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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 9,492 people in Tuvalu in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 9,349 in Tuvalu.

Population statistics:

  • Lesotho's population is 257 times bigger than Tuvalu's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Tuvalu is the 196th.
  • The countries together account for 0.03% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.0001% for Tuvalu.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs -1.32% in Tuvalu.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Tuvalu has declined from 10.1K to 9.35K (7.03% decline).

Lesotho vs Tuvalu: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Tuvalu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Tuvalu
2100 3,280,518 12,163
2099 3,286,430 12,156
2098 3,292,231 12,135
2097 3,297,835 12,114
2096 3,302,758 12,091
2095 3,307,678 12,076
2094 3,311,734 12,058
2093 3,315,488 12,038
2092 3,319,391 12,008
2091 3,322,303 11,982
2090 3,324,499 11,951
2089 3,326,577 11,919
2088 3,328,210 11,883
2087 3,329,694 11,857
2086 3,330,185 11,822
2085 3,330,989 11,781
2084 3,331,214 11,737
2083 3,331,221 11,699
2082 3,330,964 11,658
2081 3,330,141 11,618
2080 3,328,997 11,556
2079 3,326,895 11,500
2078 3,324,376 11,451
2077 3,321,152 11,391
2076 3,317,581 11,334
2075 3,313,968 11,277
2074 3,308,905 11,212
2073 3,303,592 11,136
2072 3,297,913 11,077
2071 3,291,224 11,003
2070 3,283,387 10,944
2069 3,274,978 10,875
2068 3,265,887 10,807
2067 3,256,362 10,739
2066 3,246,639 10,675
2065 3,236,890 10,620
2064 3,226,227 10,554
2063 3,214,843 10,491
2062 3,202,027 10,433
2061 3,188,674 10,364
2060 3,174,740 10,307
2059 3,159,947 10,238
2058 3,144,797 10,175
2057 3,129,007 10,123
2056 3,112,877 10,056
2055 3,095,653 9,993
2054 3,078,317 9,935
2053 3,059,904 9,867
2052 3,040,402 9,810
2051 3,019,864 9,739
2050 2,999,214 9,674
2049 2,977,795 9,608
2048 2,955,487 9,541
2047 2,932,450 9,464
2046 2,909,071 9,397
2045 2,885,303 9,337
2044 2,861,140 9,274
2043 2,836,547 9,209
2042 2,811,435 9,143
2041 2,785,921 9,092
2040 2,760,167 9,050
2039 2,734,178 8,999
2038 2,707,996 8,960
2037 2,681,646 8,932
2036 2,654,540 8,917
2035 2,627,488 8,908
2034 2,600,669 8,901
2033 2,573,856 8,910
2032 2,547,137 8,930
2031 2,520,626 8,954
2030 2,494,444 9,004
2029 2,468,067 9,064
2028 2,441,673 9,139
2027 2,415,634 9,233
2026 2,389,322 9,349
2025 2,363,325 9,492
2024 2,337,423 9,646
2023 2,311,472 9,816
2022 2,286,110 9,992
2021 2,261,542 10,194
2020 2,235,727 10,399
2019 2,209,405 10,581
2018 2,183,603 10,751
2017 2,157,110 10,869
2016 2,130,422 10,930
2015 2,104,611 10,963
2014 2,080,089 10,984
2013 2,056,504 11,001
2012 2,034,354 10,934
2011 2,014,009 10,780
2010 1,996,251 10,614
2009 1,980,883 10,461
2008 1,966,541 10,321
2007 1,953,268 10,182
2006 1,945,063 10,056
2005 1,953,076 9,940
2004 1,971,129 9,816
2003 1,985,059 9,695
2002 1,994,679 9,623
2001 2,000,853 9,586
2000 2,003,913 9,544
1999 2,003,234 9,496
1998 1,998,049 9,451
1997 1,988,130 9,400
1996 1,972,418 9,342
1995 1,951,437 9,280
1994 1,927,707 9,207
1993 1,901,793 9,126
1992 1,873,274 9,038
1991 1,842,379 8,928
1990 1,809,696 8,798
1989 1,775,436 8,662
1988 1,739,841 8,518
1987 1,703,390 8,371
1986 1,666,138 8,217
1985 1,624,379 8,046
1984 1,578,986 7,902
1983 1,534,413 7,789
1982 1,490,732 7,664
1981 1,448,069 7,526
1980 1,406,521 7,366
1979 1,366,169 7,184
1978 1,327,240 6,957
1977 1,289,967 6,686
1976 1,253,214 6,404
1975 1,213,643 6,117
1974 1,172,420 5,822
1973 1,132,697 5,681
1972 1,094,063 5,692
1971 1,056,246 5,685
1970 1,019,273 5,663
1969 983,202 5,631
1968 948,105 5,624
1967 913,982 5,652
1966 881,870 5,686
1965 854,090 5,715
1964 829,437 5,752
1963 805,373 5,751
1962 781,814 5,699
1961 758,824 5,648
1960 736,500 5,598

