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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 143.5 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.18% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Lesotho vs United States: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho United States
2100 3,280,784 415,429,771
2099 3,286,697 414,829,167
2098 3,292,498 414,231,720
2097 3,298,102 413,576,381
2096 3,303,027 412,927,393
2095 3,307,947 412,225,379
2094 3,312,002 411,498,749
2093 3,315,757 410,785,729
2092 3,319,661 410,051,921
2091 3,322,573 409,320,183
2090 3,324,769 408,613,732
2089 3,326,847 407,885,645
2088 3,328,480 407,129,733
2087 3,329,964 406,421,298
2086 3,330,456 405,715,343
2085 3,331,259 405,059,379
2084 3,331,485 404,343,130
2083 3,331,492 403,612,785
2082 3,331,234 402,871,293
2081 3,330,412 402,054,554
2080 3,329,267 401,319,194
2079 3,327,166 400,554,914
2078 3,324,646 399,737,968
2077 3,321,422 398,906,565
2076 3,317,850 398,035,750
2075 3,314,237 397,109,170
2074 3,309,174 396,226,412
2073 3,303,860 395,307,725
2072 3,298,181 394,393,561
2071 3,291,492 393,415,363
2070 3,283,654 392,469,727
2069 3,275,244 391,479,981
2068 3,266,152 390,517,695
2067 3,256,626 389,543,856
2066 3,246,903 388,597,719
2065 3,237,153 387,685,327
2064 3,226,489 386,805,026
2063 3,215,103 385,911,917
2062 3,202,287 385,032,627
2061 3,188,933 384,170,837
2060 3,174,998 383,361,269
2059 3,160,204 382,542,030
2058 3,145,053 381,704,804
2057 3,129,261 380,907,023
2056 3,113,129 380,159,777
2055 3,095,904 379,430,756
2054 3,078,567 378,682,851
2053 3,060,152 377,878,421
2052 3,040,649 377,073,303
2051 3,020,109 376,229,840
2050 2,999,457 375,373,155
2049 2,978,037 374,493,150
2048 2,955,727 373,590,762
2047 2,932,688 372,626,259
2046 2,909,307 371,644,809
2045 2,885,537 370,602,914
2044 2,861,372 369,518,897
2043 2,836,777 368,375,680
2042 2,811,663 367,158,772
2041 2,786,147 365,937,822
2040 2,760,391 364,671,837
2039 2,734,400 363,367,337
2038 2,708,216 361,997,023
2037 2,681,863 360,606,236
2036 2,654,755 359,193,245
2035 2,627,701 357,750,686
2034 2,600,880 356,266,726
2033 2,574,065 354,775,032
2032 2,547,344 353,259,037
2031 2,520,831 351,721,511
2030 2,494,646 350,155,042
2029 2,468,268 348,564,667
2028 2,441,871 346,906,294
2027 2,415,830 345,257,605
2026 2,389,516 343,565,426
2025 2,363,516 341,784,857
2024 2,337,423 340,110,988
2023 2,311,472 334,914,895
2022 2,286,110 333,271,411
2021 2,261,542 331,893,745
2020 2,235,727 331,526,933
2019 2,209,405 328,329,953
2018 2,183,603 326,838,199
2017 2,157,110 325,122,128
2016 2,130,422 323,071,755
2015 2,104,611 320,738,994
2014 2,080,089 318,386,329
2013 2,056,504 316,059,947
2012 2,034,354 313,877,662
2011 2,014,009 311,583,481
2010 1,996,251 309,327,143
2009 1,980,883 306,771,529
2008 1,966,541 304,093,966
2007 1,953,268 301,231,207
2006 1,945,063 298,379,912
2005 1,953,076 295,516,599
2004 1,971,129 292,805,298
2003 1,985,059 290,107,933
2002 1,994,679 287,625,193
2001 2,000,853 284,968,955
2000 2,003,913 282,162,411
1999 2,003,234 279,294,713
1998 1,998,049 276,115,288
1997 1,988,130 272,911,760
1996 1,972,418 269,667,391
1995 1,951,437 266,557,091
1994 1,927,707 263,435,673
1993 1,901,793 260,255,352
1992 1,873,274 256,894,189
1991 1,842,379 253,492,503
1990 1,809,696 250,131,894
1989 1,775,436 246,819,222
1988 1,739,841 244,499,004
1987 1,703,390 242,288,936
1986 1,666,138 240,132,831
1985 1,624,379 237,923,734
1984 1,578,986 235,824,908
1983 1,534,413 233,792,014
