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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 7,494,498 people in Turkmenistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 7,776,557 in Turkmenistan.

Population statistics:

  • Turkmenistan's population is 3.24 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Turkmenistan is the 104th.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.09% for Turkmenistan.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.14% in Turkmenistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Turkmenistan has grown from 5.15M to 7.78M (51.1% growth).

Lesotho vs Turkmenistan: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Turkmenistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Turkmenistan
2100 3,280,784 10,046,945
2099 3,286,697 10,075,740
2098 3,292,498 10,103,319
2097 3,298,102 10,129,577
2096 3,303,027 10,154,338
2095 3,307,947 10,178,163
2094 3,312,002 10,200,371
2093 3,315,757 10,221,349
2092 3,319,661 10,240,959
2091 3,322,573 10,259,026
2090 3,324,769 10,276,261
2089 3,326,847 10,291,819
2088 3,328,480 10,306,303
2087 3,329,964 10,319,501
2086 3,330,456 10,331,090
2085 3,331,259 10,341,183
2084 3,331,485 10,349,710
2083 3,331,492 10,356,602
2082 3,331,234 10,362,422
2081 3,330,412 10,366,587
2080 3,329,267 10,369,293
2079 3,327,166 10,370,130
2078 3,324,646 10,369,013
2077 3,321,422 10,366,366
2076 3,317,850 10,361,975
2075 3,314,237 10,355,755
2074 3,309,174 10,348,384
2073 3,303,860 10,339,415
2072 3,298,181 10,328,653
2071 3,291,492 10,316,618
2070 3,283,654 10,303,565
2069 3,275,244 10,289,578
2068 3,266,152 10,274,625
2067 3,256,626 10,258,518
2066 3,246,903 10,241,362
2065 3,237,153 10,223,420
2064 3,226,489 10,204,034
2063 3,215,103 10,183,241
2062 3,202,287 10,160,903
2061 3,188,933 10,136,928
2060 3,174,998 10,111,369
2059 3,160,204 10,083,631
2058 3,145,053 10,052,905
2057 3,129,261 10,019,547
2056 3,113,129 9,983,379
2055 3,095,904 9,943,931
2054 3,078,567 9,901,473
2053 3,060,152 9,854,931
2052 3,040,649 9,804,909
2051 3,020,109 9,751,221
2050 2,999,457 9,693,713
2049 2,978,037 9,632,600
2048 2,955,727 9,567,946
2047 2,932,688 9,500,139
2046 2,909,307 9,429,355
2045 2,885,537 9,356,194
2044 2,861,372 9,280,988
2043 2,836,777 9,204,466
2042 2,811,663 9,126,898
2041 2,786,147 9,048,356
2040 2,760,391 8,969,478
2039 2,734,400 8,890,225
2038 2,708,216 8,810,850
2037 2,681,863 8,731,367
2036 2,654,755 8,651,719
2035 2,627,701 8,572,231
2034 2,600,880 8,492,483
2033 2,574,065 8,412,113
2032 2,547,344 8,330,912
2031 2,520,831 8,248,129
2030 2,494,646 8,163,024
2029 2,468,268 8,070,023
2028 2,441,871 7,969,080
2027 2,415,830 7,860,774
2026 2,389,516 7,745,331
2025 2,363,516 7,623,184
2024 2,337,423 7,494,498
2023 2,311,472 7,364,438
2022 2,286,110 7,230,193
2021 2,261,542 7,092,043
2020 2,235,727 6,949,912
2019 2,209,405 6,803,944
2018 2,183,603 6,655,524
2017 2,157,110 6,507,061
2016 2,130,422 6,360,041
2015 2,104,611 6,215,770
2014 2,080,089 6,075,283
2013 2,056,504 5,939,341
2012 2,034,354 5,808,546
2011 2,014,009 5,683,417
2010 1,996,251 5,564,356
2009 1,980,883 5,451,592
2008 1,966,541 5,345,029
2007 1,953,268 5,244,046
2006 1,945,063 5,147,105
2005 1,953,076 5,052,257
2004 1,971,129 4,958,093
2003 1,985,059 4,863,865
2002 1,994,679 4,769,465
2001 2,000,853 4,675,409
2000 2,003,913 4,582,677
1999 2,003,234 4,492,170
1998 1,998,049 4,410,507
1997 1,988,130 4,336,730
1996 1,972,418 4,263,819
1995 1,951,437 4,191,203
1994 1,927,707 4,116,662
1993 1,901,793 4,032,407
1992 1,873,274 3,944,689
1991 1,842,379 3,855,894
1990 1,809,696 3,760,562
1989 1,775,436 3,662,459
1988 1,739,841 3,559,363
1987 1,703,390 3,452,731
1986 1,666,138 3,347,809
1985 1,624,379 3,247,534
1984 1,578,986 3,154,079
1983 1,534,413 3,067,534
1982 1,490,732 2,985,557
1981 1,448,069 2,907,187
1980 1,406,521 2,832,203
1979 1,366,169 2,760,358
1978 1,327,240 2,691,088
1977 1,289,967 2,623,948
1976 1,253,214 2,558,521
1975 1,213,643 2,494,570
1974 1,172,420 2,432,028
1973 1,132,697 2,370,919
1972 1,094,063 2,311,430
1971 1,056,246 2,253,119
1970 1,019,273 2,195,616
1969 983,202 2,139,024
1968 948,105 2,083,069
1967 913,982 2,027,403
1966 881,870 1,971,737
1965 854,090 1,915,916
1964 829,437 1,859,997
1963 805,373 1,804,272
1962 781,814 1,749,214
1961 758,824 1,695,400
1960 736,500 1,643,457

