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Lesotho vs Sweden statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 10.6M in Sweden (ranked 93/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 157,248 sq mi for Sweden (ranked 137th vs. 58th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and Sweden ranks 26/197 ($604B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while Sweden ranks 17/197 ($57,117).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Sweden
Population
2396633
10680056
Population rank 143/197 91/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$604B
2024
GDP rank 175/197 26/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$57,117
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 17/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$71,845
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$199B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
33%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$18,842
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 32/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$42,066
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 157,248 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
67.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
1.45
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
41.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
83.7 years
2026

Lesotho and Sweden: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Sweden economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Sweden
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Sweden
2024 $2,271,759,455 $603,715,224,266
2023 $2,117,962,445 $578,990,915,246
2022 $2,354,980,960 $575,071,237,641
2021 $2,412,130,057 $631,693,331,301
2020 $2,053,699,864 $544,265,668,452
2019 $2,390,702,296 $530,894,124,494
2018 $2,556,247,292 $549,649,344,043
2017 $2,306,741,672 $535,172,356,785
2016 $2,114,426,452 $513,058,312,951
2015 $2,359,686,725 $501,602,351,912
2014 $2,441,063,054 $577,727,767,304
2013 $2,367,112,932 $584,125,353,119
2012 $2,477,702,216 $549,739,674,655
2011 $2,579,409,620 $570,538,581,144
2010 $2,234,754,242 $492,750,897,239
2009 $1,740,894,965 $434,311,714,442
2008 $1,766,902,709 $514,614,100,833
2007 $1,682,131,785 $490,047,789,548
2006 $1,800,092,564 $422,528,394,459
2005 $1,682,343,527 $391,688,455,929
2004 $1,511,236,656 $384,545,442,175
2003 $1,157,825,435 $334,072,443,516
2002 $775,777,239 $267,371,907,447
2001 $825,706,961 $242,497,797,485
2000 $887,291,688 $262,903,560,280
1999 $912,773,681 $274,318,357,862
1998 $928,460,893 $270,887,306,759
1997 $998,004,259 $268,249,616,891
1996 $946,112,493 $291,949,597,375
1995 $1,001,894,000 $267,050,453,507
1994 $878,250,945 $228,699,066,874
1993 $835,582,062 $212,644,602,616
1992 $831,029,862 $283,908,914,454
1991 $704,325,367 $273,831,464,572
1990 $596,410,264 $261,466,577,009
1989 $495,409,233 $217,632,340,195
1988 $470,395,801 $206,686,590,776
1987 $402,768,324 $182,744,315,974
1986 $318,858,423 $150,279,869,729
1985 $268,629,926 $113,958,084,357
1984 $333,163,670 $109,043,045,407
1983 $386,699,309 $104,862,109,663
1982 $348,741,684 $114,214,731,799
1981 $434,188,034 $129,498,921,476
1980 $431,542,537 $141,886,067,004
1979 $290,134,593 $123,207,527,699
1978 $266,570,067 $104,290,933,496
1977 $193,315,048 $94,331,782,622
1976 $147,660,037 $89,232,517,046
1975 $149,558,896 $82,765,232,648
1974 $150,851,317 $65,917,634,590
1973 $121,188,716 $59,318,842,992
1972 $80,913,200 $48,883,173,400
1971 $76,480,285 $41,506,151,115
1970 $68,739,973 $38,037,226,668
1969 $65,967,974 $33,967,301,561
1968 $61,445,975 $31,277,871,669
1967 $59,261,976 $29,474,881,506
1966 $56,699,977 $27,154,716,721
1965 $54,879,978 $24,963,947,415
1964 $51,939,979 $22,685,490,195
1963 $47,039,981 $20,342,131,882
1962 $41,859,983 $18,794,066,990
1961 $35,699,986 $17,329,620,585
1960 $34,579,986 $15,930,075,467

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

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

Lesotho and Sweden economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Sweden
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Sweden
2024 $972 $57,117
2023 $916 $54,950
2022 $1,030 $54,837
2021 $1,067 $60,648
2020 $919 $52,569
2019 $1,082 $51,649
2018 $1,171 $54,018
2017 $1,069 $53,210
2016 $992 $51,704
2015 $1,121 $51,188
2014 $1,174 $59,583
2013 $1,151 $60,844
2012 $1,218 $57,750
2011 $1,281 $60,379
2010 $1,119 $52,543
2009 $879 $46,708
2008 $898 $55,817
2007 $861 $53,568
2006 $925 $46,531
2005 $861 $43,378
2004 $767 $42,758
2003 $583 $37,292
2002 $389 $29,958
2001 $413 $27,259
2000 $443 $29,633
1999 $456 $30,969
1998 $465 $30,605
1997 $502 $30,324
1996 $480 $33,022
1995 $513 $30,254
1994 $456 $26,046
1993 $439 $24,390
1992 $444 $32,753
1991 $382 $31,777
1990 $330 $30,549
1989 $279 $25,625
1988 $270.4 $24,499
1987 $236.5 $21,761
1986 $191.4 $17,955
1985 $165.4 $13,647
1984 $211 $13,080
1983 $252 $12,590
1982 $233.9 $13,719
1981 $299.8 $15,564
1980 $307 $17,073
1979 $212.4 $14,856
1978 $200.8 $12,602
1977 $149.9 $11,432
1976 $117.8 $10,853
1975 $123.2 $10,103
1974 $128.7 $8,078
1973 $107 $7,291
1972 $74 $6,018
1971 $72.4 $5,125
1970 $67.4 $4,729
1969 $67.1 $4,263
1968 $64.8 $3,953
1967 $64.8 $3,746
1966 $64.3 $3,478
1965 $64.3 $3,228
1964 $62.6 $2,961
1963 $58.4 $2,675
1962 $53.5 $2,485
1961 $47 $2,304
1960 $47 $2,128

