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Lesotho vs New Zealand statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 5.29M in New Zealand (ranked 123/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 101,665 sq mi for New Zealand (ranked 137th vs. 74th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and New Zealand ranks 52/197 ($260B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while New Zealand ranks 26/197 ($49,205).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho New Zealand
Population
2396633
5374272
Population rank 143/197 124/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$260B
2024
GDP rank 175/197 52/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$49,205
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 26/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$55,551
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$131B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
50.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$24,722
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 28/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$37,758
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 101,665 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
52.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
1.56
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
38.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
82.5 years
2026

Lesotho and New Zealand: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and New Zealand economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

New Zealand
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho New Zealand
2024 $2,271,759,455 $260,172,385,098
2023 $2,117,962,445 $255,194,972,673
2022 $2,354,980,960 $249,509,991,440
2021 $2,412,130,057 $253,977,931,815
2020 $2,053,699,864 $213,029,554,654
2019 $2,390,702,296 $213,006,341,102
2018 $2,556,247,292 $211,985,631,173
2017 $2,306,741,672 $206,745,969,246
2016 $2,114,426,452 $189,100,085,275
2015 $2,359,686,725 $178,224,167,088
2014 $2,441,063,054 $201,518,402,787
2013 $2,367,112,932 $191,012,364,177
2012 $2,477,702,216 $176,560,711,239
2011 $2,579,409,620 $168,484,908,960
2010 $2,234,754,242 $146,887,902,524
2009 $1,740,894,965 $121,663,439,315
2008 $1,766,902,709 $133,437,126,590
2007 $1,682,131,785 $137,188,946,866
2006 $1,800,092,564 $111,538,810,713
2005 $1,682,343,527 $114,720,129,550
2004 $1,511,236,656 $103,905,210,084
2003 $1,157,825,435 $88,250,885,550
2002 $775,777,239 $66,627,729,311
2001 $825,706,961 $53,872,425,917
2000 $887,291,688 $52,623,281,957
1999 $912,773,681 $58,762,260,626
1998 $928,460,893 $56,227,169,851
1997 $998,004,259 $66,075,143,415
1996 $946,112,493 $70,140,835,299
1995 $1,001,894,000 $63,918,703,507
1994 $878,250,945 $55,314,732,279
1993 $835,582,062 $46,775,620,817
1992 $831,029,862 $41,649,829,860
1991 $704,325,367 $42,745,329,732
1990 $596,410,264 $45,495,129,385
1989 $495,409,233 $43,920,222,525
1988 $470,395,801 $45,176,811,594
1987 $402,768,324 $40,376,354,070
1986 $318,858,423 $30,604,668,357
1985 $268,629,926 $24,679,795,396
1984 $333,163,670 $21,665,975,319
1983 $386,699,309 $24,309,279,706
1982 $348,741,684 $24,164,603,059
1981 $434,188,034 $24,417,617,184
1980 $431,542,537 $23,244,547,385
1979 $290,134,593 $20,731,243,113
1978 $266,570,067 $18,530,518,395
1977 $193,315,048 $15,446,825,318
1976 $147,660,037 $13,604,832,424
1975 $149,558,896 $12,861,983,284
1974 $150,851,317 $13,940,981,798
1973 $121,188,716 $12,802,281,898
1972 $80,913,200 $9,567,331,065
1971 $76,480,285 $7,911,136,757
1970 $68,739,973 $6,495,605,331
1969 $65,967,974 $5,814,357,709
1968 $61,445,975 $5,228,045,415
1967 $59,261,976 $6,016,017,227
1966 $56,699,977 $5,917,437,693
1965 $54,879,978 $5,706,251,400
1964 $51,939,979 $7,340,766,415
1963 $47,039,981 $6,699,741,645
1962 $41,859,983 $6,133,158,532
1961 $35,699,986 $5,721,994,864
1960 $34,579,986 $5,536,098,360

