The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 327,777 people in Vanuatu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 344,750 in Vanuatu.
Population statistics:
- Lesotho's population is 6.95 times bigger than Vanuatu's.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
- The countries together account for 0.03% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 345K (59.7% growth).
Lesotho vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,784 | 883,219 |
| 2099 | 3,286,697 | 878,572 |
| 2098 | 3,292,498 | 873,798 |
| 2097 | 3,298,102 | 868,872 |
| 2096 | 3,303,027 | 863,899 |
| 2095 | 3,307,947 | 858,713 |
| 2094 | 3,312,002 | 853,379 |
| 2093 | 3,315,757 | 847,908 |
| 2092 | 3,319,661 | 842,392 |
| 2091 | 3,322,573 | 836,807 |
| 2090 | 3,324,769 | 831,106 |
| 2089 | 3,326,847 | 825,333 |
| 2088 | 3,328,480 | 819,413 |
| 2087 | 3,329,964 | 813,386 |
| 2086 | 3,330,456 | 807,304 |
| 2085 | 3,331,259 | 801,030 |
| 2084 | 3,331,485 | 794,642 |
| 2083 | 3,331,492 | 788,195 |
| 2082 | 3,331,234 | 781,693 |
| 2081 | 3,330,412 | 775,091 |
| 2080 | 3,329,267 | 768,410 |
| 2079 | 3,327,166 | 761,593 |
| 2078 | 3,324,646 | 754,638 |
| 2077 | 3,321,422 | 747,679 |
| 2076 | 3,317,850 | 740,583 |
| 2075 | 3,314,237 | 733,404 |
| 2074 | 3,309,174 | 726,144 |
| 2073 | 3,303,860 | 718,748 |
| 2072 | 3,298,181 | 711,260 |
| 2071 | 3,291,492 | 703,705 |
| 2070 | 3,283,654 | 696,123 |
| 2069 | 3,275,244 | 688,506 |
| 2068 | 3,266,152 | 680,826 |
| 2067 | 3,256,626 | 673,074 |
| 2066 | 3,246,903 | 665,248 |
| 2065 | 3,237,153 | 657,389 |
| 2064 | 3,226,489 | 649,466 |
| 2063 | 3,215,103 | 641,532 |
| 2062 | 3,202,287 | 633,599 |
| 2061 | 3,188,933 | 625,729 |
| 2060 | 3,174,998 | 617,794 |
| 2059 | 3,160,204 | 609,801 |
| 2058 | 3,145,053 | 601,770 |
| 2057 | 3,129,261 | 593,715 |
| 2056 | 3,113,129 | 585,658 |
| 2055 | 3,095,904 | 577,507 |
| 2054 | 3,078,567 | 569,335 |
| 2053 | 3,060,152 | 561,113 |
| 2052 | 3,040,649 | 552,889 |
| 2051 | 3,020,109 | 544,646 |
| 2050 | 2,999,457 | 536,304 |
| 2049 | 2,978,037 | 527,975 |
| 2048 | 2,955,727 | 519,610 |
| 2047 | 2,932,688 | 511,256 |
| 2046 | 2,909,307 | 502,817 |
| 2045 | 2,885,537 | 494,393 |
| 2044 | 2,861,372 | 485,933 |
| 2043 | 2,836,777 | 477,540 |
| 2042 | 2,811,663 | 469,142 |
| 2041 | 2,786,147 | 460,812 |
| 2040 | 2,760,391 | 452,499 |
| 2039 | 2,734,400 | 444,231 |
| 2038 | 2,708,216 | 435,987 |
| 2037 | 2,681,863 | 427,825 |
| 2036 | 2,654,755 | 419,744 |
| 2035 | 2,627,701 | 411,746 |
| 2034 | 2,600,880 | 403,811 |
| 2033 | 2,574,065 | 395,944 |
| 2032 | 2,547,344 | 388,203 |
| 2031 | 2,520,831 | 380,500 |
| 2030 | 2,494,646 | 372,841 |
| 2029 | 2,468,268 | 365,246 |
| 2028 | 2,441,871 | 357,704 |
| 2027 | 2,415,830 | 350,204 |
| 2026 | 2,389,516 | 342,728 |
| 2025 | 2,363,516 | 335,246 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 327,777 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 320,409 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 313,046 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 305,868 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 298,858 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 291,985 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | 285,259 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 278,507 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | 272,087 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 266,101 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 260,240 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 254,482 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 248,883 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 243,474 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 238,248 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 232,731 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 226,896 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 221,276 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 215,923 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 210,760 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 205,711 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 200,746 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 195,863 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 191,031 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 186,281 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | 182,048 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | 178,313 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | 174,626 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | 170,911 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | 167,137 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | 163,314 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | 159,463 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | 155,608 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | 151,793 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | 148,063 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | 144,393 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | 140,756 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | 137,187 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | 133,720 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | 130,356 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | 127,109 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | 123,998 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | 121,035 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | 118,249 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | 115,660 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | 113,040 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | 109,963 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | 106,618 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | 103,388 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | 100,269 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | 97,260 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | 94,362 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | 91,562 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | 88,862 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | 86,266 |
| 1969 | 983,202 | 83,755 |
| 1968 | 948,105 | 81,314 |
| 1967 | 913,982 | 78,921 |
| 1966 | 881,870 | 76,590 |
| 1965 | 854,090 | 74,358 |
| 1964 | 829,437 | 72,219 |
| 1963 | 805,373 | 70,159 |
| 1962 | 781,814 | 68,174 |
| 1961 | 758,824 | 66,264 |
| 1960 | 736,500 | 64,431 |
