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Lesotho vs Namibia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 3.03M in Namibia (ranked 136/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 317,874 sq mi for Namibia (ranked 137th vs. 33rd).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and Namibia ranks 147/197 ($13.4B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while Namibia ranks 126/197 ($4,413).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Namibia
Population
2396633
3173089
Population rank 143/197 134/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$13.4B
2024
GDP rank 175/197 147/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$4,413
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 126/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$11,687
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$9.05B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
67.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$2,988
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 100/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$6,197
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 317,874 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
9.93 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
3.21
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
22.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
67.8 years
2026

Lesotho and Namibia: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Namibia economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Namibia
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Namibia
2024 $2,271,759,455 $13,372,354,512
2023 $2,117,962,445 $12,408,271,449
2022 $2,354,980,960 $12,569,449,123
2021 $2,412,130,057 $12,402,486,184
2020 $2,053,699,864 $10,583,748,542
2019 $2,390,702,296 $12,541,928,303
2018 $2,556,247,292 $13,682,019,076
2017 $2,306,741,672 $12,895,153,371
2016 $2,114,426,452 $10,722,018,732
2015 $2,359,686,725 $11,335,161,084
2014 $2,441,063,054 $12,435,430,970
2013 $2,367,112,932 $12,043,307,277
2012 $2,477,702,216 $13,042,053,592
2011 $2,579,409,620 $12,523,359,441
2010 $2,234,754,242 $11,431,412,421
2009 $1,740,894,965 $8,938,847,189
2008 $1,766,902,709 $8,607,431,497
2007 $1,682,131,785 $8,839,536,476
2006 $1,800,092,564 $8,001,779,551
2005 $1,682,343,527 $7,248,374,838
2004 $1,511,236,656 $6,609,205,995
2003 $1,157,825,435 $4,926,439,384
2002 $775,777,239 $3,349,169,826
2001 $825,706,961 $3,557,341,215
2000 $887,291,688 $3,922,232,165
1999 $912,773,681 $3,868,551,730
1998 $928,460,893 $3,873,109,866
1997 $998,004,259 $4,154,989,950
1996 $946,112,493 $3,989,163,197
1995 $1,001,894,000 $3,978,514,206
1994 $878,250,945 $3,666,503,530
1993 $835,582,062 $3,251,188,833
1992 $831,029,862 $3,429,521,699
1991 $704,325,367 $2,996,869,281
1990 $596,410,264 $2,789,921,854
1989 $495,409,233 $2,535,135,798
1988 $470,395,801 $2,495,094,746
1987 $402,768,324 $2,300,068,217
1986 $318,858,423 $1,809,048,527
1985 $268,629,926 $1,608,237,350
1984 $333,163,670 $1,951,260,038
1983 $386,699,309 $2,297,400,688
1982 $348,741,684 $2,118,710,248
1981 $434,188,034 $2,249,908,578
1980 $431,542,537 $2,421,990,338
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/namibia | CC BY

Lesotho and Namibia economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Namibia
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Namibia
2024 $972 $4,413
2023 $916 $4,188
2022 $1,030 $4,350
2021 $1,067 $4,413
2020 $919 $3,879
2019 $1,082 $4,732
2018 $1,171 $5,309
2017 $1,069 $5,144
2016 $992 $4,396
2015 $1,121 $4,774
2014 $1,174 $5,378
2013 $1,151 $5,347
2012 $1,218 $5,943
2011 $1,281 $5,835
2010 $1,119 $5,418
2009 $879 $4,303
2008 $898 $4,205
2007 $861 $4,379
2006 $925 $4,017
2005 $861 $3,686
2004 $767 $3,403
2003 $583 $2,569
2002 $389 $1,772
2001 $413 $1,916
2000 $443 $2,157
1999 $456 $2,178
1998 $465 $2,235
1997 $502 $2,460
1996 $480 $2,423
1995 $513 $2,483
1994 $456 $2,356
1993 $439 $2,155
1992 $444 $2,347
1991 $382 $2,117
1990 $330 $2,037
1989 $279 $1,967
1988 $270.4 $2,063
1987 $236.5 $1,969
1986 $191.4 $1,599
1985 $165.4 $1,466
1984 $211 $1,830
1983 $252 $2,214
1982 $233.9 $2,097
1981 $299.8 $2,267
1980 $307 $2,468
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/namibia | CC BY

