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Lesotho vs Norway statistics compared

Updated on by Georank

Lesotho has a population of 2.36M (ranked 143/197), compared with 5.61M 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 ($2.57B) and Norway ranks 32/197 ($531B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 179/197 ($1,089), while Norway ranks 9/197 ($94,594).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Norway
Population
2402837
5660666
Population rank 143/197 119/197
GDP
$2.57B
2025
$531B
2025
GDP rank 175/197 32/197
GDP per capita
$1,089
2025
$94,594
2025
GDP per capita rank 179/197 9/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$102,038
2024
Government debt
$1.26B
2025
$239B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.1%
2025
45%
2025
Government debt per person
$535
2025
$42,567
2025
Government debt per person rank 165/185 15/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,455
2026
$50,036
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 140,645 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
40.2 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.66
2024
1.45
2024
Median age
22.9 years
2025
40.9 years
2025
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
2025 $2,573,572,920 $530,755,719,439
2024 $2,391,282,548 $500,886,328,034
2023 $2,129,871,530 $502,197,633,323
2022 $2,354,980,960 $617,321,834,099
2021 $2,412,130,057 $521,592,200,233
2020 $2,053,699,864 $382,252,517,922
2019 $2,390,702,296 $424,244,886,364
2018 $2,556,247,292 $454,588,871,811
2017 $2,306,741,672 $415,673,181,543
2016 $2,114,426,452 $383,284,047,619
2015 $2,359,686,725 $400,669,174,331
2014 $2,441,063,054 $515,829,568,897
2013 $2,367,112,932 $540,132,255,319
2012 $2,477,702,216 $525,082,939,407
2011 $2,579,409,620 $512,868,581,628
2010 $2,234,754,242 $440,132,138,425
2009 $1,740,894,965 $395,664,488,017
2008 $1,766,902,709 $472,060,283,688
2007 $1,682,131,785 $407,813,774,161
2006 $1,800,092,564 $349,773,283,645
2005 $1,682,343,527 $311,417,306,946
2004 $1,511,236,656 $265,662,977,688
2003 $1,157,825,435 $229,192,678,173
2002 $775,777,239 $195,359,978,957
2001 $825,706,961 $173,590,978,347
2000 $887,291,688 $170,620,327,660
1999 $912,773,681 $161,304,620,987
1998 $928,460,893 $152,955,958,172
1997 $998,004,259 $160,013,571,974
1996 $946,112,493 $162,427,517,132
1995 $1,001,894,000 $151,083,627,983
1994 $878,250,945 $126,324,387,894
1993 $835,582,062 $119,841,699,440
1992 $831,029,862 $129,998,873,602
1991 $704,325,367 $121,149,331,318
1990 $596,410,264 $119,344,377,526
1989 $495,409,233 $102,226,808,603
1988 $470,395,801 $101,497,621,605
1987 $402,768,324 $93,913,320,965
1986 $318,858,423 $78,438,205,742
1985 $268,629,926 $65,211,464,198
1984 $333,163,670 $61,866,078,539
1983 $386,699,309 $61,417,685,434
1982 $348,741,684 $62,453,362,256
1981 $434,188,034 $63,392,804,251
1980 $431,542,537 $64,176,789,764
1979 $290,134,593 $52,935,763,512
1978 $266,570,067 $46,355,988,784
1977 $193,315,048 $41,362,637,363
1976 $147,660,037 $35,815,449,464
1975 $149,558,896 $32,742,543,381
1974 $150,851,317 $27,033,413,362
1973 $121,188,716 $22,433,660,550
1972 $80,913,200 $17,283,931,878
1971 $76,480,285 $14,523,306,736
1970 $68,739,973 $12,753,503,479
1969 $65,967,974 $11,083,505,596
1968 $61,445,975 $10,178,705,992
1967 $59,261,976 $9,532,076,026
1966 $56,699,977 $8,712,528,095
1965 $54,879,978 $8,073,570,566
1964 $51,939,979 $7,172,430,304
1963 $47,039,981 $6,522,268,053
1962 $41,859,983 $6,078,186,245
1961 $35,699,986 $5,642,867,672
1960 $34,579,986 $5,172,811,442