1982 1,490,732 231,664,432
1981 1,448,069 229,465,744
1980 1,406,521 226,542,250
1979 1,366,169 225,055,487
1978 1,327,240 222,584,545
1977 1,289,967 220,239,425
1976 1,253,214 218,035,164
1975 1,213,643 215,973,199
1974 1,172,420 213,853,928
1973 1,132,697 211,908,788
1972 1,094,063 209,896,021
1971 1,056,246 207,660,677
1970 1,019,273 205,052,174
1969 983,202 202,676,946
1968 948,105 200,706,052
1967 913,982 198,712,056
1966 881,870 196,560,338
1965 854,090 194,302,963
1964 829,437 191,888,791
1963 805,373 189,241,798
1962 781,814 186,537,737
1961 758,824 183,691,481
1960 736,500 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho United States
2100 -0.18% 0.14%
2099 -0.18% 0.14%
2098 -0.17% 0.16%
2097 -0.15% 0.16%
2096 -0.15% 0.17%
2095 -0.12% 0.18%
2094 -0.11% 0.17%
2093 -0.12% 0.18%
2092 -0.09% 0.18%
2091 -0.07% 0.17%
2090 -0.06% 0.18%
2089 -0.05% 0.19%
2088 -0.04% 0.17%
2087 -0.01% 0.17%
2086 -0.02% 0.16%
2085 -0.007% 0.18%
2084 -0% 0.18%
2083 0.008% 0.18%
2082 0.02% 0.2%
2081 0.03% 0.18%
2080 0.06% 0.19%
2079 0.08% 0.2%
2078 0.1% 0.21%
2077 0.11% 0.22%
2076 0.11% 0.23%
2075 0.15% 0.22%
2074 0.16% 0.23%
2073 0.17% 0.23%
2072 0.2% 0.25%
2071 0.24% 0.24%
2070 0.26% 0.25%
2069 0.28% 0.25%
2068 0.29% 0.25%
2067 0.3% 0.24%
2066 0.3% 0.24%
2065 0.33% 0.23%
2064 0.35% 0.23%
2063 0.4% 0.23%
2062 0.42% 0.22%
2061 0.44% 0.21%
2060 0.47% 0.21%
2059 0.48% 0.22%
2058 0.5% 0.21%
2057 0.52% 0.2%
2056 0.56% 0.19%
2055 0.56% 0.2%
2054 0.6% 0.21%
2053 0.64% 0.21%
2052 0.68% 0.22%
2051 0.69% 0.23%
2050 0.72% 0.23%
2049 0.75% 0.24%
2048 0.79% 0.26%
2047 0.8% 0.26%
2046 0.82% 0.28%
2045 0.84% 0.29%
2044 0.87% 0.31%
2043 0.89% 0.33%
2042 0.92% 0.33%
2041 0.93% 0.35%
2040 0.95% 0.36%
2039 0.97% 0.38%
2038 0.98% 0.39%
2037 1.02% 0.39%
2036 1.03% 0.4%
2035 1.03% 0.42%
2034 1.04% 0.42%
2033 1.05% 0.43%
2032 1.05% 0.44%
2031 1.05% 0.45%
2030 1.07% 0.46%
2029 1.08% 0.48%
2028 1.08% 0.48%
2027 1.1% 0.49%
2026 1.1% 0.52%
2025 1.12% 0.49%
2024 1.12% 1.55%
2023 1.11% 0.49%
2022 1.09% 0.42%
2021 1.15% 0.11%
2020 1.19% 0.97%
2019 1.18% 0.46%
2018 1.23% 0.53%
2017 1.25% 0.63%
2016 1.23% 0.73%
2015 1.18% 0.74%
2014 1.15% 0.74%
2013 1.09% 0.7%
2012 1.01% 0.74%
2011 0.89% 0.73%
2010 0.78% 0.83%
2009 0.73% 0.88%
2008 0.68% 0.95%
2007 0.42% 0.96%
2006 -0.41% 0.97%
2005 -0.92% 0.93%
2004 -0.7% 0.93%
2003 -0.48% 0.86%
2002 -0.31% 0.93%
2001 -0.15% 0.99%
2000 0.03% 1.03%
1999 0.26% 1.15%
1998 0.5% 1.17%
1997 0.8% 1.2%
1996 1.08% 1.17%
1995 1.23% 1.18%
1994 1.36% 1.22%
1993 1.52% 1.31%
1992 1.68% 1.34%
1991 1.81% 1.34%
1990 1.93% 1.34%
1989 2.05% 0.95%
1988 2.14% 0.91%
1987 2.24% 0.9%
1986 2.57% 0.93%
1985 2.87% 0.89%
1984 2.9% 0.87%
1983 2.93% 0.92%
1982 2.95% 0.96%
1981 2.95% 1.29%
1980 2.95% 0.66%
1979 2.93% 1.11%
1978 2.89% 1.06%
1977 2.93% 1.01%
1976 3.26% 0.95%
1975 3.52% 0.99%
1974 3.51% 0.92%
1973 3.53% 0.96%
1972 3.58% 1.08%
1971 3.63% 1.27%
1970 3.67% 1.17%
1969 3.7% 0.98%
1968 3.73% 1%
1967 3.64% 1.09%
1966 3.25% 1.16%
1965 2.97% 1.26%
1964 2.99% 1.4%
1963 3.01% 1.45%
1962 3.03% 1.55%
1961 3.03% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Lesotho United States
Current population
2396633
344023146
Population rank 143/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 4.15%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
8.8 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +71 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 134/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -5,192 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 117/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 1,230,663
