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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 29.2 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

Lesotho vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho United Kingdom
2100 3,280,518 74,517,005
2099 3,286,430 74,647,273
2098 3,292,231 74,766,073
2097 3,297,835 74,879,923
2096 3,302,758 74,991,940
2095 3,307,678 75,102,041
2094 3,311,734 75,198,597
2093 3,315,488 75,296,704
2092 3,319,391 75,390,038
2091 3,322,303 75,480,137
2090 3,324,499 75,566,962
2089 3,326,577 75,649,353
2088 3,328,210 75,721,067
2087 3,329,694 75,791,990
2086 3,330,185 75,859,854
2085 3,330,989 75,918,647
2084 3,331,214 75,969,065
2083 3,331,221 76,018,614
2082 3,330,964 76,059,464
2081 3,330,141 76,086,593
2080 3,328,997 76,118,679
2079 3,326,895 76,147,352
2078 3,324,376 76,165,841
2077 3,321,152 76,183,437
2076 3,317,581 76,185,828
2075 3,313,968 76,198,349
2074 3,308,905 76,209,676
2073 3,303,592 76,218,781
2072 3,297,913 76,211,187
2071 3,291,224 76,200,495
2070 3,283,387 76,190,801
2069 3,274,978 76,184,140
2068 3,265,887 76,183,288
2067 3,256,362 76,175,881
2066 3,246,639 76,168,987
2065 3,236,890 76,168,193
2064 3,226,227 76,165,129
2063 3,214,843 76,165,534
2062 3,202,027 76,158,910
2061 3,188,674 76,156,587
2060 3,174,740 76,157,104
2059 3,159,947 76,157,593
2058 3,144,797 76,139,384
2057 3,129,007 76,119,478
2056 3,112,877 76,086,799
2055 3,095,653 76,047,952
2054 3,078,317 75,980,524
2053 3,059,904 75,907,047
2052 3,040,402 75,815,200
2051 3,019,864 75,709,173
2050 2,999,214 75,591,218
2049 2,977,795 75,460,140
2048 2,955,487 75,313,837
2047 2,932,450 75,153,802
2046 2,909,071 74,986,563
2045 2,885,303 74,808,886
2044 2,861,140 74,623,687
2043 2,836,547 74,424,133
2042 2,811,435 74,224,922
2041 2,785,921 74,020,934
2040 2,760,167 73,812,680
2039 2,734,178 73,600,788
2038 2,707,996 73,378,310
2037 2,681,646 73,155,497
2036 2,654,540 72,921,995
2035 2,627,488 72,671,687
2034 2,600,669 72,418,766
2033 2,573,856 72,145,065
2032 2,547,137 71,869,259
2031 2,520,626 71,581,519
2030 2,494,444 71,267,237
2029 2,468,067 70,948,992
2028 2,441,673 70,609,246
2027 2,415,634 70,248,858
2026 2,389,322 69,883,746
2025 2,363,325 69,487,000
2024 2,337,423 69,281,000
2023 2,311,472 68,526,000
2022 2,286,110 67,636,000
2021 2,261,542 66,978,000
2020 2,235,727 66,740,000
2019 2,209,405 66,628,000
2018 2,183,603 66,287,000
2017 2,157,110 65,964,000
2016 2,130,422 65,606,000
2015 2,104,611 65,087,000
2014 2,080,089 64,619,000
2013 2,056,504 64,138,000
2012 2,034,354 63,711,000
2011 2,014,009 63,258,810
2010 1,996,251 62,766,365
2009 1,980,883 62,276,270
2008 1,966,541 61,806,995
2007 1,953,268 61,322,463
2006 1,945,063 60,846,820
2005 1,953,076 60,401,206
2004 1,971,129 59,987,905
2003 1,985,059 59,647,577
2002 1,994,679 59,370,479
2001 2,000,853 59,119,673
2000 2,003,913 58,892,514
1999 2,003,234 58,682,466
1998 1,998,049 58,487,141
1997 1,988,130 58,316,954
1996 1,972,418 58,166,950
1995 1,951,437 58,019,030
1994 1,927,707 57,865,745
1993 1,901,793 57,718,614
1992 1,873,274 57,580,402
1991 1,842,379 57,424,897
