The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.
Population statistics:
- Lesotho's population is 2,561 times bigger than the Vatican's.
- Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
- The countries together account for 0.03% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
- For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
- Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).
Lesotho vs Vatican: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Lesotho
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 3,280,784 | 2,521 |
| 2099 | 3,286,697 | 2,506 |
| 2098 | 3,292,498 | 2,497 |
| 2097 | 3,298,102 | 2,482 |
| 2096 | 3,303,027 | 2,469 |
| 2095 | 3,307,947 | 2,452 |
| 2094 | 3,312,002 | 2,435 |
| 2093 | 3,315,757 | 2,421 |
| 2092 | 3,319,661 | 2,400 |
| 2091 | 3,322,573 | 2,384 |
| 2090 | 3,324,769 | 2,359 |
| 2089 | 3,326,847 | 2,337 |
| 2088 | 3,328,480 | 2,319 |
| 2087 | 3,329,964 | 2,291 |
| 2086 | 3,330,456 | 2,269 |
| 2085 | 3,331,259 | 2,248 |
| 2084 | 3,331,485 | 2,217 |
| 2083 | 3,331,492 | 2,183 |
| 2082 | 3,331,234 | 2,159 |
| 2081 | 3,330,412 | 2,129 |
| 2080 | 3,329,267 | 2,105 |
| 2079 | 3,327,166 | 2,089 |
| 2078 | 3,324,646 | 2,068 |
| 2077 | 3,321,422 | 2,050 |
| 2076 | 3,317,850 | 2,025 |
| 2075 | 3,314,237 | 2,001 |
| 2074 | 3,309,174 | 1,970 |
| 2073 | 3,303,860 | 1,944 |
| 2072 | 3,298,181 | 1,912 |
| 2071 | 3,291,492 | 1,866 |
| 2070 | 3,283,654 | 1,829 |
| 2069 | 3,275,244 | 1,795 |
| 2068 | 3,266,152 | 1,777 |
| 2067 | 3,256,626 | 1,755 |
| 2066 | 3,246,903 | 1,729 |
| 2065 | 3,237,153 | 1,701 |
| 2064 | 3,226,489 | 1,679 |
| 2063 | 3,215,103 | 1,651 |
| 2062 | 3,202,287 | 1,623 |
| 2061 | 3,188,933 | 1,595 |
| 2060 | 3,174,998 | 1,556 |
| 2059 | 3,160,204 | 1,530 |
| 2058 | 3,145,053 | 1,512 |
| 2057 | 3,129,261 | 1,493 |
| 2056 | 3,113,129 | 1,469 |
| 2055 | 3,095,904 | 1,441 |
| 2054 | 3,078,567 | 1,419 |
| 2053 | 3,060,152 | 1,382 |
| 2052 | 3,040,649 | 1,358 |
| 2051 | 3,020,109 | 1,335 |
| 2050 | 2,999,457 | 1,311 |
| 2049 | 2,978,037 | 1,283 |
| 2048 | 2,955,727 | 1,256 |
| 2047 | 2,932,688 | 1,237 |
| 2046 | 2,909,307 | 1,215 |
| 2045 | 2,885,537 | 1,192 |
| 2044 | 2,861,372 | 1,174 |
| 2043 | 2,836,777 | 1,152 |
| 2042 | 2,811,663 | 1,135 |
| 2041 | 2,786,147 | 1,105 |
| 2040 | 2,760,391 | 1,070 |
| 2039 | 2,734,400 | 1,033 |
| 2038 | 2,708,216 | 1,001 |
| 2037 | 2,681,863 | 996 |
| 2036 | 2,654,755 | 1,001 |
| 2035 | 2,627,701 | 988 |
| 2034 | 2,600,880 | 988 |
| 2033 | 2,574,065 | 974 |
| 2032 | 2,547,344 | 964 |
| 2031 | 2,520,831 | 977 |
| 2030 | 2,494,646 | 979 |
| 2029 | 2,468,268 | 985 |
| 2028 | 2,441,871 | 983 |
| 2027 | 2,415,830 | 946 |
| 2026 | 2,389,516 | 933 |
| 2025 | 2,363,516 | 927 |
| 2024 | 2,337,423 | 910 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 | 927 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 | 951 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 | 972 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 | 987 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 | - |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 | - |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 | 842 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 | 839 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 | 836 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 | 832 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 | 829 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 | 826 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 | 824 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 | 821 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 | 932 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 | 921 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 | 921 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 | 911 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 | 900 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 | 890 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 | 880 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 | - |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 | - |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 | - |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 | - |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 | - |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 | - |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 | - |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 | - |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 | - |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 | - |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 | - |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 | - |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 | - |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 | - |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 | - |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 | - |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 | - |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 | - |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 | - |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 | - |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 | - |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 | - |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 | - |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 | - |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 | - |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 | - |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 | - |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 | - |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 | - |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 | - |
| 1969 | 983,202 | - |
| 1968 | 948,105 | - |
| 1967 | 913,982 | - |
| 1966 | 881,870 | - |
| 1965 | 854,090 | - |
| 1964 | 829,437 | - |
| 1963 | 805,373 | - |
| 1962 | 781,814 | - |
| 1961 | 758,824 | - |
| 1960 | 736,500 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/vatican | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).
Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.
Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | -0.18% | 0.59% |
| 2099 | -0.18% | 0.37% |
| 2098 | -0.17% | 0.6% |
| 2097 | -0.15% | 0.53% |
| 2096 | -0.15% | 0.68% |
| 2095 | -0.12% | 0.69% |
| 2094 | -0.11% | 0.61% |
| 2093 | -0.12% | 0.85% |
| 2092 | -0.09% | 0.7% |
| 2091 | -0.07% | 1.02% |
| 2090 | -0.06% | 0.95% |
| 2089 | -0.05% | 0.8% |
| 2088 | -0.04% | 1.21% |
| 2087 | -0.01% | 0.98% |
| 2086 | -0.02% | 0.91% |
| 2085 | -0.007% | 1.42% |
| 2084 | -0% | 1.53% |
| 2083 | 0.008% | 1.12% |
| 2082 | 0.02% | 1.39% |
| 2081 | 0.03% | 1.15% |
| 2080 | 0.06% | 0.8% |
| 2079 | 0.08% | 0.99% |
| 2078 | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| 2077 | 0.11% | 1.19% |
| 2076 | 0.11% | 1.2% |
| 2075 | 0.15% | 1.6% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | 1.34% |
| 2073 | 0.17% | 1.65% |
| 2072 | 0.2% | 2.49% |
| 2071 | 0.24% | 2.03% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | 1.86% |
| 2069 | 0.28% | 1.04% |
| 2068 | 0.29% | 1.27% |
| 2067 | 0.3% | 1.5% |
| 2066 | 0.3% | 1.64% |
| 2065 | 0.33% | 1.33% |
| 2064 | 0.35% | 1.69% |
| 2063 | 0.4% | 1.71% |
| 2062 | 0.42% | 1.74% |
| 2061 | 0.44% | 2.5% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | 1.7% |
| 2059 | 0.48% | 1.23% |
| 2058 | 0.5% | 1.24% |
| 2057 | 0.52% | 1.64% |
| 2056 | 0.56% | 1.93% |
| 2055 | 0.56% | 1.57% |
| 2054 | 0.6% | 2.68% |
| 2053 | 0.64% | 1.78% |
| 2052 | 0.68% | 1.67% |
| 2051 | 0.69% | 1.84% |
| 2050 | 0.72% | 2.17% |
| 2049 | 0.75% | 2.22% |
| 2048 | 0.79% | 1.5% |
| 2047 | 0.8% | 1.83% |
| 2046 | 0.82% | 1.87% |
| 2045 | 0.84% | 1.58% |
| 2044 | 0.87% | 1.93% |
| 2043 | 0.89% | 1.47% |
| 2042 | 0.92% | 2.68% |
| 2041 | 0.93% | 3.29% |
| 2040 | 0.95% | 3.59% |
| 2039 | 0.97% | 3.15% |
| 2038 | 0.98% | 0.56% |
| 2037 | 1.02% | -0.56% |
| 2036 | 1.03% | 1.31% |
| 2035 | 1.03% | 0% |
| 2034 | 1.04% | 1.52% |
| 2033 | 1.05% | 0.96% |
| 2032 | 1.05% | -1.33% |
| 2031 | 1.05% | -0.19% |
| 2030 | 1.07% | -0.56% |
| 2029 | 1.08% | 0.19% |
| 2028 | 1.08% | 3.92% |
| 2027 | 1.1% | 1.39% |
| 2026 | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 1.12% | 1.83% |
| 2024 | 1.12% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 1.11% | -2.53% |
| 2022 | 1.09% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 1.15% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 1.19% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 1.18% | 0% |
| 2018 | 1.23% | 0% |
| 2017 | 1.25% | 0% |
| 2016 | 1.23% | 0% |
| 2015 | 1.18% | 18.8% |
| 2014 | 1.15% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 1.09% | 0.36% |
| 2012 | 1.01% | 0.48% |
| 2011 | 0.89% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 0.78% | 0.36% |
| 2009 | 0.73% | 0.24% |
| 2008 | 0.68% | 0.37% |
| 2007 | 0.42% | -11.9% |
| 2006 | -0.41% | 1.19% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | 0% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | -0.48% | 1.22% |
| 2002 | -0.31% | 1.12% |
| 2001 | -0.15% | 1.14% |
| 2000 | 0.03% | - |
| 1999 | 0.26% | - |
| 1998 | 0.5% | - |
| 1997 | 0.8% | - |
| 1996 | 1.08% | - |
| 1995 | 1.23% | - |
| 1994 | 1.36% | - |
| 1993 | 1.52% | - |
| 1992 | 1.68% | - |
| 1991 | 1.81% | - |
| 1990 | 1.93% | - |
| 1989 | 2.05% | - |
| 1988 | 2.14% | - |
| 1987 | 2.24% | - |
| 1986 | 2.57% | - |
| 1985 | 2.87% | - |
| 1984 | 2.9% | - |
| 1983 | 2.93% | - |
| 1982 | 2.95% | - |
| 1981 | 2.95% | - |
| 1980 | 2.95% | - |
| 1979 | 2.93% | - |
| 1978 | 2.89% | - |
| 1977 | 2.93% | - |
| 1976 | 3.26% | - |
| 1975 | 3.52% | - |
| 1974 | 3.51% | - |
| 1973 | 3.53% | - |
| 1972 | 3.58% | - |
| 1971 | 3.63% | - |
| 1970 | 3.67% | - |
| 1969 | 3.7% | - |
| 1968 | 3.73% | - |
| 1967 | 3.64% | - |
| 1966 | 3.25% | - |
| 1965 | 2.97% | - |
| 1964 | 2.99% | - |
| 1963 | 3.01% | - |
| 1962 | 3.03% | - |
| 1961 | 3.03% | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/vatican | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.
