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Lesotho vs United Kingdom statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 69.2M in The United Kingdom (ranked 21/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 93,410 sq mi for The United Kingdom (ranked 137th vs. 78th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and The United Kingdom ranks 6/197 ($3.69T). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while The United Kingdom ranks 22/197 ($53,246).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho United Kingdom
Population
2396633
70154914
Population rank 143/197 22/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$3.69T
2024
GDP rank 175/197 6/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$53,246
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 22/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$62,009
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$3.73T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
101.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$53,900
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 7/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$39,230
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 93,410 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
750 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
1.56
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
41 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
81.7 years
2026

Lesotho and United Kingdom: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho United Kingdom
2024 $2,271,759,455 $3,686,033,044,482
2023 $2,117,962,445 $3,420,796,653,789
2022 $2,354,980,960 $3,181,244,350,465
2021 $2,412,130,057 $3,194,559,188,926
2020 $2,053,699,864 $2,724,001,478,305
2019 $2,390,702,296 $2,875,710,080,015
2018 $2,556,247,292 $2,897,028,009,916
2017 $2,306,741,672 $2,699,118,387,873
2016 $2,114,426,452 $2,706,807,606,539
2015 $2,359,686,725 $2,945,579,890,258
2014 $2,441,063,054 $3,085,362,169,410
2013 $2,367,112,932 $2,796,908,333,283
2012 $2,477,702,216 $2,719,715,961,540
2011 $2,579,409,620 $2,675,590,034,129
2010 $2,234,754,242 $2,496,740,681,057
2009 $1,740,894,965 $2,429,358,155,476
2008 $1,766,902,709 $2,945,251,838,235
2007 $1,682,131,785 $3,104,699,879,952
2006 $1,800,092,564 $2,719,558,417,663
2005 $1,682,343,527 $2,551,361,818,182
2004 $1,511,236,656 $2,429,774,807,763
2003 $1,157,825,435 $2,061,227,755,102
2002 $775,777,239 $1,790,536,570,743
2001 $825,706,961 $1,656,171,009,069
2000 $887,291,688 $1,671,597,821,153
1999 $912,773,681 $1,693,458,987,219
1998 $928,460,893 $1,660,821,464,061
1997 $998,004,259 $1,569,317,288,802
1996 $946,112,493 $1,425,287,051,482
1995 $1,001,894,000 $1,349,094,208,616
1994 $878,250,945 $1,140,489,745,944
1993 $835,582,062 $1,061,388,722,256
1992 $831,029,862 $1,179,659,529,660
1991 $704,325,367 $1,142,797,178,131
1990 $596,410,264 $1,093,169,389,205
1989 $495,409,233 $926,884,816,754
1988 $470,395,801 $910,122,732,124
1987 $402,768,324 $745,162,608,269
1986 $318,858,423 $601,452,653,181
1985 $268,629,926 $489,285,164,271
1984 $333,163,670 $461,487,097,632
1983 $386,699,309 $489,618,008,186
1982 $348,741,684 $515,048,916,841
1981 $434,188,034 $540,765,675,241
1980 $431,542,537 $564,947,710,899
1979 $290,134,593 $438,994,070,309
1978 $266,570,067 $335,883,029,722
1977 $193,315,048 $263,066,457,352
1976 $147,660,037 $232,614,555,256
1975 $149,558,896 $241,756,637,168
1974 $150,851,317 $206,131,369,799
1973 $121,188,716 $192,537,971,583
1972 $80,913,200 $169,965,034,965
1971 $76,480,285 $148,113,896,325
1970 $68,739,973 $130,671,946,244
1969 $65,967,974 $116,464,702,803
1968 $61,445,975 $107,759,910,068
1967 $59,261,976 $113,116,888,211
1966 $56,699,977 $108,572,752,102
1965 $54,879,978 $101,824,755,079
1964 $51,939,979 $94,407,558,351
1963 $47,039,981 $86,561,961,812
1962 $41,859,983 $81,247,564,157
1961 $35,699,986 $77,741,965,703
1960 $34,579,986 $73,233,967,692

