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Lesotho vs United States statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 342M in The United States (ranked 3/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 3,531,839 sq mi for The United States (ranked 137th vs. 3rd).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and The United States ranks 1/197 ($28.8T). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while The United States ranks 10/197 ($84,534).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho United States
Population
2396633
344023146
Population rank 143/197 3/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$28.8T
2024
GDP rank 175/197 1/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$84,534
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 10/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$85,810
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$35.2T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
122.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$103,404
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 2/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$53,202
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 3,531,839 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
97.3 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
1.62
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
39.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
79.8 years
2026

Lesotho and United States: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and United States economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

United States
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho United States
2024 $2,271,759,455 $28,750,956,130,731
2023 $2,117,962,445 $27,292,170,793,214
2022 $2,354,980,960 $25,604,848,907,611
2021 $2,412,130,057 $23,315,080,560,000
2020 $2,053,699,864 $21,060,473,613,000
2019 $2,390,702,296 $21,380,976,119,000
2018 $2,556,247,292 $20,533,057,312,000
2017 $2,306,741,672 $19,477,336,549,000
2016 $2,114,426,452 $18,695,110,842,000
2015 $2,359,686,725 $18,206,020,741,000
2014 $2,441,063,054 $17,550,680,174,000
2013 $2,367,112,932 $16,843,190,993,000
2012 $2,477,702,216 $16,253,972,230,000
2011 $2,579,409,620 $15,599,728,123,000
2010 $2,234,754,242 $15,048,964,444,000
2009 $1,740,894,965 $14,478,064,934,000
2008 $1,766,902,709 $14,769,857,911,000
2007 $1,682,131,785 $14,474,226,905,000
2006 $1,800,092,564 $13,815,586,948,000
2005 $1,682,343,527 $13,039,199,193,000
2004 $1,511,236,656 $12,217,193,198,000
2003 $1,157,825,435 $11,456,442,041,000
2002 $775,777,239 $10,929,112,955,000
2001 $825,706,961 $10,581,929,774,000
2000 $887,291,688 $10,250,947,997,000
1999 $912,773,681 $9,631,174,489,000
1998 $928,460,893 $9,062,818,202,000
1997 $998,004,259 $8,577,554,457,000
1996 $946,112,493 $8,073,122,000,000
1995 $1,001,894,000 $7,639,749,000,000
1994 $878,250,945 $7,287,236,000,000
1993 $835,582,062 $6,858,559,000,000
1992 $831,029,862 $6,520,327,000,000
1991 $704,325,367 $6,158,129,000,000
1990 $596,410,264 $5,963,144,000,000
1989 $495,409,233 $5,641,580,000,000
1988 $470,395,801 $5,236,438,000,000
1987 $402,768,324 $4,855,215,000,000
1986 $318,858,423 $4,579,631,000,000
1985 $268,629,926 $4,338,979,000,000
1984 $333,163,670 $4,037,613,000,000
1983 $386,699,309 $3,634,038,000,000
1982 $348,741,684 $3,343,789,000,000
1981 $434,188,034 $3,207,041,000,000
1980 $431,542,537 $2,857,307,000,000
1979 $290,134,593 $2,627,333,000,000
1978 $266,570,067 $2,351,599,000,000
1977 $193,315,048 $2,081,826,000,000
1976 $147,660,037 $1,873,412,000,000
1975 $149,558,896 $1,684,904,000,000
1974 $150,851,317 $1,545,243,000,000
1973 $121,188,716 $1,425,376,000,000
1972 $80,913,200 $1,279,110,000,000
1971 $76,480,285 $1,164,850,000,000
1970 $68,739,973 $1,073,303,000,000
1969 $65,967,974 $1,017,438,172,414
1968 $61,445,975 $940,225,000,000
1967 $59,261,976 $859,620,034,483
1966 $56,699,977 $813,032,758,621
1965 $54,879,978 $741,904,862,069
1964 $51,939,979 $684,144,620,690
1963 $47,039,981 $637,058,551,724
1962 $41,859,983 $603,639,413,793
1961 $35,699,986 $561,940,310,345
1960 $34,579,986 $541,988,586,207

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

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

Lesotho and United States economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

