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Lesotho vs Nicaragua statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 6.92M in Nicaragua (ranked 108/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 46,464 sq mi for Nicaragua (ranked 137th vs. 98th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and Nicaragua ranks 131/197 ($19.7B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while Nicaragua ranks 141/197 ($2,848).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Nicaragua
Population
2396633
7124343
Population rank 143/197 107/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$19.7B
2024
GDP rank 175/197 131/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$2,848
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 141/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$8,709
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$7.71B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
39.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$1,115
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 138/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$2,318
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 46,464 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
152.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
26.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
75.4 years
2026

Lesotho and Nicaragua: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Nicaragua economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Nicaragua
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Nicaragua
2024 $2,271,759,455 $19,693,982,968
2023 $2,117,962,445 $17,805,842,284
2022 $2,354,980,960 $15,634,572,502
2021 $2,412,130,057 $14,209,020,362
2020 $2,053,699,864 $12,726,422,432
2019 $2,390,702,296 $12,699,023,614
2018 $2,556,247,292 $13,025,221,974
2017 $2,306,741,672 $13,785,893,007
2016 $2,114,426,452 $13,286,093,388
2015 $2,359,686,725 $12,756,696,261
2014 $2,441,063,054 $11,880,438,824
2013 $2,367,112,932 $10,982,988,249
2012 $2,477,702,216 $10,532,017,232
2011 $2,579,409,620 $9,774,329,333
2010 $2,234,754,242 $8,758,602,233
2009 $1,740,894,965 $8,298,702,489
2008 $1,766,902,709 $8,496,967,597
2007 $1,682,131,785 $7,423,375,015
2006 $1,800,092,564 $6,763,672,381
2005 $1,682,343,527 $6,321,324,279
2004 $1,511,236,656 $5,792,932,838
2003 $1,157,825,435 $5,322,228,351
2002 $775,777,239 $5,223,727,303
2001 $825,706,961 $5,351,752,034
2000 $887,291,688 $5,109,587,050
1999 $912,773,681 $4,856,026,259
1998 $928,460,893 $4,635,347,386
1997 $998,004,259 $4,389,973,490
1996 $946,112,493 $4,308,351,903
1995 $1,001,894,000 $4,140,470,000
1994 $878,250,945 $3,863,185,119
1993 $835,582,062 $1,756,454,248
1992 $831,029,862 $1,792,800,000
1991 $704,325,367 $1,488,804,124
1990 $596,410,264 $1,009,455,484
1989 $495,409,233 $1,013,184,756
1988 $470,395,801 $2,630,900,096
1987 $402,768,324 $3,851,200,118
1986 $318,858,423 $2,885,799,994
1985 $268,629,926 $2,683,699,935
1984 $333,163,670 $3,117,599,872
1983 $386,699,309 $2,753,100,058
1982 $348,741,684 $2,454,499,872
1981 $434,188,034 $2,474,700,227
1980 $431,542,537 $2,144,300,006
1979 $290,134,593 $1,567,599,982
1978 $266,570,067 $2,127,699,979
1977 $193,315,048 $2,226,999,874
1976 $147,660,037 $1,836,899,999
1975 $149,558,896 $1,581,599,959
1974 $150,851,317 $1,521,400,012
1973 $121,188,716 $1,092,900,015
1972 $80,913,200 $878,570,045
1971 $76,480,285 $828,569,953
1970 $68,739,973 $778,569,939
1969 $65,967,974 $750,000,003
1968 $61,445,975 $692,859,985
1967 $59,261,976 $657,140,011
1966 $56,699,977 $607,140,010
1965 $54,879,978 $564,290,020
1964 $51,939,979 $347,119,918
1963 $47,039,981 $297,324,163
1962 $41,859,983 $269,283,804
1961 $35,699,986 $244,144,237
1960 $34,579,986 $227,223,322

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

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

Lesotho and Nicaragua economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Nicaragua
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Nicaragua
2024 $972 $2,848
2023 $916 $2,609
2022 $1,030 $2,323
2021 $1,067 $2,138
2020 $919 $1,938
2019 $1,082 $1,959
2018 $1,171 $2,035
2017 $1,069 $2,183
2016 $992 $2,132
2015 $1,121 $2,074
2014 $1,174 $1,958
2013 $1,151 $1,835
2012 $1,218 $1,785
2011 $1,281 $1,680
2010 $1,119 $1,527
2009 $879 $1,467
2008 $898 $1,524
2007 $861 $1,350
2006 $925 $1,248
2005 $861 $1,183
2004 $767 $1,099
2003 $583 $1,021
2002 $389 $1,014
2001 $413 $1,052
2000 $443 $1,017
1999 $456 $980
1998 $465 $949
1997 $502 $913
1996 $480 $911
1995 $513 $892
1994 $456 $849
1993 $439 $394
1992 $444 $411
1991 $382 $350
1990 $330 $242.5
1989 $279 $249.2
1988 $270.4 $662
1987 $236.5 $992
1986 $191.4 $761
1985 $165.4 $724
1984 $211 $861
1983 $252 $780
1982 $233.9 $714
1981 $299.8 $740
1980 $307 $659
1979 $212.4 $495
1978 $200.8 $691
1977 $149.9 $744
1976 $117.8 $633
1975 $123.2 $561
1974 $128.7 $557
1973 $107 $413
1972 $74 $341
1971 $72.4 $331
1970 $67.4 $321
1969 $67.1 $319
1968 $64.8 $304
1967 $64.8 $297.9
1966 $64.3 $284
1965 $64.3 $272.3
1964 $62.6 $172.7
1963 $58.4 $152.5
1962 $53.5 $142.3
1961 $47 $132.9
1960 $47 $127.5

