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Lesotho vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 137th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho South Korea
Population
2396633
51649918
Population rank 143/197 31/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 175/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Lesotho and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho South Korea
2024 $2,271,759,455 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $2,117,962,445 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $2,354,980,960 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $2,412,130,057 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $2,053,699,864 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $2,390,702,296 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $2,556,247,292 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $2,306,741,672 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $2,114,426,452 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $2,359,686,725 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $2,441,063,054 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $2,367,112,932 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $2,477,702,216 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $2,579,409,620 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $2,234,754,242 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $1,740,894,965 $983,065,242,417
2008 $1,766,902,709 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $1,682,131,785 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $1,800,092,564 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $1,682,343,527 $971,740,329,984
2004 $1,511,236,656 $823,251,107,639
2003 $1,157,825,435 $728,516,494,684
2002 $775,777,239 $650,014,391,470
2001 $825,706,961 $567,564,806,235
2000 $887,291,688 $597,487,173,479
1999 $912,773,681 $515,697,079,289
1998 $928,460,893 $397,297,216,492
1997 $998,004,259 $589,202,526,424
1996 $946,112,493 $631,196,863,758
1995 $1,001,894,000 $586,286,469,401
1994 $878,250,945 $479,181,794,217
1993 $835,582,062 $405,705,302,846
1992 $831,029,862 $366,921,291,825
1991 $704,325,367 $340,851,946,804
1990 $596,410,264 $292,064,221,389
1989 $495,409,233 $254,236,243,100
1988 $470,395,801 $205,477,530,605
1987 $402,768,324 $152,240,393,646
1986 $318,858,423 $119,965,960,795
1985 $268,629,926 $103,764,281,281
1984 $333,163,670 $99,749,645,089
1983 $386,699,309 $89,621,208,322
1982 $348,741,684 $79,921,300,447
1981 $434,188,034 $74,287,368,087
1980 $431,542,537 $66,547,970,351
1979 $290,134,593 $68,083,884,298
1978 $266,570,067 $52,824,793,388
1977 $193,315,048 $39,064,462,810
1976 $147,660,037 $30,371,074,380
1975 $149,558,896 $22,126,033,058
1974 $150,851,317 $19,860,929,977
1973 $121,188,716 $14,067,523,813
1972 $80,913,200 $10,990,490,570
1971 $76,480,285 $10,005,257,131
1970 $68,739,973 $9,085,001,794
1969 $65,967,974 $7,743,940,189
1968 $61,445,975 $6,167,109,472
1967 $59,261,976 $4,895,076,718
1966 $56,699,977 $3,957,064,541
1965 $54,879,978 $3,141,131,708
1964 $51,939,979 $3,476,789,682
1963 $47,039,981 $4,007,692,308
1962 $41,859,983 $2,826,923,077
1961 $35,699,986 $2,427,244,761
1960 $34,579,986 $3,973,069,307

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/south-korea | CC BY

Lesotho and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho South Korea
2024 $972 $36,239
2023 $916 $35,674
2022 $1,030 $34,822
2021 $1,067 $37,518
2020 $919 $33,646
2019 $1,082 $33,827
2018 $1,171 $35,364
2017 $1,069 $33,297
2016 $992 $30,832
2015 $1,121 $30,172
2014 $1,174 $30,667
2013 $1,151 $28,449
2012 $1,218 $26,601
2011 $1,281 $26,175
2010 $1,119 $24,071
2009 $879 $19,937
2008 $898 $22,252
2007 $861 $25,078
2006 $925 $22,610
2005 $861 $20,167
2004 $767 $17,122
2003 $583 $15,212
2002 $389 $13,643
2001 $413 $11,981
2000 $443 $12,710
1999 $456 $11,063
1998 $465 $8,583
1997 $502 $12,822
1996 $480 $13,865
1995 $513 $13,002
1994 $456 $10,734
1993 $439 $9,180
1992 $444 $8,387
1991 $382 $7,873
1990 $330 $6,813
1989 $279 $5,989
1988 $270.4 $4,889
1987 $236.5 $3,658
1986 $191.4 $2,911
1985 $165.4 $2,543
1984 $211 $2,469
1983 $252 $2,246
1982 $233.9 $2,032
1981 $299.8 $1,918
1980 $307 $1,746
1979 $212.4 $1,814
1978 $200.8 $1,429
1977 $149.9 $1,073
1976 $117.8 $847
1975 $123.2 $627
1974 $128.7 $572
1973 $107 $412
1972 $74 $328
1971 $72.4 $304
1970 $67.4 $281.8
1969 $67.1 $245.5
1968 $64.8 $200
1967 $64.8 $162.5
1966 $64.3 $134.4
1965 $64.3 $109.4
1964 $62.6 $124.2
1963 $58.4 $147
1962 $53.5 $106.6
1961 $47 $94.2
1960 $47 $158.8