United States
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho United States
2024 $972 $84,534
2023 $916 $81,490
2022 $1,030 $76,829
2021 $1,067 $70,249
2020 $919 $63,526
2019 $1,082 $65,120
2018 $1,171 $62,823
2017 $1,069 $59,908
2016 $992 $57,867
2015 $1,121 $56,763
2014 $1,174 $55,124
2013 $1,151 $53,291
2012 $1,218 $51,784
2011 $1,281 $50,066
2010 $1,119 $48,651
2009 $879 $47,195
2008 $898 $48,570
2007 $861 $48,050
2006 $925 $46,302
2005 $861 $44,123
2004 $767 $41,725
2003 $583 $39,490
2002 $389 $37,998
2001 $413 $37,134
2000 $443 $36,330
1999 $456 $34,484
1998 $465 $32,823
1997 $502 $31,430
1996 $480 $29,937
1995 $513 $28,661
1994 $456 $27,662
1993 $439 $26,353
1992 $444 $25,381
1991 $382 $24,293
1990 $330 $23,840
1989 $279 $22,857
1988 $270.4 $21,417
1987 $236.5 $20,039
1986 $191.4 $19,071
1985 $165.4 $18,237
1984 $211 $17,121
1983 $252 $15,544
1982 $233.9 $14,434
1981 $299.8 $13,976
1980 $307 $12,613
1979 $212.4 $11,674
1978 $200.8 $10,565
1977 $149.9 $9,453
1976 $117.8 $8,592
1975 $123.2 $7,801
1974 $128.7 $7,226
1973 $107 $6,726
1972 $74 $6,094
1971 $72.4 $5,609
1970 $67.4 $5,234
1969 $67.1 $5,020
1968 $64.8 $4,685
1967 $64.8 $4,326
1966 $64.3 $4,136
1965 $64.3 $3,818
1964 $62.6 $3,565
1963 $58.4 $3,366
1962 $53.5 $3,236
1961 $47 $3,059
1960 $47 $3,000

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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

Lesotho vs. United States life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

United States
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho United States
2026 58.6 79.8
2025 58.2 79.6
2024 57.8 79.5
2023 57.4 79.3
2022 56.8 78
2021 54.2 76.4
2020 55.1 77
2019 55.2 78.9
2018 54.6 78.8
2017 53.9 78.6
2016 52.9 78.7
2015 51.8 78.7
2014 50.8 78.9
2013 49.5 78.8
2012 48.2 78.8
2011 46.9 78.7
2010 46 78.7
2009 45.1 78.5
2008 44.3 78.1
2007 43.7 78
2006 43.2 77.8
2005 43.6 77.5
2004 44 77.5
2003 44.9 77.1
2002 46 77
2001 47.2 76.9
2000 48.8 76.8
1999 50.4 76.7
1998 52 76.7
1997 53.7 76.5
1996 55.1 76.2
1995 56.4 75.9
1994 57.3 75.7
1993 58.1 75.6
1992 58.6 75.8
1991 59.1 75.5
1990 59.3 75.4
1989 59.5 75.1
1988 59.6 74.8
1987 59.6 74.9
1986 59.3 74.7
1985 59.2 74.7
1984 59 74.7
1983 58.5 74.6
1982 58 74.5
1981 57.3 74.1
1980 56.5 73.7
1979 55.8 73.8
1978 55.2 73.4
1977 54.5 73.2
1976 53.9 72.8
1975 53.5 72.5
1974 52.9 72
1973 52.6 71.4
1972 52.3 71.2
1971 51.8 71.1
1970 51.5 70.7
1969 51.1 70.5
1968 50.8 70.2
1967 50.5 70.5
1966 50.4 70.2
1965 50.3 70.2
1964 50.3 70.2
1963 50.3 69.9
1962 50.3 70.1
1961 50.3 70.3
1960 50.2 69.8
1959 49.9 69.9
1958 49.6 69.7
1957 49.2 69.4
1956 48.6 69.6
1955 48 69.6
1954 47.3 69.5
1953 46.6 68.7
1952 45.9 68.4
1951 45.2 68.2
1950 44.6 68.1

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

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

Lesotho and United States population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

