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Lesotho vs Nigeria statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 233M in Nigeria (ranked 6/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 351,650 sq mi for Nigeria (ranked 137th vs. 30th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and Nigeria ranks 54/197 ($252B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while Nigeria ranks 174/197 ($1,084).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Nigeria
Population
2396633
243824469
Population rank 143/197 6/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$252B
2024
GDP rank 175/197 54/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$1,084
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 174/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$9,087
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$99.2B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
39.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$426
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 170/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$1,104
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 351,650 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
690 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
4.48
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
19 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
55 years
2026

Lesotho and Nigeria: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Nigeria economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Nigeria
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Nigeria
2024 $2,271,759,455 $252,261,880,141
2023 $2,117,962,445 $487,387,801,881
2022 $2,354,980,960 $646,950,257,578
2021 $2,412,130,057 $609,147,716,973
2020 $2,053,699,864 $598,586,817,819
2019 $2,390,702,296 $668,219,992,691
2018 $2,556,247,292 $421,739,251,509
2017 $2,306,741,672 $375,745,731,053
2016 $2,114,426,452 $404,649,125,252
2015 $2,359,686,725 $493,026,682,801
2014 $2,441,063,054 $574,183,763,412
2013 $2,367,112,932 $520,117,180,314
2012 $2,477,702,216 $463,971,018,239
2011 $2,579,409,620 $414,466,676,831
2010 $2,234,754,242 $366,990,417,129
2009 $1,740,894,965 $295,008,835,381
2008 $1,766,902,709 $339,476,276,258
2007 $1,682,131,785 $278,260,846,800
2006 $1,800,092,564 $238,454,997,161
2005 $1,682,343,527 $175,670,569,969
2004 $1,511,236,656 $135,764,731,646
2003 $1,157,825,435 $104,738,954,264
2002 $775,777,239 $95,054,059,303
2001 $825,706,961 $73,557,840,064
2000 $887,291,688 $69,171,451,627
1999 $912,773,681 $59,145,077,039
1998 $928,460,893 $218,416,200,673
1997 $998,004,259 $200,850,397,618
1996 $946,112,493 $185,730,236,700
1995 $1,001,894,000 $140,919,776,986
1994 $878,250,945 $80,399,613,064
1993 $835,582,062 $56,721,051,402
1992 $831,029,862 $52,058,181,854
1991 $704,325,367 $59,526,833,412
1990 $596,410,264 $54,035,795,388
1989 $495,409,233 $44,003,061,108
1988 $470,395,801 $49,648,470,440
1987 $402,768,324 $52,676,041,931
1986 $318,858,423 $54,805,852,581
1985 $268,629,926 $73,745,821,158
1984 $333,163,670 $73,484,359,521
1983 $386,699,309 $97,094,911,792
1982 $348,741,684 $142,769,363,314
1981 $434,188,034 $164,475,209,516
1980 $431,542,537 $64,201,788,123
1979 $290,134,593 $47,259,911,894
1978 $266,570,067 $36,527,862,209
1977 $193,315,048 $36,035,407,725
1976 $147,660,037 $36,308,883,249
1975 $149,558,896 $27,778,934,625
1974 $150,851,317 $24,846,641,318
1973 $121,188,716 $15,162,871,287
1972 $80,913,200 $12,274,416,018
1971 $76,480,285 $9,181,769,912
1970 $68,739,973 $12,546,094,982
1969 $65,967,974 $6,634,317,346
1968 $61,445,975 $5,200,997,920
1967 $59,261,976 $5,203,237,919
1966 $56,699,977 $6,366,917,453
1965 $54,879,978 $5,874,537,650
1964 $51,939,979 $5,552,931,319
1963 $47,039,981 $5,165,590,254
1962 $41,859,983 $4,909,399,176
1961 $35,699,986 $4,467,287,893
1960 $34,579,986 $4,196,174,502