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/south-korea | CC BY

Lesotho vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho South Korea
2026 58.6 84.6
2025 58.2 84.5
2024 57.8 84.4
2023 57.4 84.3
2022 56.8 82.7
2021 54.2 83.9
2020 55.1 83.7
2019 55.2 83.7
2018 54.6 83.3
2017 53.9 83.3
2016 52.9 82.9
2015 51.8 82.5
2014 50.8 82.4
2013 49.5 81.8
2012 48.2 81.3
2011 46.9 81.2
2010 46 80.7
2009 45.1 80.6
2008 44.3 80
2007 43.7 79.4
2006 43.2 79
2005 43.6 78.4
2004 44 78
2003 44.9 77.5
2002 46 77.2
2001 47.2 76.9
2000 48.8 76.2
1999 50.4 75.6
1998 52 75
1997 53.7 74.5
1996 55.1 74
1995 56.4 73.4
1994 57.3 72.9
1993 58.1 72.7
1992 58.6 72.2
1991 59.1 71.4
1990 59.3 71
1989 59.5 70.7
1988 59.6 70.2
1987 59.6 69.3
1986 59.3 69
1985 59.2 68.4
1984 59 68.1
1983 58.5 66.7
1982 58 67.1
1981 57.3 67.1
1980 56.5 64.8
1979 55.8 66.1
1978 55.2 65
1977 54.5 64.6
1976 53.9 65
1975 53.5 64.7
1974 52.9 64.2
1973 52.6 63.8
1972 52.3 63.2
1971 51.8 62.7
1970 51.5 62.2
1969 51.1 61.4
1968 50.8 60.9
1967 50.5 60.9
1966 50.4 55.4
1965 50.3 55.8
1964 50.3 55.3
1963 50.3 55
1962 50.3 55
1961 50.3 54.4
1960 50.2 53.8
1959 49.9 52.9
1958 49.6 51.8
1957 49.2 51.6
1956 48.6 50.2
1955 48 48.4
1954 47.3 46.1
1953 46.6 40.5
1952 45.9 36.6
1951 45.2 26.6
1950 44.6 22.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/south-korea | CC BY

Lesotho and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Lesotho South Korea
2024 2,337,423 51,751,065
2023 2,311,472 51,712,619
2022 2,286,110 51,672,569
2021 2,261,542 51,769,539
2020 2,235,727 51,836,239
2019 2,209,405 51,764,822
2018 2,183,603 51,585,058
2017 2,157,110 51,361,911
2016 2,130,422 51,217,803
2015 2,104,611 51,014,947
2014 2,080,089 50,746,659
2013 2,056,504 50,428,893
2012 2,034,354 50,199,853
2011 2,014,009 49,936,638
2010 1,996,251 49,554,112
2009 1,980,883 49,307,835
2008 1,966,541 49,054,708
2007 1,953,268 48,683,638
2006 1,945,063 48,438,292
2005 1,953,076 48,184,561
2004 1,971,129 48,082,519
2003 1,985,059 47,892,330
2002 1,994,679 47,644,736
2001 2,000,853 47,370,164
2000 2,003,913 47,008,111
1999 2,003,234 46,616,677
1998 1,998,049 46,286,503
1997 1,988,130 45,953,580
1996 1,972,418 45,524,681
1995 1,951,437 45,092,991
1994 1,927,707 44,641,540
1993 1,901,793 44,194,628
1992 1,873,274 43,747,962
1991 1,842,379 43,295,704
1990 1,809,696 42,869,283
1989 1,775,436 42,449,038
1988 1,739,841 42,031,247
1987 1,703,390 41,621,690
1986 1,666,138 41,213,674
1985 1,624,379 40,805,744
1984 1,578,986 40,405,956
1983 1,534,413 39,910,403
1982 1,490,732 39,326,352
1981 1,448,069 38,723,248
1980 1,406,521 38,123,775
1979 1,366,169 37,534,236
1978 1,327,240 36,969,185
1977 1,289,967 36,411,795
1976 1,253,214 35,848,523
1975 1,213,643 35,280,725
1974 1,172,420 34,692,266
1973 1,132,697 34,103,149
1972 1,094,063 33,505,406
1971 1,056,246 32,882,704
1970 1,019,273 32,240,827
1969 983,202 31,544,266
1968 948,105 30,838,302
1967 913,982 30,130,983
1966 881,870 29,435,571
1965 854,090 28,704,674
1964 829,437 27,984,155
1963 805,373 27,261,747
1962 781,814 26,513,030
1961 758,824 25,765,673
1960 736,500 25,012,374

