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Lesotho vs Zimbabwe statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a population of 2.34M (ranked 145/197), compared with 16.6M in Zimbabwe (ranked 74/197). Lesotho's land area is 11,722 sq mi versus 149,364 sq mi for Zimbabwe (ranked 137th vs. 60th).

By GDP, Lesotho ranks 175/197 ($2.27B) and Zimbabwe ranks 102/197 ($41.5B). By GDP per capita, Lesotho ranks 181/197 ($972), while Zimbabwe ranks 148/197 ($2,497).

Main facts and rankings

Lesotho Zimbabwe
Population
2396633
17361868
Population rank 143/197 74/197
GDP
$2.27B
2024
$41.5B
2024
GDP rank 175/197 102/197
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$2,497
2024
GDP per capita rank 181/197 148/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$5,928
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$30.3B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
73%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$1,824
2024
Government debt per person rank 164/185 121/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$2,897
2026
Land area 11,722 sq mi 149,364 sq mi
Population density
203.8 ppl/mi²
2026
115.6 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.69
2023
3.72
2023
Median age
22.7 years
2024
19 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
63.6 years
2026

Lesotho and Zimbabwe: Comparison Charts

Lesotho and Zimbabwe economies compared

GDP
Lesotho

Zimbabwe
1x
Year GDP
Lesotho Zimbabwe
2024 $2,271,759,455 $41,539,411,516
2023 $2,117,962,445 $35,871,779,681
2022 $2,354,980,960 $40,757,561,709
2021 $2,412,130,057 $41,287,673,690
2020 $2,053,699,864 $31,980,334,561
2019 $2,390,702,296 $33,357,695,635
2018 $2,556,247,292 $34,141,666,667
2017 $2,306,741,672 $51,035,657,371
2016 $2,114,426,452 $20,559,250,000
2015 $2,359,686,725 $19,973,250,000
2014 $2,441,063,054 $19,505,500,000
2013 $2,367,112,932 $19,100,750,000
2012 $2,477,702,216 $17,123,500,000
2011 $2,579,409,620 $14,109,000,000
2010 $2,234,754,242 $12,047,750,000
2009 $1,740,894,965 $9,670,750,000
2008 $1,766,902,709 $4,418,000,000
2007 $1,682,131,785 $5,294,750,000
2006 $1,800,092,564 $5,446,750,000
2005 $1,682,343,527 $5,758,250,000
2004 $1,511,236,656 $5,808,500,000
2003 $1,157,825,435 $5,730,500,000
2002 $775,777,239 $6,345,250,000
2001 $825,706,961 $6,780,750,000
2000 $887,291,688 $6,693,250,000
1999 $912,773,681 $6,861,500,000
1998 $928,460,893 $6,405,250,000
1997 $998,004,259 $8,534,000,000
1996 $946,112,493 $8,557,500,000
1995 $1,001,894,000 $7,115,000,000
1994 $878,250,945 $6,894,250,000
1993 $835,582,062 $6,567,250,000
1992 $831,029,862 $6,755,000,000
1991 $704,325,367 $8,646,000,000
1990 $596,410,264 $8,788,301,546
1989 $495,409,233 $8,290,553,535
1988 $470,395,801 $7,818,774,177
1987 $402,768,324 $6,744,657,033
1986 $318,858,423 $6,220,698,247
1985 $268,629,926 $5,640,137,575
1984 $333,163,670 $6,355,369,172
1983 $386,699,309 $7,768,031,182
1982 $348,741,684 $8,544,060,905
1981 $434,188,034 $8,015,464,252
1980 $431,542,537 $6,682,278,300
1979 $290,134,593 $5,180,102,910
1978 $266,570,067 $4,353,822,343
1977 $193,315,048 $4,366,610,469
1976 $147,660,037 $4,320,576,877
1975 $149,558,896 $4,373,532,601
1974 $150,851,317 $3,984,194,614
1973 $121,188,716 $3,311,043,292
1972 $80,913,200 $2,679,096,597
1971 $76,480,285 $2,179,828,710
1970 $68,739,973 $1,885,168,339
1969 $65,967,974 $1,748,891,294
1968 $61,445,975 $1,480,355,355
1967 $59,261,976 $1,397,715,282
1966 $56,699,977 $1,282,403,936
1965 $54,879,978 $1,312,105,394
1964 $51,939,979 $1,217,759,447
1963 $47,039,981 $1,160,103,724
1962 $41,859,983 $1,118,172,226
1961 $35,699,986 $1,097,206,526
1960 $34,579,986 $1,053,528,036