Lesotho vs. Namibia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Namibia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Namibia
2026 58.6 67.8
2025 58.2 67.7
2024 57.8 67.5
2023 57.4 67.4
2022 56.8 64.2
2021 54.2 60.8
2020 55.1 64.1
2019 55.2 63.5
2018 54.6 62.6
2017 53.9 61.7
2016 52.9 60.8
2015 51.8 60
2014 50.8 59.3
2013 49.5 58.5
2012 48.2 57.7
2011 46.9 56.6
2010 46 56.1
2009 45.1 55.3
2008 44.3 54.7
2007 43.7 54
2006 43.2 53.2
2005 43.6 52.6
2004 44 52.2
2003 44.9 51.9
2002 46 52
2001 47.2 52
2000 48.8 52.9
1999 50.4 54
1998 52 54.8
1997 53.7 55.8
1996 55.1 56.6
1995 56.4 57.5
1994 57.3 58.4
1993 58.1 59.3
1992 58.6 60.2
1991 59.1 60.8
1990 59.3 61.4
1989 59.5 60.8
1988 59.6 59
1987 59.6 59.1
1986 59.3 58.7
1985 59.2 58.5
1984 59 58.1
1983 58.5 57.6
1982 58 57.3
1981 57.3 56.9
1980 56.5 56.6
1979 55.8 59.5
1978 55.2 59.1
1977 54.5 58.6
1976 53.9 58
1975 53.5 57.6
1974 52.9 56.9
1973 52.6 56.4
1972 52.3 55.8
1971 51.8 55.3
1970 51.5 54.7
1969 51.1 54.1
1968 50.8 53.6
1967 50.5 52.9
1966 50.4 52.3
1965 50.3 52
1964 50.3 51.3
1963 50.3 50.6
1962 50.3 50
1961 50.3 49.2
1960 50.2 48.5
1959 49.9 47.8
1958 49.6 47.1
1957 49.2 46.4
1956 48.6 45.7
1955 48 45
1954 47.3 44.4
1953 46.6 43.8
1952 45.9 43.1
1951 45.2 42.5
1950 44.6 41.9

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

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

Lesotho and Namibia population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Namibia
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Namibia
2024 2,337,423 3,030,131
2023 2,311,472 2,963,095
2022 2,286,110 2,889,662
2021 2,261,542 2,810,548
2020 2,235,727 2,728,762
2019 2,209,405 2,650,494
2018 2,183,603 2,577,327
2017 2,157,110 2,506,853
2016 2,130,422 2,439,213
2015 2,104,611 2,374,300
2014 2,080,089 2,312,139
2013 2,056,504 2,252,508
2012 2,034,354 2,194,654
2011 2,014,009 2,146,325
2010 1,996,251 2,109,811
2009 1,980,883 2,077,394
2008 1,966,541 2,047,056
2007 1,953,268 2,018,600
2006 1,945,063 1,991,888
2005 1,953,076 1,966,582
2004 1,971,129 1,942,082
2003 1,985,059 1,917,464
2002 1,994,679 1,889,970
2001 2,000,853 1,857,048
2000 2,003,913 1,818,647
1999 2,003,234 1,776,368
1998 1,998,049 1,732,745
1997 1,988,130 1,689,264
1996 1,972,418 1,646,103
1995 1,951,437 1,602,170
1994 1,927,707 1,556,304
1993 1,901,793 1,508,697
1992 1,873,274 1,461,322
1991 1,842,379 1,415,684
1990 1,809,696 1,369,303
1989 1,775,436 1,288,947
1988 1,739,841 1,209,696
1987 1,703,390 1,167,889
1986 1,666,138 1,131,081
1985 1,624,379 1,096,890
1984 1,578,986 1,065,989
1983 1,534,413 1,037,511
1982 1,490,732 1,010,308
1981 1,448,069 992,500
1980 1,406,521 981,434
1979 1,366,169 962,825
1978 1,327,240 947,269
1977 1,289,967 931,104
1976 1,253,214 906,566
1975 1,213,643 881,032
1974 1,172,420 854,320
1973 1,132,697 828,928
1972 1,094,063 804,399
1971 1,056,246 780,584
1970 1,019,273 757,868
1969 983,202 736,120
1968 948,105 715,542
1967 913,982 696,045
1966 881,870 677,655
1965 854,090 660,558
1964 829,437 644,530
1963 805,373 629,589
1962 781,814 615,759
1961 758,824 603,067
1960 736,500 591,465

