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Eritrea vs Lesotho statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a population of 3.54M (ranked 131/197), compared with 2.34M in Lesotho (ranked 145/197). Eritrea's land area is 46,787 sq mi versus 11,722 sq mi for Lesotho (ranked 96th vs. 137th).

By GDP, Eritrea ranks 179/197 ($2.07B) and Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B). By GDP per capita, Eritrea ranks 188/197 ($689), while Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972).

Main facts and rankings

Eritrea Lesotho
Population
3700586
2396633
Population rank 130/197 143/197
GDP
$2.07B
2011
$2.27B
2024
GDP rank 179/197 175/197
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$972
2024
GDP per capita rank 188/197 181/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$3,001
2024
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
$1.29B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
56.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
$552
2024
Government debt per person rank 136/185 164/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,129
2026
$6,545
2026
Land area 46,787 sq mi 11,722 sq mi
Population density
78.6 ppl/mi²
2026
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.71
2023
2.69
2023
Median age
19.9 years
2024
22.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
58.6 years
2026

Eritrea and Lesotho: Comparison Charts

Eritrea and Lesotho economies compared

GDP
Eritrea

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP
Eritrea Lesotho
2024 - $2,271,759,455
2023 - $2,117,962,445
2022 - $2,354,980,960
2021 - $2,412,130,057
2020 - $2,053,699,864
2019 - $2,390,702,296
2018 - $2,556,247,292
2017 - $2,306,741,672
2016 - $2,114,426,452
2015 - $2,359,686,725
2014 - $2,441,063,054
2013 - $2,367,112,932
2012 - $2,477,702,216
2011 $2,065,001,626 $2,579,409,620
2010 $1,589,515,447 $2,234,754,242
2009 $1,856,695,551 $1,740,894,965
2008 $1,380,188,800 $1,766,902,709
2007 $1,317,974,491 $1,682,131,785
2006 $1,211,161,880 $1,800,092,564
2005 $1,098,424,686 $1,682,343,527
2004 $1,109,054,005 $1,511,236,656
2003 $870,248,268 $1,157,825,435
2002 $729,321,680 $775,777,239
2001 $752,371,689 $825,706,961
2000 $706,370,816 $887,291,688
1999 $688,918,537 $912,773,681
1998 $745,523,117 $928,460,893
1997 $686,490,090 $998,004,259
1996 $693,535,954 $946,112,493
1995 $578,015,625 $1,001,894,000
1994 $531,688,312 $878,250,945
1993 $467,872,715 $835,582,062
1992 $477,101,652 $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/eritrea/lesotho | CC BY

Eritrea and Lesotho economies compared

GDP per capita
Eritrea

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP per capita
Eritrea Lesotho
2024 - $972
2023 - $916
2022 - $1,030
2021 - $1,067
2020 - $919
2019 - $1,082
2018 - $1,171
2017 - $1,069
2016 - $992
2015 - $1,121
2014 - $1,174
2013 - $1,151
2012 - $1,218
2011 $689 $1,281
2010 $540 $1,119
2009 $643 $879
2008 $490 $898
2007 $480 $861
2006 $448 $925
2005 $413 $861
2004 $427 $767
2003 $349 $583
2002 $305 $389
2001 $325 $413
2000 $314 $443
1999 $311 $456
1998 $342 $465
1997 $319 $502
1996 $326 $480
1995 $285.4 $513
1994 $277.8 $456
1993 $252.1 $439
1992 $265.2 $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/eritrea/lesotho | CC BY

Eritrea vs. Lesotho life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Eritrea

Lesotho
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Eritrea Lesotho
2026 69.4 58.6
2025 69.2 58.2
2024 68.9 57.8
2023 68.6 57.4
2022 67.8 56.8
2021 66.9 54.2
2020 67 55.1
2019 67.3 55.2
2018 67 54.6
2017 66.6 53.9
2016 66.2 52.9
2015 65.9 51.8
2014 65.5 50.8
2013 65 49.5
2012 64.7 48.2
2011 64.2 46.9
2010 63.7 46
2009 63.2 45.1
2008 62.4 44.3
2007 62 43.7
2006 61.5 43.2
2005 60.6 43.6
2004 60.1 44
2003 59.5 44.9
2002 58.9 46
2001 58.4 47.2
2000 56.3 48.8
1999 44.5 50.4
1998 50 52
1997 56.2 53.7
1996 55.5 55.1
1995 54.8 56.4
1994 54 57.3
1993 53.2 58.1
1992 52.4 58.6
1991 50.5 59.1
1990 49.7 59.3
1989 47.8 59.5
1988 48.1 59.6
1987 47.4 59.6
1986 39.5 59.3
1985 38.6 59.2
1984 37.7 59
1983 37.2 58.5
1982 44.9 58
1981 45 57.3
1980 44.6 56.5
1979 43.8 55.8
1978 43.4 55.2
1977 43 54.5
1976 42.6 53.9
1975 39 53.5
1974 39 52.9
1973 41.1 52.6
1972 40.7 52.3
1971 41.5 51.8
1970 41.2 51.5
1969 40.8 51.1
1968 40.5 50.8
1967 40.2 50.5
1966 37.6 50.4
1965 39.6 50.3
1964 39.2 50.3
1963 38.8 50.3
1962 38.3 50.3
1961 37.9 50.3
1960 37.4 50.2
1959 37 49.9
1958 30.9 49.6
1957 30.4 49.2
1956 35.6 48.6
1955 35.2 48
1954 34.8 47.3
1953 34.4 46.6
1952 34 45.9
1951 33.6 45.2
1950 33.3 44.6

