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Lesotho vs South Sudan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 11.9M in South Sudan (ranked 81/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 243,990 sq mi for South Sudan (ranked 137th vs. 41st).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and South Sudan ranks 149/197 ($12B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while South Sudan ranks 175/197 ($1,080).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho South Sudan
Population
2396633
12507858
Population rank 143/197 80/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$12B
2015
GDP rank 175/197 149/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$1,080
2015
GDP per capita rank 181/197 175/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$1,155
2015
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$7.04B
2015
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
50.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$633
2015
Government debt per person rank 164/185 158/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$1,305
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 243,990 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
51 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
3.86
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
19.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
58 years
2026

Lesotho and South Sudan: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and South Sudan economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

South Sudan
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho South Sudan
2024 $2,271,759,455 -
2023 $2,117,962,445 -
2022 $2,354,980,960 -
2021 $2,412,130,057 -
2020 $2,053,699,864 -
2019 $2,390,702,296 -
2018 $2,556,247,292 -
2017 $2,306,741,672 -
2016 $2,114,426,452 -
2015 $2,359,686,725 $11,997,800,760
2014 $2,441,063,054 $13,962,212,847
2013 $2,367,112,932 $18,426,469,017
2012 $2,477,702,216 $11,931,472,169
2011 $2,579,409,620 $14,907,308,933
2010 $2,234,754,242 $14,602,072,411
2009 $1,740,894,965 $12,231,264,525
2008 $1,766,902,709 $14,586,253,383
2007 $1,682,131,785 -
2006 $1,800,092,564 -
2005 $1,682,343,527 -
2004 $1,511,236,656 -
2003 $1,157,825,435 -
2002 $775,777,239 -
2001 $825,706,961 -
2000 $887,291,688 -
1999 $912,773,681 -
1998 $928,460,893 -
1997 $998,004,259 -
1996 $946,112,493 -
1995 $1,001,894,000 -
1994 $878,250,945 -
1993 $835,582,062 -
1992 $831,029,862 -
1991 $704,325,367 -
1990 $596,410,264 -
1989 $495,409,233 -
1988 $470,395,801 -
1987 $402,768,324 -
1986 $318,858,423 -
1985 $268,629,926 -
1984 $333,163,670 -
1983 $386,699,309 -
1982 $348,741,684 -
1981 $434,188,034 -
1980 $431,542,537 -
1979 $290,134,593 -
1978 $266,570,067 -
1977 $193,315,048 -
1976 $147,660,037 -
1975 $149,558,896 -
1974 $150,851,317 -
1973 $121,188,716 -
1972 $80,913,200 -
1971 $76,480,285 -
1970 $68,739,973 -
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/south-sudan | CC BY

Lesotho and South Sudan economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

South Sudan
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho South Sudan
2024 $972 -
2023 $916 -
2022 $1,030 -
2021 $1,067 -
2020 $919 -
2019 $1,082 -
2018 $1,171 -
2017 $1,069 -
2016 $992 -
2015 $1,121 $1,080
2014 $1,174 $1,243
2013 $1,151 $1,650
2012 $1,218 $1,109
2011 $1,281 $1,449
2010 $1,119 $1,498
2009 $879 $1,323
2008 $898 $1,654
2007 $861 -
2006 $925 -
2005 $861 -
2004 $767 -
2003 $583 -
2002 $389 -
2001 $413 -
2000 $443 -
1999 $456 -
1998 $465 -
1997 $502 -
1996 $480 -
1995 $513 -
1994 $456 -
1993 $439 -
1992 $444 -
1991 $382 -
1990 $330 -
1989 $279 -
1988 $270.4 -
1987 $236.5 -
1986 $191.4 -
1985 $165.4 -
1984 $211 -
1983 $252 -
1982 $233.9 -
1981 $299.8 -
1980 $307 -
1979 $212.4 -
1978 $200.8 -
1977 $149.9 -
1976 $117.8 -
1975 $123.2 -
1974 $128.7 -
1973 $107 -
1972 $74 -
1971 $72.4 -
1970 $67.4 -
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/south-sudan | CC BY

