Skip to content

Population in Lesotho compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 4.88 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Lesotho vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho UAE
2100 3,280,784 26,368,750
2099 3,286,697 26,130,374
2098 3,292,498 25,894,010
2097 3,298,102 25,660,062
2096 3,303,027 25,427,961
2095 3,307,947 25,197,670
2094 3,312,002 24,968,891
2093 3,315,757 24,741,434
2092 3,319,661 24,515,086
2091 3,322,573 24,289,496
2090 3,324,769 24,064,404
2089 3,326,847 23,839,033
2088 3,328,480 23,613,963
2087 3,329,964 23,388,786
2086 3,330,456 23,163,641
2085 3,331,259 22,938,169
2084 3,331,485 22,711,804
2083 3,331,492 22,484,154
2082 3,331,234 22,255,625
2081 3,330,412 22,026,183
2080 3,329,267 21,796,073
2079 3,327,166 21,565,118
2078 3,324,646 21,333,574
2077 3,321,422 21,101,274
2076 3,317,850 20,868,733
2075 3,314,237 20,636,203
2074 3,309,174 20,404,044
2073 3,303,860 20,171,659
2072 3,298,181 19,940,853
2071 3,291,492 19,710,934
2070 3,283,654 19,483,026
2069 3,275,244 19,256,572
2068 3,266,152 19,032,681
2067 3,256,626 18,811,331
2066 3,246,903 18,593,017
2065 3,237,153 18,377,364
2064 3,226,489 18,164,584
2063 3,215,103 17,955,352
2062 3,202,287 17,749,596
2061 3,188,933 17,547,827
2060 3,174,998 17,349,620
2059 3,160,204 17,153,273
2058 3,145,053 16,959,263
2057 3,129,261 16,767,893
2056 3,113,129 16,579,195
2055 3,095,904 16,392,558
2054 3,078,567 16,207,309
2053 3,060,152 16,024,789
2052 3,040,649 15,844,357
2051 3,020,109 15,665,362
2050 2,999,457 15,487,008
2049 2,978,037 15,309,031
2048 2,955,727 15,132,784
2047 2,932,688 14,958,209
2046 2,909,307 14,788,046
2045 2,885,537 14,620,902
2044 2,861,372 14,454,466
2043 2,836,777 14,289,021
2042 2,811,663 14,124,515
2041 2,786,147 13,961,010
2040 2,760,391 13,798,651
2039 2,734,400 13,637,499
2038 2,708,216 13,477,450
2037 2,681,863 13,319,346
2036 2,654,755 13,163,073
2035 2,627,701 13,009,160
2034 2,600,880 12,857,729
2033 2,574,065 12,709,520
2032 2,547,344 12,564,906
2031 2,520,831 12,424,286
2030 2,494,646 12,288,186
2029 2,468,268 12,148,661
2028 2,441,871 11,999,549
2027 2,415,830 11,831,082
2026 2,389,516 11,632,806
2025 2,363,516 11,367,504
2024 2,337,423 10,986,400
2023 2,311,472 10,483,751
2022 2,286,110 10,074,977
2021 2,261,542 9,575,152
2020 2,235,727 9,401,038
2019 2,209,405 9,445,785
2018 2,183,603 9,346,701
2017 2,157,110 9,223,225
2016 2,130,422 8,935,095
2015 2,104,611 8,505,237
2014 2,080,089 8,059,440
2013 2,056,504 7,693,031
2012 2,034,354 7,391,448
2011 2,014,009 7,104,538
2010 1,996,251 6,869,838
2009 1,980,883 6,707,058
2008 1,966,541 6,302,664
2007 1,953,268 5,624,635
2006 1,945,063 5,009,100
2005 1,953,076 4,664,790
2004 1,971,129 4,428,967
2003 1,985,059 4,192,457
2002 1,994,679 3,956,826
2001 2,000,853 3,723,590
2000 2,003,913 3,493,575
1999 2,003,234 3,266,009
1998 1,998,049 3,040,421
1997 1,988,130 2,817,410
1996 1,972,418 2,597,564
