Lesotho is a lower-middle-income country with a population of 2.34M people. The capital and largest city is Maseru, with 344K residents. Lesotho shares land borders with South Africa.
Lesotho ranks 175/197 by GDP ($2.27B) and 181/197 by GDP per capita ($972). The top export category is textiles & consumer goods, while the top import is machinery & equipment.
Main facts and rankings
Lesotho
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
2396633
|
143/197 |
| GDP |
$2.27B
2024 |
175/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$972
2024 |
181/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$3,001
2024 |
180/197 |
| Government debt |
$1.29B
2024 |
168/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
56.8%
2024 |
92/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$552
2024 |
164/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$6,545
2026 |
99/197 |
| Land area | 11,722 sq mi | 137/197 |
| Population density | 203.8 ppl/mi² | 115/197 |
| Fertility rate | 2.69 | 68/196 |
| Median age | 22.7 years | 143/196 |
| Life expectancy | 58.6 years | 193/197 |
Lesotho trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 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 | $2,579,409,620 |
| 2010 | $2,234,754,242 |
| 2009 | $1,740,894,965 |
| 2008 | $1,766,902,709 |
| 2007 | $1,682,131,785 |
| 2006 | $1,800,092,564 |
| 2005 | $1,682,343,527 |
| 2004 | $1,511,236,656 |
| 2003 | $1,157,825,435 |
| 2002 | $775,777,239 |
| 2001 | $825,706,961 |
| 2000 | $887,291,688 |
| 1999 | $912,773,681 |
| 1998 | $928,460,893 |
| 1997 | $998,004,259 |
| 1996 | $946,112,493 |
| 1995 | $1,001,894,000 |
| 1994 | $878,250,945 |
| 1993 | $835,582,062 |
| 1992 | $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/lesotho | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 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 | $1,281 |
| 2010 | $1,119 |
| 2009 | $879 |
| 2008 | $898 |
| 2007 | $861 |
| 2006 | $925 |
| 2005 | $861 |
| 2004 | $767 |
| 2003 | $583 |
| 2002 | $389 |
| 2001 | $413 |
| 2000 | $443 |
| 1999 | $456 |
| 1998 | $465 |
| 1997 | $502 |
| 1996 | $480 |
| 1995 | $513 |
| 1994 | $456 |
| 1993 | $439 |
| 1992 | $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/lesotho | CC BY
Lesotho's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 58.6 |
| 2025 | 58.2 |
| 2024 | 57.8 |
| 2023 | 57.4 |
| 2022 | 56.8 |
| 2021 | 54.2 |
| 2020 | 55.1 |
| 2019 | 55.2 |
| 2018 | 54.6 |
| 2017 | 53.9 |
| 2016 | 52.9 |
| 2015 | 51.8 |
| 2014 | 50.8 |
| 2013 | 49.5 |
| 2012 | 48.2 |
| 2011 | 46.9 |
| 2010 | 46 |
| 2009 | 45.1 |
| 2008 | 44.3 |
| 2007 | 43.7 |
| 2006 | 43.2 |
| 2005 | 43.6 |
| 2004 | 44 |
| 2003 | 44.9 |
| 2002 | 46 |
| 2001 | 47.2 |
| 2000 | 48.8 |
| 1999 | 50.4 |
| 1998 | 52 |
| 1997 | 53.7 |
| 1996 | 55.1 |
| 1995 | 56.4 |
| 1994 | 57.3 |
| 1993 | 58.1 |
| 1992 | 58.6 |
| 1991 | 59.1 |
| 1990 | 59.3 |
| 1989 | 59.5 |
| 1988 | 59.6 |
| 1987 | 59.6 |
| 1986 | 59.3 |
| 1985 | 59.2 |
| 1984 | 59 |
| 1983 | 58.5 |
| 1982 | 58 |
| 1981 | 57.3 |
| 1980 | 56.5 |
| 1979 | 55.8 |
| 1978 | 55.2 |
| 1977 | 54.5 |
| 1976 | 53.9 |
| 1975 | 53.5 |
| 1974 | 52.9 |
| 1973 | 52.6 |
| 1972 | 52.3 |
| 1971 | 51.8 |
| 1970 | 51.5 |
| 1969 | 51.1 |
| 1968 | 50.8 |
| 1967 | 50.5 |
| 1966 | 50.4 |
| 1965 | 50.3 |
| 1964 | 50.3 |
| 1963 | 50.3 |
| 1962 | 50.3 |
| 1961 | 50.3 |
| 1960 | 50.2 |
| 1959 | 49.9 |
| 1958 | 49.6 |
| 1957 | 49.2 |
| 1956 | 48.6 |
| 1955 | 48 |
| 1954 | 47.3 |
| 1953 | 46.6 |
| 1952 | 45.9 |
| 1951 | 45.2 |
| 1950 | 44.6 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho | CC BY
Lesotho's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,337,423 |
| 2023 | 2,311,472 |
| 2022 | 2,286,110 |
| 2021 | 2,261,542 |
| 2020 | 2,235,727 |
| 2019 | 2,209,405 |
| 2018 | 2,183,603 |
| 2017 | 2,157,110 |
| 2016 | 2,130,422 |
| 2015 | 2,104,611 |
| 2014 | 2,080,089 |
| 2013 | 2,056,504 |
