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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 51,384,894 people in Uganda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 53,495,325 in Uganda.

Population statistics:

  • Uganda's population is 22.3 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Uganda is the 30th.
  • The countries together account for 0.67% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.64% for Uganda.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +3.19% in Uganda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Uganda has grown from 28.8M to 53.5M (85.8% growth).

Lesotho vs Uganda: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Uganda
2100 3,280,518 122,461,518
2099 3,286,430 122,400,118
2098 3,292,231 122,328,333
2097 3,297,835 122,230,315
2096 3,302,758 122,110,905
2095 3,307,678 121,940,556
2094 3,311,734 121,763,948
2093 3,315,488 121,549,120
2092 3,319,391 121,301,128
2091 3,322,303 121,034,858
2090 3,324,499 120,731,912
2089 3,326,577 120,392,371
2088 3,328,210 120,029,300
2087 3,329,694 119,633,372
2086 3,330,185 119,221,630
2085 3,330,989 118,780,837
2084 3,331,214 118,304,392
2083 3,331,221 117,787,304
2082 3,330,964 117,240,484
2081 3,330,141 116,673,088
2080 3,328,997 116,061,969
2079 3,326,895 115,440,209
2078 3,324,376 114,771,629
2077 3,321,152 114,085,142
2076 3,317,581 113,356,858
2075 3,313,968 112,604,741
2074 3,308,905 111,830,528
2073 3,303,592 111,038,122
2072 3,297,913 110,208,535
2071 3,291,224 109,360,734
2070 3,283,387 108,473,738
2069 3,274,978 107,576,028
2068 3,265,887 106,646,220
2067 3,256,362 105,691,752
2066 3,246,639 104,708,323
2065 3,236,890 103,707,399
2064 3,226,227 102,671,371
2063 3,214,843 101,616,654
2062 3,202,027 100,532,299
2061 3,188,674 99,421,530
2060 3,174,740 98,305,883
2059 3,159,947 97,158,930
2058 3,144,797 95,986,215
2057 3,129,007 94,793,892
2056 3,112,877 93,585,691
2055 3,095,653 92,357,892
2054 3,078,317 91,106,039
2053 3,059,904 89,831,291
2052 3,040,402 88,542,276
2051 3,019,864 87,244,950
2050 2,999,214 85,932,109
2049 2,977,795 84,607,399
2048 2,955,487 83,260,483
2047 2,932,450 81,904,082
2046 2,909,071 80,545,542
2045 2,885,303 79,185,378
2044 2,861,140 77,812,065
2043 2,836,547 76,431,508
2042 2,811,435 75,053,218
2041 2,785,921 73,680,031
2040 2,760,167 72,312,112
2039 2,734,178 70,942,351
2038 2,707,996 69,559,994
2037 2,681,646 68,166,092
2036 2,654,540 66,785,108
2035 2,627,488 65,392,706
2034 2,600,669 64,004,533
2033 2,573,856 62,616,072
2032 2,547,137 61,217,174
2031 2,520,626 59,807,490
2030 2,494,444 58,398,308
2029 2,468,067 56,989,526
2028 2,441,673 55,580,177
2027 2,415,634 54,175,341
2026 2,389,322 52,777,106
2025 2,363,325 51,384,894
2024 2,337,423 50,015,092
2023 2,311,472 48,656,601
2022 2,286,110 47,312,719
2021 2,261,542 45,910,930
2020 2,235,727 44,457,152
2019 2,209,405 42,999,637
2018 2,183,603 41,565,831
2017 2,157,110 40,177,388
2016 2,130,422 38,799,152
2015 2,104,611 37,531,446
2014 2,080,089 36,395,539
2013 2,056,504 35,337,042
2012 2,034,354 34,337,438
2011 2,014,009 33,354,543
2010 1,996,251 32,390,802
2009 1,980,883 31,451,151
2008 1,966,541 30,539,553
2007 1,953,268 29,653,430
2006 1,945,063 28,794,003
2005 1,953,076 27,963,289
2004 1,971,129 27,154,515
2003 1,985,059 26,352,124
2002 1,994,679 25,532,870
2001 2,000,853 24,745,676
2000 2,003,913 24,000,150
1999 2,003,234 23,257,281
1998 1,998,049 22,515,806
1997 1,988,130 21,856,046
1996 1,972,418 21,231,550
1995 1,951,437 20,665,667
1994 1,927,707 20,108,801
1993 1,901,793 19,445,161
1992 1,873,274 18,785,032
1991 1,842,379 18,155,901
1990 1,809,696 17,569,897
1989 1,775,436 17,010,698
1988 1,739,841 16,470,483
1987 1,703,390 15,954,170
1986 1,666,138 15,467,579
1985 1,624,379 15,023,681
1984 1,578,986 14,607,677
1983 1,534,413 14,221,881
1982 1,490,732 13,873,631
1981 1,448,069 13,556,452
1980 1,406,521 13,275,741
1979 1,366,169 13,002,163
1978 1,327,240 12,692,113
1977 1,289,967 12,359,669
1976 1,253,214 12,037,294
1975 1,213,643 11,725,240
1974 1,172,420 11,424,846
1973 1,132,697 11,144,236
1972 1,094,063 10,885,796
1971 1,056,246 10,618,206
1970 1,019,273 10,321,603
1969 983,202 10,014,858
1968 948,105 9,708,632
1967 913,982 9,408,924
1966 881,870 9,122,864
1965 854,090 8,849,203
1964 829,437 8,586,363
1963 805,373 8,333,663
1962 781,814 8,092,231
1961 758,824 7,862,217
1960 736,500 7,640,973

