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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 9.47 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 +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Lesotho vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Zambia
2100 3,280,784 65,217,429
2099 3,286,697 64,871,545
2098 3,292,498 64,515,891
2097 3,298,102 64,148,736
2096 3,303,027 63,777,313
2095 3,307,947 63,393,169
2094 3,312,002 62,992,652
2093 3,315,757 62,590,327
2092 3,319,661 62,175,930
2091 3,322,573 61,750,591
2090 3,324,769 61,321,399
2089 3,326,847 60,880,148
2088 3,328,480 60,434,676
2087 3,329,964 59,970,107
2086 3,330,456 59,499,234
2085 3,331,259 59,023,040
2084 3,331,485 58,535,857
2083 3,331,492 58,040,512
2082 3,331,234 57,538,672
2081 3,330,412 57,027,491
2080 3,329,267 56,506,421
2079 3,327,166 55,983,242
2078 3,324,646 55,449,777
2077 3,321,422 54,906,771
2076 3,317,850 54,361,075
2075 3,314,237 53,806,856
2074 3,309,174 53,246,777
2073 3,303,860 52,677,348
2072 3,298,181 52,101,139
2071 3,291,492 51,519,691
2070 3,283,654 50,931,614
2069 3,275,244 50,334,700
2068 3,266,152 49,737,479
2067 3,256,626 49,135,488
2066 3,246,903 48,530,443
2065 3,237,153 47,918,592
2064 3,226,489 47,299,740
2063 3,215,103 46,677,439
2062 3,202,287 46,048,819
2061 3,188,933 45,416,657
2060 3,174,998 44,777,347
2059 3,160,204 44,137,306
2058 3,145,053 43,494,451
2057 3,129,261 42,851,923
2056 3,113,129 42,206,898
2055 3,095,904 41,558,284
2054 3,078,567 40,906,492
2053 3,060,152 40,255,629
2052 3,040,649 39,603,888
2051 3,020,109 38,949,958
2050 2,999,457 38,294,607
2049 2,978,037 37,634,194
2048 2,955,727 36,971,309
2047 2,932,688 36,309,749
2046 2,909,307 35,645,868
2045 2,885,537 34,981,812
2044 2,861,372 34,316,981
2043 2,836,777 33,652,420
2042 2,811,663 32,990,657
2041 2,786,147 32,329,447
2040 2,760,391 31,664,262
2039 2,734,400 31,001,305
2038 2,708,216 30,335,662
2037 2,681,863 29,668,561
2036 2,654,755 29,000,264
2035 2,627,701 28,333,498
2034 2,600,880 27,671,195
2033 2,574,065 27,011,974
2032 2,547,344 26,356,580
2031 2,520,831 25,702,812
2030 2,494,646 25,055,216
2029 2,468,268 24,414,405
2028 2,441,871 23,780,809
2027 2,415,830 23,151,479
2026 2,389,516 22,529,742
2025 2,363,516 21,918,187
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% 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 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 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 1.12% 2.83%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Zambia
Current population
2396633
22697916
Population rank 143/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.27%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 21/197
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 - -5,107 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 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 (1960–2024, 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/zambia | 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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