Skip to content

DR Congo vs Lesotho statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

The DR Congo has a population of 109M (ranked 15/197), compared with 2.34M in Lesotho (ranked 145/197). The DR Congo's land area is 875,313 sq mi versus 11,722 sq mi for Lesotho (ranked 11th vs. 137th).

By GDP, The DR Congo ranks 87/197 ($71B) and Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B). By GDP per capita, The DR Congo ranks 190/197 ($649), while Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972).

Main facts and rankings

DR Congo Lesotho
Population
117507801
2396633
Population rank 15/197 143/197
GDP
$71B
2024
$2.27B
2024
GDP rank 87/197 175/197
GDP per capita
$649
2024
$972
2024
GDP per capita rank 190/197 181/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,821
2024
$3,001
2024
Government debt
$16B
2024
$1.29B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
22.5%
2024
56.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$146.4
2024
$552
2024
Government debt per person rank 183/185 164/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,693
2026
$6,545
2026
Land area 875,313 sq mi 11,722 sq mi
Population density
133.1 ppl/mi²
2026
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
6.05
2023
2.69
2023
Median age
16.9 years
2024
22.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
62.4 years
2026
58.6 years
2026

DR Congo and Lesotho: Comparison Charts

DR Congo and Lesotho economies compared

GDP
DR Congo

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP
DR Congo Lesotho
2024 $70,962,185,791 $2,271,759,455
2023 $69,843,655,425 $2,117,962,445
2022 $70,422,346,142 $2,354,980,960
2021 $59,067,289,574 $2,412,130,057
2020 $46,691,989,749 $2,053,699,864
2019 $46,845,900,350 $2,390,702,296
2018 $46,659,954,092 $2,556,247,292
2017 $37,537,521,566 $2,306,741,672
2016 $38,600,224,214 $2,114,426,452
2015 $40,179,574,490 $2,359,686,725
2014 $38,352,980,553 $2,441,063,054
2013 $34,891,189,160 $2,367,112,932
2012 $30,029,369,929 $2,477,702,216
2011 $26,392,379,642 $2,579,409,620
2010 $24,161,641,931 $2,234,754,242
2009 $18,607,259,481 $1,740,894,965
2008 $22,723,488,723 $1,766,902,709
2007 $18,374,807,773 $1,682,131,785
2006 $15,484,044,535 $1,800,092,564
2005 $12,609,728,573 $1,682,343,527
2004 $10,297,483,481 $1,511,236,656
2003 $8,937,567,060 $1,157,825,435
2002 $8,728,038,525 $775,777,239
2001 $7,438,189,100 $825,706,961
2000 $19,088,046,306 $887,291,688
1999 $4,711,259,427 $912,773,681
1998 $6,217,805,821 $928,460,893
1997 $6,090,838,693 $998,004,259
1996 $5,771,456,952 $946,112,493
1995 $5,643,439,376 $1,001,894,000
1994 $5,820,382,248 $878,250,945
1993 $10,706,259,937 $835,582,062
1992 $8,227,343,907 $831,029,862
1991 $9,625,436,873 $704,325,367
1990 $9,349,764,580 $596,410,264
1989 $9,021,862,775 $495,409,233
1988 $8,861,299,977 $470,395,801
1987 $7,661,625,473 $402,768,324
1986 $8,095,367,168 $318,858,423
1985 $7,195,042,616 $268,629,926
1984 $7,857,729,193 $333,163,670
1983 $11,006,712,650 $386,699,309
1982 $13,651,667,371 $348,741,684
1981 $12,537,821,038 $434,188,034
1980 $14,394,927,495 $431,542,537
1979 $15,068,422,236 $290,134,593
1978 $15,372,608,002 $266,570,067
1977 $12,344,424,764 $193,315,048
1976 $9,648,583,225 $147,660,037
1975 $10,237,343,174 $149,558,896
1974 $9,596,960,180 $150,851,317
1973 $7,870,239,461 $121,188,716
1972 $6,173,712,814 $80,913,200
1971 $5,594,770,359 $76,480,285
1970 $4,877,684,910 $68,739,973
1969 $5,032,434,970 $65,967,974
1968 $3,909,780,539 $61,445,975
1967 $3,384,063,372 $59,261,976
1966 $4,532,660,182 $56,699,977
1965 $4,043,901,818 $54,879,978
1964 $2,881,545,273 $51,939,979
1963 $6,213,185,743 $47,039,981
1962 $3,779,841,429 $41,859,983
1961 $3,086,746,857 $35,699,986
1960 $3,359,404,118 $34,579,986

