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Lesotho vs Norway statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 5.57M in Norway (ranked 118/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 140,645 sq mi for Norway (ranked 137th vs. 62nd).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and Norway ranks 32/197 ($484B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while Norway ranks 8/197 ($86,785).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Norway
Population
2396633
5671119
Population rank 143/197 119/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$484B
2024
GDP rank 175/197 32/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$86,785
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 8/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$102,038
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$207B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
42.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$37,074
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 17/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$49,765
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 140,645 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
40.3 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
1.4
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
40.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
83.8 years
2026

Lesotho and Norway: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Norway economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Norway
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Norway
2024 $2,271,759,455 $483,592,648,313
2023 $2,117,962,445 $482,949,731,777
2022 $2,354,980,960 $596,297,651,036
2021 $2,412,130,057 $503,367,986,030
2020 $2,053,699,864 $367,633,418,887
2019 $2,390,702,296 $408,742,840,909
2018 $2,556,247,292 $439,788,625,884
2017 $2,306,741,672 $401,745,275,035
2016 $2,114,426,452 $370,956,547,619
2015 $2,359,686,725 $388,159,512,246
2014 $2,441,063,054 $501,736,471,833
2013 $2,367,112,932 $526,014,468,085
2012 $2,477,702,216 $512,777,309,841
2011 $2,579,409,620 $501,360,549,669
2010 $2,234,754,242 $431,052,143,940
2009 $1,740,894,965 $387,976,400,617
2008 $1,766,902,709 $464,917,553,191
2007 $1,682,131,785 $402,643,260,488
2006 $1,800,092,564 $346,915,160,682
2005 $1,682,343,527 $309,978,579,744
2004 $1,511,236,656 $265,268,662,473
2003 $1,157,825,435 $229,385,469,337
2002 $775,777,239 $195,914,852,576
2001 $825,706,961 $174,239,354,071
2000 $887,291,688 $171,457,201,936
1999 $912,773,681 $162,383,706,021
1998 $928,460,893 $154,230,295,158
1997 $998,004,259 $161,356,631,888
1996 $946,112,493 $163,520,109,151
1995 $1,001,894,000 $152,029,612,325
1994 $878,250,945 $127,131,319,429
1993 $835,582,062 $120,579,213,713
1992 $831,029,862 $130,838,040,068
1991 $704,325,367 $121,872,464,483
1990 $596,410,264 $119,791,843,060
1989 $495,409,233 $102,633,934,391
1988 $470,395,801 $101,900,260,856
1987 $402,768,324 $94,229,907,236
1986 $318,858,423 $78,693,118,044
1985 $268,629,926 $65,416,879,914
1984 $333,163,670 $62,057,955,033
1983 $386,699,309 $61,627,240,831
1982 $348,741,684 $62,647,195,538
1981 $434,188,034 $63,596,654,761
1980 $431,542,537 $64,439,382,896
1979 $290,134,593 $53,132,244,624
1978 $266,570,067 $46,522,900,254
1977 $193,315,048 $41,508,030,431
1976 $147,660,037 $35,942,270,686
1975 $149,558,896 $32,877,805,200
1974 $150,851,317 $27,145,693,810
1973 $121,188,716 $22,534,253,703
1972 $80,913,200 $17,358,610,850
1971 $76,480,285 $14,583,114,840
1970 $68,739,973 $12,814,123,115
1969 $65,967,974 $11,136,187,440
1968 $61,445,975 $10,227,087,165
1967 $59,261,976 $9,577,383,653
1966 $56,699,977 $8,753,940,267
1965 $54,879,978 $8,111,945,661
1964 $51,939,979 $7,206,522,122
1963 $47,039,981 $6,553,269,536
1962 $41,859,983 $6,107,076,929
1961 $35,699,986 $5,669,689,210
1960 $34,579,986 $5,197,398,721

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

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

Lesotho and Norway economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Norway
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Norway
2024 $972 $86,785
2023 $916 $87,497
2022 $1,030 $109,270
2021 $1,067 $93,073
2020 $919 $68,340
2019 $1,082 $76,431
2018 $1,171 $82,793
2017 $1,069 $76,132
2016 $992 $70,867
2015 $1,121 $74,810
2014 $1,174 $97,667
2013 $1,151 $103,554
2012 $1,218 $102,176
2011 $1,281 $101,222
2010 $1,119 $88,163
2009 $879 $80,348
2008 $898 $97,504
2007 $861 $85,502
2006 $925 $74,434
2005 $861 $67,047
2004 $767 $57,769
2003 $583 $50,250
2002 $389 $43,171
2001 $413 $38,602
2000 $443 $38,178
1999 $456 $36,393
1998 $465 $34,803
1997 $502 $36,629
1996 $480 $37,322
1995 $513 $34,876
1994 $456 $29,316
1993 $439 $27,964
1992 $444 $30,524
1991 $382 $28,597
1990 $330 $28,243
1989 $279 $24,281
1988 $270.4 $24,207
1987 $236.5 $22,506
1986 $191.4 $18,883
1985 $165.4 $15,754
1984 $211 $14,989
1983 $252 $14,928
1982 $233.9 $15,225
1981 $299.8 $15,513
1980 $307 $15,772
1979 $212.4 $13,047
1978 $200.8 $11,463
1977 $149.9 $10,266
1976 $117.8 $8,927
1975 $123.2 $8,204
1974 $128.7 $6,812
1973 $107 $5,690
1972 $74 $4,414
1971 $72.4 $3,736
1970 $67.4 $3,306
1969 $67.1 $2,894
1968 $64.8 $2,680
1967 $64.8 $2,531
1966 $64.3 $2,333
1965 $64.3 $2,179
1964 $62.6 $1,951
1963 $58.4 $1,787
1962 $53.5 $1,678
1961 $47 $1,571
1960 $47 $1,451

