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Iceland vs Lesotho statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a population of 387K (ranked 173/197), compared with 2.34M in Lesotho (ranked 145/197). Iceland's land area is 38,931 sq mi versus 11,722 sq mi for Lesotho (ranked 104th vs. 137th).

By GDP, Iceland ranks 108/197 ($33.3B) and Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B). By GDP per capita, Iceland ranks 9/197 ($86,041), while Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972).

Main facts and rankings

Iceland Lesotho
Population
397129
2396633
Population rank 173/197 143/197
GDP
$33.3B
2024
$2.27B
2024
GDP rank 108/197 175/197
GDP per capita
$86,041
2024
$972
2024
GDP per capita rank 9/197 181/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$84,257
2024
$3,001
2024
Government debt
$19.8B
2024
$1.29B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.4%
2024
56.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$51,148
2024
$552
2024
Government debt per person rank 9/185 164/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$55,565
2026
$6,545
2026
Land area 38,931 sq mi 11,722 sq mi
Population density
10.2 ppl/mi²
2026
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.59
2023
2.69
2023
Median age
37.1 years
2024
22.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
58.6 years
2026

Iceland and Lesotho: Comparison Charts

Iceland and Lesotho economies compared

GDP
Iceland

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP
Iceland Lesotho
2024 $33,255,181,469 $2,271,759,455
2023 $31,677,891,897 $2,117,962,445
2022 $29,166,102,877 $2,354,980,960
2021 $26,234,872,402 $2,412,130,057
2020 $22,034,665,041 $2,053,699,864
2019 $24,985,687,022 $2,390,702,296
2018 $26,677,652,544 $2,556,247,292
2017 $25,060,086,488 $2,306,741,672
2016 $21,083,713,310 $2,114,426,452
2015 $17,700,486,957 $2,359,686,725
2014 $18,052,183,515 $2,441,063,054
2013 $16,244,319,959 $2,367,112,932
2012 $14,943,757,823 $2,477,702,216
2011 $15,394,005,872 $2,579,409,620
2010 $13,922,711,577 $2,234,754,242
2009 $13,212,543,838 $1,740,894,965
2008 $18,247,921,360 $1,766,902,709
2007 $21,960,110,030 $1,682,131,785
2006 $17,671,649,843 $1,800,092,564
2005 $17,146,410,561 $1,682,343,527
2004 $13,963,943,244 $1,511,236,656
2003 $11,564,687,742 $1,157,825,435
2002 $9,416,199,700 $775,777,239
2001 $8,323,401,820 $825,706,961
2000 $9,140,168,922 $887,291,688
1999 $9,107,644,691 $912,773,681
1998 $8,637,732,542 $928,460,893
1997 $7,716,781,803 $998,004,259
1996 $7,686,566,105 $946,112,493
1995 $7,372,640,169 $1,001,894,000
1994 $6,612,804,056 $878,250,945
1993 $6,435,952,174 $835,582,062
1992 $7,328,497,599 $831,029,862
1991 $7,151,260,062 $704,325,367
1990 $6,694,851,159 $596,410,264
1989 $5,870,854,233 $495,409,233
1988 $6,320,093,411 $470,395,801
1987 $5,713,281,235 $402,768,324
1986 $4,129,080,094 $318,858,423
1985 $3,088,359,967 $268,629,926
1984 $2,964,568,006 $333,163,670
1983 $2,862,634,164 $386,699,309
1982 $3,318,714,326 $348,741,684
1981 $3,615,094,820 $434,188,034
1980 $3,499,616,683 $431,542,537
1979 $2,953,176,971 $290,134,593
1978 $2,599,627,089 $266,570,067
1977 $2,285,707,749 $193,315,048
1976 $1,727,845,419 $147,660,037
1975 $1,456,052,700 $149,558,896
1974 $1,568,154,077 $150,851,317
1973 $1,194,794,186 $121,188,716
1972 $869,002,946 $80,913,200
1971 $693,679,545 $76,480,285
1970 $545,115,909 $68,739,973
1969 $435,659,610 $65,967,974
1968 $498,365,200 $61,445,975
1967 $652,609,076 $59,261,976
1966 $660,663,763 $56,699,977
1965 $550,150,988 $54,879,978
1964 $456,206,299 $51,939,979
1963 $357,240,896 $47,039,981
1962 $299,309,938 $41,859,983
1961 $266,711,460 $35,699,986
1960 $260,984,499 $34,579,986