United States
1x
Year Population
Lesotho United States
2025 - 341,784,857
2024 2,337,423 340,110,988
2023 2,311,472 334,914,895
2022 2,286,110 333,271,411
2021 2,261,542 331,893,745
2020 2,235,727 331,526,933
2019 2,209,405 328,329,953
2018 2,183,603 326,838,199
2017 2,157,110 325,122,128
2016 2,130,422 323,071,755
2015 2,104,611 320,738,994
2014 2,080,089 318,386,329
2013 2,056,504 316,059,947
2012 2,034,354 313,877,662
2011 2,014,009 311,583,481
2010 1,996,251 309,327,143
2009 1,980,883 306,771,529
2008 1,966,541 304,093,966
2007 1,953,268 301,231,207
2006 1,945,063 298,379,912
2005 1,953,076 295,516,599
2004 1,971,129 292,805,298
2003 1,985,059 290,107,933
2002 1,994,679 287,625,193
2001 2,000,853 284,968,955
2000 2,003,913 282,162,411
1999 2,003,234 279,294,713
1998 1,998,049 276,115,288
1997 1,988,130 272,911,760
1996 1,972,418 269,667,391
1995 1,951,437 266,557,091
1994 1,927,707 263,435,673
1993 1,901,793 260,255,352
1992 1,873,274 256,894,189
1991 1,842,379 253,492,503
1990 1,809,696 250,131,894
1989 1,775,436 246,819,222
1988 1,739,841 244,499,004
1987 1,703,390 242,288,936
1986 1,666,138 240,132,831
1985 1,624,379 237,923,734
1984 1,578,986 235,824,908
1983 1,534,413 233,792,014
1982 1,490,732 231,664,432
1981 1,448,069 229,465,744
1980 1,406,521 226,542,250
1979 1,366,169 225,055,487
1978 1,327,240 222,584,545
1977 1,289,967 220,239,425
1976 1,253,214 218,035,164
1975 1,213,643 215,973,199
1974 1,172,420 213,853,928
1973 1,132,697 211,908,788
1972 1,094,063 209,896,021
1971 1,056,246 207,660,677
1970 1,019,273 205,052,174
1969 983,202 202,676,946
1968 948,105 200,706,052
1967 913,982 198,712,056
1966 881,870 196,560,338
1965 854,090 194,302,963
1964 829,437 191,888,791
1963 805,373 189,241,798
1962 781,814 186,537,737
1961 758,824 183,691,481
1960 736,500 180,671,158
1959 - 177,829,628
1958 - 174,881,904
1957 - 171,984,130
1956 - 168,903,031
1955 - 165,931,202
1954 - 163,025,854
1953 - 160,184,192
1952 - 157,552,740
1951 - 154,877,889
1950 - 152,271,417
1949 - 149,188,130
1948 - 146,631,302
1947 - 144,126,071
1946 - 141,388,566
1945 - 139,928,165
1944 - 138,397,345
1943 - 136,739,353
1942 - 134,859,553
1941 - 133,402,471
1940 - 132,122,446
1939 - 130,879,718
1938 - 129,824,939
1937 - 128,824,829
1936 - 128,053,180
1935 - 127,250,232
1934 - 126,373,773
1933 - 125,578,763
1932 - 124,840,471
1931 - 124,039,648
1930 - 123,076,741
1929 - 121,767,000
1928 - 120,509,000
1927 - 119,035,000
1926 - 117,397,000
1925 - 115,829,000
1924 - 114,109,000
1923 - 111,947,000
1922 - 110,049,000
1921 - 108,538,000
1920 - 106,461,000
1919 - 104,514,000
1918 - 103,208,000
1917 - 103,268,000
1916 - 101,961,000
1915 - 100,546,000
1914 - 99,111,000
1913 - 97,225,000
1912 - 95,335,000
1911 - 93,863,000
1910 - 92,407,000
1909 - 90,490,000
1908 - 88,710,000
1907 - 87,008,000
1906 - 85,450,000
1905 - 83,822,000
1904 - 82,166,000
1903 - 80,632,000
1902 - 79,163,000
1901 - 77,584,000
1900 - 76,094,000

Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau (1900–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and United States

