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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 7.24 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.24% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Lesotho vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Zimbabwe
2100 3,280,784 37,483,053
2099 3,286,697 37,412,398
2098 3,292,498 37,328,255
2097 3,298,102 37,235,542
2096 3,303,027 37,142,915
2095 3,307,947 37,032,129
2094 3,312,002 36,912,747
2093 3,315,757 36,810,893
2092 3,319,661 36,688,511
2091 3,322,573 36,567,262
2090 3,324,769 36,425,606
2089 3,326,847 36,280,973
2088 3,328,480 36,141,446
2087 3,329,964 35,977,638
2086 3,330,456 35,808,135
2085 3,331,259 35,637,092
2084 3,331,485 35,456,207
2083 3,331,492 35,268,035
2082 3,331,234 35,078,904
2081 3,330,412 34,873,129
2080 3,329,267 34,658,962
2079 3,327,166 34,439,720
2078 3,324,646 34,217,295
2077 3,321,422 33,982,909
2076 3,317,850 33,739,228
2075 3,314,237 33,495,867
2074 3,309,174 33,244,838
2073 3,303,860 32,978,488
2072 3,298,181 32,706,059
2071 3,291,492 32,445,747
2070 3,283,654 32,181,119
2069 3,275,244 31,906,793
2068 3,266,152 31,631,000
2067 3,256,626 31,345,338
2066 3,246,903 31,062,884
2065 3,237,153 30,766,830
2064 3,226,489 30,479,939
2063 3,215,103 30,176,104
2062 3,202,287 29,867,679
2061 3,188,933 29,557,068
2060 3,174,998 29,252,423
2059 3,160,204 28,945,088
2058 3,145,053 28,631,679
2057 3,129,261 28,307,305
2056 3,113,129 27,990,713
2055 3,095,904 27,658,887
2054 3,078,567 27,331,920
2053 3,060,152 26,986,935
2052 3,040,649 26,643,553
2051 3,020,109 26,287,592
2050 2,999,457 25,934,893
2049 2,978,037 25,585,239
2048 2,955,727 25,228,082
2047 2,932,688 24,874,649
2046 2,909,307 24,513,443
2045 2,885,537 24,147,637
2044 2,861,372 23,783,088
2043 2,836,777 23,401,965
2042 2,811,663 23,035,288
2041 2,786,147 22,647,950
2040 2,760,391 22,273,520
2039 2,734,400 21,902,980
2038 2,708,216 21,530,130
2037 2,681,863 21,159,664
2036 2,654,755 20,791,034
2035 2,627,701 20,413,656
2034 2,600,880 20,048,019
2033 2,574,065 19,676,339
2032 2,547,344 19,311,985
2031 2,520,831 18,959,300
2030 2,494,646 18,613,738
2029 2,468,268 18,270,049
2028 2,441,871 17,933,466
2027 2,415,830 17,600,984
2026 2,389,516 17,273,208
2025 2,363,516 16,949,303
2024 2,337,423 16,634,373
2023 2,311,472 16,340,822
2022 2,286,110 16,069,056
2021 2,261,542 15,797,210
2020 2,235,727 15,526,888
2019 2,209,405 15,271,368
2018 2,183,603 15,034,452
2017 2,157,110 14,812,482
2016 2,130,422 14,600,294
2015 2,104,611 14,399,013
2014 2,080,089 14,207,359
2013 2,056,504 14,013,808
2012 2,034,354 13,817,887
2011 2,014,009 13,595,424
2010 1,996,251 13,356,548
2009 1,980,883 13,142,790
2008 1,966,541 12,959,149
2007 1,953,268 12,804,058
2006 1,945,063 12,636,445
2005 1,953,076 12,483,432
2004 1,971,129 12,365,896
2003 1,985,059 12,232,323
2002 1,994,679 12,087,653
2001 2,000,853 11,971,901
2000 2,003,913 11,892,055
1999 2,003,234 11,783,458
1998 1,998,049 11,594,297
1997 1,988,130 11,369,827
1996 1,972,418 11,158,360
1995 1,951,437 10,974,599
1994 1,927,707 10,873,148