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

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

Lesotho and Nigeria economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Nigeria
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Nigeria
2024 $972 $1,084
2023 $916 $2,139
2022 $1,030 $2,899
2021 $1,067 $2,787
2020 $919 $2,797
2019 $1,082 $3,190
2018 $1,171 $2,058
2017 $1,069 $1,876
2016 $992 $2,070
2015 $1,121 $2,586
2014 $1,174 $3,089
2013 $1,151 $2,873
2012 $1,218 $2,633
2011 $1,281 $2,418
2010 $1,119 $2,202
2009 $879 $1,820
2008 $898 $2,154
2007 $861 $1,816
2006 $925 $1,600
2005 $861 $1,211
2004 $767 $962
2003 $583 $763
2002 $389 $712
2001 $413 $566
2000 $443 $547
1999 $456 $481
1998 $465 $1,822
1997 $502 $1,720
1996 $480 $1,633
1995 $513 $1,272
1994 $456 $745
1993 $439 $540
1992 $444 $509
1991 $382 $597
1990 $330 $556
1989 $279 $465
1988 $270.4 $540
1987 $236.5 $588
1986 $191.4 $628
1985 $165.4 $869
1984 $211 $890
1983 $252 $1,207
1982 $233.9 $1,822
1981 $299.8 $2,162
1980 $307 $870
1979 $212.4 $661
1978 $200.8 $527
1977 $149.9 $536
1976 $117.8 $556
1975 $123.2 $438
1974 $128.7 $403
1973 $107 $252.4
1972 $74 $209.5
1971 $72.4 $160.5
1970 $67.4 $224.5
1969 $67.1 $121.4
1968 $64.8 $97.3
1967 $64.8 $99.5
1966 $64.3 $124.4
1965 $64.3 $117.3
1964 $62.6 $113.3
1963 $58.4 $107.7
1962 $53.5 $104.5
1961 $47 $97.1
1960 $47 $93.1

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

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

Lesotho vs. Nigeria life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Nigeria
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Nigeria
2026 58.6 55
2025 58.2 54.8
2024 57.8 54.6
2023 57.4 54.5
2022 56.8 54.1
2021 54.2 53.5
2020 55.1 53.1
2019 55.2 53
2018 54.6 52.7
2017 53.9 52.4
2016 52.9 52.2
2015 51.8 51.9
2014 50.8 51.9
2013 49.5 51.8
2012 48.2 51.7
2011 46.9 51.5
2010 46 51.3
2009 45.1 51.1
2008 44.3 50.7
2007 43.7 50.4
2006 43.2 49.9
2005 43.6 49.5
2004 44 49.1
2003 44.9 48.6
2002 46 48
2001 47.2 47.5
2000 48.8 47.1
1999 50.4 46.6
1998 52 46.1
1997 53.7 46
1996 55.1 45.8
1995 56.4 45.9
1994 57.3 45.7
1993 58.1 45.8
1992 58.6 45.6
1991 59.1 45.5
1990 59.3 45.7
1989 59.5 45.8
1988 59.6 45.8
1987 59.6 45.9
1986 59.3 46
1985 59.2 46.2
1984 59 46.3
1983 58.5 46.4
1982 58 46.4
1981 57.3 46.3
1980 56.5 46
1979 55.8 45.7
1978 55.2 45.3
1977 54.5 44.8
1976 53.9 44.2
1975 53.5 43.1
1974 52.9 42.5
1973 52.6 41.8
1972 52.3 41.3
1971 51.8 40.6
1970 51.5 40
1969 51.1 38.9
1968 50.8 38.6
1967 50.5 37.5
1966 50.4 38.4
1965 50.3 38.2
1964 50.3 38
1963 50.3 37.8
1962 50.3 37.6
1961 50.3 37.4
1960 50.2 37.2
1959 49.9 37
1958 49.6 36.8
1957 49.2 36.6
1956 48.6 36.5
1955 48 36.3
1954 47.3 36.2
1953 46.6 36
1952 45.9 35.9
1951 45.2 35.7
1950 44.6 35.5

