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Ethiopia vs Lesotho statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ethiopia has a population of 132M (ranked 10/197), compared with 2.34M in Lesotho (ranked 145/197). Ethiopia's land area is 435,716 sq mi versus 11,722 sq mi for Lesotho (ranked 25th vs. 137th).

By GDP, Ethiopia ranks 60/197 ($150B) and Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B). By GDP per capita, Ethiopia ranks 171/197 ($1,134), while Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972).

Main facts and rankings

Ethiopia Lesotho
Population
139917664
2396633
Population rank 10/197 143/197
GDP
$150B
2024
$2.27B
2024
GDP rank 60/197 175/197
GDP per capita
$1,134
2024
$972
2024
GDP per capita rank 171/197 181/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,288
2024
$3,001
2024
Government debt
$48.9B
2024
$1.29B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
32.7%
2024
56.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$370
2024
$552
2024
Government debt per person rank 172/185 164/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,946
2026
$6,545
2026
Land area 435,716 sq mi 11,722 sq mi
Population density
319 ppl/mi²
2026
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.99
2023
2.69
2023
Median age
19.9 years
2024
22.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
68.1 years
2026
58.6 years
2026

Ethiopia and Lesotho: Comparison Charts

Ethiopia and Lesotho economies compared

GDP
Ethiopia

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP
Ethiopia Lesotho
2024 $149,740,297,953 $2,271,759,455
2023 $135,874,093,202 $2,117,962,445
2022 $123,140,304,666 $2,354,980,960
2021 $109,070,960,372 $2,412,130,057
2020 $98,676,811,061 $2,053,699,864
2019 $91,834,517,113 $2,390,702,296
2018 $83,337,901,072 $2,556,247,292
2017 $76,366,081,767 $2,306,741,672
2016 $68,475,871,210 $2,114,426,452
2015 $62,103,418,182 $2,359,686,725
2014 $55,612,228,234 $2,441,063,054
2013 $47,648,276,605 $2,367,112,932
2012 $43,310,721,414 $2,477,702,216
2011 $31,952,763,089 $2,579,409,620
2010 $29,933,790,334 $2,234,754,242
2009 $32,437,389,116 $1,740,894,965
2008 $27,066,912,635 $1,766,902,709
2007 $19,707,616,773 $1,682,131,785
2006 $15,280,861,835 $1,800,092,564
2005 $12,401,139,454 $1,682,343,527
2004 $10,131,187,261 $1,511,236,656
2003 $8,623,691,300 $1,157,825,435
2002 $7,850,809,498 $775,777,239
2001 $8,231,326,016 $825,706,961
2000 $8,242,349,618 $887,291,688
1999 $7,892,973,532 $912,773,681
1998 $8,013,274,132 $928,460,893
1997 $8,803,539,988 $998,004,259
1996 $8,761,215,548 $946,112,493
1995 $7,855,205,207 $1,001,894,000
1994 $7,100,806,754 $878,250,945
1993 $9,051,043,870 $835,582,062
1992 $10,754,799,037 $831,029,862
1991 $13,799,799,324 $704,325,367
1990 $12,478,943,895 $596,410,264
1989 $11,762,932,007 $495,409,233
1988 $11,181,119,718 $470,395,801
1987 $10,790,001,558 $402,768,324
1986 $10,094,328,898 $318,858,423
1985 $9,717,392,687 $268,629,926
1984 $8,298,309,581 $333,163,670
1983 $8,781,664,427 $386,699,309
1982 $7,899,988,841 $348,741,684
1981 $7,507,663,567 $434,188,034
1980 $7,012,585,454 $431,542,537
1979 $6,586,048,398 $290,134,593
1978 $6,014,961,435 $266,570,067
1977 $5,651,840,585 $193,315,048
1976 $4,943,806,093 $147,660,037
1975 $4,577,047,854 $149,558,896
1974 $4,577,209,966 $150,851,317
1973 $4,070,570,550 $121,188,716
1972 $3,520,252,938 $80,913,200
1971 $3,224,280,835 $76,480,285
1970 $3,045,354,455 $68,739,973
1969 $2,768,987,372 $65,967,974
1968 $2,619,948,865 $61,445,975
1967 $2,461,762,003 $59,261,976
1966 $2,324,466,416 $56,699,977
1965 $2,159,998,591 $54,879,978
1964 $1,984,129,186 $51,939,979
1963 $1,825,058,828 $47,039,981
1962 $1,747,566,307 $41,859,983
1961 $1,680,859,514 $35,699,986
1960 $1,610,511,694 $34,579,986