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

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

Lesotho vs. Norway life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Norway
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Norway
2026 58.6 83.8
2025 58.2 83.6
2024 57.8 83.5
2023 57.4 83.3
2022 56.8 82.6
2021 54.2 83.2
2020 55.1 83.2
2019 55.2 83
2018 54.6 82.8
2017 53.9 82.6
2016 52.9 82.4
2015 51.8 82.3
2014 50.8 82.1
2013 49.5 81.7
2012 48.2 81.4
2011 46.9 81.2
2010 46 81
2009 45.1 80.9
2008 44.3 80.7
2007 43.7 80.5
2006 43.2 80.4
2005 43.6 80.2
2004 44 80
2003 44.9 79.5
2002 46 79
2001 47.2 78.9
2000 48.8 78.7
1999 50.4 78.4
1998 52 78.4
1997 53.7 78.2
1996 55.1 78.2
1995 56.4 77.8
1994 57.3 77.8
1993 58.1 77.2
1992 58.6 77.2
1991 59.1 77
1990 59.3 76.6
1989 59.5 76.5
1988 59.6 76.3
1987 59.6 76.1
1986 59.3 76.3
1985 59.2 75.9
1984 59 76.2
1983 58.5 76.1
1982 58 76
1981 57.3 75.9
1980 56.5 75.7
1979 55.8 75.4
1978 55.2 75.4
1977 54.5 75.4
1976 53.9 75
1975 53.5 74.8
1974 52.9 74.8
1973 52.6 74.4
1972 52.3 74.3
1971 51.8 74.2
1970 51.5 74.1
1969 51.1 73.7
1968 50.8 73.9
1967 50.5 74.1
1966 50.4 74
1965 50.3 73.7
1964 50.3 73.6
1963 50.3 73.1
1962 50.3 73.5
1961 50.3 73.6
1960 50.2 73.6
1959 49.9 73.6
1958 49.6 73.4
1957 49.2 73.4
1956 48.6 73.5
1955 48 73.4
1954 47.3 73.2
1953 46.6 73.1
1952 45.9 72.7
1951 45.2 72.5
1950 44.6 71.6

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

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

Lesotho and Norway population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Norway
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Norway
2024 2,337,423 5,572,279
2023 2,311,472 5,519,601
2022 2,286,110 5,457,127
2021 2,261,542 5,408,320
2020 2,235,727 5,379,475
2019 2,209,405 5,347,896
2018 2,183,603 5,311,916
2017 2,157,110 5,276,968
2016 2,130,422 5,234,519
2015 2,104,611 5,188,607
2014 2,080,089 5,137,232
2013 2,056,504 5,079,623
2012 2,034,354 5,018,573
2011 2,014,009 4,953,088
2010 1,996,251 4,889,252
2009 1,980,883 4,828,726
2008 1,966,541 4,768,212
2007 1,953,268 4,709,153
2006 1,945,063 4,660,677
2005 1,953,076 4,623,291
2004 1,971,129 4,591,910
2003 1,985,059 4,564,855
2002 1,994,679 4,538,159
2001 2,000,853 4,513,751
2000 2,003,913 4,490,967
1999 2,003,234 4,461,913
1998 1,998,049 4,431,464
1997 1,988,130 4,405,157
1996 1,972,418 4,381,336
1995 1,951,437 4,359,184
1994 1,927,707 4,336,613
1993 1,901,793 4,311,991
1992 1,873,274 4,286,401
1991 1,842,379 4,261,732
1990 1,809,696 4,241,473
1989 1,775,436 4,226,901
1988 1,739,841 4,209,488
1987 1,703,390 4,186,905
1986 1,666,138 4,167,354
1985 1,624,379 4,152,516
1984 1,578,986 4,140,099
1983 1,534,413 4,128,432
1982 1,490,732 4,114,787
1981 1,448,069 4,099,702
1980 1,406,521 4,085,620
1979 1,366,169 4,072,517
1978 1,327,240 4,058,671
1977 1,289,967 4,043,205
1976 1,253,214 4,026,152
1975 1,213,643 4,007,313
1974 1,172,420 3,985,258
1973 1,132,697 3,960,612
1972 1,094,063 3,933,004
1971 1,056,246 3,903,039
1970 1,019,273 3,875,763
1969 983,202 3,847,707
1968 948,105 3,816,486
1967 913,982 3,784,539
1966 881,870 3,753,012
1965 854,090 3,723,168
1964 829,437 3,694,339
1963 805,373 3,666,537
1962 781,814 3,638,918
1961 758,824 3,609,800
1960 736,500 3,581,239