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/turkmenistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Turkmenistan gained 1,212,936 people (a 23.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Turkmenistan's population increased by 1,416,516 people (a 22.3% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Turkmenistan was ranked 113th in 2006 and ranked 104th 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 Turkmenistan will increase by 24.7% to 9,693,713 people and rank change from 104th to 101st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 10.4M people in 2079 for Turkmenistan.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Turkmenistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Turkmenistan
2100 -0.18% -0.29%
2099 -0.18% -0.27%
2098 -0.17% -0.26%
2097 -0.15% -0.24%
2096 -0.15% -0.23%
2095 -0.12% -0.22%
2094 -0.11% -0.21%
2093 -0.12% -0.19%
2092 -0.09% -0.18%
2091 -0.07% -0.17%
2090 -0.06% -0.15%
2089 -0.05% -0.14%
2088 -0.04% -0.13%
2087 -0.01% -0.11%
2086 -0.02% -0.1%
2085 -0.007% -0.08%
2084 -0% -0.07%
2083 0.008% -0.06%
2082 0.02% -0.04%
2081 0.03% -0.03%
2080 0.06% -0.008%
2079 0.08% 0.01%
2078 0.1% 0.03%
2077 0.11% 0.04%
2076 0.11% 0.06%
2075 0.15% 0.07%
2074 0.16% 0.09%
2073 0.17% 0.1%
2072 0.2% 0.12%
2071 0.24% 0.13%
2070 0.26% 0.14%
2069 0.28% 0.15%
2068 0.29% 0.16%
2067 0.3% 0.17%
2066 0.3% 0.18%
2065 0.33% 0.19%
2064 0.35% 0.2%
2063 0.4% 0.22%
2062 0.42% 0.24%
2061 0.44% 0.25%
2060 0.47% 0.28%
2059 0.48% 0.31%
2058 0.5% 0.33%
2057 0.52% 0.36%
2056 0.56% 0.4%
2055 0.56% 0.43%
2054 0.6% 0.47%
2053 0.64% 0.51%
2052 0.68% 0.55%
2051 0.69% 0.59%
2050 0.72% 0.63%
2049 0.75% 0.68%
2048 0.79% 0.71%
2047 0.8% 0.75%
2046 0.82% 0.78%
2045 0.84% 0.81%
2044 0.87% 0.83%
2043 0.89% 0.85%
2042 0.92% 0.87%
2041 0.93% 0.88%
2040 0.95% 0.89%
2039 0.97% 0.9%
2038 0.98% 0.91%
2037 1.02% 0.92%
2036 1.03% 0.93%
2035 1.03% 0.94%
2034 1.04% 0.96%
2033 1.05% 0.97%
2032 1.05% 1%
2031 1.05% 1.04%
2030 1.07% 1.15%
2029 1.08% 1.27%
2028 1.08% 1.38%
2027 1.1% 1.49%
2026 1.1% 1.6%
2025 1.12% 1.72%
2024 1.12% 1.77%
2023 1.11% 1.86%
2022 1.09% 1.95%
2021 1.15% 2.05%
2020 1.19% 2.15%
2019 1.18% 2.23%
2018 1.23% 2.28%
2017 1.25% 2.31%
2016 1.23% 2.32%
2015 1.18% 2.31%
2014 1.15% 2.29%
2013 1.09% 2.25%
2012 1.01% 2.2%
2011 0.89% 2.14%
2010 0.78% 2.07%
2009 0.73% 1.99%
2008 0.68% 1.93%
2007 0.42% 1.88%
2006 -0.41% 1.88%
2005 -0.92% 1.9%
2004 -0.7% 1.94%
2003 -0.48% 1.98%
2002 -0.31% 2.01%
2001 -0.15% 2.02%
2000 0.03% 2.01%
1999 0.26% 1.85%
1998 0.5% 1.7%
1997 0.8% 1.71%
1996 1.08% 1.73%
1995 1.23% 1.81%
1994 1.36% 2.09%
1993 1.52% 2.22%
1992 1.68% 2.3%
1991 1.81% 2.54%
1990 1.93% 2.68%
1989 2.05% 2.9%
1988 2.14% 3.09%
1987 2.24% 3.13%
1986 2.57% 3.09%
1985 2.87% 2.96%
1984 2.9% 2.82%
1983 2.93% 2.75%
1982 2.95% 2.7%
1981 2.95% 2.65%
1980 2.95% 2.6%
1979 2.93% 2.57%
1978 2.89% 2.56%
1977 2.93% 2.56%
1976 3.26% 2.56%
1975 3.52% 2.57%
1974 3.51% 2.58%
1973 3.53% 2.57%
1972 3.58% 2.59%
1971 3.63% 2.62%
1970 3.67% 2.65%
1969 3.7% 2.69%
1968 3.73% 2.75%
1967 3.64% 2.82%
1966 3.25% 2.91%
1965 2.97% 3.01%
1964 2.99% 3.09%
1963 3.01% 3.15%
1962 3.03% 3.17%
1961 3.03% 3.16%

