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Population in Lesotho compared to Yemen: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 41,773,878 people in Yemen in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 43,598,646 in Yemen.

Population statistics:

  • Yemen's population is 18.1 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Yemen is the 37th.
  • The countries together account for 0.55% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.52% for Yemen.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.99% in Yemen.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Yemen has grown from 23.5M to 43.6M (85.2% growth).

Lesotho vs Yemen: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Yemen
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Yemen
2100 3,280,518 111,481,288
2099 3,286,430 111,166,365
2098 3,292,231 110,823,878
2097 3,297,835 110,463,393
2096 3,302,758 110,075,677
2095 3,307,678 109,669,492
2094 3,311,734 109,238,445
2093 3,315,488 108,785,158
2092 3,319,391 108,301,955
2091 3,322,303 107,796,487
2090 3,324,499 107,270,820
2089 3,326,577 106,721,736
2088 3,328,210 106,150,572
2087 3,329,694 105,558,607
2086 3,330,185 104,947,326
2085 3,330,989 104,309,237
2084 3,331,214 103,657,284
2083 3,331,221 102,986,631
2082 3,330,964 102,302,622
2081 3,330,141 101,596,159
2080 3,328,997 100,875,201
2079 3,326,895 100,134,051
2078 3,324,376 99,378,110
2077 3,321,152 98,609,975
2076 3,317,581 97,818,664
2075 3,313,968 97,013,320
2074 3,308,905 96,187,203
2073 3,303,592 95,346,716
2072 3,297,913 94,485,874
2071 3,291,224 93,603,848
2070 3,283,387 92,709,049
2069 3,274,978 91,795,290
2068 3,265,887 90,865,447
2067 3,256,362 89,921,194
2066 3,246,639 88,958,695
2065 3,236,890 87,982,501
2064 3,226,227 86,994,159
2063 3,214,843 85,982,061
2062 3,202,027 84,947,120
2061 3,188,674 83,896,256
2060 3,174,740 82,829,722
2059 3,159,947 81,744,993
2058 3,144,797 80,641,636
2057 3,129,007 79,527,942
2056 3,112,877 78,400,761
2055 3,095,653 77,261,521
2054 3,078,317 76,109,237
2053 3,059,904 74,951,358
2052 3,040,402 73,780,088
2051 3,019,864 72,598,574
2050 2,999,214 71,404,664
2049 2,977,795 70,211,386
2048 2,955,487 69,012,729
2047 2,932,450 67,813,135
2046 2,909,071 66,608,054
2045 2,885,303 65,404,355
2044 2,861,140 64,201,447
2043 2,836,547 63,002,861
2042 2,811,435 61,810,280
2041 2,785,921 60,624,401
2040 2,760,167 59,448,342
2039 2,734,178 58,277,392
2038 2,707,996 57,109,914
2037 2,681,646 55,948,438
2036 2,654,540 54,784,372
2035 2,627,488 53,617,795
2034 2,600,669 52,452,522
2033 2,573,856 51,284,323
2032 2,547,137 50,117,732
2031 2,520,626 48,947,870
2030 2,494,444 47,764,521
2029 2,468,067 46,573,906
2028 2,441,673 45,382,831
2027 2,415,634 44,183,742
2026 2,389,322 42,980,680
2025 2,363,325 41,773,878
2024 2,337,423 40,583,164
2023 2,311,472 39,390,799
2022 2,286,110 38,222,876
2021 2,261,542 37,140,230
2020 2,235,727 36,134,863
2019 2,209,405 35,111,408
2018 2,183,603 34,085,182
2017 2,157,110 33,090,921
2016 2,130,422 32,109,010
2015 2,104,611 31,159,379
2014 2,080,089 30,226,309
2013 2,056,504 29,312,952
2012 2,034,354 28,433,647
2011 2,014,009 27,582,897
2010 1,996,251 26,754,387
2009 1,980,883 25,927,724
2008 1,966,541 25,111,941
2007 1,953,268 24,318,082
2006 1,945,063 23,543,083
2005 1,953,076 22,790,085
2004 1,971,129 22,095,167
2003 1,985,059 21,456,379
2002 1,994,679 20,835,086
2001 2,000,853 20,226,147
2000 2,003,913 19,624,141
1999 2,003,234 19,029,420
1998 1,998,049 18,446,013
1997 1,988,130 17,873,936
1996 1,972,418 17,313,177
1995 1,951,437 16,740,058
1994 1,927,707 16,149,147
1993 1,901,793 15,563,914
1992 1,873,274 14,989,494
1991 1,842,379 14,430,201
1990 1,809,696 13,887,862
1989 1,775,436 13,364,174
1988 1,739,841 12,859,708
1987 1,703,390 12,369,912
1986 1,666,138 11,901,040
1985 1,624,379 11,453,825
1984 1,578,986 11,025,597
1983 1,534,413 10,621,499
1982 1,490,732 10,241,006
1981 1,448,069 9,882,362
1980 1,406,521 9,543,358
1979 1,366,169 9,224,194
1978 1,327,240 8,926,586
1977 1,289,967 8,648,222
1976 1,253,214 8,384,113
1975 1,213,643 8,133,598
1974 1,172,420 7,896,783
1973 1,132,697 7,672,796
1972 1,094,063 7,460,068
1971 1,056,246 7,257,462
1970 1,019,273 7,065,279
1969 983,202 6,875,859
1968 948,105 6,690,524
1967 913,982 6,516,444
1966 881,870 6,351,494
1965 854,090 6,195,593
1964 829,437 6,048,006
1963 805,373 5,911,135
1962 781,814 5,782,221
1961 758,824 5,655,232
1960 736,500 5,532,301