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/lesotho | CC BY

DR Congo and Lesotho economies compared

GDP per capita
DR Congo

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP per capita
DR Congo Lesotho
2024 $649 $972
2023 $660 $916
2022 $688 $1,030
2021 $596 $1,067
2020 $486 $919
2019 $504 $1,082
2018 $518 $1,171
2017 $431 $1,069
2016 $460 $992
2015 $496 $1,121
2014 $489 $1,174
2013 $460 $1,151
2012 $410 $1,218
2011 $373 $1,281
2010 $352 $1,119
2009 $280.2 $879
2008 $353 $898
2007 $294.1 $861
2006 $255.4 $925
2005 $214.5 $861
2004 $180.7 $767
2003 $161.5 $583
2002 $162.4 $389
2001 $142.7 $413
2000 $378 $443
1999 $96.3 $456
1998 $131.5 $465
1997 $132.3 $502
1996 $127.4 $480
1995 $127 $513
1994 $136.5 $456
1993 $263.3 $439
1992 $209.7 $444
1991 $253.8 $382
1990 $254.9 $330
1989 $254.2 $279
1988 $257.7 $270.4
1987 $230.1 $236.5
1986 $250.9 $191.4
1985 $230.1 $165.4
1984 $259.8 $211
1983 $376 $252
1982 $482 $233.9
1981 $456 $299.8
1980 $539 $307
1979 $582 $212.4
1978 $615 $200.8
1977 $509 $149.9
1976 $408 $117.8
1975 $445 $123.2
1974 $428 $128.7
1973 $361 $107
1972 $290.5 $74
1971 $270.3 $72.4
1970 $242.2 $67.4
1969 $257.1 $67.1
1968 $205.6 $64.8
1967 $183.3 $64.8
1966 $252.8 $64.3
1965 $232 $64.3
1964 $169.9 $62.6
1963 $376 $58.4
1962 $235.1 $53.5
1961 $197.1 $47
1960 $220.1 $47

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/lesotho | CC BY

DR Congo vs. Lesotho life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
DR Congo

Lesotho
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
DR Congo Lesotho
2026 62.4 58.6
2025 62.2 58.2
2024 62.1 57.8
2023 61.9 57.4
2022 61 56.8
2021 60 54.2
2020 60.4 55.1
2019 60.2 55.2
2018 59.9 54.6
2017 59.5 53.9
2016 59.1 52.9
2015 58.7 51.8
2014 58.2 50.8
2013 57.8 49.5
2012 57.4 48.2
2011 56.9 46.9
2010 56.4 46
2009 55.8 45.1
2008 55.4 44.3
2007 55 43.7
2006 54.5 43.2
2005 54 43.6
2004 53.5 44
2003 53 44.9
2002 52.4 46
2001 52.2 47.2
2000 51.9 48.8
1999 50.1 50.4
1998 49.7 52
1997 50.5 53.7
1996 49.4 55.1
1995 50.4 56.4
1994 49.9 57.3
1993 49.6 58.1
1992 49.3 58.6
1991 48.9 59.1
1990 48.5 59.3
1989 48.1 59.5
1988 47.8 59.6
1987 47.4 59.6
1986 47 59.3
1985 46.7 59.2
1984 46.5 59
1983 46.2 58.5
1982 45.9 58
1981 45.7 57.3
1980 45.5 56.5
1979 45.3 55.8
1978 44.6 55.2
1977 44.9 54.5
1976 44.7 53.9
1975 44.5 53.5
1974 44.3 52.9
1973 44.1 52.6
1972 43.9 52.3
1971 43.6 51.8
1970 43.3 51.5
1969 43 51.1
1968 42.7 50.8
1967 42.3 50.5
1966 42.2 50.4
1965 40.8 50.3
1964 40.1 50.3
1963 40.6 50.3
1962 40.4 50.3
1961 40.2 50.3
1960 40.8 50.2
1959 40.6 49.9
1958 40.5 49.6
1957 40.2 49.2
1956 39.9 48.6
1955 39.7 48
1954 39.4 47.3
1953 39.1 46.6
1952 38.9 45.9
1951 38.5 45.2
1950 38.2 44.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/lesotho | CC BY