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Norway

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Norway
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Norway
2023 2.69 1.4
2022 2.72 1.41
2021 2.77 1.55
2020 2.85 1.48
2019 2.92 1.53
2018 3.02 1.56
2017 3.11 1.62
2016 3.18 1.71
2015 3.22 1.72
2014 3.24 1.75
2013 3.28 1.78
2012 3.3 1.85
2011 3.34 1.88
2010 3.25 1.95
2009 3.31 1.98
2008 3.39 1.96
2007 3.44 1.9
2006 3.41 1.9
2005 3.43 1.84
2004 3.51 1.83
2003 3.62 1.8
2002 3.68 1.75
2001 3.63 1.78
2000 3.61 1.85
1999 3.67 1.85
1998 3.82 1.81
1997 3.98 1.86
1996 4.06 1.89
1995 4.13 1.87
1994 4.21 1.87
1993 4.37 1.86
1992 4.54 1.88
1991 4.68 1.92
1990 4.81 1.93
1989 4.96 1.89
1988 5.1 1.84
1987 5.22 1.74
1986 5.32 1.71
1985 5.4 1.68
1984 5.48 1.66
1983 5.56 1.66
1982 5.63 1.71
1981 5.69 1.7
1980 5.75 1.72
1979 5.79 1.75
1978 5.82 1.77
1977 5.85 1.75
1976 5.87 1.86
1975 5.83 1.98
1974 5.75 2.13
1973 5.69 2.23
1972 5.69 2.38
1971 5.7 2.49
1970 5.7 2.5
1969 5.7 2.7
1968 5.73 2.75
1967 5.75 2.81
1966 5.76 2.9
1965 5.77 2.94
1964 5.77 2.98
1963 5.78 2.93
1962 5.79 2.91
1961 5.79 2.94
1960 5.78 2.85

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

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

Lesotho and Norway demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

Norway
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho Norway
2024 22.7 40.7
2023 22.5 40.5
2022 22.3 40.4
2021 22.1 40.3
2020 22 40
2019 21.8 39.8
2018 21.7 39.6
2017 21.6 39.4
2016 21.4 39.3
2015 21.3 39.2
2014 21.2 39
2013 21.1 38.9
2012 21 38.8
2011 20.9 38.7
2010 20.7 38.6
2009 20.6 38.5
2008 20.4 38.4
2007 20.2 38.3
2006 20 38.1
2005 19.9 37.9
2004 19.8 37.7
2003 19.7 37.5
2002 19.5 37.3
2001 19.4 37.1
2000 19.2 36.9
1999 19.1 36.7
1998 18.9 36.5
1997 18.8 36.4
1996 18.6 36.2
1995 18.6 36.1
1994 18.5 35.9
1993 18.4 35.8
1992 18.4 35.7
1991 18.4 35.5
1990 18.4 35.4
1989 18.5 35.2
1988 18.6 35.1
1987 18.7 34.9
1986 18.6 34.8
1985 18.4 34.6
1984 18.5 34.4
1983 18.6 34.1
1982 18.6 33.9
1981 18.7 33.6
1980 18.8 33.3
1979 18.8 33.1
1978 18.9 32.9
1977 19 32.7
1976 19 32.6
1975 18.9 32.5
1974 18.8 32.4
1973 18.6 32.4
1972 18.5 32.5
1971 18.3 32.7
1970 18.2 32.9
1969 18 33.2
1968 17.8 33.5
1967 17.6 33.7
1966 17.5 33.9
1965 17.5 34.1
1964 17.5 34.2
1963 17.4 34.3
1962 17.4 34.4
1961 17.4 34.4
1960 17.5 34.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Norway
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$547B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
48.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
5.46%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
2.09%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
25,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
+13.2%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
3.98%
2024
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
51.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
37%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
78.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
21.6%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
3.6%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
348,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
8.03%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
17
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0004%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
180
2017
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$296B
2019
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$81.2B
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$947M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
1,397,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
1.86%
2020
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
98.6%
2024

Energy

Lesotho Norway
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
4,885 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$21.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
40 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
7.18 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
46.3%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
61.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
48.2%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
-704%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
23,520 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
99.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
89.1%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Lesotho Norway
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.07%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
+29,798
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
83.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
50.4:49.6
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.92 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.46 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
94.8
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
81
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
93
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
0.73
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
2.1
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
95%
2013
English speaking
27.9%
2023
87.6%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
99%
2023

Health

Lesotho Norway
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$8,296
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$1,136
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
83.8 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
4.97
2023
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
30.1 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
1
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
2.4
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
19.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
4.8%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
87
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
14.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
7.38 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho Norway
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.24%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
25,240 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
3,792 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
47,118 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
60,737 mi
2025

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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