Lesotho vs. South Sudan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

South Sudan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho South Sudan
2026 58.6 58
2025 58.2 57.9
2024 57.8 57.7
2023 57.4 57.6
2022 56.8 57.2
2021 54.2 57
2020 55.1 57.6
2019 55.2 58.1
2018 54.6 51.9
2017 53.9 35.4
2016 52.9 36.7
2015 51.8 39.8
2014 50.8 45.6
2013 49.5 58.3
2012 48.2 58.2
2011 46.9 57.7
2010 46 57.5
2009 45.1 56.8
2008 44.3 56.3
2007 43.7 55.4
2006 43.2 54.7
2005 43.6 54
2004 44 53.1
2003 44.9 52.3
2002 46 49.4
2001 47.2 48.6
2000 48.8 47.6
1999 50.4 44.5
1998 52 19
1997 53.7 33.1
1996 55.1 32.1
1995 56.4 31.5
1994 57.3 44.9
1993 58.1 22.3
1992 58.6 21.9
1991 59.1 29.2
1990 59.3 28.6
1989 59.5 28.2
1988 59.6 11
1987 59.6 20.7
1986 59.3 32.8
1985 59.2 32.4
1984 59 31.8
1983 58.5 34.7
1982 58 38.7
1981 57.3 38.3
1980 56.5 38
1979 55.8 37.8
1978 55.2 37.6
1977 54.5 37.4
1976 53.9 37.1
1975 53.5 36.9
1974 52.9 36.6
1973 52.6 36.3
1972 52.3 31.3
1971 51.8 31
1970 51.5 25.6
1969 51.1 25.4
1968 50.8 26.1
1967 50.5 25.9
1966 50.4 25.6
1965 50.3 28.8
1964 50.3 32.5
1963 50.3 28.2
1962 50.3 28.5
1961 50.3 28.3
1960 50.2 28.1
1959 49.9 27.8
1958 49.6 27.6
1957 49.2 30.9
1956 48.6 31.6
1955 48 32
1954 47.3 31.7
1953 46.6 31.4
1952 45.9 31
1951 45.2 30.6
1950 44.6 30.2

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

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

Lesotho and South Sudan population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

South Sudan
1x
Year Population
Lesotho South Sudan
2024 2,337,423 11,943,408
2023 2,311,472 11,483,374
2022 2,286,110 11,021,177
2021 2,261,542 10,865,780
2020 2,235,727 10,698,467
2019 2,209,405 10,423,384
2018 2,183,603 10,122,977
2017 2,157,110 10,259,154
2016 2,130,422 10,830,102
2015 2,104,611 11,107,561
2014 2,080,089 11,235,073
2013 2,056,504 11,166,275
2012 2,034,354 10,756,240
2011 2,014,009 10,288,109
2010 1,996,251 9,745,953
2009 1,980,883 9,243,556
2008 1,966,541 8,817,647
2007 1,953,268 8,388,788
2006 1,945,063 7,976,526
2005 1,953,076 7,590,143
2004 1,971,129 7,233,041
2003 1,985,059 6,903,127
2002 1,994,679 6,596,806
2001 2,000,853 6,308,391
2000 2,003,913 6,032,267
1999 2,003,234 5,771,628
1998 1,998,049 5,620,068
1997 1,988,130 5,509,136
1996 1,972,418 5,356,925
1995 1,951,437 5,225,836
1994 1,927,707 5,071,184
1993 1,901,793 4,956,002
1992 1,873,274 4,909,749
1991 1,842,379 4,836,677
1990 1,809,696 4,737,633
1989 1,775,436 4,713,229
1988 1,739,841 4,848,029
1987 1,703,390 4,962,395
1986 1,666,138 4,921,240
1985 1,624,379 4,834,296
1984 1,578,986 4,750,627
1983 1,534,413 4,661,574
1982 1,490,732 4,557,686
1981 1,448,069 4,447,272
1980 1,406,521 4,339,030
1979 1,366,169 4,232,605
1978 1,327,240 4,127,657
1977 1,289,967 4,024,032
1976 1,253,214 3,921,910
1975 1,213,643 3,821,494
1974 1,172,420 3,723,259
1973 1,132,697 3,627,383
1972 1,094,063 3,542,497
1971 1,056,246 3,468,646
1970 1,019,273 3,409,614
1969 983,202 3,365,533
1968 948,105 3,321,528
1967 913,982 3,277,648
1966 881,870 3,236,423
1965 854,090 3,189,835
1964 829,437 3,129,918
1963 805,373 3,072,669
1962 781,814 3,024,308
1961 758,824 2,976,724
1960 736,500 2,931,559

