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Lesotho vs Netherlands statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 18M in The Netherlands (ranked 72/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 13,000 sq mi for The Netherlands (ranked 137th vs. 134th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and The Netherlands ranks 19/197 ($1.21T). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while The Netherlands ranks 13/197 ($67,520).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Netherlands
Population
2396633
18252623
Population rank 143/197 72/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$1.21T
2024
GDP rank 175/197 19/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$67,520
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 13/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$86,174
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$532B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
43.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$29,571
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 24/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$47,815
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 13,000 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
1,402 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
1.43
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
42.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
82.6 years
2026

Lesotho and Netherlands: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Netherlands economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Netherlands
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Netherlands
2024 $2,271,759,455 $1,214,927,698,573
2023 $2,117,962,445 $1,135,475,867,551
2022 $2,354,980,960 $1,046,540,797,549
2021 $2,412,130,057 $1,054,472,123,450
2020 $2,053,699,864 $932,560,861,701
2019 $2,390,702,296 $928,903,005,576
2018 $2,556,247,292 $929,733,599,797
2017 $2,306,741,672 $848,233,537,846
2016 $2,114,426,452 $797,163,949,290
2015 $2,359,686,725 $775,743,675,303
2014 $2,441,063,054 $901,556,501,756
2013 $2,367,112,932 $883,951,539,007
2012 $2,477,702,216 $845,689,017,066
2011 $2,579,409,620 $913,140,741,333
2010 $2,234,754,242 $852,464,982,433
2009 $1,740,894,965 $878,954,223,140
2008 $1,766,902,709 $957,901,566,041
2007 $1,682,131,785 $853,499,460,873
2006 $1,800,092,564 $737,593,995,289
2005 $1,682,343,527 $688,133,699,636
2004 $1,511,236,656 $661,224,886,143
2003 $1,157,825,435 $582,435,617,082
2002 $775,777,239 $475,529,972,123
2001 $825,706,961 $432,536,219,669
2000 $887,291,688 $417,649,282,154
1999 $912,773,681 $447,778,514,140
1998 $928,460,893 $438,612,530,549
1997 $998,004,259 $417,506,211,882
1996 $946,112,493 $451,372,549,020
1995 $1,001,894,000 $452,967,334,614
1994 $878,250,945 $379,688,232,232
1993 $835,582,062 $354,070,495,966
1992 $831,029,862 $363,497,050,125
1991 $704,325,367 $327,982,316,124
1990 $596,410,264 $318,799,003,994
1989 $495,409,233 $258,716,904,292
1988 $470,395,801 $262,295,966,105
1987 $402,768,324 $245,406,949,521
1986 $318,858,423 $201,157,708,221
1985 $268,629,926 $144,057,523,222
1984 $333,163,670 $144,124,462,912
1983 $386,699,309 $153,671,294,109
1982 $348,741,684 $158,712,765,536
1981 $434,188,034 $164,375,775,854
1980 $431,542,537 $195,439,301,707
1979 $290,134,593 $179,933,827,310
1978 $266,570,067 $156,089,077,205
1977 $193,315,048 $127,203,923,857
1976 $147,660,037 $109,329,386,564
1975 $149,558,896 $100,397,061,694
1974 $150,851,317 $87,371,810,804
1973 $121,188,716 $71,946,639,603
1972 $80,913,200 $54,787,070,173
1971 $76,480,285 $44,644,730,576
1970 $68,739,973 $38,220,884,519
1969 $65,967,974 $34,086,038,090
1968 $61,445,975 $30,097,635,751
1967 $59,261,976 $27,143,828,099
1966 $56,699,977 $24,741,480,717
1965 $54,879,978 $22,721,869,808
1964 $51,939,979 $20,232,048,553
1963 $47,039,981 $17,193,744,109
1962 $41,859,983 $15,847,582,341
1961 $35,699,986 $14,599,836,396
1960 $34,579,986 $13,282,979,015

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

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

Lesotho and Netherlands economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Netherlands
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Netherlands
2024 $972 $67,520
2023 $916 $63,516
2022 $1,030 $59,123
2021 $1,067 $60,142
2020 $919 $53,468
2019 $1,082 $53,555
2018 $1,171 $53,955
2017 $1,069 $49,514
2016 $992 $46,809
2015 $1,121 $45,794
2014 $1,174 $53,457
2013 $1,151 $52,602
2012 $1,218 $50,474
2011 $1,281 $54,702
2010 $1,119 $51,306
2009 $879 $53,172
2008 $898 $58,247
2007 $861 $52,101
2006 $925 $45,124
2005 $861 $42,165
2004 $767 $40,611
2003 $583 $35,897
2002 $389 $29,447
2001 $413 $26,956
2000 $443 $26,225
1999 $456 $28,319
1998 $465 $27,924
1997 $502 $26,745
1996 $480 $29,064
1995 $513 $29,301
1994 $456 $24,683
1993 $439 $23,156
1992 $444 $23,939
1991 $382 $21,764
1990 $330 $21,322
1989 $279 $17,423
1988 $270.4 $17,771
1987 $236.5 $16,734
1986 $191.4 $13,804
1985 $165.4 $9,941
1984 $211 $9,992
1983 $252 $10,696
1982 $233.9 $11,089
1981 $299.8 $11,537
1980 $307 $13,812
1979 $212.4 $12,817
1978 $200.8 $11,196
1977 $149.9 $9,180
1976 $117.8 $7,937
1975 $123.2 $7,346
1974 $128.7 $6,450
1973 $107 $5,353
1972 $74 $4,110
1971 $72.4 $3,384
1970 $67.4 $2,931
1969 $67.1 $2,647
1968 $64.8 $2,364
1967 $64.8 $2,155
1966 $64.3 $1,986
1965 $64.3 $1,848
1964 $62.6 $1,668
1963 $58.4 $1,437
1962 $53.5 $1,342
1961 $47 $1,254
1960 $47 $1,156