1993 1,901,793 10,860,288
1992 1,873,274 10,702,700
1991 1,842,379 10,404,816
1990 1,809,696 10,137,281
1989 1,775,436 9,864,798
1988 1,739,841 9,583,094
1987 1,703,390 9,284,644
1986 1,666,138 8,982,578
1985 1,624,379 8,686,813
1984 1,578,986 8,391,488
1983 1,534,413 8,098,404
1982 1,490,732 7,796,496
1981 1,448,069 7,498,635
1980 1,406,521 7,041,303
1979 1,366,169 6,647,556
1978 1,327,240 6,543,575
1977 1,289,967 6,449,512
1976 1,253,214 6,287,105
1975 1,213,643 6,098,658
1974 1,172,420 5,908,328
1973 1,132,697 5,720,404
1972 1,094,063 5,542,445
1971 1,056,246 5,374,712
1970 1,019,273 5,215,918
1969 983,202 5,058,181
1968 948,105 4,900,440
1967 913,982 4,748,307
1966 881,870 4,601,217
1965 854,090 4,458,462
1964 829,437 4,320,006
1963 805,373 4,185,877
1962 781,814 4,055,959
1961 758,824 3,930,401
1960 736,500 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Zimbabwe
2100 -0.18% 0.19%
2099 -0.18% 0.23%
2098 -0.17% 0.25%
2097 -0.15% 0.25%
2096 -0.15% 0.3%
2095 -0.12% 0.32%
2094 -0.11% 0.28%
2093 -0.12% 0.33%
2092 -0.09% 0.33%
2091 -0.07% 0.39%
2090 -0.06% 0.4%
2089 -0.05% 0.39%
2088 -0.04% 0.46%
2087 -0.01% 0.47%
2086 -0.02% 0.48%
2085 -0.007% 0.51%
2084 -0% 0.53%
2083 0.008% 0.54%
2082 0.02% 0.59%
2081 0.03% 0.62%
2080 0.06% 0.64%
2079 0.08% 0.65%
2078 0.1% 0.69%
2077 0.11% 0.72%
2076 0.11% 0.73%
2075 0.15% 0.76%
2074 0.16% 0.81%
2073 0.17% 0.83%
2072 0.2% 0.8%
2071 0.24% 0.82%
2070 0.26% 0.86%
2069 0.28% 0.87%
2068 0.29% 0.91%
2067 0.3% 0.91%
2066 0.3% 0.96%
2065 0.33% 0.94%
2064 0.35% 1.01%
2063 0.4% 1.03%
2062 0.42% 1.05%
2061 0.44% 1.04%
2060 0.47% 1.06%
2059 0.48% 1.09%
2058 0.5% 1.15%
2057 0.52% 1.13%
2056 0.56% 1.2%
2055 0.56% 1.2%
2054 0.6% 1.28%
2053 0.64% 1.29%
2052 0.68% 1.35%
2051 0.69% 1.36%
2050 0.72% 1.37%
2049 0.75% 1.42%
2048 0.79% 1.42%
2047 0.8% 1.47%
2046 0.82% 1.51%
2045 0.84% 1.53%
2044 0.87% 1.63%
2043 0.89% 1.59%
2042 0.92% 1.71%
2041 0.93% 1.68%
2040 0.95% 1.69%
2039 0.97% 1.73%
2038 0.98% 1.75%
2037 1.02% 1.77%
2036 1.03% 1.85%
2035 1.03% 1.82%
2034 1.04% 1.89%
2033 1.05% 1.89%
2032 1.05% 1.86%
2031 1.05% 1.86%
2030 1.07% 1.88%
2029 1.08% 1.88%
2028 1.08% 1.89%
2027 1.1% 1.9%
2026 1.1% 1.91%
2025 1.12% 1.89%
2024 1.12% 1.8%
2023 1.11% 1.69%
2022 1.09% 1.72%
2021 1.15% 1.74%
2020 1.19% 1.67%
2019 1.18% 1.58%
2018 1.23% 1.5%
2017 1.25% 1.45%
2016 1.23% 1.4%
2015 1.18% 1.35%
2014 1.15% 1.38%
2013 1.09% 1.42%
2012 1.01% 1.64%
2011 0.89% 1.79%
2010 0.78% 1.63%
2009 0.73% 1.42%
2008 0.68% 1.21%
2007 0.42% 1.33%
2006 -0.41% 1.23%
2005 -0.92% 0.95%
2004 -0.7% 1.09%
2003 -0.48% 1.2%
2002 -0.31% 0.97%
2001 -0.15% 0.67%
2000 0.03% 0.92%
1999 0.26% 1.63%
1998 0.5% 1.97%
1997 0.8% 1.9%
1996 1.08% 1.67%
1995 1.23% 0.93%
1994 1.36% 0.12%
1993 1.52% 1.47%
1992 1.68% 2.86%
1991 1.81% 2.64%
1990 1.93% 2.76%
1989 2.05% 2.94%
1988 2.14% 3.21%
1987 2.24% 3.36%
1986 2.57% 3.4%
1985 2.87% 3.52%
1984 2.9% 3.62%
1983 2.93% 3.87%
1982 2.95% 3.97%
1981 2.95% 6.49%
1980 2.95% 5.92%
1979 2.93% 1.59%
1978 2.89% 1.46%
1977 2.93% 2.58%
1976 3.26% 3.09%
1975 3.52% 3.22%
1974 3.51% 3.29%
1973 3.53% 3.21%
1972 3.58% 3.12%