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

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

Lesotho and Nigeria population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Nigeria
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Nigeria
2024 2,337,423 232,679,478
2023 2,311,472 227,882,945
2022 2,286,110 223,150,896
2021 2,261,542 218,529,286
2020 2,235,727 213,996,181
2019 2,209,405 209,485,641
2018 2,183,603 204,938,755
2017 2,157,110 200,254,579
2016 2,130,422 195,443,700
2015 2,104,611 190,671,878
2014 2,080,089 185,896,915
2013 2,056,504 181,049,443
2012 2,034,354 176,200,625
2011 2,014,009 171,379,598
2010 1,996,251 166,642,886
2009 1,980,883 162,049,464
2008 1,966,541 157,595,014
2007 1,953,268 153,267,261
2006 1,945,063 149,077,334
2005 1,953,076 145,017,253
2004 1,971,129 141,057,045
2003 1,985,059 137,202,644
2002 1,994,679 133,471,989
2001 2,000,853 129,862,595
2000 2,003,913 126,382,494
1999 2,003,234 123,047,320
1998 1,998,049 119,846,254
1997 1,988,130 116,754,792
1996 1,972,418 113,754,779
1995 1,951,437 110,819,428
1994 1,927,707 107,935,714
1993 1,901,793 105,122,069
1992 1,873,274 102,372,770
1991 1,842,379 99,720,162
1990 1,809,696 97,120,925
1989 1,775,436 94,531,014
1988 1,739,841 92,020,090
1987 1,703,390 89,591,716
1986 1,666,138 87,235,953
1985 1,624,379 84,897,973
1984 1,578,986 82,526,443
1983 1,534,413 80,438,260
1982 1,490,732 78,378,701
1981 1,448,069 76,068,103
1980 1,406,521 73,764,641
1979 1,366,169 71,498,242
1978 1,327,240 69,326,532
1977 1,289,967 67,234,590
1976 1,253,214 65,258,009
1975 1,213,643 63,410,815
1974 1,172,420 61,679,144
1973 1,132,697 60,082,139
1972 1,094,063 58,601,748
1971 1,056,246 57,214,684
1970 1,019,273 55,893,838
1969 983,202 54,631,914
1968 948,105 53,432,783
1967 913,982 52,293,065
1966 881,870 51,188,234
1965 854,090 50,086,764
1964 829,437 49,012,016
1963 805,373 47,973,575
1962 781,814 46,965,292
1961 758,824 45,989,310
1960 736,500 45,053,782

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Nigeria

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Nigeria
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Nigeria
2023 2.69 4.48
2022 2.72 4.55
2021 2.77 4.64
2020 2.85 4.7
2019 2.92 4.86
2018 3.02 5.02
2017 3.11 5.18
2016 3.18 5.34
2015 3.22 5.5
2014 3.24 5.62
2013 3.28 5.69
2012 3.3 5.8
2011 3.34 5.89
2010 3.25 5.95
2009 3.31 5.99
2008 3.39 6.02
2007 3.44 6.03
2006 3.41 6.05
2005 3.43 6.06
2004 3.51 6.09
2003 3.62 6.1
2002 3.68 6.12
2001 3.63 6.13
2000 3.61 6.12
1999 3.67 6.08
1998 3.82 6.07
1997 3.98 6.14
1996 4.06 6.22
1995 4.13 6.27
1994 4.21 6.32
1993 4.37 6.35
1992 4.54 6.39
1991 4.68 6.43
1990 4.81 6.46
1989 4.96 6.49
1988 5.1 6.5
1987 5.22 6.5
1986 5.32 6.56
1985 5.4 6.62
1984 5.48 6.7
1983 5.56 6.78
1982 5.63 6.8
1981 5.69 6.82
1980 5.75 6.85
1979 5.79 6.89
1978 5.82 6.92
1977 5.85 6.86
1976 5.87 6.81
1975 5.83 6.77
1974 5.75 6.7
1973 5.69 6.63
1972 5.69 6.58
1971 5.7 6.53
1970 5.7 6.47
1969 5.7 6.44
1968 5.73 6.42
1967 5.75 6.4
1966 5.76 6.39
1965 5.77 6.37
1964 5.77 6.36
1963 5.78 6.35
1962 5.79 6.36
1961 5.79 6.35
1960 5.78 6.36

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

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

Lesotho and Nigeria demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

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

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Nigeria
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$396B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
12.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
0.32%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
0.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
223,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-1.57%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
3.45%
2024
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
53.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
18.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
54.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
26.3%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
3%
2022
Number of billionaires n/a
4
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.000004%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
169
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$54.4B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$38.6B
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$21.3B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
5,265,000
2016
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
0.8%
2020
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
63.3%
2024

Energy

Lesotho Nigeria
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
333 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$24.9
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
131.9 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
0.57 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
55.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
80.3%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
1.08%
2022
Net energy imports use share n/a
-66.3%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
135.6 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
23.8%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
24.3%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
61.2%
2023

Society

Lesotho Nigeria
% of world population
0.03%
2024
2.86%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
-15,258
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
63%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
50.6:49.4
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.63 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.19 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
15.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
26
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
57
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
21.7
2019
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
20.7
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
52
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
70.4%
2024
English speaking
27.9%
2023
60.6%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
39.2%
2023

Health

Lesotho Nigeria
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$66.8
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$48
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
55 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
11.3%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
0.38
2023
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
20.4 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
993
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
104.9
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
12.8%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
3%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
8
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
3.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
3.78 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho Nigeria
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.61%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
1,511 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
267,948 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
81,611 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
121,167 mi
2017

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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