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

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

Lesotho vs. Nicaragua life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Nicaragua
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Nicaragua
2026 58.6 75.4
2025 58.2 75.3
2024 57.8 75.1
2023 57.4 74.9
2022 56.8 74.5
2021 54.2 70.5
2020 55.1 70.8
2019 55.2 73.8
2018 54.6 73.9
2017 53.9 73.4
2016 52.9 73.2
2015 51.8 72.9
2014 50.8 72.8
2013 49.5 72.6
2012 48.2 72.4
2011 46.9 72
2010 46 71.8
2009 45.1 71.5
2008 44.3 71.4
2007 43.7 71.2
2006 43.2 71
2005 43.6 70.4
2004 44 69.5
2003 44.9 68.7
2002 46 68
2001 47.2 67
2000 48.8 66.4
1999 50.4 65.9
1998 52 64.1
1997 53.7 65.5
1996 55.1 65.2
1995 56.4 64.9
1994 57.3 64.5
1993 58.1 64.1
1992 58.6 63.7
1991 59.1 63.3
1990 59.3 62.5
1989 59.5 61.9
1988 59.6 59.8
1987 59.6 57.3
1986 59.3 57.6
1985 59.2 56.4
1984 59 56.1
1983 58.5 56.9
1982 58 58.7
1981 57.3 58.3
1980 56.5 58
1979 55.8 50.8
1978 55.2 53.5
1977 54.5 56.1
1976 53.9 56.1
1975 53.5 55.8
1974 52.9 55.4
1973 52.6 55
1972 52.3 48
1971 51.8 54.2
1970 51.5 53.8
1969 51.1 53.4
1968 50.8 52.9
1967 50.5 52.3
1966 50.4 51.6
1965 50.3 50.6
1964 50.3 49.6
1963 50.3 48.8
1962 50.3 48
1961 50.3 47.3
1960 50.2 46.4
1959 49.9 46.1
1958 49.6 45.5
1957 49.2 44.9
1956 48.6 44.3
1955 48 43.7
1954 47.3 43.1
1953 46.6 42.4
1952 45.9 41.9
1951 45.2 40.8
1950 44.6 40.6

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

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

Lesotho and Nicaragua population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Nicaragua
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Nicaragua
2024 2,337,423 6,916,140
2023 2,311,472 6,823,613
2022 2,286,110 6,730,654
2021 2,261,542 6,644,741
2020 2,235,727 6,565,267
2019 2,209,405 6,483,657
2018 2,183,603 6,400,080
2017 2,157,110 6,316,231
2016 2,130,422 6,232,666
2015 2,104,611 6,149,417
2014 2,080,089 6,066,492
2013 2,056,504 5,983,845
2012 2,034,354 5,901,287
2011 2,014,009 5,819,051
2010 1,996,251 5,737,450
2009 1,980,883 5,656,601
2008 1,966,541 5,576,593
2007 1,953,268 5,497,243
2006 1,945,063 5,418,855
2005 1,953,076 5,342,105
2004 1,971,129 5,272,912
2003 1,985,059 5,210,963
2002 1,994,679 5,149,909
2001 2,000,853 5,087,825
2000 2,003,913 5,022,633
1999 2,003,234 4,954,018
1998 1,998,049 4,883,655
1997 1,988,130 4,809,573
1996 1,972,418 4,729,974
1995 1,951,437 4,642,931
1994 1,927,707 4,549,316
1993 1,901,793 4,453,732
1992 1,873,274 4,357,026
1991 1,842,379 4,259,637
1990 1,809,696 4,162,559
1989 1,775,436 4,066,476
1988 1,739,841 3,972,320
1987 1,703,390 3,882,164
1986 1,666,138 3,794,157
1985 1,624,379 3,706,479
1984 1,578,986 3,619,104
1983 1,534,413 3,530,282
1982 1,490,732 3,438,745
1981 1,448,069 3,345,674
1980 1,406,521 3,252,403
1979 1,366,169 3,164,525
1978 1,327,240 3,080,314
1977 1,289,967 2,992,534
1976 1,253,214 2,903,851
1975 1,213,643 2,816,943
1974 1,172,420 2,732,075
1973 1,132,697 2,649,278
1972 1,094,063 2,573,578
1971 1,056,246 2,499,825
1970 1,019,273 2,423,065
1969 983,202 2,348,398
1968 948,105 2,275,836
1967 913,982 2,205,567
1966 881,870 2,137,820
1965 854,090 2,072,681
1964 829,437 2,010,176
1963 805,373 1,950,159
1962 781,814 1,892,320
1961 758,824 1,836,451
1960 736,500 1,782,370

