789 -6,659 921,386 438,618
2012 27,592 -6,425 917,145 258,623
2011 25,647 -6,118 875,839 68,849
2010 21,877 -5,886 892,334 55,532
2009 20,335 -5,599 900,491 24,276
2008 19,349 -5,392 868,749 47,915
2007 17,763 -5,179 876,626 -186,402
2006 15,234 -11,416 897,351 -190,194
2005 15,831 -35,679 898,650 -174,177
2004 17,271 -33,530 896,025 -146,574
2003 20,133 -31,723 893,683 -121,383
2002 22,274 -29,924 922,927 -129,444
2001 23,190 -27,874 980,560 -166,759
2000 24,786 -26,220 1,020,515 -195,996
1999 27,393 -24,610 1,063,312 -219,778
1998 30,889 -23,299 1,103,242 -231,744
1997 34,637 -22,396 1,099,738 -208,465
1996 36,228 -17,042 1,091,827 -179,423
1995 37,370 -14,588 1,090,630 -149,737
1994 38,629 -13,953 1,078,208 -37,762
1993 40,505 -13,347 1,064,168 -35,245
1992 42,579 -12,707 1,039,125 -49,923
1991 44,026 -12,114 1,041,229 -69,982
1990 45,060 -11,598 1,044,467 -27,193
1989 46,264 -11,207 1,094,036 -33,519
1988 47,158 -11,028 1,101,266 -27,659
1987 47,718 -10,946 1,099,042 -40,772
1986 45,232 -7,501 1,102,660 -29,134
1985 44,575 1,222 1,098,846 8,960
1984 43,785 1,199 1,096,529 21,787
1983 42,899 1,253 1,095,106 39,871
1982 41,941 1,281 1,091,863 23,728
1981 40,808 1,307 1,100,082 -213,889
1980 39,617 1,361 1,090,538 -151,969
1979 38,440 1,285 1,076,707 -218,509
1978 37,084 1,047 1,054,863 -182,818
1977 35,654 746 1,023,779 -151,825
1976 34,117 2,986 1,009,999 -135,377
1975 32,311 9,723 1,012,904 -193,829
1974 30,444 9,972 1,020,053 -153,311
1973 28,859 10,183 1,025,675 -130,985
1972 27,841 10,386 1,023,781 -119,850
1971 26,838 10,563 1,014,165 -94,891
1970 25,935 10,605 991,950 -150,924
1969 25,137 10,465 970,958 -110,578
1968 24,490 10,108 950,778 -78,973
1967 23,911 9,734 936,727 -65,993
1966 23,326 7,248 925,790 -50,999
1965 22,755 2,239 904,016 -113,911
1964 22,116 2,198 884,152 -69,978
1963 21,585 2,220 862,626 -44,317
1962 21,132 2,172 837,473 -34,353
1961 20,581 2,100 816,911 -26,187
1960 19,981 1,989 773,009 14,948

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/turkey | 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 Turkey 82.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,829,546 people) and 17.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,409,580 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 7,083,501 people or 8.1% in Turkey.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Turkey
City Population
Istanbul 15.7M
Ankara 5.8M
Izmir 4.49M
Bursa 2.9M
Antalya 2.43M
Konya 2.23M
Urfa 1.99M
Kocaeli 1.85M
Adana 1.77M
Diyarbakir 1.73M

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/turkey | 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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