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

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

Lesotho vs. Netherlands life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Netherlands
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Netherlands
2026 58.6 82.6
2025 58.2 82.4
2024 57.8 82.3
2023 57.4 82.2
2022 56.8 81.9
2021 54.2 81.4
2020 55.1 81.4
2019 55.2 82.1
2018 54.6 81.8
2017 53.9 81.7
2016 52.9 81.6
2015 51.8 81.5
2014 50.8 81.7
2013 49.5 81.3
2012 48.2 81.1
2011 46.9 81.1
2010 46 80.8
2009 45.1 80.7
2008 44.3 80.4
2007 43.7 80.3
2006 43.2 79.8
2005 43.6 79.5
2004 44 79.2
2003 44.9 78.7
2002 46 78.4
2001 47.2 78.3
2000 48.8 78.1
1999 50.4 78
1998 52 78
1997 53.7 77.9
1996 55.1 77.6
1995 56.4 77.6
1994 57.3 77.5
1993 58.1 77
1992 58.6 77.4
1991 59.1 77.2
1990 59.3 77
1989 59.5 76.8
1988 59.6 77
1987 59.6 76.8
1986 59.3 76.4
1985 59.2 76.4
1984 59 76.3
1983 58.5 76.3
1982 58 76.1
1981 57.3 76
1980 56.5 75.8
1979 55.8 75.6
1978 55.2 75.2
1977 54.5 75.3
1976 53.9 74.7
1975 53.5 74.6
1974 52.9 74.6
1973 52.6 74.2
1972 52.3 73.8
1971 51.8 73.9
1970 51.5 73.6
1969 51.1 73.6
1968 50.8 73.6
1967 50.5 73.8
1966 50.4 73.6
1965 50.3 73.6
1964 50.3 73.7
1963 50.3 73.4
1962 50.3 73.2
1961 50.3 73.6
1960 50.2 73.4
1959 49.9 73.2
1958 49.6 73.1
1957 49.2 73
1956 48.6 72.5
1955 48 72.5
1954 47.3 72.4
1953 46.6 71.7
1952 45.9 72.1
1951 45.2 71.5
1950 44.6 71.4

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

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

Lesotho and Netherlands population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Netherlands
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Netherlands
2024 2,337,423 17,993,485
2023 2,311,472 17,877,117
2022 2,286,110 17,700,982
2021 2,261,542 17,533,044
2020 2,235,727 17,441,500
2019 2,209,405 17,344,874
2018 2,183,603 17,231,624
2017 2,157,110 17,131,296
2016 2,130,422 17,030,314
2015 2,104,611 16,939,923
2014 2,080,089 16,865,008
2013 2,056,504 16,804,432
2012 2,034,354 16,754,962
2011 2,014,009 16,693,074
2010 1,996,251 16,615,394
2009 1,980,883 16,530,388
2008 1,966,541 16,445,593
2007 1,953,268 16,381,696
2006 1,945,063 16,346,101
2005 1,953,076 16,319,868
2004 1,971,129 16,281,779
2003 1,985,059 16,225,302
2002 1,994,679 16,148,929
2001 2,000,853 16,046,180
2000 2,003,913 15,925,513
1999 2,003,234 15,812,088
1998 1,998,049 15,707,209
1997 1,988,130 15,610,650
1996 1,972,418 15,530,498
1995 1,951,437 15,459,006
1994 1,927,707 15,382,838
1993 1,901,793 15,290,368
1992 1,873,274 15,184,166
1991 1,842,379 15,069,798
1990 1,809,696 14,951,510
1989 1,775,436 14,848,907
1988 1,739,841 14,760,094
1987 1,703,390 14,665,037
1986 1,666,138 14,572,278
1985 1,624,379 14,491,632
1984 1,578,986 14,424,211
1983 1,534,413 14,367,070
1982 1,490,732 14,312,690
1981 1,448,069 14,247,208
1980 1,406,521 14,149,800
1979 1,366,169 14,038,270
1978 1,327,240 13,941,700
1977 1,289,967 13,856,185
1976 1,253,214 13,774,037
1975 1,213,643 13,666,335
1974 1,172,420 13,545,056
1973 1,132,697 13,439,322
1972 1,094,063 13,328,593
1971 1,056,246 13,194,497
1970 1,019,273 13,038,526
1969 983,202 12,877,984
1968 948,105 12,729,721
1967 913,982 12,598,201
1966 881,870 12,456,251
1965 854,090 12,294,732
1964 829,437 12,127,120
1963 805,373 11,965,966
1962 781,814 11,805,689
1961 758,824 11,638,712
1960 736,500 11,486,631