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

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

Ethiopia and Lesotho economies compared

GDP per capita
Ethiopia

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP per capita
Ethiopia Lesotho
2024 $1,134 $972
2023 $1,056 $916
2022 $982 $1,030
2021 $893 $1,067
2020 $830 $919
2019 $793 $1,082
2018 $740 $1,171
2017 $696 $1,069
2016 $642 $992
2015 $598 $1,121
2014 $550 $1,174
2013 $484 $1,151
2012 $452 $1,218
2011 $343 $1,281
2010 $331 $1,119
2009 $369 $879
2008 $316 $898
2007 $237.1 $861
2006 $189.3 $925
2005 $158.2 $861
2004 $133.2 $767
2003 $116.8 $583
2002 $109.6 $389
2001 $118.5 $413
2000 $122.3 $443
1999 $120.7 $456
1998 $126.5 $465
1997 $143.4 $502
1996 $147.3 $480
1995 $136.5 $513
1994 $127.7 $456
1993 $168.5 $439
1992 $207.4 $444
1991 $277.6 $382
1990 $262.1 $330
1989 $256.4 $279
1988 $253.2 $270.4
1987 $254.1 $236.5
1986 $246 $191.4
1985 $243.9 $165.4
1984 $214.2 $211
1983 $232.7 $252
1982 $215.3 $233.9
1981 $212.7 $299.8
1980 $203.7 $307
1979 $192.4 $212.4
1978 $178.3 $200.8
1977 $170.4 $149.9
1976 $152 $117.8
1975 $144.3 $123.2
1974 $147.9 $128.7
1973 $134.9 $107
1972 $119.8 $74
1971 $112.7 $72.4
1970 $109.4 $67.4
1969 $102.3 $67.1
1968 $99.5 $64.8
1967 $96.1 $64.8
1966 $93.2 $64.3
1965 $88.9 $64.3
1964 $83.8 $62.6
1963 $79.2 $58.4
1962 $77.8 $53.5
1961 $76.7 $47
1960 $75.3 $47

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

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

Ethiopia vs. Lesotho life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Ethiopia

Lesotho
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Ethiopia Lesotho
2026 68.1 58.6
2025 67.9 58.2
2024 67.6 57.8
2023 67.3 57.4
2022 66.9 56.8
2021 65.3 54.2
2020 66 55.1
2019 65.7 55.2
2018 65.3 54.6
2017 64.8 53.9
2016 64.2 52.9
2015 63.6 51.8
2014 62.9 50.8
2013 62.2 49.5
2012 61.4 48.2
2011 60.6 46.9
2010 59.7 46
2009 58.7 45.1
2008 57.7 44.3
2007 56.6 43.7
2006 55.4 43.2
2005 54.4 43.6
2004 53.7 44
2003 52.9 44.9
2002 52.1 46
2001 51.4 47.2
2000 50.9 48.8
1999 49.5 50.4
1998 49.8 52
1997 49.2 53.7
1996 48.7 55.1
1995 48.2 56.4
1994 47.9 57.3
1993 47.7 58.1
1992 47.3 58.6
1991 46.7 59.1
1990 45.1 59.3
1989 45.6 59.5
1988 45.7 59.6
1987 45.9 59.6
1986 38.4 59.3
1985 37.7 59.2
1984 36.7 59
1983 36.3 58.5
1982 43.4 58
1981 43.1 57.3
1980 42.8 56.5
1979 42.4 55.8
1978 41.5 55.2
1977 41.4 54.5
1976 41.3 53.9
1975 38.9 53.5
1974 39.1 52.9
1973 41.1 52.6
1972 41 52.3
1971 42.2 51.8
1970 42.1 51.5
1969 42.1 51.1
1968 42.1 50.8
1967 41.9 50.5
1966 39.3 50.4
1965 41.4 50.3
1964 41.3 50.3
1963 41 50.3
1962 40.5 50.3
1961 40.2 50.3
1960 39.6 50.2
1959 39.2 49.9
1958 32.6 49.6
1957 32.2 49.2
1956 37.8 48.6
1955 37.3 48
1954 37 47.3
1953 36.6 46.6
1952 36.2 45.9
1951 35.9 45.2
1950 35.5 44.6