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

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

Lesotho vs. Sweden life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Sweden
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Sweden
2026 58.6 83.7
2025 58.2 83.6
2024 57.8 83.4
2023 57.4 83.3
2022 56.8 83
2021 54.2 83
2020 55.1 82.4
2019 55.2 83.1
2018 54.6 82.5
2017 53.9 82.4
2016 52.9 82.3
2015 51.8 82.2
2014 50.8 82.2
2013 49.5 81.9
2012 48.2 81.7
2011 46.9 81.8
2010 46 81.5
2009 45.1 81.4
2008 44.3 81.1
2007 43.7 81
2006 43.2 80.8
2005 43.6 80.6
2004 44 80.5
2003 44.9 80.2
2002 46 79.9
2001 47.2 79.8
2000 48.8 79.7
1999 50.4 79.5
1998 52 79.4
1997 53.7 79.3
1996 55.1 79
1995 56.4 78.8
1994 57.3 78.7
1993 58.1 78.1
1992 58.6 78.1
1991 59.1 77.7
1990 59.3 77.6
1989 59.5 77.7
1988 59.6 77
1987 59.6 77.1
1986 59.3 77
1985 59.2 76.7
1984 59 76.8
1983 58.5 76.6
1982 58 76.3
1981 57.3 76
1980 56.5 75.7
1979 55.8 75.5
1978 55.2 75.5
1977 54.5 75.4
1976 53.9 75
1975 53.5 75
1974 52.9 75
1973 52.6 74.9
1972 52.3 74.7
1971 51.8 74.6
1970 51.5 74.7
1969 51.1 74.1
1968 50.8 74
1967 50.5 74.1
1966 50.4 74.1
1965 50.3 73.9
1964 50.3 73.7
1963 50.3 73.5
1962 50.3 73.4
1961 50.3 73.5
1960 50.2 73
1959 49.9 73.4
1958 49.6 73.2
1957 49.2 72.5
1956 48.6 72.7
1955 48 72.6
1954 47.3 72.4
1953 46.6 71.9
1952 45.9 71.8
1951 45.2 71.4
1950 44.6 71.1

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

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

Lesotho and Sweden population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Sweden
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Sweden
2024 2,337,423 10,569,709
2023 2,311,472 10,536,632
2022 2,286,110 10,486,941
2021 2,261,542 10,415,811
2020 2,235,727 10,353,442
2019 2,209,405 10,278,887
2018 2,183,603 10,175,214
2017 2,157,110 10,057,698
2016 2,130,422 9,923,085
2015 2,104,611 9,799,186
2014 2,080,089 9,696,110
2013 2,056,504 9,600,379
2012 2,034,354 9,519,374
2011 2,014,009 9,449,213
2010 1,996,251 9,378,126
2009 1,980,883 9,298,515
2008 1,966,541 9,219,637
2007 1,953,268 9,148,092
2006 1,945,063 9,080,505
2005 1,953,076 9,029,572
2004 1,971,129 8,993,531
2003 1,985,059 8,958,229
2002 1,994,679 8,924,958
2001 2,000,853 8,895,960
2000 2,003,913 8,872,109
1999 2,003,234 8,857,874
1998 1,998,049 8,850,974
1997 1,988,130 8,846,062
1996 1,972,418 8,840,998
1995 1,951,437 8,826,939
1994 1,927,707 8,780,745
1993 1,901,793 8,718,561
1992 1,873,274 8,668,067
1991 1,842,379 8,617,375
1990 1,809,696 8,558,835
1989 1,775,436 8,492,964
1988 1,739,841 8,436,489
1987 1,703,390 8,397,804
1986 1,666,138 8,369,829
1985 1,624,379 8,350,386
1984 1,578,986 8,336,605
1983 1,534,413 8,329,033
1982 1,490,732 8,325,263
1981 1,448,069 8,320,503
1980 1,406,521 8,310,531
1979 1,366,169 8,293,678
1978 1,327,240 8,275,599
1977 1,289,967 8,251,540
1976 1,253,214 8,222,286
1975 1,213,643 8,192,437
1974 1,172,420 8,159,955
1973 1,132,697 8,136,312
1972 1,094,063 8,122,300
1971 1,056,246 8,098,334
1970 1,019,273 8,042,801
1969 983,202 7,968,072
1968 948,105 7,912,273
1967 913,982 7,867,931
1966 881,870 7,807,797
1965 854,090 7,733,853
1964 829,437 7,661,354
1963 805,373 7,604,328
1962 781,814 7,561,588
1961 758,824 7,519,998
1960 736,500 7,484,656

