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Afghanistan vs Lesotho statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Afghanistan has a population of 42.6M (ranked 36/197), compared with 2.34M in Lesotho (ranked 145/197). Afghanistan's land area is 251,827 sq mi versus 11,722 sq mi for Lesotho (ranked 40th vs. 137th).

By GDP, Afghanistan ranks 137/197 ($17.2B) and Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B). By GDP per capita, Afghanistan ranks 196/197 ($414), while Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972).

Main facts and rankings

Afghanistan Lesotho
Population
45409324
2396633
Population rank 36/197 143/197
GDP
$17.2B
2023
$2.27B
2024
GDP rank 137/197 175/197
GDP per capita
$414
2023
$972
2024
GDP per capita rank 196/197 181/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,202
2023
$3,001
2024
Government debt
$1.44B
2023
$1.29B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
8.8%
2024
56.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$34.8
2023
$552
2024
Government debt per person rank 185/185 164/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,869
2026
$6,545
2026
Land area 251,827 sq mi 11,722 sq mi
Population density
179 ppl/mi²
2026
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
4.84
2023
2.69
2023
Median age
18.2 years
2024
22.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.8 years
2026
58.6 years
2026

Afghanistan and Lesotho: Comparison Charts

Afghanistan and Lesotho economies compared

GDP
Afghanistan

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP
Afghanistan Lesotho
2024 - $2,271,759,455
2023 $17,152,234,637 $2,117,962,445
2022 $14,497,243,872 $2,354,980,960
2021 $14,259,995,441 $2,412,130,057
2020 $19,955,929,052 $2,053,699,864
2019 $18,799,444,490 $2,390,702,296
2018 $18,053,222,687 $2,556,247,292
2017 $18,753,456,498 $2,306,741,672
2016 $18,116,572,395 $2,114,426,452
2015 $19,134,221,645 $2,359,686,725
2014 $20,497,128,556 $2,441,063,054
2013 $20,146,416,758 $2,367,112,932
2012 $19,907,329,778 $2,477,702,216
2011 $17,805,098,206 $2,579,409,620
2010 $15,856,668,556 $2,234,754,242
2009 $12,416,152,732 $1,740,894,965
2008 $10,109,297,048 $1,766,902,709
2007 $9,747,886,187 $1,682,131,785
2006 $6,971,758,282 $1,800,092,564
2005 $6,203,256,539 $1,682,343,527
2004 $5,224,896,719 $1,511,236,656
2003 $4,520,946,819 $1,157,825,435
2002 $3,825,701,439 $775,777,239
2001 $2,813,571,754 $825,706,961
2000 $3,521,418,060 $887,291,688
1999 - $912,773,681
1998 - $928,460,893
1997 - $998,004,259
1996 - $946,112,493
1995 - $1,001,894,000
1994 - $878,250,945
1993 - $835,582,062
1992 - $831,029,862
1991 - $704,325,367
1990 - $596,410,264
1989 - $495,409,233
1988 - $470,395,801
1987 - $402,768,324
1986 - $318,858,423
1985 - $268,629,926
1984 - $333,163,670
1983 - $386,699,309
1982 - $348,741,684
1981 - $434,188,034
1980 - $431,542,537
1979 - $290,134,593
1978 - $266,570,067
1977 - $193,315,048
1976 - $147,660,037
1975 - $149,558,896
1974 - $150,851,317
1973 - $121,188,716
1972 - $80,913,200
1971 - $76,480,285
1970 - $68,739,973
1969 - $65,967,974
1968 - $61,445,975
1967 - $59,261,976
1966 - $56,699,977
1965 - $54,879,978
1964 - $51,939,979
1963 - $47,039,981
1962 - $41,859,983
1961 - $35,699,986
1960 - $34,579,986