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

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

Ethiopia and Lesotho population clocks and comparison

Population
Ethiopia

Lesotho
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Lesotho
2024 132,059,767 2,337,423
2023 128,691,692 2,311,472
2022 125,384,287 2,286,110
2021 122,138,588 2,261,542
2020 118,917,671 2,235,727
2019 115,737,383 2,209,405
2018 112,664,152 2,183,603
2017 109,666,481 2,157,110
2016 106,718,162 2,130,422
2015 103,867,135 2,104,611
2014 101,115,610 2,080,089
2013 98,438,751 2,056,504
2012 95,798,767 2,034,354
2011 93,149,970 2,014,009
2010 90,538,514 1,996,251
2009 88,007,636 1,980,883
2008 85,543,668 1,966,541
2007 83,103,217 1,953,268
2006 80,703,490 1,945,063
2005 78,367,470 1,953,076
2004 76,077,206 1,971,129
2003 73,832,663 1,985,059
2002 71,635,517 1,994,679
2001 69,487,762 2,000,853
2000 67,411,494 2,003,913
1999 65,374,561 2,003,234
1998 63,363,524 1,998,049
1997 61,404,539 1,988,130
1996 59,467,635 1,972,418
1995 57,537,335 1,951,437
1994 55,611,508 1,927,707
1993 53,708,891 1,901,793
1992 51,853,747 1,873,274
1991 49,717,198 1,842,379
1990 47,609,755 1,809,696
1989 45,879,690 1,775,436
1988 44,150,825 1,739,841
1987 42,460,039 1,703,390
1986 41,037,656 1,666,138
1985 39,842,136 1,624,379
1984 38,735,722 1,578,986
1983 37,740,817 1,534,413
1982 36,701,290 1,490,732
1981 35,304,012 1,448,069
1980 34,428,514 1,406,521
1979 34,238,652 1,366,169
1978 33,734,592 1,327,240
1977 33,167,272 1,289,967
1976 32,534,418 1,253,214
1975 31,723,252 1,213,643
1974 30,957,273 1,172,420
1973 30,166,785 1,132,697
1972 29,374,608 1,094,063
1971 28,600,106 1,056,246
1970 27,829,128 1,019,273
1969 27,072,571 983,202
1968 26,337,930 948,105
1967 25,620,276 913,982
1966 24,952,689 881,870
1965 24,310,612 854,090
1964 23,666,548 829,437
1963 23,051,637 805,373
1962 22,465,126 781,814
1961 21,906,102 758,824
1960 21,376,693 736,500

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

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

Fertility rates in Ethiopia and Lesotho

Fertility rate
Ethiopia

Lesotho
1x
Year Fertility rate
Ethiopia Lesotho
2023 3.99 2.69
2022 4.08 2.72
2021 4.18 2.77
2020 4.27 2.85
2019 4.35 2.92
2018 4.37 3.02
2017 4.4 3.11
2016 4.47 3.18
2015 4.53 3.22
2014 4.61 3.24
2013 4.71 3.28
2012 4.89 3.3
2011 5.08 3.34
2010 5.28 3.25
2009 5.49 3.31
2008 5.7 3.39
2007 5.89 3.44
2006 6.05 3.41
2005 6.19 3.43
2004 6.3 3.51
2003 6.4 3.62
2002 6.5 3.68
2001 6.58 3.63
2000 6.65 3.61
1999 6.72 3.67
1998 6.79 3.82
1997 6.87 3.98
1996 6.93 4.06
1995 7 4.13
1994 7.05 4.21
1993 7.09 4.37
1992 7.13 4.54
1991 7.16 4.68
1990 7.2 4.81
1989 7.23 4.96
1988 7.26 5.1
1987 7.29 5.22
1986 7.32 5.32
1985 7.34 5.4
1984 7.36 5.48
1983 7.35 5.56
1982 7.34 5.63
1981 7.31 5.69
1980 7.29 5.75
1979 7.25 5.79
1978 7.23 5.82
1977 7.19 5.85
1976 7.13 5.87
1975 7.08 5.83
1974 7.02 5.75
1973 6.96 5.69
1972 6.9 5.69
1971 6.84 5.7
1970 6.78 5.7
1969 6.72 5.7
1968 6.7 5.73
1967 6.68 5.75
1966 6.66 5.76
1965 6.63 5.77
1964 6.61 5.77
1963 6.59 5.78
1962 6.56 5.79
1961 6.53 5.79
1960 6.51 5.78