1995 1,951,437 2,434,662
1994 1,927,707 2,328,188
1993 1,901,793 2,222,093
1992 1,873,274 2,114,730
1991 1,842,379 2,006,626
1990 1,809,696 1,898,220
1989 1,775,436 1,789,851
1988 1,739,841 1,681,788
1987 1,703,390 1,574,244
1986 1,666,138 1,467,383
1985 1,624,379 1,377,911
1984 1,578,986 1,305,996
1983 1,534,413 1,235,305
1982 1,490,732 1,166,370
1981 1,448,069 1,099,855
1980 1,406,521 1,015,700
1979 1,366,169 912,010
1978 1,327,240 809,274
1977 1,289,967 710,209
1976 1,253,214 615,866
1975 1,213,643 542,856
1974 1,172,420 489,087
1973 1,132,697 436,399
1972 1,094,063 385,014
1971 1,056,246 335,027
1970 1,019,273 286,536
1969 983,202 239,660
1968 948,105 199,416
1967 913,982 179,700
1966 881,870 173,976
1965 854,090 167,103
1964 829,437 159,692
1963 805,373 152,211
1962 781,814 144,946
1961 758,824 137,989
1960 736,500 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho UAE
2100 -0.18% 0.91%
2099 -0.18% 0.91%
2098 -0.17% 0.91%
2097 -0.15% 0.91%
2096 -0.15% 0.91%
2095 -0.12% 0.92%
2094 -0.11% 0.92%
2093 -0.12% 0.92%
2092 -0.09% 0.93%
2091 -0.07% 0.94%
2090 -0.06% 0.95%
2089 -0.05% 0.95%
2088 -0.04% 0.96%
2087 -0.01% 0.97%
2086 -0.02% 0.98%
2085 -0.007% 1%
2084 -0% 1.01%
2083 0.008% 1.03%
2082 0.02% 1.04%
2081 0.03% 1.06%
2080 0.06% 1.07%
2079 0.08% 1.09%
2078 0.1% 1.1%
2077 0.11% 1.11%
2076 0.11% 1.13%
2075 0.15% 1.14%
2074 0.16% 1.15%
2073 0.17% 1.16%
2072 0.2% 1.17%
2071 0.24% 1.17%
2070 0.26% 1.18%
2069 0.28% 1.18%
2068 0.29% 1.18%
2067 0.3% 1.17%
2066 0.3% 1.17%
2065 0.33% 1.17%
2064 0.35% 1.17%
2063 0.4% 1.16%
2062 0.42% 1.15%
2061 0.44% 1.14%
2060 0.47% 1.14%
2059 0.48% 1.14%
2058 0.5% 1.14%
2057 0.52% 1.14%
2056 0.56% 1.14%
2055 0.56% 1.14%
2054 0.6% 1.14%
2053 0.64% 1.14%
2052 0.68% 1.14%
2051 0.69% 1.15%
2050 0.72% 1.16%
2049 0.75% 1.16%
2048 0.79% 1.17%
2047 0.8% 1.15%
2046 0.82% 1.14%
2045 0.84% 1.15%
2044 0.87% 1.16%
2043 0.89% 1.16%
2042 0.92% 1.17%
2041 0.93% 1.18%
2040 0.95% 1.18%
2039 0.97% 1.19%
2038 0.98% 1.19%
2037 1.02% 1.19%
2036 1.03% 1.18%
2035 1.03% 1.18%
2034 1.04% 1.17%
2033 1.05% 1.15%
2032 1.05% 1.13%
2031 1.05% 1.11%
2030 1.07% 1.15%
2029 1.08% 1.24%
2028 1.08% 1.42%
2027 1.1% 1.7%
2026 1.1% 2.33%
2025 1.12% 3.47%
2024 1.12% 4.79%
2023 1.11% 4.06%
2022 1.09% 5.22%
2021 1.15% 1.85%
2020 1.19% -0.47%
2019 1.18% 1.06%
2018 1.23% 1.34%
2017 1.25% 3.22%
2016 1.23% 5.05%
2015 1.18% 5.53%
2014 1.15% 4.76%
2013 1.09% 4.08%
2012 1.01% 4.04%
2011 0.89% 3.42%
2010 0.78% 2.43%
2009 0.73% 6.42%
2008 0.68% 12.1%
2007 0.42% 12.3%
2006 -0.41% 7.38%
2005 -0.92% 5.32%
2004 -0.7% 5.64%
2003 -0.48% 5.96%
2002 -0.31% 6.26%
2001 -0.15% 6.58%
2000 0.03% 6.97%
1999 0.26% 7.42%
1998 0.5% 7.92%
1997 0.8% 8.46%
1996 1.08% 6.69%
1995 1.23% 4.57%
1994 1.36% 4.77%
1993 1.52% 5.08%
1992 1.68% 5.39%
1991 1.81% 5.71%
1990 1.93% 6.05%
1989 2.05% 6.43%
1988 2.14% 6.83%
1987 2.24% 7.28%
1986 2.57% 6.49%
1985 2.87% 5.51%
1984 2.9% 5.72%
1983 2.93% 5.91%
