India vs Lesotho: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 166 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

India has 618 times as many people as Lesotho (1.48 billion vs 2.39 million). India's economy is 1,968 times the size of Lesotho's ($4.52 trillion vs $2.3 billion GDP).

Comparing India and Lesotho: India leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (2.30) against Lesotho (280,000); India leads on Irrigated Land (754,562) against Lesotho (12); Lesotho leads on Major Urban Areas Population (202,000 people) against India (32.94 people). Across 166 compared metrics, India wins on 99 and Lesotho wins on 58.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 62 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 38 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration3.15 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…0.38 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)64.94 %ā˜…51.8 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)55.9 %ā˜…46.5 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 56% (2022 est.)percent of population: 48% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed3.15 Mbpsā˜…0.38 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score32.96 points52.07 pointsā˜…
Radios116NA (2002)
Televisions63NA
Waterways16,180none

Economy

62 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country717.60B $ā˜…180.83M $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars4.52T $ā˜…2.30B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)33.36 %ā˜…27.22 %
Apple Import Volume519.65M tonnesā˜…4.20M tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate89.02 %ā˜…61.57 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)6 %6.75 %ā˜…
Coal Revenue1.15ā˜…0
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)9.51 %11.58 %ā˜…
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.5 % of GDP9.3 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index7188.2ā˜…
Electricity Consumption1.14847.3ā˜…
Electricity Exports5.15ā˜…0
Electricity from Fossil Fuels71ā˜…0
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants12100ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels2ā˜…0
Electricity from Other Renewables16ā˜…1
Electricity Imports5.62373ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity367.880,400ā˜…
Electricity Production1.39510ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)25.18 USD per capitaā˜…8.12 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate34.88 %50.49 %ā˜…
Gender Pay Gap Percentage21.96 %ā˜…3.84 %
Gender Wage Gap21.96 %3.84 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient25.544.9ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment3036.6ā˜…
Gross National Saving28.8ā˜…20.3
Highest GDP per Capita Countries10,039.07 USDā˜…2,720.96 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)5.6 %ā˜…2.6 %
Inflation Rate2.4 %ā˜…4.27 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)5 %ā˜…6.1 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)2 % of GDPā˜…1.5 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption55.43ā˜…0
Natural Gas Exports76.45ā˜…0
Natural Gas Imports23.96ā˜…0
Natural Gas Production31.54ā˜…0
Natural Gas Proved Reserves1.29ā˜…0
Oil Consumption3.182,000ā˜…
Oil Exports825,600ā˜…0
Oil Imports3.061,690ā˜…
Oil Production954,000ā˜…0
Oil Proved Reserves5.68ā˜…0
Population Below Poverty Line21.9 peopleā˜…49.7 people
Public Debt46.53ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.69 %ā˜…0.05 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)6.5 USDā˜…2.8 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends5.56 %ā˜…3.27 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption4.525,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports1.31ā˜…0
Refined Petroleum Products Imports653,300ā˜…5,118
Refined Petroleum Products Production4.9ā˜…0
Remittances3.522ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million214.35 researchersā˜…23.73 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources0.143.34ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding0.69 USDā˜…0.05 USD
Tax Burden (% of GDP)6.93 %ā˜…30.44 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)6.93 % of GDP30.44 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues6.730.4ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries780.41B USDā˜…909.09M USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)0.99 %ā˜…-0.22 %
Unemployment Rate4.3 %ā˜…16.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate55.66 %ā˜…57.12 %
Youth Unemployment Rate16.02 %ā˜…24.67 %

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)130.72M78,134ā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate86,000 %ā˜…0 %
Average Annual Temperature24.23 °Cā˜…11.75 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions2.821.15ā˜…
Global Precipitation Distribution1,404.35 mmā˜…1,328.92 mm
Population Distributiona very high population density exists throughout most of the country, with the notable exception of the deserts in the northwest and the mountain fringe in the north; the core of the population is in the north along the banks of the Ganges, with other rivrelatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people, as shown in this population distribution map
Protected Land Area for Adaptation7.76 sq km34.43 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage7.7 %23.4 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country432 Cubic meters per yearā˜…0.5 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources1.913.02ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species99 species4 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization21.46 %ā˜…2.95 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)68.773.72ā˜…
Agricultural land1.78M sq. kmā˜…21,439 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km2.97Mā˜…30,360
Coastline Length (km)7,000 kmā˜…0 km
Dam capacity per capita167.04 cubic meters per inhabitant1,197.02 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land754,562ā˜…12