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/united-kingdom | CC BY

Lesotho and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho United Kingdom
2024 $972 $53,246
2023 $916 $49,944
2022 $1,030 $47,057
2021 $1,067 $47,691
2020 $919 $40,813
2019 $1,082 $43,159
2018 $1,171 $43,703
2017 $1,069 $40,917
2016 $992 $41,258
2015 $1,121 $45,255
2014 $1,174 $47,746
2013 $1,151 $43,607
2012 $1,218 $42,688
2011 $1,281 $42,296
2010 $1,119 $39,778
2009 $879 $39,009
2008 $898 $47,652
2007 $861 $50,629
2006 $925 $44,695
2005 $861 $42,240
2004 $767 $40,504
2003 $583 $34,557
2002 $389 $30,159
2001 $413 $28,014
2000 $443 $28,384
1999 $456 $28,858
1998 $465 $28,396
1997 $502 $26,910
1996 $480 $24,503
1995 $513 $23,253
1994 $456 $19,709
1993 $439 $18,389
1992 $444 $20,487
1991 $382 $19,901
1990 $330 $19,095
1989 $279 $16,239
1988 $270.4 $15,987
1987 $236.5 $13,119
1986 $191.4 $10,611
1985 $165.4 $8,652
1984 $211 $8,179
1983 $252 $8,692
1982 $233.9 $9,146
1981 $299.8 $9,599
1980 $307 $10,032
1979 $212.4 $7,805
1978 $200.8 $5,977
1977 $149.9 $4,681
1976 $117.8 $4,138
1975 $123.2 $4,300
1974 $128.7 $3,666
1973 $107 $3,426
1972 $74 $3,030
1971 $72.4 $2,650
1970 $67.4 $2,348
1969 $67.1 $2,101
1968 $64.8 $1,952
1967 $64.8 $2,059
1966 $64.3 $1,987
1965 $64.3 $1,874
1964 $62.6 $1,748
1963 $58.4 $1,613
1962 $53.5 $1,526
1961 $47 $1,472
1960 $47 $1,398

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/united-kingdom | CC BY

Lesotho vs. United Kingdom life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

United Kingdom
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho United Kingdom
2026 58.6 81.7
2025 58.2 81.6
2024 57.8 81.4
2023 57.4 81.3
2022 56.8 81.1
2021 54.2 80.7
2020 55.1 80.4
2019 55.2 81.4
2018 54.6 81.1
2017 53.9 81.2
2016 52.9 81.1
2015 51.8 80.9
2014 50.8 81.2
2013 49.5 80.9
2012 48.2 80.9
2011 46.9 80.8
2010 46 80.4
2009 45.1 80.2
2008 44.3 79.7
2007 43.7 79.5
2006 43.2 79.3
2005 43.6 79.1
2004 44 78.9
2003 44.9 78.3
2002 46 78.2
2001 47.2 78.1
2000 48.8 77.8
1999 50.4 77.4
1998 52 77.3
1997 53.7 77.1
1996 55.1 76.9
1995 56.4 76.6
1994 57.3 76.7
1993 58.1 76.2
1992 58.6 76.3
1991 59.1 75.9
1990 59.3 75.7
1989 59.5 75.4
1988 59.6 75.3
1987 59.6 75.1
1986 59.3 74.8
1985 59.2 74.5
1984 59 74.7
1983 58.5 74.3
1982 58 74
1981 57.3 73.9
1980 56.5 73.6
1979 55.8 73.2
1978 55.2 73
1977 54.5 73.1
1976 53.9 72.6
1975 53.5 72.7
1974 52.9 72.4
1973 52.6 72.2
1972 52.3 72
1971 51.8 72.2
1970 51.5 71.9
1969 51.1 71.7
1968 50.8 71.7
1967 50.5 72.1
1966 50.4 71.4
1965 50.3 71.5
1964 50.3 71.5
1963 50.3 70.8
1962 50.3 70.9
1961 50.3 70.8
1960 50.2 71
1959 49.9 70.8
1958 49.6 70.7
1957 49.2 70.5
1956 48.6 70.4
1955 48 70.1
1954 47.3 70.2
1953 46.6 69.8
1952 45.9 69.5
1951 45.2 68.2
1950 44.6 68.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/united-kingdom | CC BY

