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Ireland vs Lesotho statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has a population of 5.4M (ranked 120/197), compared with 2.34M in Lesotho (ranked 145/197). Ireland's land area is 26,599 sq mi versus 11,722 sq mi for Lesotho (ranked 119th vs. 137th).

By GDP, Ireland ranks 25/197 ($609B) and Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B). By GDP per capita, Ireland ranks 4/197 ($112,895), while Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972).

Main facts and rankings

Ireland Lesotho
Population
5518360
2396633
Population rank 121/197 143/197
GDP
$609B
2024
$2.27B
2024
GDP rank 25/197 175/197
GDP per capita
$112,895
2024
$972
2024
GDP per capita rank 4/197 181/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$133,437
2024
$3,001
2024
Government debt
$236B
2024
$1.29B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
38.8%
2024
56.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$43,766
2024
$552
2024
Government debt per person rank 11/185 164/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,851
2026
$6,545
2026
Land area 26,599 sq mi 11,722 sq mi
Population density
207 ppl/mi²
2026
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.5
2023
2.69
2023
Median age
39.7 years
2024
22.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.9 years
2026
58.6 years
2026

Ireland and Lesotho: Comparison Charts

Ireland and Lesotho economies compared

GDP
Ireland

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP
Ireland Lesotho
2024 $609,157,459,747 $2,271,759,455
2023 $567,372,737,459 $2,117,962,445
2022 $548,341,794,599 $2,354,980,960
2021 $530,394,123,830 $2,412,130,057
2020 $436,009,027,819 $2,053,699,864
2019 $407,211,793,801 $2,390,702,296
2018 $395,780,319,817 $2,556,247,292
2017 $348,355,212,569 $2,306,741,672
2016 $305,431,252,709 $2,114,426,452
2015 $302,101,388,556 $2,359,686,725
2014 $266,490,442,124 $2,441,063,054
2013 $242,924,245,719 $2,367,112,932
2012 $226,921,827,888 $2,477,702,216
2011 $240,975,871,047 $2,579,409,620
2010 $221,732,824,603 $2,234,754,242
2009 $236,443,115,854 $1,740,894,965
2008 $275,447,471,451 $1,766,902,709
2007 $270,079,279,420 $1,682,131,785
2006 $232,180,617,162 $1,800,092,564
2005 $211,876,989,656 $1,682,343,527
2004 $194,372,115,041 $1,511,236,656
2003 $164,670,771,260 $1,157,825,435
2002 $128,596,035,288 $775,777,239
2001 $109,346,669,230 $825,706,961
2000 $100,207,610,430 $887,291,688
1999 $98,893,958,263 $912,773,681
1998 $90,199,410,116 $928,460,893
1997 $82,856,648,758 $998,004,259
1996 $75,790,786,290 $946,112,493
1995 $69,139,823,232 $1,001,894,000
1994 $57,097,656,066 $878,250,945
1993 $52,417,477,614 $835,582,062
1992 $55,918,538,121 $831,029,862
1991 $49,787,501,584 $704,325,367
1990 $49,305,632,408 $596,410,264
1989 $39,238,392,678 $495,409,233
1988 $37,772,896,221 $470,395,801
1987 $33,920,518,493 $402,768,324
1986 $28,714,571,852 $318,858,423
1985 $21,270,013,326 $268,629,926
1984 $20,106,648,455 $333,163,670
1983 $20,766,047,764 $386,699,309
1982 $21,474,752,962 $348,741,684
1981 $20,670,190,138 $434,188,034
1980 $21,747,855,640 $431,542,537
1979 $18,319,334,300 $290,134,593
1978 $14,647,996,074 $266,570,067
1977 $11,248,340,431 $193,315,048
1976 $9,453,756,015 $147,660,037
1975 $9,483,808,362 $149,558,896
1974 $7,896,860,615 $150,851,317
1973 $7,481,173,066 $121,188,716
1972 $6,318,060,582 $80,913,200
1971 $5,098,250,287 $76,480,285
1970 $4,395,995,086 $68,739,973
1969 $3,902,721,632 $65,967,974
1968 $3,378,701,147 $61,445,975
1967 $3,445,739,915 $59,261,976
1966 $3,198,820,904 $56,699,977
1965 $3,035,655,794 $54,879,978
1964 $2,851,091,646 $51,939,979
1963 $2,505,073,358 $47,039,981
1962 $2,329,372,972 $41,859,983
1961 $2,151,772,980 $35,699,986
1960 $1,998,550,222 $34,579,986