1971 3.63% 3.04%
1970 3.67% 3.12%
1969 3.7% 3.22%
1968 3.73% 3.2%
1967 3.64% 3.2%
1966 3.25% 3.2%
1965 2.97% 3.2%
1964 2.99% 3.2%
1963 3.01% 3.2%
1962 3.03% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Zimbabwe
Current population
2396633
17361868
Population rank 143/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.21%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
9.43 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
21.4 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +804
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 60/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -54,555
Net migration rank 117/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -54,555
2024 - -5,107 - -60,528
2023 31,115 -5,168 372,505 -97,380
2022 30,803 -6,023 371,243 -102,828
2021 27,806 -3,449 349,908 -74,623
2020 30,721 -3,449 354,790 -89,440
2019 32,279 -6,896 348,798 -103,107
2018 33,112 -6,892 345,883 -117,758
2017 33,601 -6,850 344,035 -128,241
2016 33,390 -6,766 348,772 -140,181
2015 32,087 -7,087 356,203 -162,220
2014 30,922 -6,877 366,350 -177,029
2013 29,789 -6,659 374,757 -176,972
2012 27,592 -6,425 371,135 -177,061
2011 25,647 -6,118 359,572 -108,714
2010 21,877 -5,886 335,570 -108,671
2009 20,335 -5,599 309,316 -108,689
2008 19,349 -5,392 280,527 -113,858
2007 17,763 -5,179 261,805 -118,299
2006 15,234 -11,416 248,963 -57,257
2005 15,831 -35,679 248,545 -134,212
2004 17,271 -33,530 248,307 -127,550
2003 20,133 -31,723 243,057 -96,667
2002 22,274 -29,924 244,170 -101,212
2001 23,190 -27,874 227,909 -139,361
2000 24,786 -26,220 236,343 -165,181
1999 27,393 -24,610 232,393 -86,343
1998 30,889 -23,299 225,614 6,645
1997 34,637 -22,396 216,288 395
1996 36,228 -17,042 205,269 978
1995 37,370 -14,588 206,695 -45,428
1994 38,629 -13,953 216,343 -174,723
1993 40,505 -13,347 228,045 -243,947
1992 42,579 -12,707 255,291 75,788
1991 44,026 -12,114 260,943 3,749
1990 45,060 -11,598 265,444 4,948
1989 46,264 -11,207 270,838 3,736
1988 47,158 -11,028 277,498 11,327
1987 47,718 -10,946 286,766 21,308
1986 45,232 -7,501 289,894 6,154
1985 44,575 1,222 290,756 4,718
1984 43,785 1,199 290,052 5,124
1983 42,899 1,253 286,545 4,456
1982 41,941 1,281 279,934 32,899
1981 40,808 1,307 271,361 11,523
1980 39,617 1,361 241,179 390,593
1979 38,440 1,285 223,657 -67,937
1978 37,084 1,047 222,979 -170,727
1977 35,654 746 225,139 -89,270
1976 34,117 2,986 221,419 -32,495
1975 32,311 9,723 216,947 -28,988
1974 30,444 9,972 208,806 -16,105
1973 28,859 10,183 201,885 -18,733
1972 27,841 10,386 193,725 -20,959
1971 26,838 10,563 185,427 -22,719
1970 25,935 10,605 178,979 -24,102
1969 25,137 10,465 172,626 -12,028
1968 24,490 10,108 166,865 -11,997
1967 23,911 9,734 161,205 -11,814
1966 23,326 7,248 156,014 -11,211
1965 22,755 2,239 151,164 -10,465
1964 22,116 2,198 145,848 -9,631
1963 21,585 2,220 140,984 -8,936
1962 21,132 2,172 136,317 -8,529
1961 20,581 2,100 131,531 -8,204
1960 19,981 1,989 126,959 -8,260

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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