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Lesotho and Norway economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Norway
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Norway
2025 $1,089 $94,594
2024 $1,023 $89,889
2023 $921 $90,984
2022 $1,030 $113,122
2021 $1,067 $96,443
2020 $919 $71,058
2019 $1,082 $79,329
2018 $1,171 $85,579
2017 $1,069 $78,771
2016 $992 $73,222
2015 $1,121 $77,221
2014 $1,174 $100,410
2013 $1,151 $106,333
2012 $1,218 $104,628
2011 $1,281 $103,545
2010 $1,119 $90,020
2009 $879 $81,940
2008 $898 $99,002
2007 $861 $86,600
2006 $925 $75,048
2005 $861 $67,358
2004 $767 $57,855
2003 $583 $50,208
2002 $389 $43,048
2001 $413 $38,458
2000 $443 $37,992
1999 $456 $36,151
1998 $465 $34,516
1997 $502 $36,324
1996 $480 $37,073
1995 $513 $34,659
1994 $456 $29,130
1993 $439 $27,793
1992 $444 $30,328
1991 $382 $28,427
1990 $330 $28,137
1989 $279 $24,185
1988 $270.4 $24,112
1987 $236.5 $22,430
1986 $191.4 $18,822
1985 $165.4 $15,704
1984 $211 $14,943
1983 $252 $14,877
1982 $233.9 $15,178
1981 $299.8 $15,463
1980 $307 $15,708
1979 $212.4 $12,998
1978 $200.8 $11,421
1977 $149.9 $10,230
1976 $117.8 $8,896
1975 $123.2 $8,171
1974 $128.7 $6,783
1973 $107 $5,664
1972 $74 $4,395
1971 $72.4 $3,721
1970 $67.4 $3,291
1969 $67.1 $2,881
1968 $64.8 $2,667
1967 $64.8 $2,519
1966 $64.3 $2,321
1965 $64.3 $2,168
1964 $62.6 $1,941
1963 $58.4 $1,779
1962 $53.5 $1,670
1961 $47 $1,563
1960 $47 $1,444

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 2026-07-08).

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

Lesotho and Norway population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Norway
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Norway
2025 2,363,325 5,610,870
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Norway

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Norway
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Norway
2024 2.66 1.45
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Lesotho and Norway demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

Norway
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho Norway
2025 22.9 40.9
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Norway
GNI, Atlas method
$3.03B
2025
$546B
2025
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.2%
2025
49.6%
2025
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
5.43%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
2.09%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
25,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+2.15%
2025
+9.34%
2025
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
4.5%
2025
Services, % of GDP
55.6%
2025
55%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
25.2%
2025
34.5%
2025
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
7.95%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
17
2026
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0004%
2026
Listed domestic companies n/a
180
2017
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$296B
2019
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$85.5B
2025
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
4,775 kg
2024
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$21.4
2024
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
50%
2024
Net energy imports use share n/a
-704%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
23,673 kWh
2024
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
99.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
88.9%
2024
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Lesotho Norway
% of world population
0.03%
2025
0.07%
2025
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
+29,798
2025
Urban population
44.7%
2025
83.6%
2025
Male:Female ratio
48.8:51.2
2025
50.4:49.6
2025
Average male height
5.48 ft
2026
5.92 ft
2026
Average female height
5.17 ft
2026
5.46 ft
2026
Quality of life index
13.7
2026
95
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
81
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
93
2026
Homicides per 100K people
38.2
2008
0.73
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
2.1
2019
Visa free countries
80
2026
174
2026
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
95%
2013
English speaking
27.9%
2026
87.6%
2026
People using the Internet
51.8%
2024
99%
2024

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
30.2 years
2024
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
1
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
60
2024
2.5
2024
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
28%
2024
12.9%
2024
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
4,960 sq mi
2025
25,067 sq mi
2025
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 (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  10. Passport Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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