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

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

Lesotho and Zimbabwe economies compared

GDP per capita
Lesotho

Zimbabwe
1x
Year GDP per capita
Lesotho Zimbabwe
2024 $972 $2,497
2023 $916 $2,195
2022 $1,030 $2,536
2021 $1,067 $2,614
2020 $919 $2,060
2019 $1,082 $2,184
2018 $1,171 $2,271
2017 $1,069 $3,445
2016 $992 $1,408
2015 $1,121 $1,387
2014 $1,174 $1,373
2013 $1,151 $1,363
2012 $1,218 $1,239
2011 $1,281 $1,038
2010 $1,119 $902
2009 $879 $736
2008 $898 $341
2007 $861 $414
2006 $925 $431
2005 $861 $461
2004 $767 $470
2003 $583 $468
2002 $389 $525
2001 $413 $566
2000 $443 $563
1999 $456 $582
1998 $465 $552
1997 $502 $751
1996 $480 $767
1995 $513 $648
1994 $456 $634
1993 $439 $605
1992 $444 $631
1991 $382 $831
1990 $330 $867
1989 $279 $840
1988 $270.4 $816
1987 $236.5 $726
1986 $191.4 $693
1985 $165.4 $649
1984 $211 $757
1983 $252 $959
1982 $233.9 $1,096
1981 $299.8 $1,069
1980 $307 $949
1979 $212.4 $779
1978 $200.8 $665
1977 $149.9 $677
1976 $117.8 $687
1975 $123.2 $717
1974 $128.7 $674
1973 $107 $579
1972 $74 $483
1971 $72.4 $406
1970 $67.4 $361
1969 $67.1 $346
1968 $64.8 $302
1967 $64.8 $294.4
1966 $64.3 $278.7
1965 $64.3 $294.3
1964 $62.6 $281.9
1963 $58.4 $277.1
1962 $53.5 $275.7
1961 $47 $279.2
1960 $47 $276.6

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

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

Lesotho vs. Zimbabwe life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Lesotho

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Lesotho Zimbabwe
2026 58.6 63.6
2025 58.2 63.3
2024 57.8 63.1
2023 57.4 62.8
2022 56.8 62.4
2021 54.2 60.1
2020 55.1 61.5
2019 55.2 61.1
2018 54.6 60.9
2017 53.9 60.3
2016 52.9 59.8
2015 51.8 59
2014 50.8 58.1
2013 49.5 56.8
2012 48.2 55.4
2011 46.9 53.9
2010 46 51.9
2009 45.1 49.7
2008 44.3 48.5
2007 43.7 47.6
2006 43.2 47.1
2005 43.6 46.6
2004 44 46
2003 44.9 45.4
2002 46 45.9
2001 47.2 44.5
2000 48.8 46
1999 50.4 46.4
1998 52 47.6
1997 53.7 48.5
1996 55.1 49
1995 56.4 51.1
1994 57.3 52.5
1993 58.1 54
1992 58.6 55.6
1991 59.1 57
1990 59.3 58.3
1989 59.5 59.4
1988 59.6 60.2
1987 59.6 60.7
1986 59.3 61
1985 59.2 60.9
1984 59 60.6
1983 58.5 60
1982 58 59.9
1981 57.3 59.4
1980 56.5 59.1
1979 55.8 54.9
1978 55.2 54.7
1977 54.5 57
1976 53.9 57.6
1975 53.5 58.2
1974 52.9 58.2
1973 52.6 58.1
1972 52.3 58.2
1971 51.8 58
1970 51.5 57.8
1969 51.1 57.5
1968 50.8 57.1
1967 50.5 56.8
1966 50.4 56.4
1965 50.3 55.9
1964 50.3 55.4
1963 50.3 54.9
1962 50.3 54.5
1961 50.3 54
1960 50.2 53.5
1959 49.9 53
1958 49.6 52.6
1957 49.2 52.2
1956 48.6 51.8
1955 48 51.4
1954 47.3 51
1953 46.6 50.6
1952 45.9 50.2
1951 45.2 49.8
1950 44.6 49.4