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

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

Ireland and Lesotho economies compared

GDP per capita
Ireland

Lesotho
1x
Year GDP per capita
Ireland Lesotho
2024 $112,895 $972
2023 $106,819 $916
2022 $105,191 $1,030
2021 $103,783 $1,067
2020 $86,514 $919
2019 $81,828 $1,082
2018 $80,804 $1,171
2017 $72,161 $1,069
2016 $64,130 $992
2015 $64,250 $1,121
2014 $57,215 $1,174
2013 $52,538 $1,151
2012 $49,336 $1,218
2011 $52,614 $1,281
2010 $48,624 $1,119
2009 $52,133 $879
2008 $61,353 $898
2007 $61,396 $861
2006 $54,329 $925
2005 $50,933 $861
2004 $47,754 $767
2003 $41,204 $583
2002 $32,705 $389
2001 $28,282 $413
2000 $26,335 $443
1999 $26,338 $456
1998 $24,295 $465
1997 $22,551 $502
1996 $20,836 $480
1995 $19,158 $513
1994 $15,903 $456
1993 $14,657 $439
1992 $15,714 $444
1991 $14,087 $382
1990 $14,031 $330
1989 $11,176 $279
1988 $10,716 $270.4
1987 $9,582 $236.5
1986 $8,112 $191.4
1985 $6,012 $165.4
1984 $5,692 $211
1983 $5,915 $252
1982 $6,161 $233.9
1981 $5,986 $299.8
1980 $6,372 $307
1979 $5,430 $212.4
1978 $4,400 $200.8
1977 $3,427 $149.9
1976 $2,920 $117.8
1975 $2,973 $123.2
1974 $2,517 $128.7
1973 $2,424 $107
1972 $2,080 $74
1971 $1,704 $72.4
1970 $1,487 $67.4
1969 $1,331 $67.1
1968 $1,159 $64.8
1967 $1,187 $64.8
1966 $1,107 $64.3
1965 $1,055 $64.3
1964 $995 $62.6
1963 $878 $58.4
1962 $821 $53.5
1961 $762 $47
1960 $707 $47

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

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

Ireland vs. Lesotho life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Ireland

Lesotho
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Ireland Lesotho
2026 82.9 58.6
2025 82.7 58.2
2024 82.6 57.8
2023 82.4 57.4
2022 82.1 56.8
2021 81.9 54.2
2020 82.4 55.1
2019 82.4 55.2
2018 82.1 54.6
2017 82.1 53.9
2016 81.7 52.9
2015 81.5 51.8
2014 81.4 50.8
2013 81.1 49.5
2012 80.9 48.2
2011 80.7 46.9
2010 80.6 46
2009 80.1 45.1
2008 79.8 44.3
2007 79.6 43.7
2006 79.2 43.2
2005 78.9 43.6
2004 78.5 44
2003 78.1 44.9
2002 77.6 46
2001 77.1 47.2
2000 76.5 48.8
1999 76.1 50.4
1998 76.2 52
1997 76 53.7
1996 75.8 55.1
1995 75.5 56.4
1994 75.8 57.3
1993 75.3 58.1
1992 75.4 58.6
1991 75 59.1
1990 74.8 59.3
1989 74.5 59.5
1988 74.4 59.6
1987 74.4 59.6
1986 73.6 59.3
1985 73.6 59.2
1984 73.6 59
1983 73.2 58.5
1982 73.2 58
1981 72.9 57.3
1980 72.5 56.5
1979 72.2 55.8
1978 71.9 55.2
1977 71.9 54.5
1976 71.8 53.9
1975 71.7 53.5
1974 71.1 52.9
1973 71.2 52.6
1972 71 52.3
1971 71.6 51.8
1970 70.8 51.5
1969 70.8 51.1
1968 70.9 50.8
1967 71.2 50.5
1966 70.2 50.4
1965 70.6 50.3
1964 70.4 50.3
1963 70.2 50.3
1962 69.9 50.3
1961 69.6 50.3
1960 70.2 50.2
1959 69.4 49.9
1958 69.3 49.6
1957 69 49.2
1956 69 48.6
1955 68 48
1954 68 47.3
1953 67.9 46.6
1952 67.2 45.9
1951 64.8 45.2
1950 65.6 44.6