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

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

Iceland and Lesotho economies compared

GDP per capita
Iceland

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iceland Lesotho
2024 $86,041 $972
2023 $82,139 $916
2022 $76,350 $1,030
2021 $70,425 $1,067
2020 $60,128 $919
2019 $69,296 $1,082
2018 $75,634 $1,171
2017 $72,976 $1,069
2016 $62,854 $992
2015 $53,506 $1,121
2014 $55,140 $1,174
2013 $50,173 $1,151
2012 $46,595 $1,218
2011 $48,255 $1,281
2010 $43,776 $1,119
2009 $41,484 $879
2008 $57,489 $898
2007 $70,483 $861
2006 $58,172 $925
2005 $57,784 $861
2004 $47,810 $767
2003 $39,944 $583
2002 $32,749 $389
2001 $29,208 $413
2000 $32,504 $443
1999 $32,834 $456
1998 $31,519 $465
1997 $28,462 $502
1996 $28,584 $480
1995 $27,565 $513
1994 $24,858 $456
1993 $24,404 $439
1992 $28,072 $444
1991 $27,740 $382
1990 $26,272 $330
1989 $23,219 $279
1988 $25,307 $270.4
1987 $23,238 $236.5
1986 $16,980 $191.4
1985 $12,793 $165.4
1984 $12,378 $211
1983 $12,080 $252
1982 $14,191 $233.9
1981 $15,666 $299.8
1980 $15,340 $307
1979 $13,082 $212.4
1978 $11,630 $200.8
1977 $10,305 $149.9
1976 $7,848 $117.8
1975 $6,680 $123.2
1974 $7,287 $128.7
1973 $5,627 $107
1972 $4,155 $74
1971 $3,366 $72.4
1970 $2,666 $67.4
1969 $2,142 $67.1
1968 $2,473 $64.8
1967 $3,284 $64.8
1966 $3,378 $64.3
1965 $2,861 $64.3
1964 $2,414 $62.6
1963 $1,924 $58.4
1962 $1,641 $53.5
1961 $1,490 $47
1960 $1,486 $47

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

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

Iceland vs. Lesotho life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iceland

Lesotho
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iceland Lesotho
2026 83.3 58.6
2025 83.2 58.2
2024 83 57.8
2023 82.7 57.4
2022 81.6 56.8
2021 82.8 54.2
2020 82.7 55.1
2019 82.8 55.2
2018 82.5 54.6
2017 82.2 53.9
2016 81.8 52.9
2015 82.2 51.8
2014 82.4 50.8
2013 81.7 49.5
2012 82.3 48.2
2011 82 46.9
2010 81.6 46
2009 81.4 45.1
2008 81.2 44.3
2007 81.1 43.7
2006 80.9 43.2
2005 81.2 43.6
2004 80.7 44
2003 80.8 44.9
2002 80.3 46
2001 80.4 47.2
2000 79.5 48.8
1999 79.2 50.4
1998 79.4 52
1997 78.7 53.7
1996 78.6 55.1
1995 77.5 56.4
1994 79 57.3
1993 78.8 58.1
1992 78.6 58.6
1991 77.8 59.1
1990 77.7 59.3
1989 77.9 59.5
1988 76.9 59.6
1987 77.1 59.6
1986 77.9 59.3
1985 77.4 59.2
1984 77.3 59
1983 76.4 58.5
1982 76.8 58
1981 76.2 57.3
1980 76.6 56.5
1979 76.5 55.8
1978 76.4 55.2
1977 76.1 54.5
1976 76.6 53.9
1975 75.3 53.5
1974 74.1 52.9
1973 74.3 52.6
1972 74.4 52.3
1971 73.5 51.8
1970 73.8 51.5
1969 73.7 51.1
1968 73.9 50.8
1967 73.7 50.5
1966 73.1 50.4
1965 73.8 50.3
1964 73.5 50.3
1963 72.9 50.3
1962 73.6 50.3
1961 73.4 50.3
1960 74 50.2
1959 72.6 49.9
1958 73.3 49.6
1957 73.4 49.2
1956 72.9 48.6
1955 73.3 48
1954 73.3 47.3
1953 72.3 46.6
1952 72.4 45.9
1951 71 45.2
1950 71 44.6