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

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

Lesotho and Zimbabwe population clocks and comparison

Population
Lesotho

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Zimbabwe
2024 2,337,423 16,634,373
2023 2,311,472 16,340,822
2022 2,286,110 16,069,056
2021 2,261,542 15,797,210
2020 2,235,727 15,526,888
2019 2,209,405 15,271,368
2018 2,183,603 15,034,452
2017 2,157,110 14,812,482
2016 2,130,422 14,600,294
2015 2,104,611 14,399,013
2014 2,080,089 14,207,359
2013 2,056,504 14,013,808
2012 2,034,354 13,817,887
2011 2,014,009 13,595,424
2010 1,996,251 13,356,548
2009 1,980,883 13,142,790
2008 1,966,541 12,959,149
2007 1,953,268 12,804,058
2006 1,945,063 12,636,445
2005 1,953,076 12,483,432
2004 1,971,129 12,365,896
2003 1,985,059 12,232,323
2002 1,994,679 12,087,653
2001 2,000,853 11,971,901
2000 2,003,913 11,892,055
1999 2,003,234 11,783,458
1998 1,998,049 11,594,297
1997 1,988,130 11,369,827
1996 1,972,418 11,158,360
1995 1,951,437 10,974,599
1994 1,927,707 10,873,148
1993 1,901,793 10,860,288
1992 1,873,274 10,702,700
1991 1,842,379 10,404,816
1990 1,809,696 10,137,281
1989 1,775,436 9,864,798
1988 1,739,841 9,583,094
1987 1,703,390 9,284,644
1986 1,666,138 8,982,578
1985 1,624,379 8,686,813
1984 1,578,986 8,391,488
1983 1,534,413 8,098,404
1982 1,490,732 7,796,496
1981 1,448,069 7,498,635
1980 1,406,521 7,041,303
1979 1,366,169 6,647,556
1978 1,327,240 6,543,575
1977 1,289,967 6,449,512
1976 1,253,214 6,287,105
1975 1,213,643 6,098,658
1974 1,172,420 5,908,328
1973 1,132,697 5,720,404
1972 1,094,063 5,542,445
1971 1,056,246 5,374,712
1970 1,019,273 5,215,918
1969 983,202 5,058,181
1968 948,105 4,900,440
1967 913,982 4,748,307
1966 881,870 4,601,217
1965 854,090 4,458,462
1964 829,437 4,320,006
1963 805,373 4,185,877
1962 781,814 4,055,959
1961 758,824 3,930,401
1960 736,500 3,809,389

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

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

Fertility rates in Lesotho and Zimbabwe

Fertility rate
Lesotho

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Zimbabwe
2023 2.69 3.72
2022 2.72 3.77
2021 2.77 3.77
2020 2.85 3.75
2019 2.92 3.75
2018 3.02 3.74
2017 3.11 3.77
2016 3.18 3.83
2015 3.22 3.91
2014 3.24 4.01
2013 3.28 4.11
2012 3.3 4.13
2011 3.34 4.13
2010 3.25 4.04
2009 3.31 3.95
2008 3.39 3.78
2007 3.44 3.68
2006 3.41 3.64
2005 3.43 3.69
2004 3.51 3.78
2003 3.62 3.86
2002 3.68 3.93
2001 3.63 3.98
2000 3.61 4.01
1999 3.67 4.06
1998 3.82 4.07
1997 3.98 4.08
1996 4.06 4.11
1995 4.13 4.15
1994 4.21 4.28
1993 4.37 4.39
1992 4.54 4.57
1991 4.68 4.72
1990 4.81 4.88
1989 4.96 5.07
1988 5.1 5.28
1987 5.22 5.5
1986 5.32 5.69
1985 5.4 5.87
1984 5.48 6.04
1983 5.56 6.2
1982 5.63 6.33
1981 5.69 6.45
1980 5.75 6.52
1979 5.79 6.59
1978 5.82 6.66
1977 5.85 6.71
1976 5.87 6.77
1975 5.83 6.83
1974 5.75 6.88
1973 5.69 6.94
1972 5.69 6.94
1971 5.7 6.94
1970 5.7 6.98
1969 5.7 7.04
1968 5.73 7.11
1967 5.75 7.16
1966 5.76 7.2
1965 5.77 7.23
1964 5.77 7.23
1963 5.78 7.23
1962 5.79 7.23
1961 5.79 7.21
1960 5.78 7.2