| 2012 | 2,034,354 |
| 2011 | 2,014,009 |
| 2010 | 1,996,251 |
| 2009 | 1,980,883 |
| 2008 | 1,966,541 |
| 2007 | 1,953,268 |
| 2006 | 1,945,063 |
| 2005 | 1,953,076 |
| 2004 | 1,971,129 |
| 2003 | 1,985,059 |
| 2002 | 1,994,679 |
| 2001 | 2,000,853 |
| 2000 | 2,003,913 |
| 1999 | 2,003,234 |
| 1998 | 1,998,049 |
| 1997 | 1,988,130 |
| 1996 | 1,972,418 |
| 1995 | 1,951,437 |
| 1994 | 1,927,707 |
| 1993 | 1,901,793 |
| 1992 | 1,873,274 |
| 1991 | 1,842,379 |
| 1990 | 1,809,696 |
| 1989 | 1,775,436 |
| 1988 | 1,739,841 |
| 1987 | 1,703,390 |
| 1986 | 1,666,138 |
| 1985 | 1,624,379 |
| 1984 | 1,578,986 |
| 1983 | 1,534,413 |
| 1982 | 1,490,732 |
| 1981 | 1,448,069 |
| 1980 | 1,406,521 |
| 1979 | 1,366,169 |
| 1978 | 1,327,240 |
| 1977 | 1,289,967 |
| 1976 | 1,253,214 |
| 1975 | 1,213,643 |
| 1974 | 1,172,420 |
| 1973 | 1,132,697 |
| 1972 | 1,094,063 |
| 1971 | 1,056,246 |
| 1970 | 1,019,273 |
| 1969 | 983,202 |
| 1968 | 948,105 |
| 1967 | 913,982 |
| 1966 | 881,870 |
| 1965 | 854,090 |
| 1964 | 829,437 |
| 1963 | 805,373 |
| 1962 | 781,814 |
| 1961 | 758,824 |
| 1960 | 736,500 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho | CC BY
Lesotho's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2.69 |
| 2022 | 2.72 |
| 2021 | 2.77 |
| 2020 | 2.85 |
| 2019 | 2.92 |
| 2018 | 3.02 |
| 2017 | 3.11 |
| 2016 | 3.18 |
| 2015 | 3.22 |
| 2014 | 3.24 |
| 2013 | 3.28 |
| 2012 | 3.3 |
| 2011 | 3.34 |
| 2010 | 3.25 |
| 2009 | 3.31 |
| 2008 | 3.39 |
| 2007 | 3.44 |
| 2006 | 3.41 |
| 2005 | 3.43 |
| 2004 | 3.51 |
| 2003 | 3.62 |
| 2002 | 3.68 |
| 2001 | 3.63 |
| 2000 | 3.61 |
| 1999 | 3.67 |
| 1998 | 3.82 |
| 1997 | 3.98 |
| 1996 | 4.06 |
| 1995 | 4.13 |
| 1994 | 4.21 |
| 1993 | 4.37 |
| 1992 | 4.54 |
| 1991 | 4.68 |
| 1990 | 4.81 |
| 1989 | 4.96 |
| 1988 | 5.1 |
| 1987 | 5.22 |
| 1986 | 5.32 |
| 1985 | 5.4 |
| 1984 | 5.48 |
| 1983 | 5.56 |
| 1982 | 5.63 |
| 1981 | 5.69 |
| 1980 | 5.75 |
| 1979 | 5.79 |
| 1978 | 5.82 |
| 1977 | 5.85 |
| 1976 | 5.87 |
| 1975 | 5.83 |
| 1974 | 5.75 |
| 1973 | 5.69 |
| 1972 | 5.69 |
| 1971 | 5.7 |
| 1970 | 5.7 |
| 1969 | 5.7 |
| 1968 | 5.73 |
| 1967 | 5.75 |
| 1966 | 5.76 |
| 1965 | 5.77 |
| 1964 | 5.77 |
| 1963 | 5.78 |
| 1962 | 5.79 |
| 1961 | 5.79 |
| 1960 | 5.78 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 22.7 |
| 2023 | 22.5 |
| 2022 | 22.3 |
| 2021 | 22.1 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2019 | 21.8 |
| 2018 | 21.7 |
| 2017 | 21.6 |
| 2016 | 21.4 |
| 2015 | 21.3 |
| 2014 | 21.2 |
| 2013 | 21.1 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2011 | 20.9 |
| 2010 | 20.7 |
| 2009 | 20.6 |
| 2008 | 20.4 |
| 2007 | 20.2 |
| 2006 | 20 |
| 2005 | 19.9 |
| 2004 | 19.8 |
| 2003 | 19.7 |
| 2002 | 19.5 |
| 2001 | 19.4 |
| 2000 | 19.2 |
| 1999 | 19.1 |
| 1998 | 18.9 |
| 1997 | 18.8 |
| 1996 | 18.6 |
| 1995 | 18.6 |
| 1994 | 18.5 |
| 1993 | 18.4 |
| 1992 | 18.4 |
| 1991 | 18.4 |
| 1990 | 18.4 |
| 1989 | 18.5 |
| 1988 | 18.6 |
| 1987 | 18.7 |
| 1986 | 18.6 |
| 1985 | 18.4 |
| 1984 | 18.5 |
| 1983 | 18.6 |
| 1982 | 18.6 |
| 1981 | 18.7 |
| 1980 | 18.8 |
| 1979 | 18.8 |
| 1978 | 18.9 |
| 1977 | 19 |
| 1976 | 19 |
| 1975 | 18.9 |
| 1974 | 18.8 |
| 1973 | 18.6 |
| 1972 | 18.5 |
| 1971 | 18.3 |
| 1970 | 18.2 |
| 1969 | 18 |
| 1968 | 17.8 |
| 1967 | 17.6 |
| 1966 | 17.5 |
| 1965 | 17.5 |
| 1964 | 17.5 |
| 1963 | 17.4 |
| 1962 | 17.4 |
| 1961 | 17.4 |
| 1960 | 17.5 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho | CC BY
Lesotho vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Lesotho with other countries.
Lesotho: National Statistics
Finance
|
Lesotho
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$2.75B
2024 |
169/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
53.5%
2024 |
13/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
6.62%
2024 |
15/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
1.57%
2024 |