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

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

Iceland and Lesotho population clocks and comparison

Population
Iceland

Lesotho
1x
Year Population
Iceland Lesotho
2024 386,506 2,337,423
2023 385,663 2,311,472
2022 382,003 2,286,110
2021 372,520 2,261,542
2020 366,463 2,235,727
2019 360,563 2,209,405
2018 352,721 2,183,603
2017 343,400 2,157,110
2016 335,439 2,130,422
2015 330,815 2,104,611
2014 327,386 2,080,089
2013 323,764 2,056,504
2012 320,716 2,034,354
2011 319,014 2,014,009
2010 318,041 1,996,251
2009 318,499 1,980,883
2008 317,414 1,966,541
2007 311,566 1,953,268
2006 303,782 1,945,063
2005 296,734 1,953,076
2004 292,074 1,971,129
2003 289,521 1,985,059
2002 287,523 1,994,679
2001 284,968 2,000,853
2000 281,205 2,003,913
1999 277,381 2,003,234
1998 274,047 1,998,049
1997 271,128 1,988,130
1996 268,916 1,972,418
1995 267,468 1,951,437
1994 266,021 1,927,707
1993 263,725 1,901,793
1992 261,057 1,873,274
1991 257,797 1,842,379
1990 254,826 1,809,696
1989 252,852 1,775,436
1988 249,740 1,739,841
1987 245,859 1,703,390
1986 243,180 1,666,138
1985 241,405 1,624,379
1984 239,511 1,578,986
1983 236,977 1,534,413
1982 233,860 1,490,732
1981 230,755 1,448,069
1980 228,138 1,406,521
1979 225,735 1,366,169
1978 223,537 1,327,240
1977 221,799 1,289,967
1976 220,154 1,253,214
1975 217,979 1,213,643
1974 215,209 1,172,420
1973 212,317 1,132,697
1972 209,137 1,094,063
1971 206,098 1,056,246
1970 204,438 1,019,273
1969 203,369 983,202
1968 201,488 948,105
1967 198,751 913,982
1966 195,570 881,870
1965 192,286 854,090
1964 188,983 829,437
1963 185,653 805,373
1962 182,378 781,814
1961 179,029 758,824
1960 175,574 736,500

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

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

Fertility rates in Iceland and Lesotho

Fertility rate
Iceland

Lesotho
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iceland Lesotho
2023 1.59 2.69
2022 1.59 2.72
2021 1.82 2.77
2020 1.72 2.85
2019 1.74 2.92
2018 1.71 3.02
2017 1.71 3.11
2016 1.74 3.18
2015 1.8 3.22
2014 1.93 3.24
2013 1.93 3.28
2012 2.04 3.3
2011 2.02 3.34
2010 2.2 3.25
2009 2.23 3.31
2008 2.15 3.39
2007 2.09 3.44
2006 2.08 3.41
2005 2.05 3.43
2004 2.04 3.51
2003 1.99 3.62
2002 1.93 3.68
2001 1.95 3.63
2000 2.08 3.61
1999 1.99 3.67
1998 2.05 3.82
1997 2.04 3.98
1996 2.12 4.06
1995 2.08 4.13
1994 2.14 4.21
1993 2.22 4.37
1992 2.21 4.54
1991 2.18 4.68
1990 2.3 4.81
1989 2.19 4.96
1988 2.26 5.1
1987 2.06 5.22
1986 1.92 5.32
1985 1.93 5.4
1984 2.08 5.48
1983 2.24 5.56
1982 2.27 5.63
1981 2.33 5.69
1980 2.48 5.75
1979 2.49 5.79
1978 2.35 5.82
1977 2.31 5.85
1976 2.52 5.87
1975 2.65 5.83
1974 2.66 5.75
1973 2.94 5.69
1972 3.09 5.69
1971 2.92 5.7
1970 2.81 5.7
1969 2.99 5.7
1968 3.06 5.73
1967 3.28 5.75
1966 3.59 5.76
1965 3.73 5.77
1964 3.88 5.77
1963 3.99 5.78
1962 3.98 5.79
1961 3.88 5.79
1960 4.29 5.78