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/uganda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Uganda gained 10,005,149 people (a 34.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Uganda's population increased by 14,696,173 people (a 37.9% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Uganda was ranked 38th in 2006 and ranked 30th 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 Uganda will increase by 60.6% to 85,932,109 people and rank change from 30th to 20th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 122M people in 2100 for Uganda.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Uganda
2100 -0.18% 0.05%
2099 -0.18% 0.06%
2098 -0.17% 0.08%
2097 -0.15% 0.1%
2096 -0.15% 0.14%
2095 -0.12% 0.15%
2094 -0.11% 0.18%
2093 -0.12% 0.2%
2092 -0.09% 0.22%
2091 -0.07% 0.25%
2090 -0.06% 0.28%
2089 -0.05% 0.3%
2088 -0.04% 0.33%
2087 -0.01% 0.35%
2086 -0.02% 0.37%
2085 -0.007% 0.4%
2084 -0% 0.44%
2083 0.008% 0.47%
2082 0.02% 0.49%
2081 0.03% 0.53%
2080 0.06% 0.54%
2079 0.08% 0.58%
2078 0.1% 0.6%
2077 0.11% 0.64%
2076 0.11% 0.67%
2075 0.15% 0.69%
2074 0.16% 0.71%
2073 0.17% 0.75%
2072 0.2% 0.78%
2071 0.24% 0.82%
2070 0.26% 0.83%
2069 0.28% 0.87%
2068 0.29% 0.9%
2067 0.3% 0.94%
2066 0.3% 0.97%
2065 0.33% 1.01%
2064 0.35% 1.04%
2063 0.4% 1.08%
2062 0.42% 1.12%
2061 0.44% 1.13%
2060 0.47% 1.18%
2059 0.48% 1.22%
2058 0.5% 1.26%
2057 0.52% 1.29%
2056 0.56% 1.33%
2055 0.56% 1.37%
2054 0.6% 1.42%
2053 0.64% 1.46%
2052 0.68% 1.49%
2051 0.69% 1.53%
2050 0.72% 1.57%
2049 0.75% 1.62%
2048 0.79% 1.66%
2047 0.8% 1.69%
2046 0.82% 1.72%
2045 0.84% 1.76%
2044 0.87% 1.81%
2043 0.89% 1.84%
2042 0.92% 1.86%
2041 0.93% 1.89%
2040 0.95% 1.93%
2039 0.97% 1.99%
2038 0.98% 2.04%
2037 1.02% 2.07%
2036 1.03% 2.13%
2035 1.03% 2.17%
2034 1.04% 2.22%
2033 1.05% 2.29%
2032 1.05% 2.36%
2031 1.05% 2.41%
2030 1.07% 2.47%
2029 1.08% 2.54%
2028 1.08% 2.59%
2027 1.1% 2.65%
2026 1.1% 2.71%
2025 1.11% 2.74%
2024 1.12% 2.79%
2023 1.11% 2.84%
2022 1.09% 3.05%
2021 1.15% 3.27%
2020 1.19% 3.39%
2019 1.18% 3.45%
2018 1.23% 3.46%
2017 1.25% 3.55%
2016 1.23% 3.38%
2015 1.18% 3.12%
2014 1.15% 3%
2013 1.09% 2.91%
2012 1.01% 2.95%
2011 0.89% 2.98%
2010 0.78% 2.99%
2009 0.73% 2.98%
2008 0.68% 2.99%
2007 0.42% 2.98%
2006 -0.41% 2.97%
2005 -0.92% 2.98%
2004 -0.7% 3.04%
2003 -0.48% 3.21%
2002 -0.31% 3.18%
2001 -0.15% 3.11%
2000 0.03% 3.19%
1999 0.26% 3.29%
1998 0.5% 3.02%
1997 0.8% 2.94%
1996 1.08% 2.74%
1995 1.23% 2.77%
1994 1.36% 3.41%
1993 1.52% 3.51%
1992 1.68% 3.47%
1991 1.81% 3.34%
1990 1.93% 3.29%
1989 2.05% 3.28%
1988 2.14% 3.24%
1987 2.24% 3.15%
1986 2.57% 2.95%
1985 2.87% 2.85%
1984 2.9% 2.71%
1983 2.93% 2.51%
1982 2.95% 2.34%
1981 2.95% 2.11%
1980 2.95% 2.1%
1979 2.93% 2.44%
1978 2.89% 2.69%
1977 2.93% 2.68%
1976 3.26% 2.66%
1975 3.52% 2.63%
1974 3.51% 2.52%
1973 3.53% 2.37%
1972 3.58% 2.52%
1971 3.63% 2.87%
1970 3.67% 3.06%
1969 3.7% 3.15%
1968 3.73% 3.19%
1967 3.64% 3.14%
1966 3.25% 3.09%
1965 2.97% 3.06%
1964 2.99% 3.03%
1963 3.01% 2.98%
1962 3.03% 2.93%
1961 3.03% 2.9%