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

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

Eritrea and Lesotho population clocks and comparison

Population
Eritrea

Lesotho
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Lesotho
2024 3,535,603 2,337,423
2023 3,470,390 2,311,472
2022 3,409,447 2,286,110
2021 3,350,183 2,261,542
2020 3,291,271 2,235,727
2019 3,240,194 2,209,405
2018 3,192,760 2,183,603
2017 3,150,347 2,157,110
2016 3,124,698 2,130,422
2015 3,105,546 2,104,611
2014 3,095,173 2,080,089
2013 3,074,360 2,056,504
2012 3,036,988 2,034,354
2011 2,998,485 2,014,009
2010 2,945,186 1,996,251
2009 2,887,885 1,980,883
2008 2,816,327 1,966,541
2007 2,743,222 1,953,268
2006 2,703,502 1,945,063
2005 2,661,215 1,953,076
2004 2,598,284 1,971,129
2003 2,493,903 1,985,059
2002 2,392,978 1,994,679
2001 2,312,079 2,000,853
2000 2,247,031 2,003,913
1999 2,212,780 2,003,234
1998 2,180,419 1,998,049
1997 2,152,135 1,988,130
1996 2,128,464 1,972,418
1995 2,025,267 1,951,437
1994 1,913,915 1,927,707
1993 1,856,006 1,901,793
1992 1,798,748 1,873,274
1991 1,919,571 1,842,379
1990 2,032,737 1,809,696
1989 1,987,017 1,775,436
1988 1,938,255 1,739,841
1987 1,888,669 1,703,390
1986 1,845,164 1,666,138
1985 1,807,816 1,624,379
1984 1,771,730 1,578,986
1983 1,736,160 1,534,413
1982 1,695,461 1,490,732
1981 1,649,939 1,448,069
1980 1,605,797 1,406,521
1979 1,563,332 1,366,169
1978 1,522,378 1,327,240
1977 1,482,565 1,289,967
1976 1,443,807 1,253,214
1975 1,408,210 1,213,643
1974 1,375,688 1,172,420
1973 1,342,669 1,132,697
1972 1,309,235 1,094,063
1971 1,276,154 1,056,246
1970 1,243,453 1,019,273
1969 1,212,005 983,202
1968 1,181,737 948,105
1967 1,152,339 913,982
1966 1,124,957 881,870
1965 1,098,335 854,090
1964 1,071,287 829,437
1963 1,045,092 805,373
1962 1,019,788 781,814
1961 995,573 758,824
1960 972,547 736,500

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

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

Fertility rates in Eritrea and Lesotho

Fertility rate
Eritrea

Lesotho
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eritrea Lesotho
2023 3.71 2.69
2022 3.79 2.72
2021 3.87 2.77
2020 3.93 2.85
2019 4 2.92
2018 4.06 3.02
2017 4.11 3.11
2016 4.16 3.18
2015 4.22 3.22
2014 4.27 3.24
2013 4.34 3.28
2012 4.41 3.3
2011 4.49 3.34
2010 4.57 3.25
2009 4.66 3.31
2008 4.74 3.39
2007 4.81 3.44
2006 4.88 3.41
2005 4.93 3.43
2004 5.04 3.51
2003 5.14 3.62
2002 5.23 3.68
2001 5.31 3.63
2000 5.4 3.61
1999 5.52 3.67
1998 5.63 3.82
1997 5.74 3.98
1996 5.84 4.06
1995 5.94 4.13
1994 6.01 4.21
1993 6.07 4.37
1992 6.16 4.54
1991 6.24 4.68
1990 6.34 4.81
1989 6.41 4.96
1988 6.47 5.1
1987 6.52 5.22
1986 6.56 5.32
1985 6.59 5.4
1984 6.62 5.48
1983 6.65 5.56
1982 6.63 5.63
1981 6.62 5.69
1980 6.61 5.75
1979 6.62 5.79
1978 6.61 5.82
1977 6.61 5.85
1976 6.6 5.87
1975 6.59 5.83
1974 6.57 5.75
1973 6.55 5.69
1972 6.54 5.69
1971 6.54 5.7
1970 6.54 5.7
1969 6.5 5.7
1968 6.5 5.73
1967 6.5 5.75
1966 6.5 5.76
1965 6.49 5.77
1964 6.49 5.77
1963 6.48 5.78
1962 6.5 5.79
1961 6.47 5.79
1960 6.48 5.78

