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Lesotho vs Mauritania statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 5.17M in Mauritania (ranked 125/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 397,955 sq mi for Mauritania (ranked 137th vs. 28th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and Mauritania ranks 153/197 ($10.9B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while Mauritania ranks 156/197 ($2,110).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Mauritania
Population
2396633
5505206
Population rank 143/197 122/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$10.9B
2024
GDP rank 175/197 153/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$2,110
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 156/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$7,369
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$4.67B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
42.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$904
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 145/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$2,078
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 397,955 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
13.7 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
4.7
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
18.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
69.2 years
2026

Lesotho and Mauritania: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Mauritania economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Mauritania
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Mauritania
2024 $2,271,759,455 $10,908,045,687
2023 $2,117,962,445 $10,726,838,461
2022 $2,354,980,960 $9,557,966,698
2021 $2,412,130,057 $9,222,536,364
2020 $2,053,699,864 $8,260,752,385
2019 $2,390,702,296 $7,894,764,886
2018 $2,556,247,292 $7,473,550,557
2017 $2,306,741,672 $6,800,135,898
2016 $2,114,426,452 $6,398,747,592
2015 $2,359,686,725 $6,166,863,897
2014 $2,441,063,054 $6,592,537,782
2013 $2,367,112,932 $7,223,071,097
2012 $2,477,702,216 $6,728,208,836
2011 $2,579,409,620 $6,764,627,746
2010 $2,234,754,242 $5,628,878,798
2009 $1,740,894,965 $4,714,595,548
2008 $1,766,902,709 $5,206,437,194
2007 $1,682,131,785 $4,346,212,355
2006 $1,800,092,564 $3,919,577,286
2005 $1,682,343,527 $2,936,019,526
2004 $1,511,236,656 $2,362,501,023
2003 $1,157,825,435 $2,051,147,607
2002 $775,777,239 $1,777,057,481
2001 $825,706,961 $1,746,063,558
2000 $887,291,688 $1,779,520,886
1999 $912,773,681 $1,985,922,776
1998 $928,460,893 $2,032,347,665
1997 $998,004,259 $2,071,996,564
1996 $946,112,493 $2,132,087,009
1995 $1,001,894,000 $2,091,726,101
1994 $878,250,945 $1,944,876,755
1993 $835,582,062 $1,847,353,211
1992 $831,029,862 $2,164,298,425
1991 $704,325,367 $2,133,692,697
1990 $596,410,264 $1,506,914,408
1989 $495,409,233 $1,450,647,019
1988 $470,395,801 $1,414,951,290
1987 $402,768,324 $1,344,664,725
1986 $318,858,423 $1,186,628,778
1985 $268,629,926 $1,009,723,326
1984 $333,163,670 $1,074,373,230
1983 $386,699,309 $1,165,171,263
1982 $348,741,684 $1,108,776,653
1981 $434,188,034 $1,105,494,682
1980 $431,542,537 $1,047,925,106
1979 $290,134,593 $951,900,945
1978 $266,570,067 $804,629,877
1977 $193,315,048 $799,030,017
1976 $147,660,037 $775,045,517
1975 $149,558,896 $703,377,837
1974 $150,851,317 $613,010,553
1973 $121,188,716 $493,237,876
1972 $80,913,200 $391,669,449
1971 $76,480,285 $335,568,907
1970 $68,739,973 $309,405,316
1969 $65,967,974 $295,062,308
1968 $61,445,975 $311,395,937
1967 $59,261,976 $282,615,310
1966 $56,699,977 $266,533,605
1965 $54,879,978 $255,340,475
1964 $51,939,979 $224,495,744
1963 $47,039,981 $168,186,297
1962 $41,859,983 $164,271,558
1961 $35,699,986 $159,213,430
1960 $34,579,986 -

