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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,363,325 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,402,837 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 9.51 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.3% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.5% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Lesotho vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Zambia
2100 3,280,518 65,204,593
2099 3,286,430 64,858,778
2098 3,292,231 64,503,193
2097 3,297,835 64,136,110
2096 3,302,758 63,764,760
2095 3,307,678 63,380,692
2094 3,311,734 62,980,254
2093 3,315,488 62,578,008
2092 3,319,391 62,163,693
2091 3,322,303 61,738,437
2090 3,324,499 61,309,330
2089 3,326,577 60,868,166
2088 3,328,210 60,422,781
2087 3,329,694 59,958,303
2086 3,330,185 59,487,524
2085 3,330,989 59,011,423
2084 3,331,214 58,524,337
2083 3,331,221 58,029,088
2082 3,330,964 57,527,347
2081 3,330,141 57,016,267
2080 3,328,997 56,495,299
2079 3,326,895 55,972,223
2078 3,324,376 55,438,864
2077 3,321,152 54,895,964
2076 3,317,581 54,350,375
2075 3,313,968 53,796,265
2074 3,308,905 53,236,297
2073 3,303,592 52,666,980
2072 3,297,913 52,090,884
2071 3,291,224 51,509,551
2070 3,283,387 50,921,590
2069 3,274,978 50,324,793
2068 3,265,887 49,727,689
2067 3,256,362 49,125,817
2066 3,246,639 48,520,891
2065 3,236,890 47,909,160
2064 3,226,227 47,290,430
2063 3,214,843 46,668,252
2062 3,202,027 46,039,755
2061 3,188,674 45,407,718
2060 3,174,740 44,768,534
2059 3,159,947 44,128,619
2058 3,144,797 43,485,891
2057 3,129,007 42,843,489
2056 3,112,877 42,198,591
2055 3,095,653 41,550,105
2054 3,078,317 40,898,440
2053 3,059,904 40,247,706
2052 3,040,402 39,596,094
2051 3,019,864 38,942,292
2050 2,999,214 38,287,070
2049 2,977,795 37,626,787
2048 2,955,487 36,964,032
2047 2,932,450 36,302,603
2046 2,909,071 35,638,852
2045 2,885,303 34,974,927
2044 2,861,140 34,310,227
2043 2,836,547 33,645,797
2042 2,811,435 32,984,164
2041 2,785,921 32,323,084
2040 2,760,167 31,658,029
2039 2,734,178 30,995,204
2038 2,707,996 30,329,691
2037 2,681,646 29,662,721
2036 2,654,540 28,994,556
2035 2,627,488 28,327,922
2034 2,600,669 27,665,749
2033 2,573,856 27,006,658
2032 2,547,137 26,351,393
2031 2,520,626 25,697,754
2030 2,494,444 25,050,285
2029 2,468,067 24,409,600
2028 2,441,673 23,776,128
2027 2,415,634 23,146,922
2026 2,389,322 22,525,308
2025 2,363,325 21,913,874
2024 2,337,423 21,314,956
2023 2,311,472 20,723,965
2022 2,286,110 20,152,938
2021 2,261,542 19,603,607
2020 2,235,727 19,059,395
2019 2,209,405 18,513,839
2018 2,183,603 17,973,569
2017 2,157,110 17,441,320
2016 2,130,422 16,914,423
2015 2,104,611 16,399,089
2014 2,080,089 15,895,315
2013 2,056,504 15,398,997
2012 2,034,354 14,913,629
2011 2,014,009 14,437,796
2010 1,996,251 13,965,594
2009 1,980,883 13,490,389
2008 1,966,541 13,021,324
2007 1,953,268 12,565,085
2006 1,945,063 12,129,553
2005 1,953,076 11,718,819
2004 1,971,129 11,338,198
2003 1,985,059 10,983,595
2002 1,994,679 10,647,949
2001 2,000,853 10,325,185
2000 2,003,913 10,017,631
1999 2,003,234 9,740,005
1998 1,998,049 9,482,408
1997 1,988,130 9,237,063