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

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

Lesotho and Zimbabwe demographics compared

Median age
Lesotho

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Median age, years
Lesotho Zimbabwe
2024 22.7 19
2023 22.5 18.9
2022 22.3 18.7
2021 22.1 18.6
2020 22 18.5
2019 21.8 18.3
2018 21.7 18.2
2017 21.6 18.1
2016 21.4 18
2015 21.3 18
2014 21.2 18
2013 21.1 18
2012 21 18.1
2011 20.9 18.2
2010 20.7 18.3
2009 20.6 18.4
2008 20.4 18.5
2007 20.2 18.5
2006 20 18.5
2005 19.9 18.3
2004 19.8 18.3
2003 19.7 18.2
2002 19.5 18.1
2001 19.4 18
2000 19.2 17.8
1999 19.1 17.7
1998 18.9 17.5
1997 18.8 17.2
1996 18.6 16.9
1995 18.6 16.6
1994 18.5 16.4
1993 18.4 16.3
1992 18.4 16.4
1991 18.4 16.5
1990 18.4 16.3
1989 18.5 16.1
1988 18.6 15.9
1987 18.7 15.9
1986 18.6 15.9
1985 18.4 15.9
1984 18.5 15.8
1983 18.6 15.8
1982 18.6 15.8
1981 18.7 15.7
1980 18.8 15.6
1979 18.8 15.6
1978 18.9 15.7
1977 19 15.8
1976 19 15.8
1975 18.9 15.9
1974 18.8 15.9
1973 18.6 15.8
1972 18.5 15.8
1971 18.3 15.8
1970 18.2 15.7
1969 18 15.7
1968 17.8 15.7
1967 17.6 15.7
1966 17.5 15.7
1965 17.5 15.7
1964 17.5 15.7
1963 17.4 15.8
1962 17.4 16
1961 17.4 16.2
1960 17.5 16.4

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Lesotho Zimbabwe
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$39.9B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
12.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.62%
2024
0.38%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2024
0.35%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,000
2020
51,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+9.04%
2024
-1.06%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
12.1%
2024
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
50.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
35%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.9
2026
35.2
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
40.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
1.9%
2019
Number of billionaires n/a
1
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00001%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
69
1999
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$2.46B
1999
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$485M
2024
Personal remittances received
$476M
2024
$3.51B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,142,000
2019
639,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.1%
1999
1.25%
2020
Banked people share
61.6%
2024
49.5%
2024

Energy

Lesotho Zimbabwe
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9.73 kg
2007
417 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$198.7
2007
$13
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1 megaton
2024
12.9 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.43 tons
2024
0.77 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
45.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
34.9%
2022
82.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
7.59%
2022
Net energy imports use share n/a
17%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
539 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
99.8%
2021
72.6%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2021
67.6%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.3%
2023
62%
2023

Society

Lesotho Zimbabwe
% of world population
0.03%
2024
0.2%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,192
2025
-54,555
2025
Urban population
43.7%
2024
39.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
47.7:52.3
2024
Average male height
5.51 ft
2025
5.6 ft
2025
Average female height
5.14 ft
2025
5.24 ft
2025
Quality of life index
21.7
2026
27.6
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
37
2025
22
2025
Higher education index
28
2026
45
2026
Homicides per 100K people
37.7
2008
6.76
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
31.9
2019
41.2
2019
Visa free countries
81
2025
70
2025
Adult literacy rate
90.4%
2024
89.8%
2022
English speaking
27.9%
2023
82.1%
2023
People using the Internet
48%
2023
38.4%
2023

Health

Lesotho Zimbabwe
Government health expenditure per capita
$122.6
2023
$62.9
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$16.2
2023
$6.69
2023
Life expectancy
58.6 years
2026
63.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
40.5%
2023
45%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.24
2022
0.14
2023
Age at first childbirth
20.9 years
2025
20.3 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
478
2023
358
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
58.9
2023
44.2
2023
Obesity rate
21.7%
2022
14.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.2%
2024
1.5%
2024
Air quality index
28
2026
29
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
24.3%
2022
11.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.3 liters
2020
2.67 liters
2020

Territory

Lesotho Zimbabwe
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.26%
2026
Land area per capita
5,015 sq mi
2024
8,979 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
9,115 sq mi
2026
62,422 sq mi
2026
Forest area
133.3 sq mi
2026
66,820 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,691 mi
2011
60,439 mi
2019

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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