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/lesotho | CC BY

Afghanistan and Lesotho economies compared

GDP per capita
Afghanistan

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP per capita
Afghanistan Lesotho
2024 - $972
2023 $414 $916
2022 $357 $1,030
2021 $356 $1,067
2020 $511 $919
2019 $497 $1,082
2018 $491 $1,171
2017 $525 $1,069
2016 $522 $992
2015 $566 $1,121
2014 $625 $1,174
2013 $637 $1,151
2012 $651 $1,218
2011 $607 $1,281
2010 $561 $1,119
2009 $452 $879
2008 $382 $898
2007 $376 $861
2006 $274.2 $925
2005 $254.2 $861
2004 $221.8 $767
2003 $198.9 $583
2002 $179 $389
2001 $138.7 $413
2000 $174.9 $443
1999 - $456
1998 - $465
1997 - $502
1996 - $480
1995 - $513
1994 - $456
1993 - $439
1992 - $444
1991 - $382
1990 - $330
1989 - $279
1988 - $270.4
1987 - $236.5
1986 - $191.4
1985 - $165.4
1984 - $211
1983 - $252
1982 - $233.9
1981 - $299.8
1980 - $307
1979 - $212.4
1978 - $200.8
1977 - $149.9
1976 - $117.8
1975 - $123.2
1974 - $128.7
1973 - $107
1972 - $74
1971 - $72.4
1970 - $67.4
1969 - $67.1
1968 - $64.8
1967 - $64.8
1966 - $64.3
1965 - $64.3
1964 - $62.6
1963 - $58.4
1962 - $53.5
1961 - $47
1960 - $47

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/lesotho | CC BY

Afghanistan vs. Lesotho life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Afghanistan

Lesotho
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Afghanistan Lesotho
2026 66.8 58.6
2025 66.5 58.2
2024 66.3 57.8
2023 66 57.4
2022 65.6 56.8
2021 60.4 54.2
2020 61.5 55.1
2019 62.9 55.2
2018 62.4 54.6
2017 62.4 53.9
2016 62.6 52.9
2015 62.3 51.8
2014 62.3 50.8
2013 62.2 49.5
2012 61.7 48.2
2011 61.3 46.9
2010 60.7 46
2009 60.2 45.1
2008 59.7 44.3
2007 59 43.7
2006 58.6 43.2
2005 58.2 43.6
2004 57.8 44
2003 57.2 44.9
2002 56.2 46
2001 55.5 47.2
2000 55 48.8
1999 54.5 50.4
1998 52.5 52
1997 53.2 53.7
1996 52.8 55.1
1995 52.1 56.4
1994 51 57.3
1993 51 58.1
1992 46.6 58.6
1991 45.5 59.1
1990 45.1 59.3
1989 44.5 59.5
1988 43.2 59.6
1987 38.8 59.6
1986 38.4 59.3
1985 32.1 59.2
1984 31.5 59
1983 36.5 58.5
1982 36.1 58
1981 39.4 57.3
1980 39.3 56.5
1979 38.8 55.8
1978 40.1 55.2
1977 41.1 54.5
1976 40.5 53.9
1975 40 53.5
1974 39.5 52.9
1973 39 52.6
1972 38.4 52.3
1971 37.9 51.8
1970 37.5 51.5
1969 37 51.1
1968 36.5 50.8
1967 36 50.5
1966 35.6 50.4
1965 35.1 50.3
1964 34.7 50.3
1963 34.2 50.3
1962 33.8 50.3
1961 33.3 50.3
1960 32.8 50.2
1959 32.3 49.9
1958 31.8 49.6
1957 31.3 49.2
1956 30.8 48.6
1955 30.4 48
1954 29.7 47.3
1953 29.5 46.6
1952 29 45.9
1951 28.6 45.2
1950 28.2 44.6