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

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

Ethiopia and Lesotho demographics compared

Median age
Ethiopia

Lesotho
1x
Year Median age, years
Ethiopia Lesotho
2024 19.9 22.7
2023 19.7 22.5
2022 19.6 22.3
2021 19.4 22.1
2020 19.2 22
2019 19 21.8
2018 18.8 21.7
2017 18.6 21.6
2016 18.3 21.4
2015 18.1 21.3
2014 17.9 21.2
2013 17.6 21.1
2012 17.4 21
2011 17.1 20.9
2010 16.9 20.7
2009 16.7 20.6
2008 16.5 20.4
2007 16.4 20.2
2006 16.3 20
2005 16.2 19.9
2004 16.2 19.8
2003 16.1 19.7
2002 16.1 19.5
2001 16.1 19.4
2000 16.2 19.2
1999 16.2 19.1
1998 16.3 18.9
1997 16.4 18.8
1996 16.5 18.6
1995 16.6 18.6
1994 16.7 18.5
1993 16.8 18.4
1992 16.9 18.4
1991 16.9 18.4
1990 16.9 18.4
1989 16.9 18.5
1988 16.9 18.6
1987 16.9 18.7
1986 16.9 18.6
1985 16.9 18.4
1984 16.8 18.5
1983 16.7 18.6
1982 16.7 18.6
1981 16.8 18.7
1980 16.8 18.8
1979 16.9 18.8
1978 17 18.9
1977 17.1 19
1976 17.2 19
1975 17.3 18.9
1974 17.5 18.8
1973 17.6 18.6
1972 17.7 18.5
1971 17.9 18.3
1970 18.1 18.2
1969 18.3 18
1968 18.4 17.8
1967 18.5 17.6
1966 18.5 17.5
1965 18.6 17.5
1964 18.6 17.5
1963 18.6 17.4
1962 18.6 17.4
1961 18.6 17.4
1960 18.6 17.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Ethiopia Lesotho
GNI, Atlas method
$146B
2024
$2.75B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
9.54%
2024
53.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.3%
2024
6.62%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.65%
2024
1.57%
2024
Armed forces personnel
138,000
2020
2,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.99%
2024
+9.04%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.94%
2021
18.7%
2024
Services, % of GDP
37.5%
2024
48%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.4%
2024
30.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
48.1
2026
54.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.8%
2021
32.9%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
3.5%
2021
1.7%
2017
Total reserves including gold
$3.78B
2024
$1.01B
2024
Personal remittances received
$7.14B
2024
$476M
2024
International tourist arrivals
518,000
2020
1,142,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
29.6%
2020
10.1%
1999
Banked people share
48.8%
2024
61.6%
2024

Energy

Ethiopia Lesotho
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
378 kg
2022
9.73 kg
2007
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.53
2022
$198.7
2007
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
19.4 megatons
2024
1 megaton
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.15 tons
2024
0.43 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
9.69%
2022
0%
2007
Renewable energy use share
90.6%
2021
34.9%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.15%
2022
n/a
Net energy imports use share
10.8%
2022
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
92.4 kWh
2022
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
95.4%
2020
99.8%
2021
Hydroelectric share
96.7%
2022
99.6%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
55.4%
2023
57.3%
2023

Society

Ethiopia Lesotho
% of world population
1.62%
2024
0.03%
2024
Annual migration change
+24,054
2025
-5,192
2025
Urban population
23.6%
2024
43.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.1:49.9
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.54 ft
2025
5.51 ft
2025
Average female height
5.16 ft
2025
5.14 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
21.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
38
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
56
2026
28
2026
Homicides per 100K people
8.63
2012
37.7
2008
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
28.2
2019
31.9
2019
Visa free countries
53
2025
81
2025
Adult literacy rate
60.5%
2022
90.4%
2024
English speaking
0.22%
2025
27.9%
2023
People using the Internet
16.7%
2021
48%
2023

Health

Ethiopia Lesotho
Government health expenditure per capita
$34.8
2023
$122.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.1
2023
$16.2
2023
Life expectancy
68.1 years
2026
58.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
26.9%
2023
40.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.14
2023
0.24
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.3 years
2025
20.9 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
195
2023
478
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
46.5
2023
58.9
2023
Obesity rate
2.9%
2022
21.7%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.4%
2024
6.2%
2024
Air quality index
31
2026
28
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
5.2%
2022
24.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.06 liters
2020
4.3 liters
2020

Territory

Ethiopia Lesotho
% of world land
0.76%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
3,299 sq mi
2024
5,015 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
148,483 sq mi
2026
9,115 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,056 sq mi
2026
133.3 sq mi
2026
Roads length
74,671 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 (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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