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/vanuatu | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Vanuatu's population increased by 72,663 people (a 26.7% growth).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 55.6% to 536,304 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 883K people in 2100 for Vanuatu.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | 0.53% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | 0.55% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | 0.57% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | 0.58% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | 0.6% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | 0.63% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | 0.65% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | 0.65% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | 0.67% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | 0.69% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | 0.7% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | 0.72% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | 0.74% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | 0.75% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | 0.78% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | 0.8% |
| 2084 | -0% | 0.82% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | 0.83% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | 0.85% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | 0.87% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | 0.9% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | 0.92% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | 0.93% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | 0.96% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | 0.98% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | 1% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | 1.03% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | 1.05% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | 1.07% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | 1.09% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 1.11% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | 1.13% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | 1.15% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | 1.18% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | 1.22% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | 1.24% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | 1.25% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | 1.26% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | 1.28% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 1.31% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | 1.33% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 1.36% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | 1.38% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | 1.41% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | 1.44% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | 1.47% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | 1.49% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | 1.51% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | 1.56% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | 1.58% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | 1.61% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | 1.63% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | 1.68% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | 1.7% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | 1.74% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | 1.76% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | 1.79% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | 1.81% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | 1.84% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | 1.86% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | 1.89% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | 1.91% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | 1.93% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | 1.94% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | 1.97% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | 1.99% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | 1.99% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | 2.02% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | 2.05% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | 2.08% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | 2.11% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | 2.14% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | 2.18% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | 2.23% |
| 2025 | 1.12% | 2.28% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | 2.3% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | 2.35% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | 2.35% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | 2.35% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | 2.35% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 2.36% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 2.42% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 2.36% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 2.25% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 2.25% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 2.26% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | 2.25% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | 2.22% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | 2.19% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 2.37% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 2.57% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 2.54% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | 2.48% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 2.45% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 2.45% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 2.47% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 2.49% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 2.53% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 2.55% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | 2.33% |
| 1999 | 0.26% | 2.09% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | 2.11% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | 2.17% |
| 1996 | 1.08% | 2.26% |
| 1995 | 1.23% | 2.34% |
| 1994 | 1.36% | 2.41% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 2.48% |
| 1992 | 1.68% | 2.51% |
| 1991 | 1.81% | 2.52% |
| 1990 | 1.93% | 2.54% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 2.58% |
| 1988 | 2.14% | 2.6% |
| 1987 | 2.24% | 2.59% |
| 1986 | 2.57% | 2.58% |
| 1985 | 2.87% | 2.55% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | 2.51% |
| 1983 | 2.93% | 2.45% |
| 1982 | 2.95% | 2.36% |
| 1981 | 2.95% | 2.24% |
| 1980 | 2.95% | 2.32% |
| 1979 | 2.93% | 2.8% |
