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Eswatini vs Lesotho statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Eswatini has a population of 1.24M (ranked 157/197), compared with 2.34M in Lesotho (ranked 145/197). Eswatini's land area is 6,641 sq mi versus 11,722 sq mi for Lesotho (ranked 154th vs. 137th).

By GDP, Eswatini ranks 162/197 ($4.86B) and Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B). By GDP per capita, Eswatini ranks 131/197 ($3,910), while Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972).

Main facts and rankings

Eswatini Lesotho
Population
1273390
2396633
Population rank 156/197 143/197
GDP
$4.86B
2024
$2.27B
2024
GDP rank 162/197 175/197
GDP per capita
$3,910
2024
$972
2024
GDP per capita rank 131/197 181/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,799
2024
$3,001
2024
Government debt
$1.93B
2024
$1.29B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.8%
2024
56.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,554
2024
$552
2024
Government debt per person rank 130/185 164/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,913
2026
$6,545
2026
Land area 6,641 sq mi 11,722 sq mi
Population density
191.2 ppl/mi²
2026
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.75
2023
2.69
2023
Median age
23.2 years
2024
22.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
64.5 years
2026
58.6 years
2026

Eswatini and Lesotho: Comparison Charts

Eswatini and Lesotho economies compared

GDP
Eswatini

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP
Eswatini Lesotho
2024 $4,858,885,841 $2,271,759,455
2023 $4,621,191,262 $2,117,962,445
2022 $4,746,660,274 $2,354,980,960
2021 $4,807,069,277 $2,412,130,057
2020 $4,134,677,810 $2,053,699,864
2019 $4,617,018,959 $2,390,702,296
2018 $4,643,751,059 $2,556,247,292
2017 $4,462,640,651 $2,306,741,672
2016 $3,722,306,117 $2,114,426,452
2015 $3,908,217,914 $2,359,686,725
2014 $4,285,065,665 $2,441,063,054
2013 $4,463,396,204 $2,367,112,932
2012 $4,747,813,067 $2,477,702,216
2011 $4,722,912,047 $2,579,409,620
2010 $4,360,714,359 $2,234,754,242
2009 $3,525,213,502 $1,740,894,965
2008 $3,235,921,171 $1,766,902,709
2007 $3,391,122,887 $1,682,131,785
2006 $3,215,307,901 $1,800,092,564
2005 $3,097,946,371 $1,682,343,527
2004 $2,710,331,785 $1,511,236,656
2003 $2,149,632,433 $1,157,825,435
2002 $1,393,945,031 $775,777,239
2001 $1,502,870,486 $825,706,961
2000 $1,697,161,558 $887,291,688
1999 $1,547,888,496 $912,773,681
1998 $1,576,908,856 $928,460,893
1997 $1,716,714,070 $998,004,259
1996 $1,602,741,834 $946,112,493
1995 $1,698,989,464 $1,001,894,000
1994 $1,419,294,254 $878,250,945
1993 $1,357,189,552 $835,582,062
1992 $1,284,759,928 $831,029,862
1991 $1,156,135,718 $704,325,367
1990 $1,114,694,041 $596,410,264
1989 $696,921,542 $495,409,233
1988 $692,026,455 $470,395,801
1987 $584,126,092 $402,768,324
1986 $449,140,318 $318,858,423
1985 $360,079,419 $268,629,926
1984 $494,483,409 $333,163,670
1983 $555,336,146 $386,699,309
1982 $537,568,059 $348,741,684
1981 $570,774,825 $434,188,034
1980 $541,976,853 $431,542,537
1979 $412,093,134 $290,134,593
1978 $340,630,085 $266,570,067
1977 $304,060,076 $193,315,048
1976 $272,550,068 $147,660,037
1975 $288,299,789 $149,558,896
1974 $264,320,941 $150,851,317
1973 $221,915,128 $121,188,716
1972 $146,736,479 $80,913,200
1971 $136,462,081 $76,480,285
1970 $112,139,955 $68,739,973
1969 $105,419,958 $65,967,974
1968 $79,799,968 $61,445,975
1967 $74,759,970 $59,261,976
1966 $76,859,969 $56,699,977
1965 $70,279,972 $54,879,978
1964 $64,980,554 $51,939,979
1963 $54,129,438 $47,039,981
1962 $45,927,962 $41,859,983
1961 $43,026,043 $35,699,986
1960 $35,076,846 $34,579,986