1990 1,809,696 57,247,586
1989 1,775,436 57,076,711
1988 1,739,841 56,928,327
1987 1,703,390 56,802,050
1986 1,666,138 56,681,396
1985 1,624,379 56,550,268
1984 1,578,986 56,422,072
1983 1,534,413 56,332,848
1982 1,490,732 56,313,641
1981 1,448,069 56,333,829
1980 1,406,521 56,314,216
1979 1,366,169 56,246,951
1978 1,327,240 56,196,504
1977 1,289,967 56,193,492
1976 1,253,214 56,211,968
1975 1,213,643 56,225,800
1974 1,172,420 56,229,974
1973 1,132,697 56,194,527
1972 1,094,063 56,086,065
1971 1,056,246 55,896,223
1970 1,019,273 55,663,250
1969 983,202 55,441,750
1968 948,105 55,211,700
1967 913,982 54,943,600
1966 881,870 54,648,500
1965 854,090 54,348,050
1964 829,437 54,000,000
1963 805,373 53,650,000
1962 781,814 53,250,000
1961 758,824 52,800,000
1960 736,500 52,400,000

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 76.2M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho United Kingdom
2100 -0.18% -0.17%
2099 -0.18% -0.16%
2098 -0.17% -0.15%
2097 -0.15% -0.15%
2096 -0.15% -0.15%
2095 -0.12% -0.13%
2094 -0.11% -0.13%
2093 -0.12% -0.12%
2092 -0.09% -0.12%
2091 -0.07% -0.11%
2090 -0.06% -0.11%
2089 -0.05% -0.09%
2088 -0.04% -0.09%
2087 -0.01% -0.09%
2086 -0.02% -0.08%
2085 -0.007% -0.07%
2084 -0% -0.07%
2083 0.008% -0.05%
2082 0.02% -0.04%
2081 0.03% -0.04%
2080 0.06% -0.04%
2079 0.08% -0.02%
2078 0.1% -0.02%
2077 0.11% -0.003%
2076 0.11% -0.02%
2075 0.15% -0.01%
2074 0.16% -0.01%
2073 0.17% 0.01%
2072 0.2% 0.01%
2071 0.24% 0.01%
2070 0.26% 0.009%
2069 0.28% 0.001%
2068 0.29% 0.01%
2067 0.3% 0.009%
2066 0.3% 0.001%
2065 0.33% 0.004%
2064 0.35% -0%
2063 0.4% 0.009%
2062 0.42% 0.003%
2061 0.44% -0.001%
2060 0.47% -0.001%
2059 0.48% 0.02%
2058 0.5% 0.03%
2057 0.52% 0.04%
2056 0.56% 0.05%
2055 0.56% 0.09%
2054 0.6% 0.1%
2053 0.64% 0.12%
2052 0.68% 0.14%
2051 0.69% 0.16%
2050 0.72% 0.17%
2049 0.75% 0.19%
2048 0.79% 0.21%
2047 0.8% 0.22%
2046 0.82% 0.24%
2045 0.84% 0.25%
2044 0.87% 0.27%
2043 0.89% 0.27%
2042 0.92% 0.28%
2041 0.93% 0.28%
2040 0.95% 0.29%
2039 0.97% 0.3%
2038 0.98% 0.3%
2037 1.02% 0.32%
2036 1.03% 0.34%
2035 1.03% 0.35%
2034 1.04% 0.38%
2033 1.05% 0.38%
2032 1.05% 0.4%
2031 1.05% 0.44%
2030 1.07% 0.45%
2029 1.08% 0.48%
2028 1.08% 0.51%
2027 1.1% 0.52%
2026 1.1% 0.57%
2025 1.11% 0.3%
2024 1.12% 1.1%
2023 1.11% 1.32%
2022 1.09% 0.98%
2021 1.15% 0.36%
2020 1.19% 0.17%
2019 1.18% 0.51%
2018 1.23% 0.49%
2017 1.25% 0.55%
2016 1.23% 0.8%
2015 1.18% 0.72%
2014 1.15% 0.75%
2013 1.09% 0.67%
2012 1.01% 0.71%
2011 0.89% 0.78%
2010 0.78% 0.79%
2009 0.73% 0.76%
2008 0.68% 0.79%
2007 0.42% 0.78%
2006 -0.41% 0.74%
2005 -0.92% 0.69%
2004 -0.7% 0.57%
2003 -0.48% 0.47%
2002 -0.31% 0.42%
2001 -0.15% 0.39%
2000 0.03% 0.36%
1999 0.26% 0.33%
1998 0.5% 0.29%
1997 0.8% 0.26%
1996 1.08% 0.25%
1995 1.23% 0.26%
1994 1.36% 0.25%
1993 1.52% 0.24%
1992 1.68% 0.27%
1991 1.81% 0.31%
1990 1.93% 0.3%
1989 2.05% 0.26%
1988 2.14% 0.22%
1987 2.24% 0.21%
1986 2.57% 0.23%
1985 2.87% 0.23%
1984 2.9% 0.16%
1983 2.93% 0.03%
1982 2.95% -0.04%
1981 2.95% 0.03%
1980 2.95% 0.12%
1979 2.93% 0.09%
1978 2.89% 0.005%
1977 2.93% -0.03%
1976 3.26% -0.02%