2024 - -5,107 - 1,286,132
2023 31,115 -5,168 502,372 1,322,668
2022 30,803 -6,023 399,926 1,319,009
2021 27,806 -3,449 199,137 674,787
2020 30,721 -3,449 208,862 329,769
2019 32,279 -6,896 887,476 1,774,500
2018 33,112 -6,892 955,022 1,764,961
2017 33,601 -6,850 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 33,390 -6,766 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 32,087 -7,087 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 30,922 -6,877 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 29,789 -6,659 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 27,592 -6,425 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 25,647 -6,118 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 21,877 -5,886 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 20,335 -5,599 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 19,349 -5,392 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 17,763 -5,179 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 15,234 -11,416 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 15,831 -35,679 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 17,271 -33,530 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 20,133 -31,723 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 22,274 -29,924 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 23,190 -27,874 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 24,786 -26,220 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 27,393 -24,610 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 30,889 -23,299 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 34,637 -22,396 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 36,228 -17,042 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 37,370 -14,588 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 38,629 -13,953 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 40,505 -13,347 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 42,579 -12,707 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 44,026 -12,114 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 45,060 -11,598 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 46,264 -11,207 1,875,826 400,998
1988 47,158 -11,028 1,735,943 460,778
1987 47,718 -10,946 1,720,252 480,815
1986 45,232 -7,501 1,656,917 493,082
1985 44,575 1,222 1,689,258 598,777
1984 43,785 1,199 1,627,192 622,793
1983 42,899 1,253 1,636,544 662,840
1982 41,941 1,281 1,714,317 600,149
1981 40,808 1,307 1,652,153 583,070
1980 39,617 1,361 1,608,450 595,916
1979 38,440 1,285 1,597,894 503,559
1978 37,084 1,047 1,402,283 556,521
1977 35,654 746 1,431,556 577,060
1976 34,117 2,986 1,264,604 635,590
1975 32,311 9,723 1,252,644 655,078
1974 30,444 9,972 1,218,968 706,978
1973 28,859 10,183 1,165,499 783,163
1972 27,841 10,386 1,301,355 833,543
1971 26,838 10,563 1,640,519 833,549
1970 25,935 10,605 1,824,965 744,902
1969 25,137 10,465 1,702,487 523,740
1968 24,490 10,108 1,565,507 594,514
1967 23,911 9,734 1,669,181 585,410
1966 23,326 7,248 1,749,387 637,692
1965 22,755 2,239 1,943,030 644,902
1964 22,116 2,198 2,245,099 618,635
1963 21,585 2,220 2,289,826 639,495
1962 21,132 2,172 2,406,337 625,617
1961 20,581 2,100 2,571,681 580,333
1960 19,981 1,989 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
United States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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