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/yemen | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Yemen gained 8,565,927 people (a 36.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Yemen's population increased by 11,489,636 people (a 35.8% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Yemen was ranked 47th in 2006 and ranked 37th 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 Yemen will increase by 63.8% to 71,404,664 people and rank change from 37th to 29th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 111M people in 2100 for Yemen.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Yemen
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Yemen
2100 -0.18% 0.28%
2099 -0.18% 0.31%
2098 -0.17% 0.33%
2097 -0.15% 0.35%
2096 -0.15% 0.37%
2095 -0.12% 0.39%
2094 -0.11% 0.42%
2093 -0.12% 0.45%
2092 -0.09% 0.47%
2091 -0.07% 0.49%
2090 -0.06% 0.51%
2089 -0.05% 0.54%
2088 -0.04% 0.56%
2087 -0.01% 0.58%
2086 -0.02% 0.61%
2085 -0.007% 0.63%
2084 -0% 0.65%
2083 0.008% 0.67%
2082 0.02% 0.7%
2081 0.03% 0.71%
2080 0.06% 0.74%
2079 0.08% 0.76%
2078 0.1% 0.78%
2077 0.11% 0.81%
2076 0.11% 0.83%
2075 0.15% 0.86%
2074 0.16% 0.88%
2073 0.17% 0.91%
2072 0.2% 0.94%
2071 0.24% 0.97%
2070 0.26% 1%
2069 0.28% 1.02%
2068 0.29% 1.05%
2067 0.3% 1.08%
2066 0.3% 1.11%
2065 0.33% 1.14%
2064 0.35% 1.18%
2063 0.4% 1.22%
2062 0.42% 1.25%
2061 0.44% 1.29%
2060 0.47% 1.33%
2059 0.48% 1.37%
2058 0.5% 1.4%
2057 0.52% 1.44%
2056 0.56% 1.47%
2055 0.56% 1.51%
2054 0.6% 1.54%
2053 0.64% 1.59%
2052 0.68% 1.63%
2051 0.69% 1.67%
2050 0.72% 1.7%
2049 0.75% 1.74%
2048 0.79% 1.77%
2047 0.8% 1.81%
2046 0.82% 1.84%
2045 0.84% 1.87%
2044 0.87% 1.9%
2043 0.89% 1.93%
2042 0.92% 1.96%
2041 0.93% 1.98%
2040 0.95% 2.01%
2039 0.97% 2.04%
2038 0.98% 2.08%
2037 1.02% 2.12%
2036 1.03% 2.18%
2035 1.03% 2.22%
2034 1.04% 2.28%
2033 1.05% 2.33%
2032 1.05% 2.39%
2031 1.05% 2.48%
2030 1.07% 2.56%
2029 1.08% 2.62%
2028 1.08% 2.71%
2027 1.1% 2.8%
2026 1.1% 2.89%
2025 1.11% 2.93%
2024 1.12% 3.03%
2023 1.11% 3.06%
2022 1.09% 2.92%
2021 1.15% 2.78%
2020 1.19% 2.91%
2019 1.18% 3.01%
2018 1.23% 3%
2017 1.25% 3.06%
2016 1.23% 3.05%
2015 1.18% 3.09%
2014 1.15% 3.12%
2013 1.09% 3.09%
2012 1.01% 3.08%
2011 0.89% 3.1%
2010 0.78% 3.19%
2009 0.73% 3.25%
2008 0.68% 3.26%
2007 0.42% 3.29%
2006 -0.41% 3.3%
2005 -0.92% 3.15%
2004 -0.7% 2.98%
2003 -0.48% 2.98%
2002 -0.31% 3.01%
2001 -0.15% 3.07%
2000 0.03% 3.13%
1999 0.26% 3.16%
1998 0.5% 3.2%
1997 0.8% 3.24%
1996 1.08% 3.42%
1995 1.23% 3.66%
1994 1.36% 3.76%
1993 1.52% 3.83%
1992 1.68% 3.88%
1991 1.81% 3.91%
1990 1.93% 3.92%
1989 2.05% 3.92%
1988 2.14% 3.96%
1987 2.24% 3.94%
1986 2.57% 3.9%
1985 2.87% 3.88%
1984 2.9% 3.8%
1983 2.93% 3.72%
1982 2.95% 3.63%
1981 2.95% 3.55%
1980 2.95% 3.46%
1979 2.93% 3.33%
1978 2.89% 3.22%
1977 2.93% 3.15%
1976 3.26% 3.08%
1975 3.52% 3%
1974 3.51% 2.92%
1973 3.53% 2.85%
1972 3.58% 2.79%
1971 3.63% 2.72%
1970 3.67% 2.75%
1969 3.7% 2.77%
1968 3.73% 2.67%
1967 3.64% 2.6%
1966 3.25% 2.52%
1965 2.97% 2.44%
1964 2.99% 2.32%
1963 3.01% 2.23%
1962 3.03% 2.25%
1961 3.03% 2.22%