89/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
2,000
2020 |
160/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+9.04%
2024 |
6/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
18.7%
2024 |
13/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
48%
2024 |
144/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
30.9%
2024 |
53/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
54.9
2026 |
130/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
32.9%
2017 |
32/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
1.7%
2017 |
151/169 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$1.01B
2024 |
142/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$476M
2024 |
120/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
1,142,000
2019 |
85/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
10.1%
1999 |
63/184 |
| Banked people share |
61.6%
2024 |
90/158 |
Energy
|
Lesotho
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
9.73 kg
2007 |
177/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$198.7
2007 |
1/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
1 megaton
2024 |
157/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
0.43 tons
2024 |
156/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
0%
2007 |
160/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
34.9%
2022 |
70/193 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
99.8%
2021 |
4/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
99.6%
2021 |
2/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
114/192 |
| Electricity access |
57.3%
2023 |
167/195 |
Society
|
Lesotho
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.03%
2024 |
145/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-5,192
2025 |
117/196 |
| Urban population |
43.7%
2024 |
145/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
48.7:51.3
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.51 ft
2025 |
159/190 |
| Average female height |
5.14 ft
2025 |
158/190 |
| Quality of life index |
21.7
2026 |
177/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
37
2025 |
117/197 |
| Higher education index |
28
2026 |
133/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
37.7
2008 |
7/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
31.9
2019 |
19/197 |
| Visa free countries |
81
2025 |
119/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
90.4%
2024 |
125/196 |
| English speaking |
27.9%
2023 |
90/197 |
| People using the Internet |
48%
2023 |
147/195 |
Health
|
Lesotho
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$122.6
2023 |
139/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$16.2
2023 |
166/192 |
| Life expectancy |
58.6 years
2026 |
193/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
40.5%
2023 |
11/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.24
2022 |
158/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
20.9 years
2025 |
98/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
478
2023 |
11/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
58.9
2023 |
21/192 |
| Obesity rate |
21.7%
2022 |
105/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
6.2%
2024 |
150/195 |
| Air quality index |
28
2026 |
144/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
24.3%
2022 |
53/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
4.3 liters
2020 |
94/186 |
Territory
|
Lesotho
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.02%
2026 |
137/197 |
| Land area per capita |
5,015 sq mi
2024 |
84/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
9,115 sq mi
2026 |
112/194 |
| Forest area |
133.3 sq mi
2026 |
168/196 |
| Roads length |
3,691 mi
2011 |
128/176 |
Compare Lesotho with other countries
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Wikidata (2016, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
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