1982 2.95% 6.05%
1981 2.95% 8.29%
1980 2.95% 11.4%
1979 2.93% 12.7%
1978 2.89% 13.9%
1977 2.93% 15.3%
1976 3.26% 13.4%
1975 3.52% 11%
1974 3.51% 12.1%
1973 3.53% 13.3%
1972 3.58% 14.9%
1971 3.63% 16.9%
1970 3.67% 19.6%
1969 3.7% 20.2%
1968 3.73% 11%
1967 3.64% 3.29%
1966 3.25% 4.11%
1965 2.97% 4.64%
1964 2.99% 4.91%
1963 3.01% 5.01%
1962 3.03% 5.04%
1961 3.03% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Lesotho UAE
Current population
2396633
11686438
Population rank 143/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.14%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 3/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +158,634
Net migration rank 117/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 158,634
2024 - -5,107 - 278,439
2023 31,115 -5,168 92,698 300,004
2022 30,803 -6,023 81,758 322,773
2021 27,806 -3,449 76,802 421,663
2020 30,721 -3,449 87,871 92,541
2019 32,279 -6,896 86,296 -125,186
2018 33,112 -6,892 86,840 14,611
2017 33,601 -6,850 89,382 34,155
2016 33,390 -6,766 87,028 195,317
2015 32,087 -7,087 85,044 342,468
2014 30,922 -6,877 84,277 360,174
2013 29,789 -6,659 82,977 279,269
2012 27,592 -6,425 78,682 225,921
2011 25,647 -6,118 73,496 215,183
2010 21,877 -5,886 69,907 161,842
2009 20,335 -5,599 66,521 163,643
2008 19,349 -5,392 55,426 523,207
2007 17,763 -5,179 55,048 722,380
2006 15,234 -11,416 54,338 399,306
2005 15,831 -35,679 60,046 174,926
2004 17,271 -33,530 60,344 176,319
2003 20,133 -31,723 59,118 177,237
2002 22,274 -29,924 55,922 178,988
2001 23,190 -27,874 52,789 178,779
2000 24,786 -26,220 49,993 178,469
1999 27,393 -24,610 46,198 180,469
1998 30,889 -23,299 41,176 183,329
1997 34,637 -22,396 38,207 183,310
1996 36,228 -17,042 37,886 180,296
1995 37,370 -14,588 38,685 68,938
1994 38,629 -13,953 42,976 62,352
1993 40,505 -13,347 41,324 65,545
1992 42,579 -12,707 42,119 65,739
1991 44,026 -12,114 41,409 66,943
1990 45,060 -11,598 41,339 67,118
1989 46,264 -11,207 40,148 68,132
1988 47,158 -11,028 38,861 68,991
1987 47,718 -10,946 37,741 69,493
1986 45,232 -7,501 36,829 69,655
1985 44,575 1,222 34,855 37,605
1984 43,785 1,199 33,250 38,124
1983 42,899 1,253 31,480 38,536
1982 41,941 1,281 29,585 38,276
1981 40,808 1,307 27,560 37,600
1980 39,617 1,361 25,005 78,148
1979 38,440 1,285 21,987 82,238
1978 37,084 1,047 18,879 82,359
1977 35,654 746 15,787 81,111
1976 34,117 2,986 12,876 78,903
1975 32,311 9,723 11,859 42,380
1974 30,444 9,972 10,835 42,474
1973 28,859 10,183 9,822 42,243
1972 27,841 10,386 8,818 41,888
1971 26,838 10,563 7,839 41,425
1970 25,935 10,605 6,922 40,792
1969 25,137 10,465 6,138 39,902
1968 24,490 10,108 5,588 28,866
1967 23,911 9,734 5,264 -283
1966 23,326 7,248 4,955 1,516
1965 22,755 2,239 4,675 2,598
1964 22,116 2,198 4,410 3,126
1963 21,585 2,220 4,157 3,264
1962 21,132 2,172 3,901 3,212
1961 20,581 2,100 3,657 3,141
1960 19,981 1,989 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.