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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 40,583,164 people in Yemen in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 43,325,643 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 +3% in Yemen.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Yemen has grown from 23.5M to 43.3M (84% growth).

Lesotho vs Yemen: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Yemen
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Yemen
2100 3,280,784 111,531,602
2099 3,286,697 111,216,538
2098 3,292,498 110,873,896
2097 3,298,102 110,513,248
2096 3,303,027 110,125,357
2095 3,307,947 109,718,989
2094 3,312,002 109,287,747
2093 3,315,757 108,834,256
2092 3,319,661 108,350,834
2091 3,322,573 107,845,139
2090 3,324,769 107,319,234
2089 3,326,847 106,769,903
2088 3,328,480 106,198,480
2087 3,329,964 105,606,248
2086 3,330,456 104,994,691
2085 3,331,259 104,356,315
2084 3,331,485 103,704,067
2083 3,331,492 103,033,111
2082 3,331,234 102,348,794
2081 3,330,412 101,642,012
2080 3,329,267 100,920,728
2079 3,327,166 100,179,245
2078 3,324,646 99,422,962
2077 3,321,422 98,654,481
2076 3,317,850 97,862,812
2075 3,314,237 97,057,105
2074 3,309,174 96,230,615
2073 3,303,860 95,389,748
2072 3,298,181 94,528,518
2071 3,291,492 93,646,094
2070 3,283,654 92,750,891
2069 3,275,244 91,836,719
2068 3,266,152 90,906,457
2067 3,256,626 89,961,778
2066 3,246,903 88,998,844
2065 3,237,153 88,022,210
2064 3,226,489 87,033,422
2063 3,215,103 86,020,867
2062 3,202,287 84,985,459
2061 3,188,933 83,934,120
2060 3,174,998 82,867,105
2059 3,160,204 81,781,887
2058 3,145,053 80,678,032
2057 3,129,261 79,563,835
2056 3,113,129 78,436,146
2055 3,095,904 77,296,391
2054 3,078,567 76,143,587
2053 3,060,152 74,985,186
2052 3,040,649 73,813,387
2051 3,020,109 72,631,340
2050 2,999,457 71,436,891
2049 2,978,037 70,243,074
2048 2,955,727 69,043,876
2047 2,932,688 67,843,741
2046 2,909,307 66,638,116
2045 2,885,537 65,433,874
2044 2,861,372 64,230,423
2043 2,836,777 63,031,296
2042 2,811,663 61,838,177
2041 2,786,147 60,651,763
2040 2,760,391 59,475,172
2039 2,734,400 58,303,694
2038 2,708,216 57,135,690
2037 2,681,863 55,973,689
2036 2,654,755 54,809,098
2035 2,627,701 53,641,994
2034 2,600,880 52,476,195
2033 2,574,065 51,307,469
2032 2,547,344 50,140,351
2031 2,520,831 48,969,961
2030 2,494,646 47,786,079
2029 2,468,268 46,594,926
2028 2,441,871 45,403,313
2027 2,415,830 44,203,683
2026 2,389,516 43,000,078
2025 2,363,516 41,792,731
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Yemen's population increased by 11,216,633 people (a 34.9% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Yemen will increase by 64.9% to 71,436,891 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 112M 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 1.12% 2.98%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/yemen | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Yemen's population grew by 3.03%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Yemen
Current population
2396633
43325643
Population rank 143/197 37/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.52%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
26.4 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
22.7 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +3,267
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +1,192,365
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +3.03%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 13/197
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 - -5,107 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/yemen | 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 Yemen 97.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 10,460,813 people) and 2.17% is from migration (a loss of 231,814 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 (1960–2024, 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/yemen | 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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