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

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

Eswatini and Lesotho economies compared

GDP per capita
Eswatini

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP per capita
Eswatini Lesotho
2024 $3,910 $972
2023 $3,756 $916
2022 $3,894 $1,030
2021 $3,984 $1,067
2020 $3,467 $919
2019 $3,913 $1,082
2018 $3,973 $1,171
2017 $3,853 $1,069
2016 $3,238 $992
2015 $3,420 $1,121
2014 $3,771 $1,174
2013 $3,950 $1,151
2012 $4,225 $1,218
2011 $4,225 $1,281
2010 $3,923 $1,119
2009 $3,190 $879
2008 $2,947 $898
2007 $3,109 $861
2006 $2,965 $925
2005 $2,871 $861
2004 $2,526 $767
2003 $2,015 $583
2002 $1,316 $389
2001 $1,430 $413
2000 $1,630 $443
1999 $1,502 $456
1998 $1,547 $465
1997 $1,705 $502
1996 $1,619 $480
1995 $1,751 $513
1994 $1,461 $456
1993 $1,397 $439
1992 $1,362 $444
1991 $1,273 $382
1990 $1,278 $330
1989 $832 $279
1988 $865 $270.4
1987 $765 $236.5
1986 $611 $191.4
1985 $510 $165.4
1984 $726 $211
1983 $843 $252
1982 $843 $233.9
1981 $925 $299.8
1980 $908 $307
1979 $714 $212.4
1978 $610 $200.8
1977 $563 $149.9
1976 $521 $117.8
1975 $568 $123.2
1974 $536 $128.7
1973 $463 $107
1972 $315 $74
1971 $301 $72.4
1970 $254.2 $67.4
1969 $245.2 $67.1
1968 $190.4 $64.8
1967 $182.8 $64.8
1966 $192.7 $64.3
1965 $181 $64.3
1964 $171.6 $62.6
1963 $146.4 $58.4
1962 $127.1 $53.5
1961 $121.8 $47
1960 $101.6 $47

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

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

Eswatini vs. Lesotho life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Eswatini

Lesotho
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Eswatini Lesotho
2026 64.5 58.6
2025 64.4 58.2
2024 64.3 57.8
2023 64.1 57.4
2022 63 56.8
2021 58.2 54.2
2020 59.9 55.1
2019 59.8 55.2
2018 58.7 54.6
2017 57.6 53.9
2016 56.2 52.9
2015 54.9 51.8
2014 53.5 50.8
2013 52.1 49.5
2012 50.7 48.2
2011 49.1 46.9
2010 48.3 46
2009 46.9 45.1
2008 45.9 44.3
2007 45.2 43.7
2006 44.6 43.2
2005 44 43.6
2004 43.9 44
2003 44.6 44.9
2002 45.4 46
2001 46.3 47.2
2000 47.6 48.8
1999 48.8 50.4
1998 50.1 52
1997 51.7 53.7
1996 53.3 55.1
1995 55.1 56.4
1994 56.6 57.3
1993 58.1 58.1
1992 59.3 58.6
1991 60.4 59.1
1990 61.2 59.3
1989 61.7 59.5
1988 61.9 59.6
1987 61.9 59.6
1986 61.6 59.3
1985 61.2 59.2
1984 60.4 59
1983 58.4 58.5
1982 59.5 58
1981 58.8 57.3
1980 58.2 56.5
1979 57.5 55.8
1978 56.8 55.2
1977 56 54.5
1976 55.2 53.9
1975 54.4 53.5
1974 53.7 52.9
1973 53 52.6
1972 52.4 52.3
1971 51.8 51.8
1970 51.2 51.5
1969 50.6 51.1
1968 50.1 50.8
1967 49.5 50.5
1966 49 50.4
1965 48.4 50.3
1964 47.9 50.3
1963 47.5 50.3
1962 47.1 50.3
1961 46.7 50.3
1960 46.4 50.2
1959 46.1 49.9
1958 45.8 49.6
1957 45.4 49.2
1956 45.1 48.6
1955 44.8 48
1954 44.6 47.3
1953 44.3 46.6
1952 44 45.9
1951 43.7 45.2
1950 43.4 44.6