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/new-zealand | CC BY

Lesotho and New Zealand economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

New Zealand
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho New Zealand
2024 $972 $49,205
2023 $916 $49,076
2022 $1,030 $49,100
2021 $1,067 $49,950
2020 $919 $41,998
2019 $1,082 $42,856
2018 $1,171 $43,257
2017 $1,069 $42,950
2016 $992 $40,114
2015 $1,121 $38,665
2014 $1,174 $44,618
2013 $1,151 $43,000
2012 $1,218 $40,054
2011 $1,281 $38,432
2010 $1,119 $33,762
2009 $879 $28,277
2008 $898 $31,325
2007 $861 $32,480
2006 $925 $26,655
2005 $861 $27,751
2004 $767 $25,420
2003 $583 $21,914
2002 $389 $16,874
2001 $413 $13,883
2000 $443 $13,641
1999 $456 $15,322
1998 $465 $14,738
1997 $502 $17,474
1996 $480 $18,794
1995 $513 $17,400
1994 $456 $15,280
1993 $439 $13,094
1992 $444 $11,793
1991 $382 $12,230
1990 $330 $13,663
1989 $279 $13,312
1988 $270.4 $13,759
1987 $236.5 $12,331
1986 $191.4 $9,428
1985 $165.4 $7,601
1984 $211 $6,714
1983 $252 $7,598
1982 $233.9 $7,656
1981 $299.8 $7,814
1980 $307 $7,467
1979 $212.4 $6,668
1978 $200.8 $5,937
1977 $149.9 $4,951
1976 $117.8 $4,374
1975 $123.2 $4,172
1974 $128.7 $4,611
1973 $107 $4,323
1972 $74 $3,295
1971 $72.4 $2,773
1970 $67.4 $2,311
1969 $67.1 $2,097
1968 $64.8 $1,902
1967 $64.8 $2,208
1966 $64.3 $2,211
1965 $64.3 $2,171
1964 $62.6 $2,839
1963 $58.4 $2,646
1962 $53.5 $2,471
1961 $47 $2,365
1960 $47 $2,334

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/new-zealand | CC BY

Lesotho vs. New Zealand life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

New Zealand
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho New Zealand
2026 58.6 82.5
2025 58.2 82.4
2024 57.8 82.2
2023 57.4 82.1
2022 56.8 81
2021 54.2 82.3
2020 55.1 82.7
2019 55.2 81.8
2018 54.6 81.9
2017 53.9 81.6
2016 52.9 82
2015 51.8 81.6
2014 50.8 81.4
2013 49.5 81.6
2012 48.2 81.2
2011 46.9 80.8
2010 46 81.1
2009 45.1 80.5
2008 44.3 80.2
2007 43.7 80.1
2006 43.2 80
2005 43.6 80
2004 44 79.4
2003 44.9 79.1
2002 46 78.9
2001 47.2 78.7
2000 48.8 78.7
1999 50.4 77.9
1998 52 78.2
1997 53.7 77.3
1996 55.1 76.8
1995 56.4 76.8
1994 57.3 76.9
1993 58.1 76.5
1992 58.6 76.2
1991 59.1 76.1
1990 59.3 75.4
1989 59.5 74.9
1988 59.6 74.5
1987 59.6 74.2
1986 59.3 74.1
1985 59.2 73.9
1984 59 74.4
1983 58.5 73.8
1982 58 73.7
1981 57.3 73.6
1980 56.5 72.9
1979 55.8 73.1
1978 55.2 73
1977 54.5 72.1
1976 53.9 72.4
1975 53.5 72.2
1974 52.9 71.9
1973 52.6 71.7
1972 52.3 71.8
1971 51.8 71.7
1970 51.5 71.2
1969 51.1 71.5
1968 50.8 71.1
1967 50.5 71.4
1966 50.4 71.1
1965 50.3 71.2
1964 50.3 71.3
1963 50.3 71.3
1962 50.3 71.2
1961 50.3 70.9
1960 50.2 71.2
1959 49.9 70.8
1958 49.6 70.9
1957 49.2 70.3
1956 48.6 70.7
1955 48 70.5
1954 47.3 70.3
1953 46.6 70.2
1952 45.9 69.4
1951 45.2 69.1
1950 44.6 69.3