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Namibia

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Namibia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Namibia
2023 2.69 3.21
2022 2.72 3.25
2021 2.77 3.3
2020 2.85 3.35
2019 2.92 3.4
2018 3.02 3.46
2017 3.11 3.51
2016 3.18 3.57
2015 3.22 3.6
2014 3.24 3.64
2013 3.28 3.65
2012 3.3 3.68
2011 3.34 3.66
2010 3.25 3.66
2009 3.31 3.63
2008 3.39 3.62
2007 3.44 3.61
2006 3.41 3.6
2005 3.43 3.57
2004 3.51 3.55
2003 3.62 3.58
2002 3.68 3.69
2001 3.63 3.83
2000 3.61 3.99
1999 3.67 4.14
1998 3.82 4.18
1997 3.98 4.17
1996 4.06 4.2
1995 4.13 4.42
1994 4.21 4.68
1993 4.37 4.91
1992 4.54 5.11
1991 4.68 5.29
1990 4.81 5.4
1989 4.96 5.52
1988 5.1 5.61
1987 5.22 5.7
1986 5.32 5.79
1985 5.4 5.88
1984 5.48 5.94
1983 5.56 6
1982 5.63 6.08
1981 5.69 6.16
1980 5.75 6.24
1979 5.79 6.31
1978 5.82 6.38
1977 5.85 6.44
1976 5.87 6.49
1975 5.83 6.53
1974 5.75 6.55
1973 5.69 6.54
1972 5.69 6.53
1971 5.7 6.52
1970 5.7 6.52
1969 5.7 6.51
1968 5.73 6.5
1967 5.75 6.49
1966 5.76 6.47
1965 5.77 6.45
1964 5.77 6.43
1963 5.78 6.41
1962 5.79 6.35
1961 5.79 6.29
1960 5.78 6.24

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

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

Lesotho and Namibia demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

Namibia
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho Namibia
2024 22.7 22.1
2023 22.5 21.9
2022 22.3 21.8
2021 22.1 21.8
2020 22 21.8
2019 21.8 21.8
2018 21.7 21.7
2017 21.6 21.6
2016 21.4 21.5
2015 21.3 21.4
2014 21.2 21.3
2013 21.1 21.1
2012 21 20.9
2011 20.9 20.7
2010 20.7 20.5
2009 20.6 20.3
2008 20.4 20
2007 20.2 19.9
2006 20 19.7
2005 19.9 19.6
2004 19.8 19.4
2003 19.7 19.3
2002 19.5 19.2
2001 19.4 19.1
2000 19.2 19
1999 19.1 18.9
1998 18.9 18.9
1997 18.8 18.8
1996 18.6 18.7
1995 18.6 18.6
1994 18.5 18.5
1993 18.4 18.5
1992 18.4 18.4
1991 18.4 18.4
1990 18.4 18.3
1989 18.5 17.8
1988 18.6 17.3
1987 18.7 17
1986 18.6 16.9
1985 18.4 16.7
1984 18.5 16.5
1983 18.6 16.4
1982 18.6 16.3
1981 18.7 16.4
1980 18.8 16.6
1979 18.8 16.8
1978 18.9 17
1977 19 17.3
1976 19 17.5
1975 18.9 17.6
1974 18.8 17.7
1973 18.6 17.8
1972 18.5 17.9
1971 18.3 18
1970 18.2 18.1
1969 18 18.1
1968 17.8 18.2
1967 17.6 18.3
1966 17.5 18.3
1965 17.5 18.4
1964 17.5 18.4
1963 17.4 18.5
1962 17.4 18.6
1961 17.4 18.7
1960 17.5 18.9

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Namibia
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$12.8B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
39.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
9.08%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
2.73%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
16,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-3.59%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
19.9%
2018
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
54.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
28.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
60.2
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
47.2%
2015
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
1%
2015
Listed domestic companies n/a
12
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$2.48B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$3.36B
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$96.7M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
187,100
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
3.99%
2020
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
72.9%
2024

Energy

Lesotho Namibia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
692 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$15.4
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
3.65 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
1.2 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
53.5%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
30%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
5.88%
2022
Net energy imports use share n/a
60.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
1,231 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
90.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
58.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
56.7%
2023

Society

Lesotho Namibia
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.04%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
+1,866
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
50.4%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
48.8:51.2
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.57 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.26 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
41.8
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
46
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
40
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
12.5
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
34.8
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
79
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
87.6%
2023
English speaking
27.9%
2023
17.2%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
64.4%
2023

Health

Lesotho Namibia
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$397
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$29.7
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
67.8 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
11.4%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
0.55
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
21.6 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
139
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
40.7
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
17.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
5.3%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
36
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
14.1%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
5.05 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho Namibia
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.55%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
104,904 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
149,854 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
24,810 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
n/a

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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