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/tuvalu | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Tuvalu gained 874 people (a 8.69% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Tuvalu's population decreased by 1,581 people (a 14.5% decline).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Tuvalu was ranked 195th in 2006 and ranked 196th 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 Tuvalu will increase by 3.48% to 9,674 people and will still be ranked 196th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 12.2K people in 2100 for Tuvalu.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Tuvalu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Tuvalu
2100 -0.18% 0.06%
2099 -0.18% 0.17%
2098 -0.17% 0.18%
2097 -0.15% 0.19%
2096 -0.15% 0.12%
2095 -0.12% 0.15%
2094 -0.11% 0.16%
2093 -0.12% 0.25%
2092 -0.09% 0.22%
2091 -0.07% 0.26%
2090 -0.06% 0.27%
2089 -0.05% 0.3%
2088 -0.04% 0.23%
2087 -0.01% 0.29%
2086 -0.02% 0.35%
2085 -0.007% 0.37%
2084 -0% 0.33%
2083 0.008% 0.35%
2082 0.02% 0.34%
2081 0.03% 0.54%
2080 0.06% 0.48%
2079 0.08% 0.43%
2078 0.1% 0.52%
2077 0.11% 0.51%
2076 0.11% 0.5%
2075 0.15% 0.58%
2074 0.16% 0.69%
2073 0.17% 0.53%
2072 0.2% 0.68%
2071 0.24% 0.54%
2070 0.26% 0.64%
2069 0.28% 0.63%
2068 0.29% 0.63%
2067 0.3% 0.6%
2066 0.3% 0.51%
2065 0.33% 0.62%
2064 0.35% 0.61%
2063 0.4% 0.55%
2062 0.42% 0.67%
2061 0.44% 0.55%
2060 0.47% 0.68%
2059 0.48% 0.61%
2058 0.5% 0.52%
2057 0.52% 0.66%
2056 0.56% 0.64%
2055 0.56% 0.58%
2054 0.6% 0.69%
2053 0.64% 0.58%
2052 0.68% 0.73%
2051 0.69% 0.67%
2050 0.72% 0.69%
2049 0.75% 0.7%
2048 0.79% 0.82%
2047 0.8% 0.71%
2046 0.82% 0.65%
2045 0.84% 0.67%
2044 0.87% 0.71%
2043 0.89% 0.72%
2042 0.92% 0.57%
2041 0.93% 0.46%
2040 0.95% 0.56%
2039 0.97% 0.44%
2038 0.98% 0.31%
2037 1.02% 0.17%
2036 1.03% 0.1%
2035 1.03% 0.08%
2034 1.04% -0.1%
2033 1.05% -0.22%
2032 1.05% -0.27%
2031 1.05% -0.56%
2030 1.07% -0.66%
2029 1.08% -0.83%
2028 1.08% -1.02%
2027 1.1% -1.23%
2026 1.1% -1.51%
2025 1.11% -1.6%
2024 1.12% -1.73%
2023 1.11% -1.76%
2022 1.09% -1.98%
2021 1.15% -1.97%
2020 1.19% -1.72%
2019 1.18% -1.58%
2018 1.23% -1.09%
2017 1.25% -0.56%
2016 1.23% -0.3%
2015 1.18% -0.19%
2014 1.15% -0.15%
2013 1.09% 0.61%
2012 1.01% 1.43%
2011 0.89% 1.56%
2010 0.78% 1.46%
2009 0.73% 1.36%
2008 0.68% 1.37%
2007 0.42% 1.25%
2006 -0.41% 1.17%
2005 -0.92% 1.26%
2004 -0.7% 1.25%
2003 -0.48% 0.75%
2002 -0.31% 0.39%
2001 -0.15% 0.44%
2000 0.03% 0.51%
1999 0.26% 0.48%
1998 0.5% 0.54%
1997 0.8% 0.62%
1996 1.08% 0.67%
1995 1.23% 0.79%
1994 1.36% 0.89%
1993 1.52% 0.97%
1992 1.68% 1.23%
1991 1.81% 1.48%
1990 1.93% 1.57%
1989 2.05% 1.69%
1988 2.14% 1.76%
1987 2.24% 1.87%
1986 2.57% 2.13%
1985 2.87% 1.82%
1984 2.9% 1.45%
1983 2.93% 1.63%
1982 2.95% 1.83%
1981 2.95% 2.17%
1980 2.95% 2.53%
1979 2.93% 3.26%
1978 2.89% 4.05%
1977 2.93% 4.4%
1976 3.26% 4.69%
1975 3.52% 5.07%
1974 3.51% 2.48%
1973 3.53% -0.19%
1972 3.58% 0.12%
1971 3.63% 0.39%
1970 3.67% 0.57%
1969 3.7% 0.12%
1968 3.73% -0.5%
1967 3.64% -0.6%
1966 3.25% -0.51%
1965 2.97% -0.64%
1964 2.99% 0.02%
1963 3.01% 0.91%
1962 3.03% 0.9%
1961 3.03% 0.89%

