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Lesotho vs Mali statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 24.5M in Mali (ranked 58/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 471,118 sq mi for Mali (ranked 137th vs. 23rd).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and Mali ranks 113/197 ($26.8B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while Mali ranks 173/197 ($1,095).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Mali
Population
2396633
26143152
Population rank 143/197 58/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$26.8B
2024
GDP rank 175/197 113/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$1,095
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 173/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$3,315
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$13.9B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
51.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$566
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 161/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$1,463
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 471,118 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
55.1 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
5.61
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
16.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
61.1 years
2026

Lesotho and Mali: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Mali economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Mali
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Mali
2024 $2,271,759,455 $26,794,747,240
2023 $2,117,962,445 $24,813,860,599
2022 $2,354,980,960 $22,539,987,719
2021 $2,412,130,057 $22,999,245,263
2020 $2,053,699,864 $20,698,560,939
2019 $2,390,702,296 $20,477,421,885
2018 $2,556,247,292 $20,368,015,381
2017 $2,306,741,672 $18,308,362,040
2016 $2,114,426,452 $16,743,796,800
2015 $2,359,686,725 $15,583,181,170
2014 $2,441,063,054 $17,081,681,993
2013 $2,367,112,932 $15,747,192,681
2012 $2,477,702,216 $14,795,114,603
2011 $2,579,409,620 $15,452,791,789
2010 $2,234,754,242 $12,710,739,159
2009 $1,740,894,965 $12,155,217,833
2008 $1,766,902,709 $11,462,490,840
2007 $1,682,131,785 $9,699,047,443
2006 $1,800,092,564 $8,212,007,554
2005 $1,682,343,527 $7,429,066,951
2004 $1,511,236,656 $6,485,774,930
2003 $1,157,825,435 $5,605,613,011
2002 $775,777,239 $4,647,238,257
2001 $825,706,961 $4,124,281,594
2000 $887,291,688 $3,521,570,876
1999 $912,773,681 $4,091,446,054
1998 $928,460,893 $3,894,433,432
1997 $998,004,259 $3,414,879,486
1996 $946,112,493 $3,743,103,420
1995 $1,001,894,000 $3,373,322,735
1994 $878,250,945 $2,655,768,636
1993 $835,582,062 $3,632,801,877
1992 $831,029,862 $3,680,775,037
1991 $704,325,367 $3,576,562,682
1990 $596,410,264 $3,248,417,791
1989 $495,409,233 $2,824,822,489
1988 $470,395,801 $2,712,207,901
1987 $402,768,324 $2,437,004,680
1986 $318,858,423 $2,132,938,007
1985 $268,629,926 $1,594,347,021
1984 $333,163,670 $1,387,809,615
1983 $386,699,309 $1,496,616,127
1982 $348,741,684 $1,680,304,773
1981 $434,188,034 $2,234,583,940
1980 $431,542,537 $2,704,362,789
1979 $290,134,593 $1,595,422,956
1978 $266,570,067 $1,222,702,573
1977 $193,315,048 $1,049,838,548
1976 $147,660,037 $939,228,017
1975 $149,558,896 $830,710,615
1974 $150,851,317 $538,747,340
1973 $121,188,716 $563,683,703
1972 $80,913,200 $486,617,280
1971 $76,480,285 $395,218,629
1970 $68,739,973 $359,772,315
1969 $65,967,974 $339,913,867
1968 $61,445,975 $343,771,973
1967 $59,261,976 $275,494,478
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/mali | CC BY

Lesotho and Mali economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Mali
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Mali
2024 $972 $1,095
2023 $916 $1,044
2022 $1,030 $977
2021 $1,067 $1,027
2020 $919 $953
2019 $1,082 $972
2018 $1,171 $996
2017 $1,069 $924
2016 $992 $872
2015 $1,121 $838
2014 $1,174 $948
2013 $1,151 $902
2012 $1,218 $873
2011 $1,281 $938
2010 $1,119 $797
2009 $879 $787
2008 $898 $767
2007 $861 $671
2006 $925 $587
2005 $861 $549
2004 $767 $495
2003 $583 $442
2002 $389 $378
2001 $413 $346
2000 $443 $305
1999 $456 $364
1998 $465 $357
1997 $502 $321
1996 $480 $360
1995 $513 $331
1994 $456 $266.5
1993 $439 $372
1992 $444 $385
1991 $382 $382
1990 $330 $354
1989 $279 $314
1988 $270.4 $307
1987 $236.5 $280.7
1986 $191.4 $250
1985 $165.4 $190.4
1984 $211 $169.1
1983 $252 $186.3
1982 $233.9 $213.8
1981 $299.8 $290.5
1980 $307 $359
1979 $212.4 $216.3
1978 $200.8 $169.1
1977 $149.9 $148.1
1976 $117.8 $134.9
1975 $123.2 $121.5
1974 $128.7 $80.2
1973 $107 $85.4
1972 $74 $75.1
1971 $72.4 $62
1970 $67.4 $57.3
1969 $67.1 $55
1968 $64.8 $56.5
1967 $64.8 $46
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/mali | CC BY