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Netherlands

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Netherlands
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Netherlands
2023 2.69 1.43
2022 2.72 1.49
2021 2.77 1.62
2020 2.85 1.54
2019 2.92 1.57
2018 3.02 1.59
2017 3.11 1.62
2016 3.18 1.66
2015 3.22 1.66
2014 3.24 1.71
2013 3.28 1.68
2012 3.3 1.72
2011 3.34 1.76
2010 3.25 1.79
2009 3.31 1.79
2008 3.39 1.77
2007 3.44 1.72
2006 3.41 1.72
2005 3.43 1.71
2004 3.51 1.72
2003 3.62 1.75
2002 3.68 1.73
2001 3.63 1.71
2000 3.61 1.72
1999 3.67 1.65
1998 3.82 1.63
1997 3.98 1.56
1996 4.06 1.53
1995 4.13 1.53
1994 4.21 1.57
1993 4.37 1.57
1992 4.54 1.59
1991 4.68 1.61
1990 4.81 1.62
1989 4.96 1.55
1988 5.1 1.55
1987 5.22 1.56
1986 5.32 1.55
1985 5.4 1.51
1984 5.48 1.49
1983 5.56 1.47
1982 5.63 1.5
1981 5.69 1.56
1980 5.75 1.6
1979 5.79 1.56
1978 5.82 1.58
1977 5.85 1.58
1976 5.87 1.63
1975 5.83 1.66
1974 5.75 1.77
1973 5.69 1.9
1972 5.69 2.15
1971 5.7 2.36
1970 5.7 2.57
1969 5.7 2.75
1968 5.73 2.72
1967 5.75 2.81
1966 5.76 2.9
1965 5.77 3.04
1964 5.77 3.17
1963 5.78 3.19
1962 5.79 3.18
1961 5.79 3.22
1960 5.78 3.12

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

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

Lesotho and Netherlands demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

Netherlands
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho Netherlands
2024 22.7 42.4
2023 22.5 42.4
2022 22.3 42.5
2021 22.1 42.6
2020 22 42.5
2019 21.8 42.5
2018 21.7 42.4
2017 21.6 42.3
2016 21.4 42.2
2015 21.3 42
2014 21.2 41.8
2013 21.1 41.6
2012 21 41.3
2011 20.9 41
2010 20.7 40.7
2009 20.6 40.3
2008 20.4 40
2007 20.2 39.7
2006 20 39.3
2005 19.9 38.9
2004 19.8 38.5
2003 19.7 38.1
2002 19.5 37.8
2001 19.4 37.5
2000 19.2 37.3
1999 19.1 37
1998 18.9 36.7
1997 18.8 36.4
1996 18.6 36.1
1995 18.6 35.7
1994 18.5 35.4
1993 18.4 35.1
1992 18.4 34.8
1991 18.4 34.6
1990 18.4 34.3
1989 18.5 34.1
1988 18.6 33.8
1987 18.7 33.5
1986 18.6 33.2
1985 18.4 32.9
1984 18.5 32.6
1983 18.6 32.3
1982 18.6 31.9
1981 18.7 31.6
1980 18.8 31.3
1979 18.8 31
1978 18.9 30.7
1977 19 30.3
1976 19 29.8
1975 18.9 29.4
1974 18.8 29.3
1973 18.6 29
1972 18.5 28.9
1971 18.3 28.7
1970 18.2 28.6
1969 18 28.6
1968 17.8 28.6
1967 17.6 28.5
1966 17.5 28.6
1965 17.5 28.6
1964 17.5 28.6
1963 17.4 28.7
1962 17.4 28.7
1961 17.4 28.8
1960 17.5 28.8

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Netherlands
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$1.12T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
44.4%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
5.18%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
1.92%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
41,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-0.94%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
3.64%
2024
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
70.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
17.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
78.5
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
21.4%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
3.6%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,267,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
8.87%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
13
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00009%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
103
2018
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.1T
2017
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$79.1B
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$4.72B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
7,265,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
1.44%
2020
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
99.2%
2024

Energy

Lesotho Netherlands
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
3,418 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$23.9
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
118.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
6.6 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
83.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
12.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
9.01%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
87%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
6,189 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
33.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
0.06%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.28%
2023
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Lesotho Netherlands
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.22%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
+104,681
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
95.6%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.7:50.3
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
6.03 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.59 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
94.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
78
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
96
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
0.69
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
4
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
99%
2003
English speaking
27.9%
2023
90.9%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
97%
2023

Health

Lesotho Netherlands
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$6,845
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$807
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
82.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
0.01%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
3.88
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
30.4 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
4
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
15%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
5%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
76
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
21.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
8.71 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho Netherlands
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
722 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
6,961 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
1,437 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
88,123 mi
2022

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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