Lesotho and United Kingdom population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

United Kingdom
1x
Year Population
Lesotho United Kingdom
2024 2,337,423 69,226,000
2023 2,311,472 68,492,000
2022 2,286,110 67,604,000
2021 2,261,542 66,984,000
2020 2,235,727 66,744,000
2019 2,209,405 66,631,000
2018 2,183,603 66,289,000
2017 2,157,110 65,966,000
2016 2,130,422 65,607,000
2015 2,104,611 65,088,000
2014 2,080,089 64,620,000
2013 2,056,504 64,139,000
2012 2,034,354 63,711,000
2011 2,014,009 63,258,810
2010 1,996,251 62,766,365
2009 1,980,883 62,276,270
2008 1,966,541 61,806,995
2007 1,953,268 61,322,463
2006 1,945,063 60,846,820
2005 1,953,076 60,401,206
2004 1,971,129 59,987,905
2003 1,985,059 59,647,577
2002 1,994,679 59,370,479
2001 2,000,853 59,119,673
2000 2,003,913 58,892,514
1999 2,003,234 58,682,466
1998 1,998,049 58,487,141
1997 1,988,130 58,316,954
1996 1,972,418 58,166,950
1995 1,951,437 58,019,030
1994 1,927,707 57,865,745
1993 1,901,793 57,718,614
1992 1,873,274 57,580,402
1991 1,842,379 57,424,897
1990 1,809,696 57,247,586
1989 1,775,436 57,076,711
1988 1,739,841 56,928,327
1987 1,703,390 56,802,050
1986 1,666,138 56,681,396
1985 1,624,379 56,550,268
1984 1,578,986 56,422,072
1983 1,534,413 56,332,848
1982 1,490,732 56,313,641
1981 1,448,069 56,333,829
1980 1,406,521 56,314,216
1979 1,366,169 56,246,951
1978 1,327,240 56,196,504
1977 1,289,967 56,193,492
1976 1,253,214 56,211,968
1975 1,213,643 56,225,800
1974 1,172,420 56,229,974
1973 1,132,697 56,194,527
1972 1,094,063 56,086,065
1971 1,056,246 55,896,223
1970 1,019,273 55,663,250
1969 983,202 55,441,750
1968 948,105 55,211,700
1967 913,982 54,943,600
1966 881,870 54,648,500
1965 854,090 54,348,050
1964 829,437 54,000,000
1963 805,373 53,650,000
1962 781,814 53,250,000
1961 758,824 52,800,000
1960 736,500 52,400,000