Lesotho vs. Mali life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Mali
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Mali
2026 58.6 61.1
2025 58.2 60.9
2024 57.8 60.7
2023 57.4 60.4
2022 56.8 60
2021 54.2 59.1
2020 55.1 58.9
2019 55.2 59.2
2018 54.6 58.9
2017 53.9 58.6
2016 52.9 58.3
2015 51.8 57.9
2014 50.8 57.5
2013 49.5 57.1
2012 48.2 56.7
2011 46.9 56.4
2010 46 56
2009 45.1 55.6
2008 44.3 55.2
2007 43.7 54.8
2006 43.2 54.3
2005 43.6 53.8
2004 44 53.3
2003 44.9 52.6
2002 46 52
2001 47.2 51.3
2000 48.8 50.6
1999 50.4 50.1
1998 52 49.6
1997 53.7 49.1
1996 55.1 48.5
1995 56.4 48.3
1994 57.3 47.9
1993 58.1 47.6
1992 58.6 47.2
1991 59.1 46.9
1990 59.3 46.5
1989 59.5 46.2
1988 59.6 45.7
1987 59.6 45.2
1986 59.3 44.6
1985 59.2 43.9
1984 59 43.4
1983 58.5 42.7
1982 58 41.8
1981 57.3 41
1980 56.5 40.3
1979 55.8 39.5
1978 55.2 38.8
1977 54.5 38
1976 53.9 37.2
1975 53.5 36.5
1974 52.9 35.7
1973 52.6 35.1
1972 52.3 34.5
1971 51.8 33.8
1970 51.5 33.4
1969 51.1 32.9
1968 50.8 32.6
1967 50.5 32.2
1966 50.4 31.8
1965 50.3 31.5
1964 50.3 31.2
1963 50.3 31
1962 50.3 30.8
1961 50.3 30.6
1960 50.2 30.5
1959 49.9 30.3
1958 49.6 30.2
1957 49.2 30.1
1956 48.6 29.9
1955 48 29.7
1954 47.3 29.5
1953 46.6 29.4
1952 45.9 29.1
1951 45.2 28.9
1950 44.6 28.7

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

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

Lesotho and Mali population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Mali
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Mali
2024 2,337,423 24,478,595
2023 2,311,472 23,769,127
2022 2,286,110 23,072,640
2021 2,261,542 22,388,630
2020 2,235,727 21,713,836
2019 2,209,405 21,068,405
2018 2,183,603 20,442,030
2017 2,157,110 19,813,011
2016 2,130,422 19,191,289
2015 2,104,611 18,593,022
2014 2,080,089 18,020,267
2013 2,056,504 17,459,615
2012 2,034,354 16,957,033
2011 2,014,009 16,469,049
2010 1,996,251 15,945,198
2009 1,980,883 15,435,539
2008 1,966,541 14,940,782
2007 1,953,268 14,457,775
2006 1,945,063 13,990,139
2005 1,953,076 13,538,647
2004 1,971,129 13,102,409
2003 1,985,059 12,684,955
2002 1,994,679 12,288,050
2001 2,000,853 11,912,158
2000 2,003,913 11,559,290
1999 2,003,234 11,227,415
1998 1,998,049 10,919,573
1997 1,988,130 10,646,495
1996 1,972,418 10,407,278
1995 1,951,437 10,185,365
1994 1,927,707 9,967,031
1993 1,901,793 9,754,786
1992 1,873,274 9,553,540
1991 1,842,379 9,362,888
1990 1,809,696 9,178,830
1989 1,775,436 8,999,938
1988 1,739,841 8,833,996
1987 1,703,390 8,681,164
1986 1,666,138 8,531,277
1985 1,624,379 8,374,663
1984 1,578,986 8,208,599
1983 1,534,413 8,034,400
1982 1,490,732 7,860,194
1981 1,448,069 7,692,766
1980 1,406,521 7,530,515
1979 1,366,169 7,375,266
1978 1,327,240 7,229,651
1977 1,289,967 7,090,979
1976 1,253,214 6,960,979
1975 1,213,643 6,837,261
1974 1,172,420 6,715,436
1973 1,132,697 6,597,106
1972 1,094,063 6,483,726
1971 1,056,246 6,377,944
1970 1,019,273 6,276,472
1969 983,202 6,177,704
1968 948,105 6,082,979
1967 913,982 5,990,906
1966 881,870 5,902,204
1965 854,090 5,815,487
1964 829,437 5,730,125
1963 805,373 5,646,605
1962 781,814 5,563,917
1961 758,824 5,482,283
1960 736,500 5,402,550