1975 3.52% -0.007%
1974 3.51% 0.06%
1973 3.53% 0.19%
1972 3.58% 0.34%
1971 3.63% 0.42%
1970 3.67% 0.4%
1969 3.7% 0.42%
1968 3.73% 0.49%
1967 3.64% 0.54%
1966 3.25% 0.55%
1965 2.97% 0.64%
1964 2.99% 0.65%
1963 3.01% 0.75%
1962 3.03% 0.85%
1961 3.03% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

Lesotho United Kingdom
Current population
2402837
70071289
Population rank 143/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.84%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
2.56 minutes
One birth every
9.46 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +71 +564
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 145/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 +389,911
Net migration rank 117/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 389,911
2024 31,050 -5,107 13,233 417,114
2023 31,115 -5,168 34,606 445,523
2022 30,803 -6,023 39,770 487,029
2021 27,806 -3,449 30,609 462,967
2020 30,721 -3,449 -4,272 144,221
2019 32,279 -6,896 108,338 232,727
2018 33,112 -6,892 119,317 259,744
2017 33,601 -6,850 145,121 272,311
2016 33,390 -6,766 177,136 324,649
2015 32,087 -7,087 175,735 347,839
2014 30,922 -6,877 206,781 306,091
2013 29,789 -6,659 198,827 237,272
2012 27,592 -6,425 248,473 172,088
2011 25,647 -6,118 259,361 228,773
2010 21,877 -5,886 251,066 274,811
2009 20,335 -5,599 230,422 249,639
2008 19,349 -5,392 216,325 263,390
2007 17,763 -5,179 196,232 309,385
2006 15,234 -11,416 176,455 288,923
2005 15,831 -35,679 144,963 308,279
2004 17,271 -33,530 131,974 276,077
2003 20,133 -31,723 89,471 211,846
2002 22,274 -29,924 65,308 203,577
2001 23,190 -27,874 65,032 175,133
2000 24,786 -26,220 70,671 153,917
1999 27,393 -24,610 64,551 152,653
1998 30,889 -23,299 87,730 125,541
1997 34,637 -22,396 99,138 59,723
1996 36,228 -17,042 98,884 54,964
1995 37,370 -14,588 87,028 61,385
1994 38,629 -13,953 127,304 45,339
1993 40,505 -13,347 103,893 27,403
1992 42,579 -12,707 149,709 17,846
1991 44,026 -12,114 143,562 27,601
1990 45,060 -11,598 154,569 57,132
1989 46,264 -11,207 119,861 49,586
1988 47,158 -11,028 136,628 13,952
1987 47,718 -10,946 136,325 8,266
1986 45,232 -7,501 90,690 41,836
1985 44,575 1,222 79,170 83,164
1984 43,785 1,199 84,633 71,107
1983 42,899 1,253 61,966 27,063
1982 41,941 1,281 56,314 -61,152
1981 40,808 1,307 73,234 -83,876
1980 39,617 1,361 95,734 -25,187
1979 38,440 1,285 61,872 11,255
1978 37,084 1,047 16,859 3,783
1977 35,654 746 0 -21,636
1976 34,117 2,986 -5,621 -19,135
1975 32,311 9,723 33,735 -40,241
1974 30,444 9,972 67,476 -65,710
1973 28,859 10,183 112,389 -33,840
1972 27,841 10,386 162,650 -1,406
1971 26,838 10,563 257,123 1,175
1970 25,935 10,605 244,918 -15,254
1969 25,137 10,465 260,577 -60,655
1968 24,490 10,108 292,622 -38,852
1967 23,911 9,734 346,145 -39,659
1966 23,326 7,248 333,356 -27,935
1965 22,755 2,239 364,132 -24,955
1964 22,116 2,198 405,000 -23,885
1963 21,585 2,220 337,995 8,271
1962 21,132 2,172 340,800 76,443
1961 20,581 2,100 311,519 52,295
1960 19,981 1,989 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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