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/yemen | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Yemen's population grew by 2.93%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Yemen
Current population
2402837
43598646
Population rank 143/197 37/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.52%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
26.6 seconds
One birth every
9.46 minutes
22.6 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
2.74 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +3,262
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +1,190,714
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +2.93%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 15/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
32.4 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -16,291
Net migration rank 117/196 148/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 392,997
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 89/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 156/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Yemen
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Yemen
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -16,291
2024 31,050 -5,107 1,202,276 -10,482
2023 31,115 -5,168 1,198,150 -5,233
2022 30,803 -6,023 1,153,375 -10,448
2021 27,806 -3,449 1,103,622 -81,248
2020 30,721 -3,449 1,086,322 -97,982
2019 32,279 -6,896 1,056,432 2,129
2018 33,112 -6,892 1,020,238 -26,335
2017 33,601 -6,850 1,006,725 -12,086
2016 33,390 -6,766 975,697 -6,492
2015 32,087 -7,087 939,922 -9,883
2014 30,922 -6,877 920,330 15,764
2013 29,789 -6,659 884,929 5,697
2012 27,592 -6,425 845,645 22,349
2011 25,647 -6,118 806,359 27,184
2010 21,877 -5,886 803,246 20,269
2009 20,335 -5,599 798,911 30,919
2008 19,349 -5,392 779,123 22,621
2007 17,763 -5,179 764,780 21,210
2006 15,234 -11,416 750,082 13,940
2005 15,831 -35,679 726,708 15,283
2004 17,271 -33,530 710,493 -62,641
2003 20,133 -31,723 694,457 -64,737
2002 22,274 -29,924 672,494 -59,648
2001 23,190 -27,874 658,704 -53,698
2000 24,786 -26,220 646,694 -47,713
1999 27,393 -24,610 633,166 -42,731
1998 30,889 -23,299 615,488 -39,096
1997 34,637 -22,396 604,443 -36,694
1996 36,228 -17,042 588,786 -35,043
1995 37,370 -14,588 607,966 -15,485
1994 38,629 -13,953 602,363 -13,040
1993 40,505 -13,347 595,459 -14,332
1992 42,579 -12,707 582,072 -14,372
1991 44,026 -12,114 565,837 -14,964
1990 45,060 -11,598 549,654 -15,847
1989 46,264 -11,207 530,464 -16,876
1988 47,158 -11,028 513,296 -17,952
1987 47,718 -10,946 493,337 -9,097
1986 45,232 -7,501 464,665 -11,151
1985 44,575 1,222 455,576 -14,660
1984 43,785 1,199 434,674 -19,143
1983 42,899 1,253 414,823 -22,152
1982 41,941 1,281 392,302 -23,981
1981 40,808 1,307 374,482 -25,499
1980 39,617 1,361 355,767 -26,740
1979 38,440 1,285 336,378 -27,090
1978 37,084 1,047 312,439 -26,524
1977 35,654 746 296,115 -25,305
1976 34,117 2,986 281,078 -23,669
1975 32,311 9,723 266,815 -23,192
1974 30,444 9,972 252,737 -22,726
1973 28,859 10,183 240,235 -22,282
1972 27,841 10,386 229,322 -21,826
1971 26,838 10,563 219,095 -21,386
1970 25,935 10,605 207,613 -20,966
1969 25,137 10,465 196,305 -4,121
1968 24,490 10,108 182,518 -4,031
1967 23,911 9,734 173,637 -3,959
1966 23,326 7,248 164,091 -3,874
1965 22,755 2,239 155,398 -3,797
1964 22,116 2,198 147,299 -3,712
1963 21,585 2,220 133,781 -3,640
1962 21,132 2,172 131,262 -3,572
1961 20,581 2,100 129,787 -3,503
1960 19,981 1,989 122,994 -3,431

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/yemen | 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 Yemen 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 10,742,759 people) and 2.35% is from migration (a loss of 258,060 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 392,997 people or 1% in Yemen.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Yemen
City Population
Sanaa 2.96M
Aden 1.15M
Al Hudaydah 618K
Taiz 615K
Ibb 351K
Dhamar 160K
Mukalla 144K
Sa'dah 70.2K
Sayyan 70K
Zabid 50.8K

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/yemen | 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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