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/tuvalu | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Tuvalu's population declined by 1.6%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Tuvalu
Current population
2402837
9349
Population rank 143/197 196/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.0001%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
2.38 days
One birth every
9.46 minutes
1.73 days
One death every
21.5 minutes
4.1 days
Daily growth/decline +71 +0
Annual growth/decline +25,902 -154
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% -1.6%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 195/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.44 days
Annual migration change -5,192 -255
Net migration rank 117/196 86/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 246
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 195/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 126/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Tuvalu
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Tuvalu
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -255
2024 31,050 -5,107 122 -280
2023 31,115 -5,168 137 -323
2022 30,803 -6,023 150 -320
2021 27,806 -3,449 151 -366
2020 30,721 -3,449 161 -355
2019 32,279 -6,896 166 -343
2018 33,112 -6,892 169 -329
2017 33,601 -6,850 163 -246
2016 33,390 -6,766 157 -200
2015 32,087 -7,087 153 -179
2014 30,922 -6,877 149 -166
2013 29,789 -6,659 148 -160
2012 27,592 -6,425 148 1
2011 25,647 -6,118 142 28
2010 21,877 -5,886 136 22
2009 20,335 -5,599 130 15
2008 19,349 -5,392 125 10
2007 17,763 -5,179 125 1
2006 15,234 -11,416 129 -5
2005 15,831 -35,679 131 -8
2004 17,271 -33,530 132 -10
2003 20,133 -31,723 136 -16
2002 22,274 -29,924 141 -104
2001 23,190 -27,874 151 -117
2000 24,786 -26,220 159 -118
1999 27,393 -24,610 166 -120
1998 30,889 -23,299 172 -122
1997 34,637 -22,396 177 -120
1996 36,228 -17,042 182 -121
1995 37,370 -14,588 191 -125
1994 38,629 -13,953 195 -120
1993 40,505 -13,347 202 -119
1992 42,579 -12,707 196 -104
1991 44,026 -12,114 203 -72
1990 45,060 -11,598 204 -69
1989 46,264 -11,207 208 -71
1988 47,158 -11,028 215 -72
1987 47,718 -10,946 219 -68
1986 45,232 -7,501 219 -56
1985 44,575 1,222 215 -36
1984 43,785 1,199 212 -103
1983 42,899 1,253 206 -87
1982 41,941 1,281 198 -66
1981 40,808 1,307 186 -46
1980 39,617 1,361 173 0
1979 38,440 1,285 158 37
1978 37,084 1,047 141 119
1977 35,654 746 128 149
1976 34,117 2,986 117 171
1975 32,311 9,723 108 186
1974 30,444 9,972 102 197
1973 28,859 10,183 101 -121
1972 27,841 10,386 94 -102
1971 26,838 10,563 101 -85
1970 25,935 10,605 102 -71
1969 25,137 10,465 102 -65
1968 24,490 10,108 97 -127
1967 23,911 9,734 92 -123
1966 23,326 7,248 91 -121
1965 22,755 2,239 93 -128
1964 22,116 2,198 98 -135
1963 21,585 2,220 106 -52
1962 21,132 2,172 113 -61
1961 20,581 2,100 120 -77
1960 19,981 1,989 126 -79

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/tuvalu | 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 Tuvalu 34.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,529 people) and 65.8% is from migration (a loss of 2,941 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 246 people or 2.6% in Tuvalu.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Tuvalu
City Population
Funafuti 6.02K
Vaiaku 516

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/tuvalu | 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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