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Rule of Law Index by Country59.13 %ā˜…32.71 %
Administrative Divisions28ā˜…10
Corruption Perception Index38 index37 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score38 indexā˜…37 index
Independence15ā˜…4
LGBT Rights Index Score2.072.07
Prison Population Rate32 per 100,000ā˜…102 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception3837ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water76.44 %ā˜…31.32 %
Average BMI for Adults21.7 kg/m²22.7 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate97 %ā˜…90 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)10.5ā˜…6.2
Female Life Expectancy Leaders72.24 yearsā˜…57.8 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.18 per 1,000 birthsā˜…2.27 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita447.76 USDā˜…239.19 USD
Health Coverage Index Score69 scoreā˜…55 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.3 % of GDP10.2 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy72.24 yearsā˜…57.8 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.2 %ā˜…20.9 %
Hospital Bed Density0.7 people/sq km1.3 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.92 beds per 1,000ā˜…1.3 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence27.44 %14.45 %ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)80 %ā˜…478 %
Mean Age at First Birth21.2ā˜…20.9
Nurses and Midwives Density1.7 per 1,000 people3.14 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)3.9 %ā˜…16.6 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending43.89 %13.2 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS2.3ā˜…280,000
Total Number of Doctors0.84ā˜…0.46
Underweight Children Under 531.512.5ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Active Military Personnel1.46M personnelā˜…2,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)2.3 %1.63 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)3.07Mā˜…2,000

People and Society

38 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Currently married (Percent)71.87 %ā˜…44.3 %
Human Capital Index0.52ā˜…0.44
Life expectancy at birth76.09 yearsā˜…62.25 years
Median age of population29.19 yearsā˜…22 years
Population Change14.13M personsā˜…26,625.4 persons
Population density496.42 per sq. km78.67 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population1.48B personsā˜…2.39M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.140.64ā˜…
Beer Consumption per Capita0.21 liters2.07 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)15.91 %21.68 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate66.7 %ā˜…64.9 %
Crude Birth Rate15.98 per 1,000 people23.76 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)8.7 %ā˜…10.2 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)4.1 % of GDP6.6 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age389.10M personsā˜…673,613 persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)29.14 %ā˜…11.95 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate3.15 %ā˜…0.38 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth107.28 male/femaleā˜…101.81 male/female
Human Development Index0.35ā˜…0.31
Labor Force Participation Rate607.69884,200ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school9.6 yearsā˜…6.78 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population32.94 people202,000 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)164.95165.59ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling7.8 yearsā˜…6.88 years
Military Service Age and Obligationages vary by branch of service and positions, but generally 17-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025) note 1: in 2022, the Indian Government began recruiting men aged 17.5-21 annually to serve on 4-year co20
Old-Age Dependency Ratio10.17 %6.25 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization84.2 %ā˜…40.74 %
Physician Density0.72 people/sq kmā˜…0.24 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.72 %0.73 %ā˜…
Population living in slums5.41 %17.13 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio32.75ā˜…32.95
Total deaths8.28M persons22,773.8 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)57.51 %58.42 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.93 per woman2.6 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration-632,939 persons-5,758.8 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate26.01 per live birthsā˜…65.76 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.76 %3.35 %ā˜…

Transportation

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.14ā˜…0.02
Airports315ā˜…34
Civil Air Travel93ā˜…1

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita37.02B USDā˜…9.14M USD

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡³ IndiašŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothoShare
Current Bank Rate5.25 %6.5 %ā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About India vs Lesotho

Which has a larger population, India or Lesotho?ā–¾

India. India has 618 times as many people as Lesotho (1.48 billion vs 2.39 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, India or Lesotho?ā–¾

India. India's economy is 1,968 times the size of Lesotho's ($4.52 trillion vs $2.3 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, India or Lesotho?ā–¾

India is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $3,063 in India vs $962.19 in Lesotho (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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