| 1978 | 2.89% | 3.14% |
| 1977 | 2.93% | 3.12% |
| 1976 | 3.26% | 3.11% |
| 1975 | 3.52% | 3.09% |
| 1974 | 3.51% | 3.07% |
| 1973 | 3.53% | 3.06% |
| 1972 | 3.58% | 3.04% |
| 1971 | 3.63% | 3.01% |
| 1970 | 3.67% | 3% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | 3% |
| 1968 | 3.73% | 3.03% |
| 1967 | 3.64% | 3.04% |
| 1966 | 3.25% | 3% |
| 1965 | 2.97% | 2.96% |
| 1964 | 2.99% | 2.94% |
| 1963 | 3.01% | 2.91% |
| 1962 | 3.03% | 2.88% |
| 1961 | 3.03% | 2.84% |
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/vanuatu | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.3%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2396633
|
344750
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 174/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.004% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
1.19 hours
|
| One birth every |
9.43 minutes
|
58.5 minutes
|
| One death every |
21.4 minutes
|
5.38 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | +20 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,951 | +7,368 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.12% | +2.3% |
| Population growth rate rank | 93/197 | 38/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
1.01 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | -52 |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | 80/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | 3,315 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | 188/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 | 155/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Vanuatu
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | -52 |
| 2024 | - | -5,107 | - | -43 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | 7,359 | 0 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | 7,358 | 0 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | 7,199 | -201 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | 7,233 | -201 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | 7,364 | -652 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | 7,379 | -638 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | 7,371 | -610 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | 7,315 | -1,235 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | 7,220 | -1,324 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | 7,143 | -1,320 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | 7,036 | -1,343 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | 6,877 | -1,369 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | 6,715 | -1,395 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | 6,548 | -1,413 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | 6,362 | -467 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | 6,138 | -372 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | 5,842 | -374 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | 5,606 | -364 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | 5,454 | -364 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | 5,353 | -349 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | 5,258 | -342 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | 5,181 | -329 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | 5,144 | -328 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | 5,026 | -339 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | 4,871 | -1,090 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | 4,866 | -1,178 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | 4,854 | -1,166 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | 4,897 | -1,154 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | 4,945 | -1,140 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | 4,973 | -1,132 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | 4,973 | -1,115 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | 4,941 | -1,095 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | 4,859 | -1,078 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | 4,762 | -1,072 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | 4,656 | -1,006 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | 4,577 | -959 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | 4,427 | -907 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | 4,360 | -938 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | 4,219 | -916 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | 4,088 | -907 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | 3,944 | -899 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | 3,778 | -897 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | 3,592 | -896 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | 3,383 | -896 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | 3,590 | -845 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | 3,428 | -15 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | 3,285 | -3 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | 3,174 | 3 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | 3,074 | -15 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | 2,968 | -17 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | 2,876 | -22 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | 2,775 | -28 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | 2,685 | -40 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | 2,597 | -46 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | 2,529 | -53 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | 2,470 | -68 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | 2,384 | 0 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | 2,278 | 0 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | 2,180 | 0 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | 2,098 | 0 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | 2,025 | 0 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | 1,947 | 0 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | 1,872 | 0 |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | 1,796 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 92.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 72,941 people) and 7.81% is from migration (a loss of 6,181 people).
As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Lesotho and Vanuatu
|
Lesotho
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 72 years |
| Average age | 25.8 years | 25.6 years |
| Median age | 22.7 years | 21.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 2.69 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 72.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/vanuatu | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- 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.