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

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

Iceland and Lesotho demographics compared

Median age
Iceland

Lesotho
1x
Year Median age, years
Iceland Lesotho
2024 37.1 22.7
2023 36.9 22.5
2022 36.7 22.3
2021 36.7 22.1
2020 36.6 22
2019 36.5 21.8
2018 36.4 21.7
2017 36.3 21.6
2016 36.2 21.4
2015 36 21.3
2014 35.7 21.2
2013 35.5 21.1
2012 35.4 21
2011 35.1 20.9
2010 34.9 20.7
2009 34.6 20.6
2008 34.5 20.4
2007 34.6 20.2
2006 34.5 20
2005 34.2 19.9
2004 34 19.8
2003 33.7 19.7
2002 33.4 19.5
2001 33 19.4
2000 32.8 19.2
1999 32.6 19.1
1998 32.4 18.9
1997 32.1 18.8
1996 31.8 18.6
1995 31.5 18.6
1994 31.1 18.5
1993 30.8 18.4
1992 30.5 18.4
1991 30.2 18.4
1990 30 18.4
1989 29.6 18.5
1988 29.3 18.6
1987 29.1 18.7
1986 28.8 18.6
1985 28.4 18.4
1984 28 18.5
1983 27.7 18.6
1982 27.5 18.6
1981 27.2 18.7
1980 26.9 18.8
1979 26.7 18.8
1978 26.4 18.9
1977 26 19
1976 25.7 19
1975 25.4 18.9
1974 25.1 18.8
1973 24.9 18.6
1972 24.8 18.5
1971 24.7 18.3
1970 24.5 18.2
1969 24.3 18
1968 24.2 17.8
1967 24.1 17.6
1966 24.1 17.5
1965 24.2 17.5
1964 24.4 17.5
1963 24.7 17.4
1962 24.9 17.4
1961 25.2 17.4
1960 25.4 17.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iceland Lesotho
GNI, Atlas method
$31.8B
2024
$2.75B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.5%
2024
53.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
7.29%
2022
6.62%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.57%
2024
Armed forces personnel
0
2020
2,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.51%
2024
+9.04%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.56%
2024
18.7%
2024
Services, % of GDP
64.9%
2024
48%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
30.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
75
2026
54.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.4%
2019
32.9%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2019
1.7%
2017
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
34
2004
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$6.4B
2024
$1.01B
2024
Personal remittances received
$246M
2024
$476M
2024
International tourist arrivals
488,000
2020
1,142,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
11.9%
2008
10.1%
1999
Banked people share
99.9%
2024
61.6%
2024

Energy

Iceland Lesotho
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
15,686 kg
2023
9.73 kg
2007
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.2
2023
$198.7
2007
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
3.29 megatons
2024
1 megaton
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
8.52 tons
2024
0.43 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
10.3%
2023
0%
2007
Renewable energy use share
82.4%
2021
34.9%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
88.8%
2023
n/a
Net energy imports use share
20.5%
2009
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
50,951 kWh
2023
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
100%
2016
99.8%
2021
Hydroelectric share
70.3%
2023
99.6%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.3%
2023

Society

Iceland Lesotho
% of world population
0.005%
2024
0.03%
2024
Annual migration change
+2,709
2025
-5,192
2025
Urban population
94.2%
2024
43.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.2:48.8
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.97 ft
2025
5.51 ft
2025
Average female height
5.54 ft
2025
5.14 ft
2025
Quality of life index
93.6
2026
21.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
77
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
79
2026
28
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.07
2022
37.7
2008
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
2
2019
31.9
2019
Visa free countries
168
2025
81
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
90.4%
2024
English speaking
98%
2023
27.9%
2023
People using the Internet
99.8%
2023
48%
2023

Health

Iceland Lesotho
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,642
2024
$122.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,137
2024
$16.2
2023
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
58.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
40.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.37
2023
0.24
2022
Age at first childbirth
28.8 years
2023
20.9 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
3
2023
478
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.6
2023
58.9
2023
Obesity rate
21.8%
2022
21.7%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.9%
2024
6.2%
2024
Air quality index
98
2026
28
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
9.4%
2022
24.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.94 liters
2020
4.3 liters
2020

Territory

Iceland Lesotho
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
100,725 sq mi
2024
5,015 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,324 sq mi
2026
9,115 sq mi
2026
Forest area
205.8 sq mi
2026
133.3 sq mi
2026
Roads length
8,014 mi
2012
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)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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