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

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

Ireland and Lesotho population clocks and comparison

Population
Ireland

Lesotho
1x
Year Population
Ireland Lesotho
2024 5,395,790 2,337,423
2023 5,311,538 2,311,472
2022 5,212,836 2,286,110
2021 5,110,585 2,261,542
2020 5,039,747 2,235,727
2019 4,976,456 2,209,405
2018 4,898,022 2,183,603
2017 4,827,445 2,157,110
2016 4,762,722 2,130,422
2015 4,701,957 2,104,611
2014 4,657,740 2,080,089
2013 4,623,816 2,056,504
2012 4,599,533 2,034,354
2011 4,580,084 2,014,009
2010 4,560,155 1,996,251
2009 4,535,375 1,980,883
2008 4,489,544 1,966,541
2007 4,398,942 1,953,268
2006 4,273,591 1,945,063
2005 4,159,914 1,953,076
2004 4,070,262 1,971,129
2003 3,996,521 1,985,059
2002 3,931,947 1,994,679
2001 3,866,243 2,000,853
2000 3,805,174 2,003,913
1999 3,754,786 2,003,234
1998 3,712,696 1,998,049
1997 3,674,171 1,988,130
1996 3,637,510 1,972,418
1995 3,608,841 1,951,437
1994 3,590,386 1,927,707
1993 3,576,261 1,901,793
1992 3,558,430 1,873,274
1991 3,534,235 1,842,379
1990 3,513,974 1,809,696
1989 3,511,009 1,775,436
1988 3,524,949 1,739,841
1987 3,540,057 1,703,390
1986 3,539,690 1,666,138
1985 3,538,082 1,624,379
1984 3,532,423 1,578,986
1983 3,510,600 1,534,413
1982 3,485,800 1,490,732
1981 3,453,000 1,448,069
1980 3,412,800 1,406,521
1979 3,373,750 1,366,169
1978 3,329,100 1,327,240
1977 3,282,200 1,289,967
1976 3,238,050 1,253,214
1975 3,189,550 1,213,643
1974 3,137,500 1,172,420
1973 3,085,950 1,132,697
1972 3,036,850 1,094,063
1971 2,992,050 1,056,246
1970 2,957,250 1,019,273
1969 2,932,650 983,202
1968 2,915,550 948,105
1967 2,902,450 913,982
1966 2,888,800 881,870
1965 2,877,300 854,090
1964 2,866,550 829,437
1963 2,852,650 805,373
1962 2,836,050 781,814
1961 2,824,400 758,824
1960 2,828,600 736,500

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

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

Fertility rates in Ireland and Lesotho

Fertility rate
Ireland

Lesotho
1x
Year Fertility rate
Ireland Lesotho
2023 1.5 2.69
2022 1.54 2.72
2021 1.78 2.77
2020 1.63 2.85
2019 1.71 2.92
2018 1.75 3.02
2017 1.77 3.11
2016 1.81 3.18
2015 1.85 3.22
2014 1.89 3.24
2013 1.93 3.28
2012 1.98 3.3
2011 2.03 3.34
2010 2.05 3.25
2009 2.06 3.31
2008 2.06 3.39
2007 2.01 3.44
2006 1.91 3.41
2005 1.86 3.43
2004 1.93 3.51
2003 1.96 3.62
2002 1.97 3.68
2001 1.94 3.63
2000 1.89 3.61
1999 1.9 3.67
1998 1.94 3.82
1997 1.93 3.98
1996 1.88 4.06
1995 1.84 4.13
1994 1.85 4.21
1993 1.9 4.37
1992 1.99 4.54
1991 2.08 4.68
1990 2.11 4.81
1989 2.08 4.96
1988 2.17 5.1
1987 2.32 5.22
1986 2.44 5.32
1985 2.48 5.4
1984 2.58 5.48
1983 2.74 5.56
1982 2.94 5.63
1981 3.05 5.69
1980 3.21 5.75
1979 3.21 5.79
1978 3.21 5.82
1977 3.24 5.85
1976 3.29 5.87
1975 3.37 5.83
1974 3.59 5.75
1973 3.71 5.69
1972 3.84 5.69
1971 3.93 5.7
1970 3.85 5.7
1969 3.83 5.7
1968 3.77 5.73
1967 3.84 5.75
1966 3.94 5.76
1965 4.04 5.77
1964 4.07 5.77
1963 4.01 5.78
1962 3.92 5.79
1961 3.78 5.79
1960 3.78 5.78

