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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 4.95 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 (23.5% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% 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 3,280,518 26,706,595
2099 3,286,430 26,465,166
2098 3,292,231 26,225,773
2097 3,297,835 25,988,828
2096 3,302,758 25,753,753
2095 3,307,678 25,520,511
2094 3,311,734 25,288,801
2093 3,315,488 25,058,430
2092 3,319,391 24,829,182
2091 3,322,303 24,600,702
2090 3,324,499 24,372,725
2089 3,326,577 24,144,467
2088 3,328,210 23,916,513
2087 3,329,694 23,688,452
2086 3,330,185 23,460,422
2085 3,330,989 23,232,061
2084 3,331,214 23,002,795
2083 3,331,221 22,772,229
2082 3,330,964 22,540,771
2081 3,330,141 22,308,390
2080 3,328,997 22,075,331
2079 3,326,895 21,841,417
2078 3,324,376 21,606,907
2077 3,321,152 21,371,631
2076 3,317,581 21,136,110
2075 3,313,968 20,900,601
2074 3,308,905 20,665,468
2073 3,303,592 20,430,105
2072 3,297,913 20,196,342
2071 3,291,224 19,963,477
2070 3,283,387 19,732,649
2069 3,274,978 19,503,294
2068 3,265,887 19,276,535
2067 3,256,362 19,052,348
2066 3,246,639 18,831,237
2065 3,236,890 18,612,821
2064 3,226,227 18,397,315
2063 3,214,843 18,185,402
2062 3,202,027 17,977,010
2061 3,188,674 17,772,656
2060 3,174,740 17,571,910
2059 3,159,947 17,373,047
2058 3,144,797 17,176,551
2057 3,129,007 16,982,730
2056 3,112,877 16,791,613
2055 3,095,653 16,602,585
2054 3,078,317 16,414,963
2053 3,059,904 16,230,105
2052 3,040,402 16,047,360
2051 3,019,864 15,866,073
2050 2,999,214 15,685,433
2049 2,977,795 15,505,176
2048 2,955,487 15,326,671
2047 2,932,450 15,149,859
2046 2,909,071 14,977,516
2045 2,885,303 14,808,230
2044 2,861,140 14,639,661
2043 2,836,547 14,472,097
2042 2,811,435 14,305,483
2041 2,785,921 14,139,883
2040 2,760,167 13,975,444
2039 2,734,178 13,812,227
2038 2,707,996 13,650,128
2037 2,681,646 13,489,998
2036 2,654,540 13,331,723
2035 2,627,488 13,175,838
2034 2,600,669 13,022,467
2033 2,573,856 12,872,359
2032 2,547,137 12,725,892
2031 2,520,626 12,583,470
2030 2,494,444 12,445,626
2029 2,468,067 12,304,314
2028 2,441,673 12,153,292
2027 2,415,634 11,982,666
2026 2,389,322 11,781,850
2025 2,363,325 11,513,149
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% 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 24.8% to 2,999,214 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 26.7M 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 1.11% 4.79%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Lesotho UAE
Current population
2402837
11885001
Population rank 143/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.14%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1 minute
One birth every
9.46 minutes
4.87 minutes
One death every
21.5 minutes
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,443
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 1/197
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 31,050 -5,107 97,197 278,439
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 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
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
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 (1960–2025, 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/united-arab-emirates | 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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