DR Congo and Lesotho population clocks and comparison

Population
DR Congo

Lesotho
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Lesotho
2024 109,276,265 2,337,423
2023 105,789,731 2,311,472
2022 102,396,968 2,286,110
2021 99,148,932 2,261,542
2020 95,989,998 2,235,727
2019 92,947,442 2,209,405
2018 90,047,644 2,183,603
2017 87,083,398 2,157,110
2016 83,956,415 2,130,422
2015 81,035,531 2,104,611
2014 78,403,242 2,080,089
2013 75,789,395 2,056,504
2012 73,254,618 2,034,354
2011 70,849,311 2,014,009
2010 68,563,038 1,996,251
2009 66,412,044 1,980,883
2008 64,390,664 1,966,541
2007 62,477,752 1,953,268
2006 60,615,908 1,945,063
2005 58,775,724 1,953,076
2004 56,997,741 1,971,129
2003 55,343,867 1,985,059
2002 53,750,524 1,994,679
2001 52,132,646 2,000,853
2000 50,507,442 2,003,913
1999 48,912,971 2,003,234
1998 47,297,600 1,998,049
1997 46,029,902 1,988,130
1996 45,296,124 1,972,418
1995 44,433,704 1,951,437
1994 42,626,876 1,927,707
1993 40,656,336 1,901,793
1992 39,228,910 1,873,274
1991 37,925,817 1,842,379
1990 36,684,063 1,809,696
1989 35,486,866 1,775,436
1988 34,382,752 1,739,841
1987 33,298,904 1,703,390
1986 32,265,196 1,666,138
1985 31,264,816 1,624,379
1984 30,245,081 1,578,986
1983 29,250,963 1,534,413
1982 28,338,190 1,490,732
1981 27,500,515 1,448,069
1980 26,711,099 1,406,521
1979 25,886,782 1,366,169
1978 24,992,689 1,327,240
1977 24,229,061 1,289,967
1976 23,624,031 1,253,214
1975 23,021,101 1,213,643
1974 22,418,878 1,172,420
1973 21,827,665 1,132,697
1972 21,251,160 1,094,063
1971 20,695,569 1,056,246
1970 20,137,436 1,019,273
1969 19,570,445 983,202
1968 19,012,189 948,105
1967 18,462,782 913,982
1966 17,931,929 881,870
1965 17,427,802 854,090
1964 16,955,327 829,437
1963 16,507,599 805,373
1962 16,075,724 781,814
1961 15,662,374 758,824
1960 15,264,846 736,500