Live population counters
|
Lesotho
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2396633
|
936
|
| Population rank | 143/197 | 197/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.00001% |
| One net population change |
20.3 minutes
|
1 month
|
| One birth every |
9.43 minutes
|
n/a |
| One death every |
21.4 minutes
|
n/a |
| Daily growth/decline | +71 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +25,951 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.12% | +0% |
| Population growth rate rank | 93/197 | 163/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.69 hours
|
n/a |
| Annual migration change | -5,192 | n/a |
| Net migration rank | 117/196 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 15,039 | n/a |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 173/195 | |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | n/a |
| Foreign-born share rank | 170/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Vatican
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,192 | - | - |
| 2024 | - | -5,107 | - | - |
| 2023 | 31,115 | -5,168 | - | - |
| 2022 | 30,803 | -6,023 | - | - |
| 2021 | 27,806 | -3,449 | - | - |
| 2020 | 30,721 | -3,449 | - | - |
| 2019 | 32,279 | -6,896 | - | - |
| 2018 | 33,112 | -6,892 | - | - |
| 2017 | 33,601 | -6,850 | - | - |
| 2016 | 33,390 | -6,766 | - | - |
| 2015 | 32,087 | -7,087 | - | - |
| 2014 | 30,922 | -6,877 | - | - |
| 2013 | 29,789 | -6,659 | - | - |
| 2012 | 27,592 | -6,425 | - | - |
| 2011 | 25,647 | -6,118 | - | - |
| 2010 | 21,877 | -5,886 | - | - |
| 2009 | 20,335 | -5,599 | - | - |
| 2008 | 19,349 | -5,392 | - | - |
| 2007 | 17,763 | -5,179 | - | - |
| 2006 | 15,234 | -11,416 | - | - |
| 2005 | 15,831 | -35,679 | - | - |
| 2004 | 17,271 | -33,530 | - | - |
| 2003 | 20,133 | -31,723 | - | - |
| 2002 | 22,274 | -29,924 | - | - |
| 2001 | 23,190 | -27,874 | - | - |
| 2000 | 24,786 | -26,220 | - | - |
| 1999 | 27,393 | -24,610 | - | - |
| 1998 | 30,889 | -23,299 | - | - |
| 1997 | 34,637 | -22,396 | - | - |
| 1996 | 36,228 | -17,042 | - | - |
| 1995 | 37,370 | -14,588 | - | - |
| 1994 | 38,629 | -13,953 | - | - |
| 1993 | 40,505 | -13,347 | - | - |
| 1992 | 42,579 | -12,707 | - | - |
| 1991 | 44,026 | -12,114 | - | - |
| 1990 | 45,060 | -11,598 | - | - |
| 1989 | 46,264 | -11,207 | - | - |
| 1988 | 47,158 | -11,028 | - | - |
| 1987 | 47,718 | -10,946 | - | - |
| 1986 | 45,232 | -7,501 | - | - |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 1,222 | - | - |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 1,199 | - | - |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 1,253 | - | - |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 1,281 | - | - |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 1,307 | - | - |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 1,361 | - | - |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 1,285 | - | - |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 1,047 | - | - |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 746 | - | - |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 2,986 | - | - |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 9,723 | - | - |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 9,972 | - | - |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 10,183 | - | - |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 10,386 | - | - |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 10,563 | - | - |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 10,605 | - | - |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 10,465 | - | - |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 10,108 | - | - |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 9,734 | - | - |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 7,248 | - | - |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 2,239 | - | - |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 2,198 | - | - |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 2,220 | - | - |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 2,172 | - | - |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 2,100 | - | - |
| 1960 | 19,981 | 1,989 | - | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/vatican | CC BY
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Lesotho and the Vatican
|
Lesotho
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 83.4 years |
| Average age | 25.8 years | n/a |
| Median age | 22.7 years | n/a |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.7:51.3 | n/a |
| Fertility rate | 2.69 births per woman | n/a |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 5,493 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/vatican | 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)
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