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/lesotho | CC BY

Afghanistan and Lesotho population clocks and comparison

Population
Afghanistan

Lesotho
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Lesotho
2024 42,647,492 2,337,423
2023 41,454,761 2,311,472
2022 40,578,842 2,286,110
2021 40,000,412 2,261,542
2020 39,068,979 2,235,727
2019 37,856,121 2,209,405
2018 36,743,039 2,183,603
2017 35,688,935 2,157,110
2016 34,700,612 2,130,422
2015 33,831,764 2,104,611
2014 32,792,523 2,080,089
2013 31,622,704 2,056,504
2012 30,560,034 2,034,354
2011 29,347,708 2,014,009
2010 28,284,089 1,996,251
2009 27,466,101 1,980,883
2008 26,482,622 1,966,541
2007 25,909,852 1,953,268
2006 25,424,094 1,945,063
2005 24,404,567 1,953,076
2004 23,560,654 1,971,129
2003 22,733,049 1,985,059
2002 21,378,117 1,994,679
2001 20,284,307 2,000,853
2000 20,130,327 2,003,913
1999 19,887,785 2,003,234
1998 19,159,996 1,998,049
1997 18,452,091 1,988,130
1996 17,763,266 1,972,418
1995 17,065,836 1,951,437
1994 16,250,794 1,927,707
1993 14,943,172 1,901,793
1992 13,278,974 1,873,274
1991 12,238,879 1,842,379
1990 12,045,660 1,809,696
1989 11,874,088 1,775,436
1988 11,523,298 1,739,841
1987 11,387,818 1,703,390
1986 11,420,074 1,666,138
1985 11,426,852 1,624,379
1984 11,190,221 1,578,986
1983 10,917,982 1,534,413
1982 10,991,378 1,490,732
1981 11,937,581 1,448,069
1980 13,169,311 1,406,521
1979 13,655,567 1,366,169
1978 13,611,441 1,327,240
1977 13,340,756 1,289,967
1976 13,059,851 1,253,214
1975 12,773,954 1,213,643
1974 12,469,127 1,172,420
1973 12,157,999 1,132,697
1972 11,853,696 1,094,063
1971 11,567,667 1,056,246
1970 11,290,128 1,019,273
1969 11,017,409 983,202
1968 10,756,922 948,105
1967 10,505,959 913,982
1966 10,266,395 881,870
1965 10,036,008 854,090
1964 9,814,318 829,437
1963 9,604,487 805,373
1962 9,404,406 781,814
1961 9,214,083 758,824
1960 9,035,043 736,500

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/lesotho | CC BY

Fertility rates in Afghanistan and Lesotho

Fertility rate
Afghanistan

Lesotho
1x
Year Fertility rate
Afghanistan Lesotho
2023 4.84 2.69
2022 4.93 2.72
2021 5.04 2.77
2020 5.15 2.85
2019 5.24 2.92
2018 5.33 3.02
2017 5.43 3.11
2016 5.54 3.18
2015 5.65 3.22
2014 5.77 3.24
2013 5.88 3.28
2012 5.99 3.3
2011 6.09 3.34
2010 6.2 3.25
2009 6.3 3.31
2008 6.39 3.39
2007 6.51 3.44
2006 6.69 3.41
2005 6.86 3.43
2004 7.02 3.51
2003 7.17 3.62
2002 7.32 3.68
2001 7.45 3.63
2000 7.57 3.61
1999 7.64 3.67
1998 7.69 3.82
1997 7.73 3.98
1996 7.76 4.06
1995 7.77 4.13
1994 7.77 4.21
1993 7.76 4.37
1992 7.7 4.54
1991 7.63 4.68
1990 7.58 4.81
1989 7.56 4.96
1988 7.55 5.1
1987 7.55 5.22
1986 7.55 5.32
1985 7.55 5.4
1984 7.55 5.48
1983 7.57 5.56
1982 7.6 5.63
1981 7.62 5.69
1980 7.64 5.75
1979 7.61 5.79
1978 7.6 5.82
1977 7.59 5.85
1976 7.56 5.87
1975 7.54 5.83
1974 7.53 5.75
1973 7.49 5.69
1972 7.45 5.69
1971 7.43 5.7
1970 7.4 5.7
1969 7.39 5.7
1968 7.36 5.73
1967 7.34 5.75
1966 7.32 5.76
1965 7.31 5.77
1964 7.3 5.77
1963 7.3 5.78
1962 7.29 5.79
1961 7.28 5.79
1960 7.28 5.78