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/united-kingdom | CC BY

Fertility rates in Lesotho and United Kingdom

Fertility rate
Lesotho

United Kingdom
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho United Kingdom
2023 2.69 1.56
2022 2.72 1.56
2021 2.77 1.58
2020 2.85 1.57
2019 2.92 1.63
2018 3.02 1.68
2017 3.11 1.74
2016 3.18 1.79
2015 3.22 1.8
2014 3.24 1.81
2013 3.28 1.83
2012 3.3 1.92
2011 3.34 1.91
2010 3.25 1.92
2009 3.31 1.89
2008 3.39 1.91
2007 3.44 1.86
2006 3.41 1.82
2005 3.43 1.76
2004 3.51 1.75
2003 3.62 1.7
2002 3.68 1.63
2001 3.63 1.63
2000 3.61 1.64
1999 3.67 1.68
1998 3.82 1.71
1997 3.98 1.72
1996 4.06 1.73
1995 4.13 1.71
1994 4.21 1.74
1993 4.37 1.76
1992 4.54 1.79
1991 4.68 1.82
1990 4.81 1.83
1989 4.96 1.79
1988 5.1 1.82
1987 5.22 1.81
1986 5.32 1.78
1985 5.4 1.79
1984 5.48 1.77
1983 5.56 1.77
1982 5.63 1.78
1981 5.69 1.82
1980 5.75 1.9
1979 5.79 1.86
1978 5.82 1.75
1977 5.85 1.69
1976 5.87 1.74
1975 5.83 1.81
1974 5.75 1.92
1973 5.69 2.04
1972 5.69 2.2
1971 5.7 2.41
1970 5.7 2.44
1969 5.7 2.51
1968 5.73 2.6
1967 5.75 2.68
1966 5.76 2.78
1965 5.77 2.86
1964 5.77 2.93
1963 5.78 2.88
1962 5.79 2.86
1961 5.79 2.78
1960 5.78 2.69

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/united-kingdom | CC BY

Lesotho and United Kingdom demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

United Kingdom
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho United Kingdom
2024 22.7 41
2023 22.5 40.8
2022 22.3 40.5
2021 22.1 40.3
2020 22 40.2
2019 21.8 40.1
2018 21.7 40
2017 21.6 39.9
2016 21.4 39.8
2015 21.3 39.8
2014 21.2 39.7
2013 21.1 39.6
2012 21 39.5
2011 20.9 39.3
2010 20.7 39.2
2009 20.6 39
2008 20.4 38.9
2007 20.2 38.8
2006 20 38.6
2005 19.9 38.5
2004 19.8 38.4
2003 19.7 38.2
2002 19.5 38.1
2001 19.4 37.9
2000 19.2 37.7
1999 19.1 37.4
1998 18.9 37.2
1997 18.8 37
1996 18.6 36.8
1995 18.6 36.6
1994 18.5 36.5
1993 18.4 36.3
1992 18.4 36.2
1991 18.4 36.1
1990 18.4 36
1989 18.5 35.9
1988 18.6 35.7
1987 18.7 35.4
1986 18.6 35.4
1985 18.4 35.3
1984 18.5 35.2
1983 18.6 35
1982 18.6 34.8
1981 18.7 34.5
1980 18.8 34.4
1979 18.8 34.3
1978 18.9 34.2
1977 19 34.1
1976 19 34
1975 18.9 34
1974 18.8 34
1973 18.6 34
1972 18.5 34
1971 18.3 34.1
1970 18.2 34.2
1969 18 34.4
1968 17.8 34.6
1967 17.6 34.8
1966 17.5 34.9
1965 17.5 35.1
1964 17.5 35.2
1963 17.4 35.3
1962 17.4 35.3
1961 17.4 35.4
1960 17.5 35.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/lesotho/united-kingdom | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho United Kingdom
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$3.42T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
44%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
4.96%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
2.28%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
153,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-5.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
4.36%
2024
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
72.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
17.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
70.4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
3%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
2,624,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
4.93%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
55
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0001%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
1,606
2022
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$3.1T
2022
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$175B
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$4.83B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
11,101,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
8.24%
1998
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
99.3%
2024

Energy

Lesotho United Kingdom
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
2,128 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$28.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
292.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
4.22 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
75.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
12.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
13.4%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
44%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
4,208 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
40.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
2.51%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
13.8%
2023
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Lesotho United Kingdom
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.85%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
+389,911
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
83.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.2:50.8
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.85 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.38 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
91
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
70
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
100
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
1.15
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
3.2
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
167
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
99%
2003
English speaking
27.9%
2023
98.3%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
96.3%
2023

Health

Lesotho United Kingdom
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$5,860
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$853
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
81.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
0.009%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
3.3
2023
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
29 years
2018
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
8
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
4.5
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
27.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
7.4%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
83
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
14.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
10.7 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho United Kingdom
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.16%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
1,349 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
65,674 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
12,415 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
263,542 mi
2020

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) (2018, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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