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

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

Eswatini and Lesotho population clocks and comparison

Population
Eswatini

Lesotho
1x
Year Population
Eswatini Lesotho
2024 1,242,822 2,337,423
2023 1,230,506 2,311,472
2022 1,218,917 2,286,110
2021 1,206,593 2,261,542
2020 1,192,729 2,235,727
2019 1,179,874 2,209,405
2018 1,168,929 2,183,603
2017 1,158,195 2,157,110
2016 1,149,507 2,130,422
2015 1,142,813 2,104,611
2014 1,136,299 2,080,089
2013 1,129,990 2,056,504
2012 1,123,863 2,034,354
2011 1,117,833 2,014,009
2010 1,111,650 1,996,251
2009 1,105,153 1,980,883
2008 1,098,091 1,966,541
2007 1,090,705 1,953,268
2006 1,084,436 1,945,063
2005 1,079,022 1,953,076
2004 1,073,159 1,971,129
2003 1,066,700 1,985,059
2002 1,059,441 1,994,679
2001 1,051,064 2,000,853
2000 1,041,414 2,003,913
1999 1,030,782 2,003,234
1998 1,019,653 1,998,049
1997 1,006,635 1,988,130
1996 989,841 1,972,418
1995 970,433 1,951,437
1994 971,212 1,927,707
1993 971,318 1,901,793
1992 943,416 1,873,274
1991 908,189 1,842,379
1990 872,428 1,809,696
1989 837,800 1,775,436
1988 799,798 1,739,841
1987 763,811 1,703,390
1986 734,732 1,666,138
1985 706,196 1,624,379
1984 680,783 1,578,986
1983 658,957 1,534,413
1982 637,652 1,490,732
1981 616,808 1,448,069
1980 596,644 1,406,521
1979 577,199 1,366,169
1978 558,446 1,327,240
1977 540,348 1,289,967
1976 523,330 1,253,214
1975 507,673 1,213,643
1974 492,988 1,172,420
1973 479,038 1,132,697
1972 465,788 1,094,063
1971 453,183 1,056,246
1970 441,216 1,019,273
1969 429,875 983,202
1968 419,147 948,105
1967 409,031 913,982
1966 398,766 881,870
1965 388,336 854,090
1964 378,656 829,437
1963 369,759 805,373
1962 361,365 781,814
1961 353,264 758,824
1960 345,337 736,500

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

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

Fertility rates in Eswatini and Lesotho

Fertility rate
Eswatini

Lesotho
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eswatini Lesotho
2023 2.75 2.69
2022 2.8 2.72
2021 2.84 2.77
2020 2.89 2.85
2019 2.93 2.92
2018 2.97 3.02
2017 3.02 3.11
2016 3.07 3.18
2015 3.12 3.22
2014 3.18 3.24
2013 3.24 3.28
2012 3.27 3.3
2011 3.32 3.34
2010 3.38 3.25
2009 3.5 3.31
2008 3.57 3.39
2007 3.58 3.44
2006 3.63 3.41
2005 3.7 3.43
2004 3.76 3.51
2003 3.8 3.62
2002 3.85 3.68
2001 3.94 3.63
2000 4.03 3.61
1999 4.09 3.67
1998 4.13 3.82
1997 4.24 3.98
1996 4.38 4.06
1995 4.52 4.13
1994 4.66 4.21
1993 4.82 4.37
1992 4.98 4.54
1991 5.13 4.68
1990 5.3 4.81
1989 5.48 4.96
1988 5.69 5.1
1987 5.9 5.22
1986 6.11 5.32
1985 6.28 5.4
1984 6.36 5.48
1983 6.43 5.56
1982 6.49 5.63
1981 6.54 5.69
1980 6.57 5.75
1979 6.61 5.79
1978 6.65 5.82
1977 6.68 5.85
1976 6.7 5.87
1975 6.71 5.83
1974 6.71 5.75
1973 6.72 5.69
1972 6.72 5.69
1971 6.74 5.7
1970 6.75 5.7
1969 6.76 5.7
1968 6.76 5.73
1967 6.77 5.75
1966 6.8 5.76
1965 6.79 5.77
1964 6.79 5.77
1963 6.8 5.78
1962 6.79 5.79
1961 6.77 5.79
1960 6.75 5.78