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Nicaragua

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Nicaragua
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Nicaragua
2023 2.69 2.22
2022 2.72 2.24
2021 2.77 2.27
2020 2.85 2.3
2019 2.92 2.32
2018 3.02 2.35
2017 3.11 2.38
2016 3.18 2.41
2015 3.22 2.43
2014 3.24 2.46
2013 3.28 2.49
2012 3.3 2.53
2011 3.34 2.56
2010 3.25 2.6
2009 3.31 2.63
2008 3.39 2.66
2007 3.44 2.7
2006 3.41 2.73
2005 3.43 2.77
2004 3.51 2.78
2003 3.62 2.83
2002 3.68 2.89
2001 3.63 3
2000 3.61 3.12
1999 3.67 3.22
1998 3.82 3.34
1997 3.98 3.47
1996 4.06 3.62
1995 4.13 3.78
1994 4.21 3.94
1993 4.37 4.1
1992 4.54 4.27
1991 4.68 4.43
1990 4.81 4.6
1989 4.96 4.76
1988 5.1 4.93
1987 5.22 5.07
1986 5.32 5.22
1985 5.4 5.36
1984 5.48 5.49
1983 5.56 5.61
1982 5.63 5.74
1981 5.69 5.84
1980 5.75 5.96
1979 5.79 6.07
1978 5.82 6.16
1977 5.85 6.28
1976 5.87 6.37
1975 5.83 6.45
1974 5.75 6.52
1973 5.69 6.59
1972 5.69 6.65
1971 5.7 6.71
1970 5.7 6.77
1969 5.7 6.83
1968 5.73 6.89
1967 5.75 6.94
1966 5.76 6.99
1965 5.77 7.03
1964 5.77 7.06
1963 5.78 7.08
1962 5.79 7.1
1961 5.79 7.11
1960 5.78 7.16

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

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

Lesotho and Nicaragua demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

Nicaragua
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho Nicaragua
2024 22.7 26.6
2023 22.5 26.3
2022 22.3 25.9
2021 22.1 25.6
2020 22 25.3
2019 21.8 25
2018 21.7 24.7
2017 21.6 24.3
2016 21.4 24
2015 21.3 23.7
2014 21.2 23.4
2013 21.1 23.1
2012 21 22.8
2011 20.9 22.5
2010 20.7 22.2
2009 20.6 22
2008 20.4 21.7
2007 20.2 21.4
2006 20 21.1
2005 19.9 20.8
2004 19.8 20.4
2003 19.7 20.1
2002 19.5 19.7
2001 19.4 19.4
2000 19.2 19.1
1999 19.1 18.8
1998 18.9 18.4
1997 18.8 18.1
1996 18.6 17.9
1995 18.6 17.6
1994 18.5 17.4
1993 18.4 17.2
1992 18.4 17
1991 18.4 16.8
1990 18.4 16.7
1989 18.5 16.5
1988 18.6 16.4
1987 18.7 16.4
1986 18.6 16.3
1985 18.4 16.3
1984 18.5 16.3
1983 18.6 16.3
1982 18.6 16.2
1981 18.7 16.2
1980 18.8 16.2
1979 18.8 16.2
1978 18.9 16.2
1977 19 16.2
1976 19 16.2
1975 18.9 16.2
1974 18.8 16.2
1973 18.6 16.2
1972 18.5 16.2
1971 18.3 16.1
1970 18.2 16.1
1969 18 16.1
1968 17.8 16
1967 17.6 16
1966 17.5 16
1965 17.5 15.9
1964 17.5 15.9
1963 17.4 15.9
1962 17.4 16
1961 17.4 16.1
1960 17.5 16.2

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Nicaragua
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$17.4B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
27.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
2.87%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
0.55%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
12,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
+2.48%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
5.2%
2018
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
46.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
27.6%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
53.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
37.2%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
2%
2014
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$6.1B
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$5.25B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
474,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
15.2%
1999
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
23.5%
2024

Energy

Lesotho Nicaragua
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
608 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$12.8
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
5.74 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
0.83 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
39.9%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
50.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
17%
2022
Net energy imports use share n/a
46.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
682 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
69.5%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
14.9%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
88.3%
2023

Society

Lesotho Nicaragua
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.09%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
-8,371
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
59.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.2:50.8
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.57 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.1 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
27.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
14
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
23
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
11
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
16.9
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
124
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
82.6%
2015
English speaking
27.9%
2023
1%
2025
People using the Internet
48%
2023
58.2%
2023

Health

Lesotho Nicaragua
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$216.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$81.5
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
75.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
3.41%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
0.68
2018
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
19.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
60
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
13.4
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
34.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
10.4%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
58
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
3.67 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho Nicaragua
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
6,718 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
19,656 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
11,998 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
14,849 mi
2014

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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