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/new-zealand | CC BY

Lesotho and New Zealand population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

New Zealand
1x
Year Population
Lesotho New Zealand
2024 2,337,423 5,287,500
2023 2,311,472 5,200,000
2022 2,286,110 5,081,700
2021 2,261,542 5,084,600
2020 2,235,727 5,072,400
2019 2,209,405 4,970,300
2018 2,183,603 4,900,600
2017 2,157,110 4,813,600
2016 2,130,422 4,714,100
2015 2,104,611 4,609,400
2014 2,080,089 4,516,500
2013 2,056,504 4,442,100
2012 2,034,354 4,408,100
2011 2,014,009 4,384,000
2010 1,996,251 4,350,700
2009 1,980,883 4,302,600
2008 1,966,541 4,259,800
2007 1,953,268 4,223,800
2006 1,945,063 4,184,600
2005 1,953,076 4,133,900
2004 1,971,129 4,087,500
2003 1,985,059 4,027,200
2002 1,994,679 3,948,500
2001 2,000,853 3,880,500
2000 2,003,913 3,857,700
1999 2,003,234 3,835,100
1998 1,998,049 3,815,000
1997 1,988,130 3,781,300
1996 1,972,418 3,732,000
1995 1,951,437 3,673,400
1994 1,927,707 3,620,000
1993 1,901,793 3,572,200
1992 1,873,274 3,531,700
1991 1,842,379 3,495,100
1990 1,809,696 3,329,800
1989 1,775,436 3,299,200
1988 1,739,841 3,283,400
1987 1,703,390 3,274,400
1986 1,666,138 3,246,300
1985 1,624,379 3,247,100
1984 1,578,986 3,227,100
1983 1,534,413 3,199,300
1982 1,490,732 3,156,100
1981 1,448,069 3,124,900
1980 1,406,521 3,112,900
1979 1,366,169 3,109,000
1978 1,327,240 3,121,200
1977 1,289,967 3,120,200
1976 1,253,214 3,110,500
1975 1,213,643 3,083,100
1974 1,172,420 3,023,700
1973 1,132,697 2,961,300
1972 1,094,063 2,903,900
1971 1,056,246 2,853,000
1970 1,019,273 2,810,700
1969 983,202 2,772,800
1968 948,105 2,748,100
1967 913,982 2,724,100
1966 881,870 2,675,900
1965 854,090 2,628,400
1964 829,437 2,585,400
1963 805,373 2,531,800
1962 781,814 2,482,000
1961 758,824 2,419,700
1960 736,500 2,371,800

