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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 50,015,092 people in Uganda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 53,170,946 in Uganda.

Population statistics:

  • Uganda's population is 22.2 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 +3.21% in Uganda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Uganda has grown from 28.8M to 53.2M (84.7% growth).

Lesotho vs Uganda: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Uganda
2100 3,280,784 122,497,526
2099 3,286,697 122,436,109
2098 3,292,498 122,364,302
2097 3,298,102 122,266,255
2096 3,303,027 122,146,810
2095 3,307,947 121,976,411
2094 3,312,002 121,799,752
2093 3,315,757 121,584,860
2092 3,319,661 121,336,796
2091 3,322,573 121,070,447
2090 3,324,769 120,767,412
2089 3,326,847 120,427,771
2088 3,328,480 120,064,594
2087 3,329,964 119,668,549
2086 3,330,456 119,256,686
2085 3,331,259 118,815,763
2084 3,331,485 118,339,179
2083 3,331,492 117,821,938
2082 3,331,234 117,274,958
2081 3,330,412 116,707,394
2080 3,329,267 116,096,095
2079 3,327,166 115,474,153
2078 3,324,646 114,805,376
2077 3,321,422 114,118,687
2076 3,317,850 113,390,189
2075 3,314,237 112,637,851
2074 3,309,174 111,863,410
2073 3,303,860 111,070,771
2072 3,298,181 110,240,940
2071 3,291,492 109,392,890
2070 3,283,654 108,505,633
2069 3,275,244 107,607,659
2068 3,266,152 106,677,578
2067 3,256,626 105,722,829
2066 3,246,903 104,739,111
2065 3,237,153 103,737,893
2064 3,226,489 102,701,560
2063 3,215,103 101,646,533
2062 3,202,287 100,561,859
2061 3,188,933 99,450,764
2060 3,174,998 98,334,788
2059 3,160,204 97,187,498
2058 3,145,053 96,014,439
2057 3,129,261 94,821,765
2056 3,113,129 93,613,209
2055 3,095,904 92,385,049
2054 3,078,567 91,132,827
2053 3,060,152 89,857,705
2052 3,040,649 88,568,311
2051 3,020,109 87,270,603
2050 2,999,457 85,957,376
2049 2,978,037 84,632,277
2048 2,955,727 83,284,965
2047 2,932,688 81,928,165
2046 2,909,307 80,569,225
2045 2,885,537 79,208,662
2044 2,861,372 77,834,944
2043 2,836,777 76,453,982
2042 2,811,663 75,075,287
2041 2,786,147 73,701,695
2040 2,760,391 72,333,375
2039 2,734,400 70,963,211
2038 2,708,216 69,580,447
2037 2,681,863 68,186,136
2036 2,654,755 66,804,746
2035 2,627,701 65,411,934
2034 2,600,880 64,023,352
2033 2,574,065 62,634,483
2032 2,547,344 61,235,174
2031 2,520,831 59,825,075
2030 2,494,646 58,415,479
2029 2,468,268 57,006,283
2028 2,441,871 55,596,520
2027 2,415,830 54,191,271
2026 2,389,516 52,792,624
2025 2,363,516 51,400,003
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Uganda's population increased by 14,371,794 people (a 37% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Uganda will increase by 61.7% to 85,957,376 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 1.12% 2.77%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Uganda's population grew by 2.79%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Uganda
Current population
2396633
53170946
Population rank 143/197 30/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.64%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
23.2 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
18.4 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.23 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +3,722
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +1,358,491
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.79%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 22/197
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 - -5,107 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/uganda | 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 Uganda 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 13,419,712 people) and 0.53% is from migration (a gain of 71,457 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 101K
Entebbe 70K
Tororo 41.9K

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/uganda | 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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