Fertility rate
Lesotho

United States
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho United States
2023 2.69 1.62
2022 2.72 1.66
2021 2.77 1.66
2020 2.85 1.64
2019 2.92 1.71
2018 3.02 1.73
2017 3.11 1.77
2016 3.18 1.82
2015 3.22 1.84
2014 3.24 1.86
2013 3.28 1.86
2012 3.3 1.88
2011 3.34 1.89
2010 3.25 1.93
2009 3.31 2
2008 3.39 2.07
2007 3.44 2.12
2006 3.41 2.11
2005 3.43 2.06
2004 3.51 2.05
2003 3.62 2.05
2002 3.68 2.02
2001 3.63 2.03
2000 3.61 2.06
1999 3.67 2.01
1998 3.82 2
1997 3.98 1.97
1996 4.06 1.98
1995 4.13 1.98
1994 4.21 2
1993 4.37 2.02
1992 4.54 2.05
1991 4.68 2.06
1990 4.81 2.08
1989 4.96 2.01
1988 5.1 1.93
1987 5.22 1.87
1986 5.32 1.84
1985 5.4 1.84
1984 5.48 1.81
1983 5.56 1.8
1982 5.63 1.83
1981 5.69 1.81
1980 5.75 1.84
1979 5.79 1.81
1978 5.82 1.76
1977 5.85 1.79
1976 5.87 1.74
1975 5.83 1.77
1974 5.75 1.84
1973 5.69 1.88
1972 5.69 2.01
1971 5.7 2.27
1970 5.7 2.48
1969 5.7 2.46
1968 5.73 2.46
1967 5.75 2.56
1966 5.76 2.72
1965 5.77 2.91
1964 5.77 3.19
1963 5.78 3.32
1962 5.79 3.46
1961 5.79 3.62
1960 5.78 3.65

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

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

Lesotho and United States demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

United States
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho United States
2024 22.7 39.3
2023 22.5 39
2022 22.3 38.7
2021 22.1 38.5
2020 22 38.2
2019 21.8 38
2018 21.7 37.9
2017 21.6 37.7
2016 21.4 37.6
2015 21.3 37.5
2014 21.2 37.3
2013 21.1 37.2
2012 21 37.1
2011 20.9 37
2010 20.7 36.9
2009 20.6 36.7
2008 20.4 36.6
2007 20.2 36.5
2006 20 36.4
2005 19.9 36.2
2004 19.8 36
2003 19.7 35.8
2002 19.5 35.6
2001 19.4 35.5
2000 19.2 35.3
1999 19.1 35.1
1998 18.9 34.9
1997 18.8 34.6
1996 18.6 34.4
1995 18.6 34.1
1994 18.5 33.8
1993 18.4 33.6
1992 18.4 33.4
1991 18.4 33.2
1990 18.4 32.9
1989 18.5 32.7
1988 18.6 32.4
1987 18.7 32.1
1986 18.6 31.8
1985 18.4 31.5
1984 18.5 31.2
1983 18.6 30.9
1982 18.6 30.7
1981 18.7 30.4
1980 18.8 30.1
1979 18.8 29.9
1978 18.9 29.6
1977 19 29.2
1976 19 28.9
1975 18.9 28.7
1974 18.8 28.5
1973 18.6 28.3
1972 18.5 28
1971 18.3 27.9
1970 18.2 27.8
1969 18 27.9
1968 17.8 27.9
1967 17.6 27.9
1966 17.5 27.9
1965 17.5 28.1
1964 17.5 28.2
1963 17.4 28.5
1962 17.4 28.7
1961 17.4 29
1960 17.5 29.2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho United States
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$28.4T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
37.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
5.42%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
3.42%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
1,395,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-8.03%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
4.02%
2024
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
79.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
17.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
72.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
30.4%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
1.8%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
23,831,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
9.21%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
902
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.0003%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
4,010
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$62.2T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$910B
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$8.71B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
45,037,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
3.88%
2020
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
97%
2024

Energy

Lesotho United States
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
6,364 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$12.9
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
4,632 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
13.6 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
81.6%
2023
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
10.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
14%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
-9%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
12,551 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
20.3%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
6.04%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
18.1%
2023
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Lesotho United States
% of world population
0.03%
2024
4.21%
2025
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
+1,230,663
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
80.1%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
50.2:49.8
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.8 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.36 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
87.9
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
64
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
100
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
5.76
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
12.7
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
166
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
99%
2003
English speaking
27.9%
2023
95.3%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
93.1%
2023

Health

Lesotho United States
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$13,473
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$1,472
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
79.8 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
3.68
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
27.3 years
2021
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
17
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
6.5
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
42.7%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
13.7%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
84
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
24.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
9.9 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho United States
% of world land
0.02%
2026
6.14%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
10,334 sq mi
2025
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
1,627,576 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
1,196,125 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
4,092,730 mi
2024

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 (1900–2025, 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) (2021, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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