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/new-zealand | CC BY

Fertility rates in Lesotho and New Zealand

Fertility rate
Lesotho

New Zealand
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho New Zealand
2023 2.69 1.56
2022 2.72 1.66
2021 2.77 1.64
2020 2.85 1.61
2019 2.92 1.72
2018 3.02 1.71
2017 3.11 1.81
2016 3.18 1.87
2015 3.22 1.99
2014 3.24 1.92
2013 3.28 2.01
2012 3.3 2.1
2011 3.34 2.09
2010 3.25 2.17
2009 3.31 2.13
2008 3.39 2.19
2007 3.44 2.18
2006 3.41 2.01
2005 3.43 1.97
2004 3.51 1.98
2003 3.62 1.93
2002 3.68 1.89
2001 3.63 1.97
2000 3.61 1.98
1999 3.67 1.97
1998 3.82 1.89
1997 3.98 1.96
1996 4.06 1.96
1995 4.13 1.98
1994 4.21 1.98
1993 4.37 2.04
1992 4.54 2.06
1991 4.68 2.09
1990 4.81 2.18
1989 4.96 2.12
1988 5.1 2.1
1987 5.22 2.03
1986 5.32 1.96
1985 5.4 1.93
1984 5.48 1.93
1983 5.56 1.92
1982 5.63 1.95
1981 5.69 2.01
1980 5.75 2.03
1979 5.79 2.12
1978 5.82 2.07
1977 5.85 2.21
1976 5.87 2.27
1975 5.83 2.37
1974 5.75 2.58
1973 5.69 2.76
1972 5.69 3
1971 5.7 3.18
1970 5.7 3.17
1969 5.7 3.28
1968 5.73 3.34
1967 5.75 3.35
1966 5.76 3.41
1965 5.77 3.54
1964 5.77 3.8
1963 5.78 4.05
1962 5.79 4.19
1961 5.79 4.31
1960 5.78 4.24

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/new-zealand | CC BY

Lesotho and New Zealand demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

New Zealand
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho New Zealand
2024 22.7 38.6
2023 22.5 38.3
2022 22.3 38.1
2021 22.1 37.8
2020 22 37.5
2019 21.8 37.3
2018 21.7 37.3
2017 21.6 37.2
2016 21.4 37.3
2015 21.3 37.4
2014 21.2 37.5
2013 21.1 37.4
2012 21 37.2
2011 20.9 37
2010 20.7 36.8
2009 20.6 36.6
2008 20.4 36.4
2007 20.2 36.1
2006 20 35.8
2005 19.9 35.5
2004 19.8 35.2
2003 19.7 35
2002 19.5 34.8
2001 19.4 34.6
2000 19.2 34.3
1999 19.1 34
1998 18.9 33.6
1997 18.8 33.2
1996 18.6 32.8
1995 18.6 32.6
1994 18.5 32.3
1993 18.4 32
1992 18.4 31.7
1991 18.4 31.4
1990 18.4 31.1
1989 18.5 30.8
1988 18.6 30.4
1987 18.7 30.1
1986 18.6 29.8
1985 18.4 29.4
1984 18.5 29.1
1983 18.6 28.8
1982 18.6 28.5
1981 18.7 28.2
1980 18.8 27.9
1979 18.8 27.5
1978 18.9 27.1
1977 19 26.8
1976 19 26.5
1975 18.9 26.3
1974 18.8 26.2
1973 18.6 26
1972 18.5 25.9
1971 18.3 25.7
1970 18.2 25.6
1969 18 25.7
1968 17.8 25.7
1967 17.6 25.8
1966 17.5 25.9
1965 17.5 26
1964 17.5 26.2
1963 17.4 26.4
1962 17.4 26.8
1961 17.4 27.1
1960 17.5 27.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/new-zealand | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho New Zealand
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$252B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
41.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
5.28%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
1.19%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
10,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-3.61%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
4.76%
2024
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
67.4%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
19.6%
2022
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
77.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
n/a
Number of billionaires n/a
5
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0001%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
112
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$92.9B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$22.1B
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$598M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
996,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
18.8%
2018
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
97.9%
2024

Energy

Lesotho New Zealand
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
3,661 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$14.9
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
31.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
6.02 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
55.4%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
28.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
39.7%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
31.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
8,021 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
81.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
59.5%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Lesotho New Zealand
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.07%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
+17,403
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
83.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.7:50.3
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.83 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.4 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
89.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
81
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
91
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
1.11
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
9.6
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
170
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
99%
2003
English speaking
27.9%
2023
97.8%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
96.2%
2023

Health

Lesotho New Zealand
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$5,022
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$637
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
82.5 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
3.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
27.8 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
7
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
4.7
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
34.3%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
6.7%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
90
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
12.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
10 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho New Zealand
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.18%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
19,227 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
37,494 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
38,418 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
60,159 mi
2020

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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