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

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

Ireland and Lesotho demographics compared

Median age
Ireland

Lesotho
1x
Year Median age, years
Ireland Lesotho
2024 39.7 22.7
2023 39.4 22.5
2022 38.9 22.3
2021 38.6 22.1
2020 38.2 22
2019 37.8 21.8
2018 37.4 21.7
2017 37.1 21.6
2016 36.8 21.4
2015 36.4 21.3
2014 36 21.2
2013 35.6 21.1
2012 35.2 21
2011 34.8 20.9
2010 34.3 20.7
2009 33.9 20.6
2008 33.5 20.4
2007 33.4 20.2
2006 33.4 20
2005 33.4 19.9
2004 33.4 19.8
2003 33.2 19.7
2002 33 19.5
2001 32.7 19.4
2000 32.5 19.2
1999 32.2 19.1
1998 31.9 18.9
1997 31.6 18.8
1996 31.3 18.6
1995 30.9 18.6
1994 30.6 18.5
1993 30.2 18.4
1992 29.9 18.4
1991 29.6 18.4
1990 29.2 18.4
1989 28.8 18.5
1988 28.4 18.6
1987 27.9 18.7
1986 27.6 18.6
1985 27.3 18.4
1984 27.1 18.5
1983 26.9 18.6
1982 26.7 18.6
1981 26.6 18.7
1980 26.5 18.8
1979 26.5 18.8
1978 26.5 18.9
1977 26.5 19
1976 26.4 19
1975 26.5 18.9
1974 26.5 18.8
1973 26.7 18.6
1972 26.9 18.5
1971 27.1 18.3
1970 27.4 18.2
1969 27.6 18
1968 27.8 17.8
1967 28 17.6
1966 28.2 17.5
1965 28.6 17.5
1964 28.9 17.5
1963 29.2 17.4
1962 29.5 17.4
1961 29.8 17.4
1960 30.1 17.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Ireland Lesotho
GNI, Atlas method
$435B
2024
$2.75B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.3%
2024
53.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.9%
2021
6.62%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.24%
2024
1.57%
2024
Armed forces personnel
9,000
2020
2,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+4.09%
2024
+9.04%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.27%
2024
18.7%
2024
Services, % of GDP
60.6%
2024
48%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.6%
2024
30.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
83.3
2026
54.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.1%
2023
32.9%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
1.7%
2017
Number of billionaires
11
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
43
2018
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$110B
2018
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$12.7B
2024
$1.01B
2024
Personal remittances received
$656M
2024
$476M
2024
International tourist arrivals
10,951,000
2019
1,142,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
0.68%
2020
10.1%
1999
Banked people share
98.3%
2024
61.6%
2024

Energy

Ireland Lesotho
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,468 kg
2023
9.73 kg
2007
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$52.6
2023
$198.7
2007
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
32.6 megatons
2024
1 megaton
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.04 tons
2024
0.43 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
82.4%
2023
0%
2007
Renewable energy use share
12.7%
2021
34.9%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.94%
2023
n/a
Net energy imports use share
85.8%
2023
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
6,145 kWh
2023
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
37.2%
2021
99.8%
2021
Hydroelectric share
3.88%
2023
99.6%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
57.3%
2023

Society

Ireland Lesotho
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.03%
2024
Annual migration change
+35,417
2025
-5,192
2025
Urban population
64.3%
2024
43.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.87 ft
2025
5.51 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.14 ft
2025
Quality of life index
94.9
2026
21.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
76
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
88
2026
28
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.65
2023
37.7
2008
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
3.1
2019
31.9
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
81
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
90.4%
2024
English speaking
98.4%
2023
27.9%
2023
People using the Internet
96.5%
2023
48%
2023

Health

Ireland Lesotho
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,395
2024
$122.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$784
2024
$16.2
2023
Life expectancy
82.9 years
2026
58.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
40.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.88
2023
0.24
2022
Age at first childbirth
31.6 years
2023
20.9 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
478
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.8
2023
58.9
2023
Obesity rate
29.3%
2022
21.7%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
3.6%
2024
6.2%
2024
Air quality index
87
2026
28
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.3%
2022
24.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.8 liters
2020
4.3 liters
2020

Territory

Ireland Lesotho
% of world land
0.05%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
4,930 sq mi
2024
5,015 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
16,174 sq mi
2026
9,115 sq mi
2026
Forest area
3,066 sq mi
2026
133.3 sq mi
2026
Roads length
62,031 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)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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