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Lesotho vs Papua New Guinea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 10.6M in Papua New Guinea (ranked 92/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 174,850 sq mi for Papua New Guinea (ranked 137th vs. 54th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and Papua New Guinea ranks 110/197 ($31.8B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while Papua New Guinea ranks 140/197 ($3,007).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Papua New Guinea
Population
2396633
11002753
Population rank 143/197 89/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$31.8B
2024
GDP rank 175/197 110/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$3,007
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 140/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$4,875
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$16.6B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
52.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$1,566
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 129/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$2,362
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 174,850 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
62.6 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
3.1
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
23.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
66.5 years
2026

Lesotho and Papua New Guinea: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Papua New Guinea economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Papua New Guinea
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Papua New Guinea
2024 $2,271,759,455 $31,800,428,266
2023 $2,117,962,445 $30,816,367,067
2022 $2,354,980,960 $31,653,185,953
2021 $2,412,130,057 $26,109,413,521
2020 $2,053,699,864 $23,848,447,850
2019 $2,390,702,296 $24,750,626,030
2018 $2,556,247,292 $24,109,780,708
2017 $2,306,741,672 $22,742,699,138
2016 $2,114,426,452 $20,758,876,953
2015 $2,359,686,725 $21,723,437,010
2014 $2,441,063,054 $23,210,823,987
2013 $2,367,112,932 $21,261,338,065
2012 $2,477,702,216 $21,295,168,666
2011 $2,579,409,620 $17,985,138,066
2010 $2,234,754,242 $14,250,786,675
2009 $1,740,894,965 $11,619,456,449
2008 $1,766,902,709 $11,670,892,801
2007 $1,682,131,785 $9,545,028,944
2006 $1,800,092,564 $8,354,911,041
2005 $1,682,343,527 $4,865,892,972
2004 $1,511,236,656 $3,927,157,867
2003 $1,157,825,435 $3,536,411,824
2002 $775,777,239 $2,999,511,040
2001 $825,706,961 $3,081,024,212
2000 $887,291,688 $3,521,339,699
1999 $912,773,681 $3,477,038,204
1998 $928,460,893 $3,789,443,015
1997 $998,004,259 $4,936,615,299
1996 $946,112,493 $5,155,311,077
1995 $1,001,894,000 $4,636,057,476
1994 $878,250,945 $5,502,786,070
1993 $835,582,062 $4,974,550,286
1992 $831,029,862 $4,377,980,510
1991 $704,325,367 $3,787,394,958
1990 $596,410,264 $3,219,729,083
1989 $495,409,233 $3,546,472,566
1988 $470,395,801 $3,656,177,881
1987 $402,768,324 $3,143,851,794
1986 $318,858,423 $2,647,995,602
1985 $268,629,926 $2,423,339,172
1984 $333,163,670 $2,552,662,617
1983 $386,699,309 $2,562,351,551
1982 $348,741,684 $2,368,719,683
1981 $434,188,034 $2,498,190,847
1980 $431,542,537 $2,545,808,456
1979 $290,134,593 $2,293,760,511
1978 $266,570,067 $1,947,878,831
1977 $193,315,048 $1,640,746,619
1976 $147,660,037 $1,511,843,235
1975 $149,558,896 $1,356,603,608
1974 $150,851,317 $1,467,417,672
1973 $121,188,716 $1,299,079,410
1972 $80,913,200 $858,761,926
1971 $76,480,285 $717,750,278
1970 $68,739,973 $645,568,215
1969 $65,967,974 $551,263,864
1968 $61,445,975 $485,184,190
1967 $59,261,976 $441,728,183
1966 $56,699,977 $390,992,063
1965 $54,879,978 $344,176,055
1964 $51,939,979 $305,312,049
1963 $47,039,981 $275,968,044
1962 $41,859,983 $261,184,042
1961 $35,699,986 $244,832,039
1960 $34,579,986 $230,496,037