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

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

Eritrea and Lesotho demographics compared

Median age
Eritrea

Lesotho
1x
Year Median age, years
Eritrea Lesotho
2024 19.9 22.7
2023 19.7 22.5
2022 19.5 22.3
2021 19.3 22.1
2020 19.1 22
2019 18.9 21.8
2018 18.7 21.7
2017 18.5 21.6
2016 18.4 21.4
2015 18.4 21.3
2014 18.5 21.2
2013 18.5 21.1
2012 18.5 21
2011 18.5 20.9
2010 18.4 20.7
2009 18.4 20.6
2008 18.2 20.4
2007 18.1 20.2
2006 18.2 20
2005 18.3 19.9
2004 18.3 19.8
2003 18 19.7
2002 17.7 19.5
2001 17.5 19.4
2000 17.4 19.2
1999 17.5 19.1
1998 17.8 18.9
1997 18 18.8
1996 18.4 18.6
1995 18.1 18.6
1994 17.6 18.5
1993 17.6 18.4
1992 17.5 18.4
1991 17.6 18.4
1990 17.6 18.4
1989 17.7 18.5
1988 17.8 18.6
1987 17.9 18.7
1986 17.9 18.6
1985 17.8 18.4
1984 17.8 18.5
1983 17.7 18.6
1982 17.7 18.6
1981 17.7 18.7
1980 17.8 18.8
1979 17.8 18.8
1978 17.8 18.9
1977 17.9 19
1976 18 19
1975 18.1 18.9
1974 18.2 18.8
1973 18.2 18.6
1972 18.3 18.5
1971 18.5 18.3
1970 18.6 18.2
1969 18.8 18
1968 18.9 17.8
1967 18.9 17.6
1966 19 17.5
1965 19 17.5
1964 19 17.5
1963 19 17.4
1962 18.9 17.4
1961 18.9 17.4
1960 18.8 17.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Eritrea Lesotho
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$2.75B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
53.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.13%
2006
6.62%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
20.9%
2003
1.57%
2024
Armed forces personnel
202,000
2020
2,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+2.72%
2019
+9.04%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
18.7%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
48%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
30.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
39.6
2026
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
$192M
2019
$1.01B
2024
Personal remittances received
$3.28M
2000
$476M
2024
International tourist arrivals
142,000
2016
1,142,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
36.8%
2000
10.1%
1999
Banked people share n/a
61.6%
2024

Energy

Eritrea Lesotho
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
289.5 kg
2022
9.73 kg
2007
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$6.73
2011
$198.7
2007
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.78 megatons
2024
1 megaton
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.22 tons
2024
0.43 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
22.4%
2022
0%
2007
Renewable energy use share
80.7%
2021
34.9%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.1%
2022
n/a
Net energy imports use share
34.8%
2004
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
102.4 kWh
2022
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
5.79%
2021
99.8%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
99.6%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
54.4%
2023
57.3%
2023

Society

Eritrea Lesotho
% of world population
0.04%
2024
0.03%
2024
Annual migration change
-6,698
2025
-5,192
2025
Urban population
34.5%
2024
43.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.6 ft
2025
5.51 ft
2025
Average female height
5.17 ft
2025
5.14 ft
2025
Quality of life index
9.53
2026
21.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
13
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
5
2026
28
2026
Homicides per 100K people
14.6
2012
37.7
2008
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
37.9
2019
31.9
2019
Visa free countries
49
2025
81
2025
Adult literacy rate
76.6%
2018
90.4%
2024
English speaking
0%
2025
27.9%
2023
People using the Internet
20%
2023
48%
2023

Health

Eritrea Lesotho
Government health expenditure per capita
$28.3
2023
$122.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$13.7
2023
$16.2
2023
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
58.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
28.5%
2023
40.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.09
2022
0.24
2022
Age at first childbirth
21.3 years
2025
20.9 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
291
2023
478
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
35.4
2023
58.9
2023
Obesity rate
4.94%
2022
21.7%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.4%
2024
6.2%
2024
Air quality index
30
2026
28
2026
Tobacco use prevalence n/a
24.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.07 liters
2020
4.3 liters
2020

Territory

Eritrea Lesotho
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
13,233 sq mi
2024
5,015 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
29,313 sq mi
2026
9,115 sq mi
2026
Forest area
4,038 sq mi
2026
133.3 sq mi
2026
Roads length
9,942 mi
2018
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 (2011–2024, 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)

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