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Lesotho vs Palau statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 17.7K in Palau (ranked 194/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 177.6 sq mi for Palau (ranked 137th vs. 180th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and Palau ranks 194/197 ($277M). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while Palau ranks 67/197 ($15,611).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Palau
Population
2396633
17629
Population rank 143/197 194/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$277M
2023
GDP rank 175/197 194/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$15,611
2023
GDP per capita rank 181/197 67/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$18,230
2023
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$552
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 164/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$9,869
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 177.6 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
99.3 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
1.91
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
39.2 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
69.6 years
2026

Lesotho and Palau: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Palau economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Palau
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Palau
2024 $2,271,759,455 -
2023 $2,117,962,445 $276,733,063
2022 $2,354,980,960 $243,826,813
2021 $2,412,130,057 $231,343,460
2020 $2,053,699,864 $261,688,507
2019 $2,390,702,296 $282,041,290
2018 $2,556,247,292 $287,998,352
2017 $2,306,741,672 $292,148,590
2016 $2,114,426,452 $305,227,020
2015 $2,359,686,725 $287,057,526
2014 $2,441,063,054 $245,591,095
2013 $2,367,112,932 $224,110,611
2012 $2,477,702,216 $215,616,882
2011 $2,579,409,620 $198,742,371
2010 $2,234,754,242 $188,042,374
2009 $1,740,894,965 $189,854,706
2008 $1,766,902,709 $201,067,734
2007 $1,682,131,785 $200,789,764
2006 $1,800,092,564 $193,611,359
2005 $1,682,343,527 $190,961,685
2004 $1,511,236,656 $166,363,739
2003 $1,157,825,435 $154,566,788
2002 $775,777,239 $162,658,722
2001 $825,706,961 $159,446,228
2000 $887,291,688 $149,551,483
1999 $912,773,681 $144,206,500
1998 $928,460,893 $149,079,600
1997 $998,004,259 $143,860,800
1996 $946,112,493 $137,494,600
1995 $1,001,894,000 $121,018,500
1994 $878,250,945 $106,138,500
1993 $835,582,062 $96,455,700
1992 $831,029,862 $104,771,300
1991 $704,325,367 $106,555,300
1990 $596,410,264 $97,702,303
1989 $495,409,233 $85,800,543
1988 $470,395,801 $75,348,615
1987 $402,768,324 $66,169,905
1986 $318,858,423 $58,109,314
1985 $268,629,926 $51,030,637
1984 $333,163,670 $44,814,259
1983 $386,699,309 $39,661,530
1982 $348,741,684 $36,027,583
1981 $434,188,034 $32,726,594
1980 $431,542,537 $29,728,054
1979 $290,134,593 $27,004,251
1978 $266,570,067 $24,530,015
1977 $193,315,048 $22,308,104
1976 $147,660,037 $20,364,420
1975 $149,558,896 $18,521,112
1974 $150,851,317 $16,848,759
1973 $121,188,716 $15,331,889
1972 $80,913,200 $13,956,474
1971 $76,480,285 $12,706,874
1970 $68,739,973 $11,563,041
1969 $65,967,974 -
1968 $61,445,975 -
1967 $59,261,976 -
1966 $56,699,977 -
1965 $54,879,978 -
1964 $51,939,979 -
1963 $47,039,981 -
1962 $41,859,983 -
1961 $35,699,986 -
1960 $34,579,986 -

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

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

Lesotho and Palau economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Palau
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Palau
2024 $972 -
2023 $916 $15,611
2022 $1,030 $13,730
2021 $1,067 $13,009
2020 $919 $14,708
2019 $1,082 $15,847
2018 $1,171 $16,167
2017 $1,069 $16,402
2016 $992 $17,150
2015 $1,121 $16,154
2014 $1,174 $13,863
2013 $1,151 $12,699
2012 $1,218 $12,137
2011 $1,281 $10,994
2010 $1,119 $10,222
2009 $879 $10,148
2008 $898 $10,578
2007 $861 $10,403
2006 $925 $9,882
2005 $861 $9,635
2004 $767 $8,394
2003 $583 $7,862
2002 $389 $8,340
2001 $413 $8,239
2000 $443 $7,798
1999 $456 $7,630
1998 $465 $8,048
1997 $502 $7,945
1996 $480 $7,788
1995 $513 $7,038
1994 $456 $6,329
1993 $439 $5,892
1992 $444 $6,553
1991 $382 $6,824
1990 $330 $6,403
1989 $279 $5,741
1988 $270.4 $5,145
1987 $236.5 $4,616
1986 $191.4 $4,144
1985 $165.4 $3,728
1984 $211 $3,360
1983 $252 $3,049
1982 $233.9 $2,838
1981 $299.8 $2,639
1980 $307 $2,423
1979 $212.4 $2,189
1978 $200.8 $1,972
1977 $149.9 $1,781
1976 $117.8 $1,616
1975 $123.2 $1,464
1974 $128.7 $1,328
1973 $107 $1,221
1972 $74 $1,145
1971 $72.4 $1,081
1970 $67.4 $1,017
1969 $67.1 -
1968 $64.8 -
1967 $64.8 -
1966 $64.3 -
1965 $64.3 -
1964 $62.6 -
1963 $58.4 -
1962 $53.5 -
1961 $47 -
1960 $47 -