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Lesotho and Papua New Guinea economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Papua New Guinea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Papua New Guinea
2024 $972 $3,007
2023 $916 $2,966
2022 $1,030 $3,102
2021 $1,067 $2,608
2020 $919 $2,430
2019 $1,082 $2,576
2018 $1,171 $2,566
2017 $1,069 $2,478
2016 $992 $2,316
2015 $1,121 $2,485
2014 $1,174 $2,723
2013 $1,151 $2,561
2012 $1,218 $2,635
2011 $1,281 $2,288
2010 $1,119 $1,867
2009 $879 $1,569
2008 $898 $1,625
2007 $861 $1,371
2006 $925 $1,238
2005 $861 $744
2004 $767 $621
2003 $583 $577
2002 $389 $506
2001 $413 $538
2000 $443 $636
1999 $456 $650
1998 $465 $733
1997 $502 $990
1996 $480 $1,071
1995 $513 $998
1994 $456 $1,228
1993 $439 $1,151
1992 $444 $1,051
1991 $382 $942
1990 $330 $826
1989 $279 $934
1988 $270.4 $985
1987 $236.5 $865
1986 $191.4 $745
1985 $165.4 $697
1984 $211 $750
1983 $252 $769
1982 $233.9 $726
1981 $299.8 $781
1980 $307 $813
1979 $212.4 $748
1978 $200.8 $648
1977 $149.9 $558
1976 $117.8 $525
1975 $123.2 $482
1974 $128.7 $533
1973 $107 $483
1972 $74 $327
1971 $72.4 $279.7
1970 $67.4 $257.6
1969 $67.1 $225.3
1968 $64.8 $202.9
1967 $64.8 $189
1966 $64.3 $171.1
1965 $64.3 $153.9
1964 $62.6 $139.5
1963 $58.4 $128.9
1962 $53.5 $124.7
1961 $47 $119.7
1960 $47 $115.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Lesotho vs. Papua New Guinea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Papua New Guinea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Papua New Guinea
2026 58.6 66.5
2025 58.2 66.4
2024 57.8 66.3
2023 57.4 66.1
2022 56.8 65.3
2021 54.2 64.4
2020 55.1 65.1
2019 55.2 65.3
2018 54.6 65.1
2017 53.9 64.9
2016 52.9 64.7
2015 51.8 64.5
2014 50.8 64.2
2013 49.5 63.9
2012 48.2 63.6
2011 46.9 63.4
2010 46 63.1
2009 45.1 62.8
2008 44.3 62.5
2007 43.7 62.2
2006 43.2 62
2005 43.6 61.9
2004 44 61.8
2003 44.9 61.7
2002 46 61.6
2001 47.2 61.6
2000 48.8 61.6
1999 50.4 61.5
1998 52 60.4
1997 53.7 61.3
1996 55.1 61.1
1995 56.4 60.9
1994 57.3 60.7
1993 58.1 60.5
1992 58.6 60.3
1991 59.1 59.9
1990 59.3 59.8
1989 59.5 59.6
1988 59.6 59.4
1987 59.6 59.2
1986 59.3 59
1985 59.2 58.8
1984 59 58.6
1983 58.5 58.3
1982 58 58.1
1981 57.3 57.8
1980 56.5 57.4
1979 55.8 57
1978 55.2 56.5
1977 54.5 56
1976 53.9 55.5
1975 53.5 55
1974 52.9 54.4
1973 52.6 53.9
1972 52.3 53.3
1971 51.8 52.6
1970 51.5 52.1
1969 51.1 51.5
1968 50.8 50.9
1967 50.5 50.2
1966 50.4 49.6
1965 50.3 48.9
1964 50.3 48.3
1963 50.3 47.7
1962 50.3 46.7
1961 50.3 46.4
1960 50.2 45.8
1959 49.9 45.1
1958 49.6 44.6
1957 49.2 43.9
1956 48.6 43.3
1955 48 42.6
1954 47.3 42
1953 46.6 41.3
1952 45.9 40.7
1951 45.2 35.5
1950 44.6 39.4

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Lesotho and Papua New Guinea population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Papua New Guinea
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Papua New Guinea
2024 2,337,423 10,576,502
2023 2,311,472 10,389,635
2022 2,286,110 10,203,169
2021 2,261,542 10,012,896
2020 2,235,727 9,815,746
2019 2,209,405 9,609,010
2018 2,183,603 9,394,513
2017 2,157,110 9,178,714
2016 2,130,422 8,961,718
2015 2,104,611 8,743,246
2014 2,080,089 8,523,441
2013 2,056,504 8,302,698
2012 2,034,354 8,081,390
2011 2,014,009 7,859,346
2010 1,996,251 7,633,523
2009 1,980,883 7,406,438
2008 1,966,541 7,183,002
2007 1,953,268 6,963,345
2006 1,945,063 6,747,720
2005 1,953,076 6,535,905
2004 1,971,129 6,328,041
2003 1,985,059 6,123,997
2002 1,994,679 5,924,003
2001 2,000,853 5,728,435
2000 2,003,913 5,537,064
1999 2,003,234 5,349,333
1998 1,998,049 5,166,390
1997 1,988,130 4,987,883
1996 1,972,418 4,813,361
1995 1,951,437 4,644,278
1994 1,927,707 4,480,208
1993 1,901,793 4,320,872
1992 1,873,274 4,166,699
1991 1,842,379 4,021,837
1990 1,809,696 3,896,481
1989 1,775,436 3,796,078
1988 1,739,841 3,711,880
1987 1,703,390 3,632,543
1986 1,666,138 3,554,793
1985 1,624,379 3,478,936
1984 1,578,986 3,405,198
1983 1,534,413 3,333,633
1982 1,490,732 3,264,291
1981 1,448,069 3,197,019
1980 1,406,521 3,131,512
1979 1,366,169 3,067,341
1978 1,327,240 3,003,714
1977 1,289,967 2,940,327
1976 1,253,214 2,877,327
1975 1,213,643 2,814,820
1974 1,172,420 2,752,671
1973 1,132,697 2,690,629
1972 1,094,063 2,628,432
1971 1,056,246 2,566,421
1970 1,019,273 2,505,628
1969 983,202 2,446,927
1968 948,105 2,390,803
1967 913,982 2,337,532
1966 881,870 2,285,774
1965 854,090 2,235,820
1964 829,437 2,188,325
1963 805,373 2,141,376
1962 781,814 2,093,919
1961 758,824 2,046,127
1960 736,500 1,995,110