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and South Sudan

Fertility rate
Lesotho

South Sudan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho South Sudan
2023 2.69 3.86
2022 2.72 3.96
2021 2.77 4.05
2020 2.85 4.16
2019 2.92 4.26
2018 3.02 4.37
2017 3.11 4.48
2016 3.18 4.58
2015 3.22 4.7
2014 3.24 4.82
2013 3.28 4.94
2012 3.3 5.06
2011 3.34 5.19
2010 3.25 5.32
2009 3.31 5.45
2008 3.39 5.57
2007 3.44 5.7
2006 3.41 5.85
2005 3.43 6.02
2004 3.51 6.19
2003 3.62 6.35
2002 3.68 6.52
2001 3.63 6.65
2000 3.61 6.8
1999 3.67 6.94
1998 3.82 7.08
1997 3.98 7.2
1996 4.06 7.32
1995 4.13 7.34
1994 4.21 7.35
1993 4.37 7.36
1992 4.54 7.37
1991 4.68 7.38
1990 4.81 7.38
1989 4.96 7.37
1988 5.1 7.38
1987 5.22 7.39
1986 5.32 7.38
1985 5.4 7.36
1984 5.48 7.35
1983 5.56 7.34
1982 5.63 7.34
1981 5.69 7.33
1980 5.75 7.33
1979 5.79 7.32
1978 5.82 7.33
1977 5.85 7.33
1976 5.87 7.33
1975 5.83 7.33
1974 5.75 7.31
1973 5.69 7.31
1972 5.69 7.31
1971 5.7 7.3
1970 5.7 7.29
1969 5.7 7.28
1968 5.73 7.26
1967 5.75 7.26
1966 5.76 7.25
1965 5.77 7.22
1964 5.77 7.22
1963 5.78 7.2
1962 5.79 7.2
1961 5.79 7.18
1960 5.78 7.16

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

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

Lesotho and South Sudan demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

South Sudan
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho South Sudan
2024 22.7 19.4
2023 22.5 19
2022 22.3 18.7
2021 22.1 18.4
2020 22 18.2
2019 21.8 17.8
2018 21.7 17.3
2017 21.6 17.4
2016 21.4 18.2
2015 21.3 18.6
2014 21.2 19
2013 21.1 19.3
2012 21 19.2
2011 20.9 19
2010 20.7 18.7
2009 20.6 18.4
2008 20.4 18.2
2007 20.2 18
2006 20 17.8
2005 19.9 17.6
2004 19.8 17.4
2003 19.7 17.3
2002 19.5 17.3
2001 19.4 17.3
2000 19.2 17.2
1999 19.1 17.1
1998 18.9 17
1997 18.8 16.9
1996 18.6 16.9
1995 18.6 16.9
1994 18.5 16.9
1993 18.4 16.9
1992 18.4 17
1991 18.4 17
1990 18.4 17
1989 18.5 17.1
1988 18.6 16.8
1987 18.7 16.5
1986 18.6 16.6
1985 18.4 16.7
1984 18.5 16.8
1983 18.6 16.8
1982 18.6 16.9
1981 18.7 17
1980 18.8 17.1
1979 18.8 17.1
1978 18.9 17.2
1977 19 17.2
1976 19 17.3
1975 18.9 17.4
1974 18.8 17.4
1973 18.6 17.5
1972 18.5 17.5
1971 18.3 17.6
1970 18.2 17.7
1969 18 17.9
1968 17.8 18
1967 17.6 18.2
1966 17.5 18.3
1965 17.5 18.3
1964 17.5 18.4
1963 17.4 18.4
1962 17.4 18.5
1961 17.4 18.5
1960 17.5 18.6

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho South Sudan
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$11.7B
2015
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
18.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
1.57%
2016
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
1.96%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
53,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
+11.7%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
12.3%
2008
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
56.6%
2015
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
33.1%
2015
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
41
2025
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
33%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
1.8%
2016
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$72.9M
2023
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$1.14B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
0.39%
2018
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
5.83%
2021

Energy

Lesotho South Sudan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
69 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$15.1
2015
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
n/a
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
n/a
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
73.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
32.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
0.4%
2022
Net energy imports use share n/a
-860%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
46.9 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
0.34%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
5.4%
2023

Society

Lesotho South Sudan
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.15%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
+6,145
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
21.4%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.2:50.8
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
n/a
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
n/a
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
4.76
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
9
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
14
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
14.1
2012
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
36.7
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
50
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
34.5%
2018
English speaking
27.9%
2023
94%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
9.27%
2020

Health

Lesotho South Sudan
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$72.8
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$19.7
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
58 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
62.3%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
0.04
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
692
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
98.7
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
8.79%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
4.6%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
22
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
n/a

Territory

Lesotho South Sudan
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.42%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
20,429 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
109,449 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
27,633 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 (2015–2024, 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. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  11. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.