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

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

Lesotho and Mauritania economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Mauritania
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Mauritania
2024 $972 $2,110
2023 $916 $2,136
2022 $1,030 $1,960
2021 $1,067 $1,948
2020 $919 $1,796
2019 $1,082 $1,767
2018 $1,171 $1,723
2017 $1,069 $1,615
2016 $992 $1,566
2015 $1,121 $1,555
2014 $1,174 $1,713
2013 $1,151 $1,934
2012 $1,218 $1,859
2011 $1,281 $1,931
2010 $1,119 $1,660
2009 $879 $1,435
2008 $898 $1,636
2007 $861 $1,405
2006 $925 $1,301
2005 $861 $999
2004 $767 $824
2003 $583 $732
2002 $389 $649
2001 $413 $652
2000 $443 $681
1999 $456 $781
1998 $465 $821
1997 $502 $859
1996 $480 $904
1995 $513 $905
1994 $456 $865
1993 $439 $850
1992 $444 $1,036
1991 $382 $1,062
1990 $330 $772
1989 $279 $762
1988 $270.4 $762
1987 $236.5 $746
1986 $191.4 $677
1985 $165.4 $593
1984 $211 $650
1983 $252 $725
1982 $233.9 $710
1981 $299.8 $729
1980 $307 $711
1979 $212.4 $664
1978 $200.8 $578
1977 $149.9 $590
1976 $117.8 $589
1975 $123.2 $551
1974 $128.7 $494
1973 $107 $410
1972 $74 $335
1971 $72.4 $296
1970 $67.4 $281.3
1969 $67.1 $276.6
1968 $64.8 $301
1967 $64.8 $281.5
1966 $64.3 $273.6
1965 $64.3 $270
1964 $62.6 $244.3
1963 $58.4 $188.2
1962 $53.5 $189
1961 $47 $188.2
1960 $47 -

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

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

Lesotho vs. Mauritania life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Mauritania
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Mauritania
2026 58.6 69.2
2025 58.2 68.9
2024 57.8 68.7
2023 57.4 68.5
2022 56.8 68.3
2021 54.2 66.8
2020 55.1 66.8
2019 55.2 67.6
2018 54.6 67.4
2017 53.9 67.1
2016 52.9 66.8
2015 51.8 66.5
2014 50.8 66.2
2013 49.5 65.9
2012 48.2 65.8
2011 46.9 65.8
2010 46 65.7
2009 45.1 65.5
2008 44.3 65.2
2007 43.7 64.9
2006 43.2 64.5
2005 43.6 63.9
2004 44 63.4
2003 44.9 62.8
2002 46 62.2
2001 47.2 61.7
2000 48.8 61
1999 50.4 60.4
1998 52 59.9
1997 53.7 59.4
1996 55.1 58.9
1995 56.4 58.9
1994 57.3 58.8
1993 58.1 58.7
1992 58.6 58.6
1991 59.1 58.3
1990 59.3 58.1
1989 59.5 57.7
1988 59.6 57.5
1987 59.6 57
1986 59.3 56.3
1985 59.2 55.8
1984 59 55.2
1983 58.5 54.6
1982 58 54.2
1981 57.3 53.7
1980 56.5 53.2
1979 55.8 52.8
1978 55.2 52.3
1977 54.5 52
1976 53.9 51.8
1975 53.5 51.6
1974 52.9 51.4
1973 52.6 51.2
1972 52.3 51
1971 51.8 50.8
1970 51.5 50.5
1969 51.1 50.1
1968 50.8 49.5
1967 50.5 48.9
1966 50.4 48.1
1965 50.3 47.4
1964 50.3 46.6
1963 50.3 45.8
1962 50.3 45
1961 50.3 44.3
1960 50.2 43.6
1959 49.9 42.9
1958 49.6 42.3
1957 49.2 41.7
1956 48.6 41.1
1955 48 40.6
1954 47.3 40.1
1953 46.6 39.6
1952 45.9 39.2
1951 45.2 38.8
1950 44.6 38.4