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Papua New Guinea

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Papua New Guinea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Papua New Guinea
2023 2.69 3.1
2022 2.72 3.17
2021 2.77 3.22
2020 2.85 3.27
2019 2.92 3.32
2018 3.02 3.38
2017 3.11 3.43
2016 3.18 3.5
2015 3.22 3.56
2014 3.24 3.63
2013 3.28 3.68
2012 3.3 3.75
2011 3.34 3.82
2010 3.25 3.88
2009 3.31 3.94
2008 3.39 4.01
2007 3.44 4.08
2006 3.41 4.15
2005 3.43 4.22
2004 3.51 4.28
2003 3.62 4.36
2002 3.68 4.42
2001 3.63 4.47
2000 3.61 4.53
1999 3.67 4.59
1998 3.82 4.63
1997 3.98 4.68
1996 4.06 4.73
1995 4.13 4.78
1994 4.21 4.87
1993 4.37 4.96
1992 4.54 5.03
1991 4.68 5.11
1990 4.81 5.18
1989 4.96 5.24
1988 5.1 5.3
1987 5.22 5.36
1986 5.32 5.42
1985 5.4 5.47
1984 5.48 5.51
1983 5.56 5.56
1982 5.63 5.59
1981 5.69 5.65
1980 5.75 5.71
1979 5.79 5.79
1978 5.82 5.88
1977 5.85 5.96
1976 5.87 6.02
1975 5.83 6.07
1974 5.75 6.11
1973 5.69 6.16
1972 5.69 6.2
1971 5.7 6.23
1970 5.7 6.25
1969 5.7 6.26
1968 5.73 6.25
1967 5.75 6.24
1966 5.76 6.23
1965 5.77 6.2
1964 5.77 6.19
1963 5.78 6.15
1962 5.79 6.14
1961 5.79 6.07
1960 5.78 6.02

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Lesotho and Papua New Guinea demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

Papua New Guinea
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho Papua New Guinea
2024 22.7 23.6
2023 22.5 23.4
2022 22.3 23.2
2021 22.1 23
2020 22 22.8
2019 21.8 22.6
2018 21.7 22.4
2017 21.6 22.2
2016 21.4 22
2015 21.3 21.9
2014 21.2 21.7
2013 21.1 21.5
2012 21 21.3
2011 20.9 21.2
2010 20.7 21
2009 20.6 20.9
2008 20.4 20.7
2007 20.2 20.6
2006 20 20.4
2005 19.9 20.3
2004 19.8 20.2
2003 19.7 20
2002 19.5 19.9
2001 19.4 19.9
2000 19.2 19.8
1999 19.1 19.7
1998 18.9 19.6
1997 18.8 19.5
1996 18.6 19.4
1995 18.6 19.2
1994 18.5 19.1
1993 18.4 19
1992 18.4 18.9
1991 18.4 18.8
1990 18.4 18.7
1989 18.5 18.6
1988 18.6 18.6
1987 18.7 18.5
1986 18.6 18.5
1985 18.4 18.4
1984 18.5 18.3
1983 18.6 18.3
1982 18.6 18.2
1981 18.7 18.1
1980 18.8 18
1979 18.8 17.8
1978 18.9 17.7
1977 19 17.5
1976 19 17.4
1975 18.9 17.3
1974 18.8 17.2
1973 18.6 17.2
1972 18.5 17.1
1971 18.3 17.2
1970 18.2 17.3
1969 18 17.4
1968 17.8 17.5
1967 17.6 17.6
1966 17.5 17.8
1965 17.5 17.9
1964 17.5 18
1963 17.4 18.1
1962 17.4 18.3
1961 17.4 18.4
1960 17.5 18.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Papua New Guinea
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$30.7B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
20.4%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
0.78%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
0.31%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
4,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-3.23%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
2.69%
2022
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
41.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
37.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
54.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
31%
2009
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
1.9%
2009
Listed domestic companies n/a
6
2016
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.68B
2017
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$3.9B
2023
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$3.87M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
39,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
0.04%
2018
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
n/a

Energy

Lesotho Papua New Guinea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
n/a
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
5.47 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
0.52 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
n/a
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
54.6%
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
40%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
35.3%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
20.5%
2023

Society

Lesotho Papua New Guinea
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.13%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
-284
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
15.4%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
51.4:48.6
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.15 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
37.6
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
26
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
30
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
9.4
2010
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
12.6
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
86
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
87.1%
2022
English speaking
27.9%
2023
70.4%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
24.1%
2023

Health

Lesotho Papua New Guinea
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$85.2
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$7.28
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
66.5 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
18.2%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
0.06
2023
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
21.9 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
189
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
40.3
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
21.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
14.1%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
91
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
39.6%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
1.13 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho Papua New Guinea
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.3%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
16,532 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
5,425 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
138,051 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
5,809 mi
2011

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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