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/south-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Lesotho and South Korea

Fertility rate
Lesotho

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho South Korea
2023 2.69 0.72
2022 2.72 0.78
2021 2.77 0.81
2020 2.85 0.84
2019 2.92 0.92
2018 3.02 0.98
2017 3.11 1.05
2016 3.18 1.17
2015 3.22 1.24
2014 3.24 1.21
2013 3.28 1.19
2012 3.3 1.3
2011 3.34 1.24
2010 3.25 1.23
2009 3.31 1.15
2008 3.39 1.19
2007 3.44 1.26
2006 3.41 1.13
2005 3.43 1.09
2004 3.51 1.16
2003 3.62 1.19
2002 3.68 1.18
2001 3.63 1.31
2000 3.61 1.48
1999 3.67 1.43
1998 3.82 1.46
1997 3.98 1.54
1996 4.06 1.57
1995 4.13 1.63
1994 4.21 1.66
1993 4.37 1.65
1992 4.54 1.76
1991 4.68 1.71
1990 4.81 1.57
1989 4.96 1.56
1988 5.1 1.55
1987 5.22 1.53
1986 5.32 1.58
1985 5.4 1.66
1984 5.48 1.74
1983 5.56 2.06
1982 5.63 2.39
1981 5.69 2.57
1980 5.75 2.82
1979 5.79 2.9
1978 5.82 2.64
1977 5.85 2.99
1976 5.87 3
1975 5.83 3.43
1974 5.75 3.77
1973 5.69 4.07
1972 5.69 4.12
1971 5.7 4.54
1970 5.7 4.53
1969 5.7 4.45
1968 5.73 4.51
1967 5.75 4.62
1966 5.76 4.78
1965 5.77 4.89
1964 5.77 5.07
1963 5.78 5.33
1962 5.79 5.56
1961 5.79 5.8
1960 5.78 5.99

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/south-korea | CC BY

Lesotho and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho South Korea
2024 22.7 46.1
2023 22.5 45.5
2022 22.3 44.9
2021 22.1 44.4
2020 22 43.8
2019 21.8 43.1
2018 21.7 42.5
2017 21.6 41.9
2016 21.4 41.4
2015 21.3 40.8
2014 21.2 40.2
2013 21.1 39.5
2012 21 38.8
2011 20.9 38.2
2010 20.7 37.6
2009 20.6 37
2008 20.4 36.4
2007 20.2 35.8
2006 20 35.2
2005 19.9 34.5
2004 19.8 33.9
2003 19.7 33.4
2002 19.5 32.8
2001 19.4 32.3
2000 19.2 31.7
1999 19.1 31.2
1998 18.9 30.7
1997 18.8 30.2
1996 18.6 29.8
1995 18.6 29.4
1994 18.5 28.9
1993 18.4 28.3
1992 18.4 27.8
1991 18.4 27.2
1990 18.4 26.7
1989 18.5 26.3
1988 18.6 25.8
1987 18.7 25.3
1986 18.6 24.8
1985 18.4 24.2
1984 18.5 23.7
1983 18.6 23.3
1982 18.6 22.8
1981 18.7 22.5
1980 18.8 22.1
1979 18.8 21.6
1978 18.9 21.1
1977 19 20.7
1976 19 20.2
1975 18.9 19.9
1974 18.8 19.6
1973 18.6 19.3
1972 18.5 19.1
1971 18.3 19
1970 18.2 18.9
1969 18 18.8
1968 17.8 18.7
1967 17.6 18.6
1966 17.5 18.5
1965 17.5 18.6
1964 17.5 18.8
1963 17.4 19
1962 17.4 19.1
1961 17.4 19.2
1960 17.5 19.3

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/south-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Lesotho South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Lesotho South Korea
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
98.8%
2018
English speaking
27.9%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
48%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Lesotho South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho South Korea
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
68,794 mi
2018

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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