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

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

Eswatini and Lesotho demographics compared

Median age
Eswatini

Lesotho
1x
Year Median age, years
Eswatini Lesotho
2024 23.2 22.7
2023 23 22.5
2022 22.8 22.3
2021 22.6 22.1
2020 22.4 22
2019 22.1 21.8
2018 21.8 21.7
2017 21.5 21.6
2016 21.2 21.4
2015 21 21.3
2014 20.7 21.2
2013 20.5 21.1
2012 20.2 21
2011 19.9 20.9
2010 19.6 20.7
2009 19.4 20.6
2008 19.1 20.4
2007 18.9 20.2
2006 18.7 20
2005 18.6 19.9
2004 18.5 19.8
2003 18.3 19.7
2002 18.1 19.5
2001 17.8 19.4
2000 17.6 19.2
1999 17.3 19.1
1998 16.9 18.9
1997 16.6 18.8
1996 16.3 18.6
1995 16.1 18.6
1994 16.3 18.5
1993 16.7 18.4
1992 16.5 18.4
1991 16.3 18.4
1990 16.1 18.4
1989 15.9 18.5
1988 15.6 18.6
1987 15.3 18.7
1986 15.3 18.6
1985 15.2 18.4
1984 15.3 18.5
1983 15.3 18.6
1982 15.4 18.6
1981 15.5 18.7
1980 15.6 18.8
1979 15.7 18.8
1978 15.8 18.9
1977 15.9 19
1976 16 19
1975 16.1 18.9
1974 16.2 18.8
1973 16.2 18.6
1972 16.3 18.5
1971 16.3 18.3
1970 16.3 18.2
1969 16.2 18
1968 16.2 17.8
1967 16.1 17.6
1966 16.1 17.5
1965 16.1 17.5
1964 16.1 17.5
1963 16.1 17.4
1962 16.3 17.4
1961 16.4 17.4
1960 16.6 17.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Eswatini Lesotho
GNI, Atlas method
$4.46B
2024
$2.75B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33.3%
2024
53.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.03%
2024
6.62%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.44%
2024
1.57%
2024
Armed forces personnel
3,000
1999
2,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.36%
2024
+9.04%
2024
Unemployment rate
34.6%
2023
18.7%
2024
Services, % of GDP
51.4%
2024
48%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
34.7%
2024
30.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
57.5
2026
54.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
42.7%
2016
32.9%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
1.4%
2016
1.7%
2017
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
6
2007
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$234M
2007
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$479M
2023
$1.01B
2024
Personal remittances received
$33.3M
2024
$476M
2024
International tourist arrivals
345,299
2020
1,142,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
0.4%
2020
10.1%
1999
Banked people share
65.1%
2024
61.6%
2024

Energy

Eswatini Lesotho
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
959 kg
2022
9.73 kg
2007
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$11.1
2022
$198.7
2007
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1.09 megatons
2024
1 megaton
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.88 tons
2024
0.43 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2022
0%
2007
Renewable energy use share
64.7%
2022
34.9%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
2.99%
2022
n/a
Net energy imports use share
20.6%
2022
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
1,137 kWh
2022
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
83.1%
2021
99.8%
2021
Hydroelectric share
60.4%
2022
99.6%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
86.4%
2023
57.3%
2023

Society

Eswatini Lesotho
% of world population
0.02%
2024
0.03%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,775
2025
-5,192
2025
Urban population
26.2%
2024
43.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.1:50.9
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.51 ft
2025
Average female height
5.21 ft
2025
5.14 ft
2025
Quality of life index
33.2
2026
21.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
23
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
22
2026
28
2026
Homicides per 100K people
12.7
2021
37.7
2008
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
33.5
2019
31.9
2019
Visa free countries
80
2025
81
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.8%
2022
90.4%
2024
English speaking
48.2%
2023
27.9%
2023
People using the Internet
57.6%
2023
48%
2023

Health

Eswatini Lesotho
Government health expenditure per capita
$296
2023
$122.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$32.6
2023
$16.2
2023
Life expectancy
64.5 years
2026
58.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
28.4%
2023
40.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.56
2023
0.24
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.5 years
2017
20.9 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
478
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
45
2023
58.9
2023
Obesity rate
30.6%
2022
21.7%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.9%
2024
6.2%
2024
Air quality index
36
2026
28
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
9.5%
2022
24.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
6.79 liters
2020
4.3 liters
2020

Territory

Eswatini Lesotho
% of world land
0.01%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
5,343 sq mi
2024
5,015 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
4,614 sq mi
2026
9,115 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1,935 sq mi
2026
133.3 sq mi
2026
Roads length
2,342 mi
2019
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 (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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