1996 1,972,418 9,004,053
1995 1,951,437 8,785,763
1994 1,927,707 8,576,269
1993 1,901,793 8,373,921
1992 1,873,274 8,176,680
1991 1,842,379 7,981,650
1990 1,809,696 7,786,169
1989 1,775,436 7,589,216
1988 1,739,841 7,391,440
1987 1,703,390 7,191,282
1986 1,666,138 6,986,471
1985 1,624,379 6,780,953
1984 1,578,986 6,580,490
1983 1,534,413 6,381,038
1982 1,490,732 6,178,637
1981 1,448,069 5,983,289
1980 1,406,521 5,802,833
1979 1,366,169 5,631,728
1978 1,327,240 5,465,374
1977 1,289,967 5,302,480
1976 1,253,214 5,143,842
1975 1,213,643 4,990,086
1974 1,172,420 4,842,746
1973 1,132,697 4,702,693
1972 1,094,063 4,569,309
1971 1,056,246 4,442,525
1970 1,019,273 4,321,718
1969 983,202 4,197,116
1968 948,105 4,065,593
1967 913,982 3,936,343
1966 881,870 3,812,003
1965 854,090 3,692,086
1964 829,437 3,577,017
1963 805,373 3,465,907
1962 781,814 3,358,099
1961 758,824 3,254,086
1960 736,500 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Zambia
2100 -0.18% 0.53%
2099 -0.18% 0.55%
2098 -0.17% 0.57%
2097 -0.15% 0.58%
2096 -0.15% 0.61%
2095 -0.12% 0.64%
2094 -0.11% 0.64%
2093 -0.12% 0.67%
2092 -0.09% 0.69%
2091 -0.07% 0.7%
2090 -0.06% 0.72%
2089 -0.05% 0.74%
2088 -0.04% 0.77%
2087 -0.01% 0.79%
2086 -0.02% 0.81%
2085 -0.007% 0.83%
2084 -0% 0.85%
2083 0.008% 0.87%
2082 0.02% 0.9%
2081 0.03% 0.92%
2080 0.06% 0.93%
2079 0.08% 0.96%
2078 0.1% 0.99%
2077 0.11% 1%
2076 0.11% 1.03%
2075 0.15% 1.05%
2074 0.16% 1.08%
2073 0.17% 1.11%
2072 0.2% 1.13%
2071 0.24% 1.15%
2070 0.26% 1.19%
2069 0.28% 1.2%
2068 0.29% 1.23%
2067 0.3% 1.25%
2066 0.3% 1.28%
2065 0.33% 1.31%
2064 0.35% 1.33%
2063 0.4% 1.37%
2062 0.42% 1.39%
2061 0.44% 1.43%
2060 0.47% 1.45%
2059 0.48% 1.48%
2058 0.5% 1.5%
2057 0.52% 1.53%
2056 0.56% 1.56%
2055 0.56% 1.59%
2054 0.6% 1.62%
2053 0.64% 1.65%
2052 0.68% 1.68%
2051 0.69% 1.71%
2050 0.72% 1.75%
2049 0.75% 1.79%
2048 0.79% 1.82%
2047 0.8% 1.86%
2046 0.82% 1.9%
2045 0.84% 1.94%
2044 0.87% 1.97%
2043 0.89% 2.01%
2042 0.92% 2.05%
2041 0.93% 2.1%
2040 0.95% 2.14%
2039 0.97% 2.19%
2038 0.98% 2.25%
2037 1.02% 2.3%
2036 1.03% 2.35%
2035 1.03% 2.39%
2034 1.04% 2.44%
2033 1.05% 2.49%
2032 1.05% 2.54%
2031 1.05% 2.58%
2030 1.07% 2.62%
2029 1.08% 2.66%
2028 1.08% 2.72%
2027 1.1% 2.76%
2026 1.1% 2.79%
2025 1.11% 2.81%
2024 1.12% 2.85%
2023 1.11% 2.83%
2022 1.09% 2.8%
2021 1.15% 2.86%
2020 1.19% 2.95%
2019 1.18% 3.01%
2018 1.23% 3.05%
2017 1.25% 3.12%
2016 1.23% 3.14%
2015 1.18% 3.17%
2014 1.15% 3.22%
2013 1.09% 3.25%
2012 1.01% 3.3%
2011 0.89% 3.38%
2010 0.78% 3.52%
2009 0.73% 3.6%
2008 0.68% 3.63%
2007 0.42% 3.59%
2006 -0.41% 3.5%
2005 -0.92% 3.36%
2004 -0.7% 3.23%
2003 -0.48% 3.15%
2002 -0.31% 3.13%
2001 -0.15% 3.07%
2000 0.03% 2.85%
1999 0.26% 2.72%
1998 0.5% 2.66%
1997 0.8% 2.59%
1996 1.08% 2.48%
1995 1.23% 2.44%
1994 1.36% 2.42%
1993 1.52% 2.41%
1992 1.68% 2.44%
1991 1.81% 2.51%
1990 1.93% 2.6%
1989 2.05% 2.68%
1988 2.14% 2.78%
1987 2.24% 2.93%
1986 2.57% 3.03%
1985 2.87% 3.05%
1984 2.9% 3.13%
1983 2.93% 3.28%
1982 2.95% 3.26%
1981 2.95% 3.11%
1980 2.95% 3.04%
1979 2.93% 3.04%
1978 2.89% 3.07%
1977 2.93% 3.08%
1976 3.26% 3.08%
1975 3.52% 3.04%
1974 3.51% 2.98%
1973 3.53% 2.92%
1972 3.58% 2.85%
1971 3.63% 2.8%