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/uganda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Uganda's population grew by 2.74%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Uganda
Current population
2402837
53495325
Population rank 143/197 30/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.64%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
23.1 seconds
One birth every
9.46 minutes
18.3 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
2.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +3,753
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +1,369,802
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +2.74%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 21/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
4.43 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -119,059
Net migration rank 117/196 183/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 2,057,759
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 37/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 106/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Uganda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Uganda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -119,059
2024 31,050 -5,107 1,483,898 -117,924
2023 31,115 -5,168 1,477,166 -126,181
2022 30,803 -6,023 1,455,576 -118,843
2021 27,806 -3,449 1,423,377 43,464
2020 30,721 -3,449 1,397,288 43,464
2019 32,279 -6,896 1,367,044 107,210
2018 33,112 -6,892 1,332,600 60,724
2017 33,601 -6,850 1,290,658 92,879
2016 33,390 -6,766 1,249,565 123,379
2015 32,087 -7,087 1,224,839 -62,366
2014 30,922 -6,877 1,201,599 -92,273
2013 29,789 -6,659 1,184,250 -176,579
2012 27,592 -6,425 1,167,473 -175,936
2011 25,647 -6,118 1,147,263 -173,005
2010 21,877 -5,886 1,121,564 -168,322
2009 20,335 -5,599 1,090,600 -164,553
2008 19,349 -5,392 1,055,935 -158,790
2007 17,763 -5,179 1,029,893 -154,773
2006 15,234 -11,416 999,958 -156,232
2005 15,831 -35,679 969,096 -151,386
2004 17,271 -33,530 938,623 -138,770
2003 20,133 -31,723 901,374 -96,429
2002 22,274 -29,924 868,756 -35,149
2001 23,190 -27,874 836,751 -95,956
2000 24,786 -26,220 803,069 -52,824
1999 27,393 -24,610 775,166 -39,695
1998 30,889 -23,299 741,175 6,277
1997 34,637 -22,396 727,523 -155,461
1996 36,228 -17,042 699,707 -22,795
1995 37,370 -14,588 697,218 -242,378
1994 38,629 -13,953 675,092 -16,198
1993 40,505 -13,347 650,032 18,349
1992 42,579 -12,707 627,139 24,723
1991 44,026 -12,114 602,740 3,643
1990 45,060 -11,598 587,291 -21,688
1989 46,264 -11,207 565,367 -12,576
1988 47,158 -11,028 547,759 -20,113
1987 47,718 -10,946 527,397 -22,415
1986 45,232 -7,501 487,693 -19,485
1985 44,575 1,222 462,534 -42,942
1984 43,785 1,199 421,241 -8,818
1983 42,899 1,253 404,940 -45,776
1982 41,941 1,281 390,820 -53,497
1981 40,808 1,307 380,028 -83,010
1980 39,617 1,361 370,287 -105,900
1979 38,440 1,285 381,626 -98,863
1978 37,084 1,047 371,930 -34,606
1977 35,654 746 365,216 -37,671
1976 34,117 2,986 359,458 -42,259
1975 32,311 9,723 354,278 -47,359
1974 30,444 9,972 345,773 -51,910
1973 28,859 10,183 340,780 -73,439
1972 27,841 10,386 335,935 -86,409
1971 26,838 10,563 328,294 -42,642
1970 25,935 10,605 333,202 -25,646
1969 25,137 10,465 320,486 -14,548
1968 24,490 10,108 309,725 -3,214
1967 23,911 9,734 296,692 -3,773
1966 23,326 7,248 282,225 -3,021
1965 22,755 2,239 271,830 -3,716
1964 22,116 2,198 260,733 -3,169
1963 21,585 2,220 250,885 -3,058
1962 21,132 2,172 241,513 -6,470
1961 20,581 2,100 232,894 -7,893
1960 19,981 1,989 225,080 -7,586

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/uganda | 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 Uganda 99.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 13,702,011 people) and 0.33% is from migration (a gain of 45,806 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 2,057,759 people or 4.1% in Uganda.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Uganda
City Population
Kampala 1.68M
Mbale 586K
Arua 385K
Kira Town 317K
Jinja 279K
Gulu 177K
Kasese 134K
Entebbe 70K
Tororo 42.9K

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/uganda | 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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