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Sweden

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Sweden
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Sweden
2023 2.69 1.45
2022 2.72 1.53
2021 2.77 1.67
2020 2.85 1.67
2019 2.92 1.71
2018 3.02 1.76
2017 3.11 1.78
2016 3.18 1.85
2015 3.22 1.85
2014 3.24 1.88
2013 3.28 1.89
2012 3.3 1.91
2011 3.34 1.9
2010 3.25 1.98
2009 3.31 1.94
2008 3.39 1.91
2007 3.44 1.88
2006 3.41 1.85
2005 3.43 1.77
2004 3.51 1.75
2003 3.62 1.71
2002 3.68 1.65
2001 3.63 1.57
2000 3.61 1.54
1999 3.67 1.5
1998 3.82 1.5
1997 3.98 1.52
1996 4.06 1.6
1995 4.13 1.73
1994 4.21 1.88
1993 4.37 1.99
1992 4.54 2.09
1991 4.68 2.11
1990 4.81 2.13
1989 4.96 2.01
1988 5.1 1.96
1987 5.22 1.84
1986 5.32 1.8
1985 5.4 1.74
1984 5.48 1.66
1983 5.56 1.61
1982 5.63 1.62
1981 5.69 1.63
1980 5.75 1.68
1979 5.79 1.66
1978 5.82 1.6
1977 5.85 1.64
1976 5.87 1.68
1975 5.83 1.77
1974 5.75 1.87
1973 5.69 1.87
1972 5.69 1.91
1971 5.7 1.96
1970 5.7 1.92
1969 5.7 1.93
1968 5.73 2.07
1967 5.75 2.28
1966 5.76 2.37
1965 5.77 2.39
1964 5.77 2.47
1963 5.78 2.33
1962 5.79 2.25
1961 5.79 2.21
1960 5.78 2.17

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

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

Lesotho and Sweden demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

Sweden
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho Sweden
2024 22.7 41.1
2023 22.5 40.9
2022 22.3 40.7
2021 22.1 40.7
2020 22 40.6
2019 21.8 40.5
2018 21.7 40.6
2017 21.6 40.7
2016 21.4 40.8
2015 21.3 40.9
2014 21.2 40.9
2013 21.1 40.9
2012 21 40.9
2011 20.9 40.8
2010 20.7 40.7
2009 20.6 40.7
2008 20.4 40.6
2007 20.2 40.5
2006 20 40.4
2005 19.9 40.2
2004 19.8 40
2003 19.7 39.8
2002 19.5 39.7
2001 19.4 39.5
2000 19.2 39.4
1999 19.1 39.2
1998 18.9 39
1997 18.8 38.8
1996 18.6 38.6
1995 18.6 38.5
1994 18.5 38.4
1993 18.4 38.4
1992 18.4 38.4
1991 18.4 38.3
1990 18.4 38.3
1989 18.5 38.3
1988 18.6 38.2
1987 18.7 38.1
1986 18.6 37.9
1985 18.4 37.6
1984 18.5 37.4
1983 18.6 37.1
1982 18.6 36.8
1981 18.7 36.5
1980 18.8 36.2
1979 18.8 36
1978 18.9 35.7
1977 19 35.5
1976 19 35.4
1975 18.9 35.3
1974 18.8 35.3
1973 18.6 35.3
1972 18.5 35.3
1971 18.3 35.3
1970 18.2 35.4
1969 18 35.6
1968 17.8 35.8
1967 17.6 35.9
1966 17.5 36
1965 17.5 36.2
1964 17.5 36.3
1963 17.4 36.3
1962 17.4 36.3
1961 17.4 36.2
1960 17.5 36

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Sweden
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$615B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
49.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
7.32%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
2%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
15,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-1.72%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
8.31%
2024
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
66.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
21.7%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
77.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
22.3%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
2.8%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
490,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
6.01%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
45
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0006%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
278
2002
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$290B
2003
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$62.6B
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$4.43B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
1,957,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
4.85%
2010
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
98.6%
2024

Energy

Lesotho Sweden
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
4,289 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$16.1
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
37.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
3.57 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
24.9%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
57.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
49.9%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
27.8%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
12,150 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
67.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
39.9%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.2%
2023
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Lesotho Sweden
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.13%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
+47,079
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
88.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
50.4:49.6
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.92 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.47 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
94.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
80
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
94
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
1.15
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
3.1
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
99%
2003
English speaking
27.9%
2023
89%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
95.5%
2024

Health

Lesotho Sweden
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$6,485
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$868
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
83.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
4.41
2021
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
30 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
2.5
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
15.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
5.8%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
89
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
22.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
9.57 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho Sweden
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.27%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
14,877 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
11,514 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
108,031 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
356,129 mi
2016

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)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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