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/lesotho | CC BY

Afghanistan and Lesotho demographics compared

Median age
Afghanistan

Lesotho
1x
Year Median age, years
Afghanistan Lesotho
2024 18.2 22.7
2023 18 22.5
2022 17.8 22.3
2021 17.6 22.1
2020 17.5 22
2019 17.3 21.8
2018 17.1 21.7
2017 17 21.6
2016 16.8 21.4
2015 16.6 21.3
2014 16.4 21.2
2013 16.2 21.1
2012 16 21
2011 15.9 20.9
2010 15.7 20.7
2009 15.5 20.6
2008 15.3 20.4
2007 15.2 20.2
2006 15.1 20
2005 15 19.9
2004 14.9 19.8
2003 14.9 19.7
2002 14.9 19.5
2001 14.9 19.4
2000 15 19.2
1999 15.1 19.1
1998 15.2 18.9
1997 15.3 18.8
1996 15.5 18.6
1995 15.6 18.6
1994 15.7 18.5
1993 15.8 18.4
1992 15.9 18.4
1991 16 18.4
1990 16.1 18.4
1989 16.1 18.5
1988 16.2 18.6
1987 16.3 18.7
1986 16.3 18.6
1985 16.4 18.4
1984 16.5 18.5
1983 16.6 18.6
1982 16.7 18.6
1981 16.8 18.7
1980 16.9 18.8
1979 17 18.8
1978 17.2 18.9
1977 17.3 19
1976 17.4 19
1975 17.5 18.9
1974 17.6 18.8
1973 17.7 18.6
1972 17.8 18.5
1971 17.9 18.3
1970 18.1 18.2
1969 18.2 18
1968 18.3 17.8
1967 18.4 17.6
1966 18.5 17.5
1965 18.6 17.5
1964 18.6 17.5
1963 18.7 17.4
1962 18.8 17.4
1961 18.9 17.4
1960 18.9 17.5

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/lesotho | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Afghanistan and Lesotho.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Afghanistan Lesotho
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2023
$2.75B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.4%
2024
53.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.34%
2017
6.62%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.83%
2021
1.57%
2024
Armed forces personnel
165,000
2020
2,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.54%
2024
+9.04%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.68%
2021
18.7%
2024
Services, % of GDP
46.4%
2023
48%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
13.4%
2023
30.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
53
2021
54.9
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
32.9%
2017
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.7%
2017
Total reserves including gold
$9.75B
2020
$1.01B
2024
Personal remittances received
$320M
2024
$476M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
1,142,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
5.08%
2020
10.1%
1999
Banked people share
9.65%
2021
61.6%
2024

Energy

Afghanistan Lesotho
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita n/a
9.73 kg
2007
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$198.7
2007
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
12.1 megatons
2024
1 megaton
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.28 tons
2024
0.43 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
0%
2007
Renewable energy use share
20%
2022
34.9%
2022
Renewable electricity output share
78.2%
2021
99.8%
2021
Hydroelectric share
71.7%
2021
99.6%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
85.3%
2023
57.3%
2023

Society

Afghanistan Lesotho
% of world population
0.52%
2024
0.03%
2024
Annual migration change
-74,404
2025
-5,192
2025
Urban population
25.7%
2024
43.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.5:49.5
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.53 ft
2025
5.51 ft
2025
Average female height
5.12 ft
2025
5.14 ft
2025
Quality of life index
15.5
2026
21.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
16
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
20
2026
28
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.02
2021
37.7
2008
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.9
2019
31.9
2019
Visa free countries
36
2025
81
2025
Adult literacy rate
37.3%
2021
90.4%
2024
English speaking
6%
2023
27.9%
2023
People using the Internet
17.7%
2023
48%
2023

Health

Afghanistan Lesotho
Government health expenditure per capita
$59.1
2023
$122.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$45.6
2023
$16.2
2023
Life expectancy
66.8 years
2026
58.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
21.2%
2023
40.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.32
2023
0.24
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.9 years
2025
20.9 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
521
2023
478
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
55.5
2023
58.9
2023
Obesity rate
19.6%
2022
21.7%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.7%
2024
6.2%
2024
Air quality index
3
2026
28
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
22.7%
2022
24.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.01 liters
2020
4.3 liters
2020

Territory

Afghanistan Lesotho
% of world land
0.44%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
5,905 sq mi
2024
5,015 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
147,167 sq mi
2026
9,115 sq mi
2026
Forest area
4,666 sq mi
2026
133.3 sq mi
2026
Roads length
21,688 mi
2021
3,691 mi
2011

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2021–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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