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/turkmenistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Turkmenistan's population grew by 1.77%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Turkmenistan
Current population
2396633
7776557
Population rank 143/197 104/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.09%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
4.04 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
3.28 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
12.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +356
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +130,060
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.77%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 61/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
39.7 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +13,268
Net migration rank 117/196 39/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 193,763
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 115/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 125/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Turkmenistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Turkmenistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 13,268
2024 - -5,107 - 14,646
2023 31,115 -5,168 117,529 15,005
2022 30,803 -6,023 121,814 14,141
2021 27,806 -3,449 122,721 17,617
2020 30,721 -3,449 124,014 19,913
2019 32,279 -6,896 128,275 19,735
2018 33,112 -6,892 129,537 19,293
2017 33,601 -6,850 131,417 16,678
2016 33,390 -6,766 132,581 13,365
2015 32,087 -7,087 132,663 9,936
2014 30,922 -6,877 129,677 8,696
2013 29,789 -6,659 126,217 7,287
2012 27,592 -6,425 120,957 7,125
2011 25,647 -6,118 115,197 6,992
2010 21,877 -5,886 109,318 6,621
2009 20,335 -5,599 102,931 6,656
2008 19,349 -5,392 96,815 6,734
2007 17,763 -5,179 92,038 6,388
2006 15,234 -11,416 87,840 7,613
2005 15,831 -35,679 83,968 10,263
2004 17,271 -33,530 79,850 14,242
2003 20,133 -31,723 76,737 17,625
2002 22,274 -29,924 75,639 18,803
2001 23,190 -27,874 76,682 16,982
2000 24,786 -26,220 76,875 14,925
1999 27,393 -24,610 76,362 12,859
1998 30,889 -23,299 77,342 -3,239
1997 34,637 -22,396 79,045 -5,600
1996 36,228 -17,042 80,996 -8,627
1995 37,370 -14,588 86,289 -13,423
1994 38,629 -13,953 89,319 -13,094
1993 40,505 -13,347 92,596 -312
1992 42,579 -12,707 96,668 -13,517
1991 44,026 -12,114 99,297 -4,864
1990 45,060 -11,598 101,099 -4,864
1989 46,264 -11,207 103,553 -3,576
1988 47,158 -11,028 104,802 1,408
1987 47,718 -10,946 103,885 3,161
1986 45,232 -7,501 100,930 1,878
1985 44,575 1,222 95,890 1,861
1984 43,785 1,199 90,591 -1,427
1983 42,899 1,253 85,183 -1,264
1982 41,941 1,281 80,989 -961
1981 40,808 1,307 77,829 -1,102
1980 39,617 1,361 74,394 -1,152
1979 38,440 1,285 71,135 -677
1978 37,084 1,047 68,437 -350
1977 35,654 746 66,318 -132
1976 34,117 2,986 64,513 160
1975 32,311 9,723 62,681 550
1974 30,444 9,972 60,925 924
1973 28,859 10,183 59,169 1,194
1972 27,841 10,386 57,326 1,293
1971 26,838 10,563 56,666 1,348
1970 25,935 10,605 55,617 1,376
1969 25,137 10,465 54,791 1,397
1968 24,490 10,108 54,324 1,401
1967 23,911 9,734 54,209 1,397
1966 23,326 7,248 54,353 1,377
1965 22,755 2,239 54,558 1,366
1964 22,116 2,198 54,574 1,340
1963 21,585 2,220 54,203 1,332
1962 21,132 2,172 53,248 1,337
1961 20,581 2,100 51,659 1,372
1960 19,981 1,989 49,436 1,421

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/turkmenistan | 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 Turkmenistan 89.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,270,228 people) and 10.8% is from migration (a gain of 154,379 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 193,763 people or 2.6% in Turkmenistan.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Turkmenistan
City Population
Ashgabat 1.03M
Turkmenabat 231K
Dasoguz 227K
Mary 126K
Anau 29.6K
Baherden 24.7K

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/turkmenistan | 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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