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

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

Lesotho vs. Palau life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Palau
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Palau
2026 58.6 69.6
2025 58.2 69.5
2024 57.8 69.4
2023 57.4 69.3
2022 56.8 68.9
2021 54.2 68.6
2020 55.1 68.7
2019 55.2 69
2018 54.6 69
2017 53.9 69
2016 52.9 69
2015 51.8 69.1
2014 50.8 69.1
2013 49.5 69
2012 48.2 68.9
2011 46.9 68.6
2010 46 68.3
2009 45.1 68
2008 44.3 67.6
2007 43.7 67.1
2006 43.2 66.6
2005 43.6 66.2
2004 44 65.8
2003 44.9 65.4
2002 46 65.1
2001 47.2 64.8
2000 48.8 64.5
1999 50.4 64.2
1998 52 64
1997 53.7 63.7
1996 55.1 63.5
1995 56.4 63.3
1994 57.3 63.1
1993 58.1 63
1992 58.6 62.9
1991 59.1 62.8
1990 59.3 62.8
1989 59.5 62.8
1988 59.6 62.8
1987 59.6 62.8
1986 59.3 62.8
1985 59.2 62.7
1984 59 62.6
1983 58.5 62.5
1982 58 62.3
1981 57.3 62.1
1980 56.5 61.9
1979 55.8 61.6
1978 55.2 61.3
1977 54.5 60.9
1976 53.9 60.5
1975 53.5 60
1974 52.9 59.5
1973 52.6 59
1972 52.3 58.6
1971 51.8 58.1
1970 51.5 57.7
1969 51.1 57.3
1968 50.8 56.9
1967 50.5 56.5
1966 50.4 56.2
1965 50.3 55.9
1964 50.3 55.8
1963 50.3 55.6
1962 50.3 55.4
1961 50.3 55.1
1960 50.2 54.9
1959 49.9 54.6
1958 49.6 54.4
1957 49.2 54.1
1956 48.6 53.9
1955 48 53.7
1954 47.3 53.5
1953 46.6 53.3
1952 45.9 53.1
1951 45.2 52.9
1950 44.6 52.7

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

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

Lesotho and Palau population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Palau
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Palau
2024 2,337,423 17,695
2023 2,311,472 17,727
2022 2,286,110 17,759
2021 2,261,542 17,783
2020 2,235,727 17,792
2019 2,209,405 17,798
2018 2,183,603 17,814
2017 2,157,110 17,812
2016 2,130,422 17,797
2015 2,104,611 17,770
2014 2,080,089 17,715
2013 2,056,504 17,648
2012 2,034,354 17,765
2011 2,014,009 18,078
2010 1,996,251 18,396
2009 1,980,883 18,709
2008 1,966,541 19,009
2007 1,953,268 19,302
2006 1,945,063 19,593
2005 1,953,076 19,819
2004 1,971,129 19,820
2003 1,985,059 19,659
2002 1,994,679 19,503
2001 2,000,853 19,352
2000 2,003,913 19,178
1999 2,003,234 18,901
1998 1,998,049 18,524
1997 1,988,130 18,108
1996 1,972,418 17,654
1995 1,951,437 17,195
1994 1,927,707 16,770
1993 1,901,793 16,372
1992 1,873,274 15,989
1991 1,842,379 15,614
1990 1,809,696 15,259
1989 1,775,436 14,945
1988 1,739,841 14,645
1987 1,703,390 14,334
1986 1,666,138 14,024
1985 1,624,379 13,688
1984 1,578,986 13,337
1983 1,534,413 13,006
1982 1,490,732 12,694
1981 1,448,069 12,402
1980 1,406,521 12,271
1979 1,366,169 12,337
1978 1,327,240 12,440
1977 1,289,967 12,525
1976 1,253,214 12,598
1975 1,213,643 12,655
1974 1,172,420 12,687
1973 1,132,697 12,552
1972 1,094,063 12,194
1971 1,056,246 11,759
1970 1,019,273 11,368
1969 983,202 11,159
1968 948,105 11,080
1967 913,982 10,988
1966 881,870 10,805
1965 854,090 10,547
1964 829,437 10,292
1963 805,373 10,037
1962 781,814 9,793
1961 758,824 9,555
1960 736,500 9,328