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/lesotho | CC BY

Fertility rates in DR Congo and Lesotho

Fertility rate
DR Congo

Lesotho
1x
Year Fertility rate
DR Congo Lesotho
2023 6.05 2.69
2022 6.11 2.72
2021 6.16 2.77
2020 6.21 2.85
2019 6.25 2.92
2018 6.3 3.02
2017 6.35 3.11
2016 6.39 3.18
2015 6.44 3.22
2014 6.48 3.24
2013 6.53 3.28
2012 6.56 3.3
2011 6.58 3.34
2010 6.59 3.25
2009 6.59 3.31
2008 6.58 3.39
2007 6.56 3.44
2006 6.55 3.41
2005 6.53 3.43
2004 6.53 3.51
2003 6.55 3.62
2002 6.61 3.68
2001 6.66 3.63
2000 6.7 3.61
1999 6.69 3.67
1998 6.7 3.82
1997 6.69 3.98
1996 6.67 4.06
1995 6.68 4.13
1994 6.64 4.21
1993 6.64 4.37
1992 6.64 4.54
1991 6.65 4.68
1990 6.65 4.81
1989 6.65 4.96
1988 6.66 5.1
1987 6.65 5.22
1986 6.63 5.32
1985 6.61 5.4
1984 6.59 5.48
1983 6.56 5.56
1982 6.54 5.63
1981 6.52 5.69
1980 6.5 5.75
1979 6.48 5.79
1978 6.46 5.82
1977 6.45 5.85
1976 6.44 5.87
1975 6.42 5.83
1974 6.4 5.75
1973 6.39 5.69
1972 6.37 5.69
1971 6.34 5.7
1970 6.33 5.7
1969 6.3 5.7
1968 6.29 5.73
1967 6.27 5.75
1966 6.24 5.76
1965 6.21 5.77
1964 6.19 5.77
1963 6.16 5.78
1962 6.14 5.79
1961 6.12 5.79
1960 6.11 5.78

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/lesotho | CC BY

DR Congo and Lesotho demographics compared

Median age
DR Congo

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

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

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/lesotho | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

DR Congo Lesotho
GNI, Atlas method
$72.7B
2024
$2.75B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
16.7%
2024
53.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.84%
2022
6.62%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.23%
2024
1.57%
2024
Armed forces personnel
134,000
2020
2,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.48%
2024
+9.04%
2024
Unemployment rate
1.47%
2020
18.7%
2024
Services, % of GDP
46.6%
2024
48%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
39.9%
2024
30.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
47
2026
54.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
35.7%
2020
32.9%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2020
1.7%
2017
Total reserves including gold
$5.1B
2023
$1.01B
2024
Personal remittances received
$2B
2024
$476M
2024
International tourist arrivals
351,000
2016
1,142,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
0.38%
2018
10.1%
1999
Banked people share
39.2%
2024
61.6%
2024

Energy

DR Congo Lesotho
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
391 kg
2022
9.73 kg
2007
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$4.07
2022
$198.7
2007
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
6.21 megatons
2024
1 megaton
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.06 tons
2024
0.43 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
3.97%
2022
0%
2007
Renewable energy use share
96.3%
2021
34.9%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
2.84%
2022
n/a
Net energy imports use share
1.6%
2022
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
130.7 kWh
2022
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
90.4%
2021
99.8%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2022
99.6%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
22.1%
2023
57.3%
2023

Society

DR Congo Lesotho
% of world population
1.34%
2024
0.03%
2024
Annual migration change
-27,309
2025
-5,192
2025
Urban population
44.7%
2024
43.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.6:50.4
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.53 ft
2025
5.51 ft
2025
Average female height
5.13 ft
2025
5.14 ft
2025
Quality of life index
8.38
2026
21.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
20
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
43
2026
28
2026
Homicides per 100K people
13.6
2015
37.7
2008
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
34.9
2019
31.9
2019
Visa free countries
51
2025
81
2025
Adult literacy rate
80.5%
2022
90.4%
2024
English speaking
1%
2025
27.9%
2023
People using the Internet
30.5%
2023
48%
2023

Health

DR Congo Lesotho
Government health expenditure per capita
$23.4
2023
$122.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$8.9
2023
$16.2
2023
Life expectancy
62.4 years
2026
58.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
37%
2023
40.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.21
2022
0.24
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.9 years
2025
20.9 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
427
2023
478
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
73.2
2023
58.9
2023
Obesity rate
6.89%
2022
21.7%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.7%
2024
6.2%
2024
Air quality index
5
2026
28
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
12.2%
2022
24.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.92 liters
2020
4.3 liters
2020

Territory

DR Congo Lesotho
% of world land
1.52%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
8,010 sq mi
2024
5,015 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
135,505 sq mi
2026
9,115 sq mi
2026
Forest area
474,331 sq mi
2026
133.3 sq mi
2026
Roads length
94,680 mi
2015
3,691 mi
2011

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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 (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.