1970 3.67% 2.97%
1969 3.7% 3.24%
1968 3.73% 3.28%
1967 3.64% 3.26%
1966 3.25% 3.25%
1965 2.97% 3.22%
1964 2.99% 3.21%
1963 3.01% 3.21%
1962 3.03% 3.2%
1961 3.03% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.11%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Zambia
Current population
2402837
22844606
Population rank 143/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.27%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
9.46 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
21.5 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +25,902 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +1.11% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 94/197 19/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -5,192 +6,562
Net migration rank 117/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - 6,562
2024 31,050 -5,107 587,419 7,381
2023 31,115 -5,168 577,660 9,521
2022 30,803 -6,023 563,456 -8,566
2021 27,806 -3,449 535,629 8,143
2020 30,721 -3,449 536,484 8,156
2019 32,279 -6,896 528,089 18,385
2018 33,112 -6,892 515,644 18,431
2017 33,601 -6,850 504,630 25,789
2016 33,390 -6,766 497,521 25,860
2015 32,087 -7,087 491,021 16,261
2014 30,922 -6,877 483,663 16,574
2013 29,789 -6,659 476,846 15,542
2012 27,592 -6,425 469,406 8,958
2011 25,647 -6,118 459,743 13,569
2010 21,877 -5,886 448,337 22,761
2009 20,335 -5,599 434,458 44,867
2008 19,349 -5,392 419,560 39,249
2007 17,763 -5,179 403,729 49,945
2006 15,234 -11,416 387,891 29,517
2005 15,831 -35,679 368,756 35,316
2004 17,271 -33,530 349,352 7,819
2003 20,133 -31,723 331,189 20,845
2002 22,274 -29,924 316,041 3,206
2001 23,190 -27,874 302,682 23,582
2000 24,786 -26,220 293,186 -4,338
1999 27,393 -24,610 283,297 -16,888
1998 30,889 -23,299 275,568 -26,796
1997 34,637 -22,396 268,198 -26,276
1996 36,228 -17,042 262,468 -38,358
1995 37,370 -14,588 257,897 -45,423
1994 38,629 -13,953 252,023 -45,504
1993 40,505 -13,347 245,917 -47,739
1992 42,579 -12,707 239,953 -43,656
1991 44,026 -12,114 237,957 -44,203
1990 45,060 -11,598 235,835 -38,619
1989 46,264 -11,207 233,429 -36,736
1988 47,158 -11,028 230,118 -31,270
1987 47,718 -10,946 227,813 -26,338
1986 45,232 -7,501 224,768 -16,610
1985 44,575 1,222 221,351 -18,474
1984 43,785 1,199 216,695 -18,652
1983 42,899 1,253 212,712 -11,849
1982 41,941 1,281 207,621 -3,676
1981 40,808 1,307 202,822 -16,072
1980 39,617 1,361 198,817 -24,664
1979 38,440 1,285 197,578 -29,515
1978 37,084 1,047 194,933 -30,284
1977 35,654 746 191,557 -30,423
1976 34,117 2,986 186,762 -30,612
1975 32,311 9,723 182,258 -30,886
1974 30,444 9,972 174,484 -31,178
1973 28,859 10,183 168,258 -31,472
1972 27,841 10,386 161,648 -31,672
1971 26,838 10,563 155,249 -31,651
1970 25,935 10,605 149,380 -31,370
1969 25,137 10,465 142,660 -11,469
1968 24,490 10,108 137,315 -5,447
1967 23,911 9,734 131,938 -5,298
1966 23,326 7,248 127,164 -5,129
1965 22,755 2,239 122,814 -5,023
1964 22,116 2,198 117,197 -4,851
1963 21,585 2,220 114,555 -4,676
1962 21,132 2,172 110,173 -4,428
1961 20,581 2,100 106,318 -4,043
1960 19,981 1,989 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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