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

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

Lesotho and Mauritania population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Mauritania
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Mauritania
2024 2,337,423 5,169,395
2023 2,311,472 5,022,441
2022 2,286,110 4,875,637
2021 2,261,542 4,734,874
2020 2,235,727 4,600,131
2019 2,209,405 4,467,708
2018 2,183,603 4,337,685
2017 2,157,110 4,210,600
2016 2,130,422 4,086,657
2015 2,104,611 3,965,959
2014 2,080,089 3,848,514
2013 2,056,504 3,734,318
2012 2,034,354 3,619,034
2011 2,014,009 3,502,811
2010 1,996,251 3,390,965
2009 1,980,883 3,284,448
2008 1,966,541 3,183,269
2007 1,953,268 3,093,059
2006 1,945,063 3,013,660
2005 1,953,076 2,939,059
2004 1,971,129 2,868,664
2003 1,985,059 2,802,046
2002 1,994,679 2,738,655
2001 2,000,853 2,678,760
2000 2,003,913 2,613,441
1999 2,003,234 2,541,698
1998 1,998,049 2,474,651
1997 1,988,130 2,411,306
1996 1,972,418 2,358,188
1995 1,951,437 2,312,017
1994 1,927,707 2,249,454
1993 1,901,793 2,174,328
1992 1,873,274 2,088,135
1991 1,842,379 2,009,738
1990 1,809,696 1,951,878
1989 1,775,436 1,903,048
1988 1,739,841 1,855,859
1987 1,703,390 1,803,014
1986 1,666,138 1,751,835
1985 1,624,379 1,702,107
1984 1,578,986 1,653,693
1983 1,534,413 1,606,746
1982 1,490,732 1,561,176
1981 1,448,069 1,516,877
1980 1,406,521 1,474,043
1979 1,366,169 1,432,758
1978 1,327,240 1,392,713
1977 1,289,967 1,353,768
1976 1,253,214 1,315,336
1975 1,213,643 1,277,330
1974 1,172,420 1,240,188
1973 1,132,697 1,203,838
1972 1,094,063 1,168,355
1971 1,056,246 1,133,702
1970 1,019,273 1,099,806
1969 983,202 1,066,754
1968 948,105 1,034,739
1967 913,982 1,003,843
1966 881,870 974,157
1965 854,090 945,838
1964 829,437 918,955
1963 805,373 893,423
1962 781,814 869,184
1961 758,824 846,167
1960 736,500 824,298

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Mauritania

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Mauritania
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Mauritania
2023 2.69 4.7
2022 2.72 4.77
2021 2.77 4.85
2020 2.85 4.91
2019 2.92 4.98
2018 3.02 5.04
2017 3.11 5.11
2016 3.18 5.16
2015 3.22 5.21
2014 3.24 5.26
2013 3.28 5.32
2012 3.3 5.35
2011 3.34 5.38
2010 3.25 5.38
2009 3.31 5.41
2008 3.39 5.44
2007 3.44 5.43
2006 3.41 5.4
2005 3.43 5.38
2004 3.51 5.37
2003 3.62 5.36
2002 3.68 5.37
2001 3.63 5.41
2000 3.61 5.46
1999 3.67 5.52
1998 3.82 5.62
1997 3.98 5.74
1996 4.06 5.86
1995 4.13 5.96
1994 4.21 6.06
1993 4.37 6.09
1992 4.54 6.13
1991 4.68 6.16
1990 4.81 6.18
1989 4.96 6.2
1988 5.1 6.21
1987 5.22 6.27
1986 5.32 6.34
1985 5.4 6.42
1984 5.48 6.48
1983 5.56 6.54
1982 5.63 6.59
1981 5.69 6.64
1980 5.75 6.67
1979 5.79 6.7
1978 5.82 6.73
1977 5.85 6.74
1976 5.87 6.73
1975 5.83 6.71
1974 5.75 6.73
1973 5.69 6.72
1972 5.69 6.71
1971 5.7 6.7
1970 5.7 6.68
1969 5.7 6.64
1968 5.73 6.6
1967 5.75 6.57
1966 5.76 6.52
1965 5.77 6.44
1964 5.77 6.37
1963 5.78 6.31
1962 5.79 6.24
1961 5.79 6.2
1960 5.78 6.15

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

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

Lesotho and Mauritania demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

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

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Mauritania
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$11B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
23.6%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
4.72%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
2.16%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
21,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-1.35%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
10.4%
2019
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
42.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
30.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
53.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
24.6%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
3.1%
2019
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$2.04B
2021
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$94.5M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
30,000
2000
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
0.23%
2020
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
27.3%
2024

Energy

Lesotho Mauritania
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
5.01 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
0.97 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
n/a
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
19.6%
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
19.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
50.3%
2023

Society

Lesotho Mauritania
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.06%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
-5,044
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
60.6%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.1:50.9
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.43 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.25 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
28.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
30
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
15
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
1.02
2020
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
25.6
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
63
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
67%
2021
English speaking
27.9%
2023
4%
2025
People using the Internet
48%
2023
37.4%
2023

Health

Lesotho Mauritania
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$92.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$40.3
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
69.2 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
19.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
0.26
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
21.8 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
381
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
37.8
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
23%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
5.2%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
26
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
9.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
0 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho Mauritania
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.69%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
76,983 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
153,321 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
1,145 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
7,614 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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