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Mali

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Mali
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Mali
2023 2.69 5.61
2022 2.72 5.69
2021 2.77 5.78
2020 2.85 5.85
2019 2.92 5.89
2018 3.02 6.12
2017 3.11 6.25
2016 3.18 6.32
2015 3.22 6.39
2014 3.24 6.44
2013 3.28 6.49
2012 3.3 6.52
2011 3.34 6.55
2010 3.25 6.58
2009 3.31 6.59
2008 3.39 6.62
2007 3.44 6.65
2006 3.41 6.68
2005 3.43 6.71
2004 3.51 6.74
2003 3.62 6.78
2002 3.68 6.82
2001 3.63 6.85
2000 3.61 6.89
1999 3.67 6.91
1998 3.82 6.94
1997 3.98 6.97
1996 4.06 7.01
1995 4.13 7.05
1994 4.21 7.12
1993 4.37 7.18
1992 4.54 7.24
1991 4.68 7.28
1990 4.81 7.31
1989 4.96 7.33
1988 5.1 7.32
1987 5.22 7.31
1986 5.32 7.31
1985 5.4 7.26
1984 5.48 7.26
1983 5.56 7.28
1982 5.63 7.32
1981 5.69 7.37
1980 5.75 7.37
1979 5.79 7.35
1978 5.82 7.32
1977 5.85 7.3
1976 5.87 7.27
1975 5.83 7.25
1974 5.75 7.23
1973 5.69 7.22
1972 5.69 7.22
1971 5.7 7.2
1970 5.7 7.18
1969 5.7 7.18
1968 5.73 7.16
1967 5.75 7.14
1966 5.76 7.11
1965 5.77 7.08
1964 5.77 7.06
1963 5.78 7.05
1962 5.79 7.04
1961 5.79 7.03
1960 5.78 7.02

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

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

Lesotho and Mali demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

Mali
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho Mali
2024 22.7 16.7
2023 22.5 16.6
2022 22.3 16.5
2021 22.1 16.3
2020 22 16.2
2019 21.8 16.1
2018 21.7 16
2017 21.6 16
2016 21.4 16
2015 21.3 16
2014 21.2 16
2013 21.1 16
2012 21 16.1
2011 20.9 16.3
2010 20.7 16.4
2009 20.6 16.4
2008 20.4 16.5
2007 20.2 16.6
2006 20 16.6
2005 19.9 16.6
2004 19.8 16.6
2003 19.7 16.6
2002 19.5 16.6
2001 19.4 16.5
2000 19.2 16.5
1999 19.1 16.4
1998 18.9 16.4
1997 18.8 16.3
1996 18.6 16.3
1995 18.6 16.3
1994 18.5 16.3
1993 18.4 16.3
1992 18.4 16.4
1991 18.4 16.4
1990 18.4 16.5
1989 18.5 16.6
1988 18.6 16.8
1987 18.7 16.9
1986 18.6 17.1
1985 18.4 17.3
1984 18.5 17.5
1983 18.6 17.6
1982 18.6 17.8
1981 18.7 17.9
1980 18.8 18.1
1979 18.8 18.3
1978 18.9 18.4
1977 19 18.6
1976 19 18.7
1975 18.9 18.9
1974 18.8 19
1973 18.6 19.1
1972 18.5 19.2
1971 18.3 19.3
1970 18.2 19.4
1969 18 19.5
1968 17.8 19.6
1967 17.6 19.6
1966 17.5 19.7
1965 17.5 19.8
1964 17.5 19.8
1963 17.4 19.8
1962 17.4 19.8
1961 17.4 19.8
1960 17.5 19.8

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Mali
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$25.2B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
24.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
4.18%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
4.2%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
41,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-2.57%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
5.45%
2023
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
36.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
23.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
52.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
28.3%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
3.2%
2021
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$1.07B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
217,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
5.52%
2018
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
54.7%
2024

Energy

Lesotho Mali
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
n/a
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
7.41 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
0.3 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
n/a
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
71.1%
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
62.3%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
56.6%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
54.5%
2023

Society

Lesotho Mali
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.3%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
-48,019
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
31.6%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
50.5:49.5
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.74 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.31 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
13.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
28
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
11
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
10.9
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
22.7
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
60
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
31%
2020
English speaking
27.9%
2023
0%
2025
People using the Internet
48%
2023
35.1%
2023

Health

Lesotho Mali
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$34
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$16
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
61.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
5.99%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
0.19
2023
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
19.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
367
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
91.3
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
11.8%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
4.8%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
19
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
8%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
5.32 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho Mali
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.82%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
19,246 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
167,103 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
51,336 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
86,437 mi
2018

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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