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Palau

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Palau
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Palau
2023 2.69 1.91
2022 2.72 1.93
2021 2.77 1.95
2020 2.85 1.97
2019 2.92 1.98
2018 3.02 1.97
2017 3.11 2.02
2016 3.18 2.06
2015 3.22 2
2014 3.24 2.03
2013 3.28 2.05
2012 3.3 2.01
2011 3.34 1.97
2010 3.25 1.94
2009 3.31 1.94
2008 3.39 1.95
2007 3.44 1.97
2006 3.41 2
2005 3.43 2.02
2004 3.51 1.99
2003 3.62 1.96
2002 3.68 1.92
2001 3.63 1.87
2000 3.61 1.82
1999 3.67 1.91
1998 3.82 2.01
1997 3.98 2.19
1996 4.06 2.39
1995 4.13 2.55
1994 4.21 2.66
1993 4.37 2.73
1992 4.54 2.71
1991 4.68 2.74
1990 4.81 2.88
1989 4.96 2.92
1988 5.1 2.91
1987 5.22 2.93
1986 5.32 2.98
1985 5.4 3.01
1984 5.48 3.08
1983 5.56 3.14
1982 5.63 3.22
1981 5.69 3.28
1980 5.75 3.35
1979 5.79 3.49
1978 5.82 3.74
1977 5.85 4.09
1976 5.87 4.53
1975 5.83 4.9
1974 5.75 5.26
1973 5.69 5.59
1972 5.69 5.9
1971 5.7 6.16
1970 5.7 6.39
1969 5.7 6.58
1968 5.73 6.71
1967 5.75 6.84
1966 5.76 6.93
1965 5.77 7.01
1964 5.77 7.08
1963 5.78 7.12
1962 5.79 7.15
1961 5.79 7.17
1960 5.78 7.19

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

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

Lesotho and Palau demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

Palau
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho Palau
2024 22.7 39.2
2023 22.5 38.8
2022 22.3 38.5
2021 22.1 38.1
2020 22 37.8
2019 21.8 37.4
2018 21.7 37
2017 21.6 36.7
2016 21.4 36.3
2015 21.3 36
2014 21.2 35.6
2013 21.1 35.3
2012 21 35
2011 20.9 34.6
2010 20.7 34.2
2009 20.6 33.9
2008 20.4 33.5
2007 20.2 33.1
2006 20 32.7
2005 19.9 32.3
2004 19.8 32
2003 19.7 31.8
2002 19.5 31.5
2001 19.4 31.2
2000 19.2 30.8
1999 19.1 30.2
1998 18.9 29.4
1997 18.8 28.8
1996 18.6 28.3
1995 18.6 27.8
1994 18.5 27.4
1993 18.4 26.9
1992 18.4 26.4
1991 18.4 26
1990 18.4 25.6
1989 18.5 24.9
1988 18.6 24
1987 18.7 23.1
1986 18.6 22.2
1985 18.4 21.6
1984 18.5 21.1
1983 18.6 20.5
1982 18.6 19.9
1981 18.7 19.3
1980 18.8 18.9
1979 18.8 18.6
1978 18.9 18.3
1977 19 18.1
1976 19 17.8
1975 18.9 17.4
1974 18.8 17.1
1973 18.6 16.8
1972 18.5 16.6
1971 18.3 16.6
1970 18.2 16.5
1969 18 16.1
1968 17.8 15.7
1967 17.6 15.2
1966 17.5 14.9
1965 17.5 14.9
1964 17.5 15
1963 17.4 15.1
1962 17.4 15.5
1961 17.4 16.1
1960 17.5 16.7

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

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

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Lesotho and Palau.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Palau
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$262M
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
52.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
3.53%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
n/a
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
+1.67%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
2.09%
2023
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
74.8%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
10.1%
2023
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
62
2025
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$1.95M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
18,399
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
93.5%
2017
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
n/a

Energy

Lesotho Palau
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
4,814 kg
1990
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$2
1990
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
1.47 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
82.8 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
0%
1990
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
0.9%
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
4.6%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Lesotho Palau
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.0002%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
-16
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
79.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
53.9:46.1
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.6 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.23 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
52.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
49
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
n/a
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
11.2
2018
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
4.78
2013
Visa free countries
81
2025
120
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
100%
2020
English speaking
27.9%
2023
92.5%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
27%
2004

Health

Lesotho Palau
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$1,684
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$203.8
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
69.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
18.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
1.81
2023
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
89
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
22.3
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
42.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
19.3%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
65
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
17.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
n/a

Territory

Lesotho Palau
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.0003%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
10,037 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
16.6 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
160.8 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
n/a

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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