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Lesotho vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 164 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Lesotho
lso
Leads on 51 of 164 metrics
Malaysia
mys
Leads on 105 of 164 metrics

Summary

Malaysia has 15.2 times as many people as Lesotho (36.4 million vs 2.39 million). Malaysia's economy is 203 times the size of Lesotho's ($466.53 billion vs $2.3 billion GDP).

Comparing Lesotho and Malaysia: Lesotho leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (884,200) against Malaysia (18.26); Lesotho leads on Major Urban Areas Population (202,000 people) against Malaysia (8.62 people); Malaysia leads on Tourism Receipts per Capita (24.59 billion USD) against Lesotho (9.14 million USD). Across 164 compared metrics, Lesotho wins on 51 and Malaysia wins on 105.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 60 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 21 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 39 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration0.38 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)51.8 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)47.99 %97.69 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 48% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed0.38 Mbps13.55 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score52.07 points56.09 pointsā˜…
RadiosNA (2002)10.9
TelevisionsNA10.8
Waterwaysnone7,296

Economy

60 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country180.83M $47.38B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars2.30B $466.53B $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)27.22 %ā˜…22.8 %
Apple Import Volume4.20M tonnes101.62M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate61.57 %88.69 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)6.75 %ā˜…3 %
Coal Revenue00.02ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)11.58 %ā˜…4.61 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)9.3 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index88.2ā˜…83.3
Electricity Consumption847.3ā˜…136.9
Electricity Exports03ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels078ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants100ā˜…18
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables14ā˜…
Electricity Imports373ā˜…33
Electricity Installed Capacity80,400ā˜…33
Electricity Production510ā˜…148.3
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)8.12 USD per capita113.16 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate50.49 %56.67 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient44.9ā˜…40.7
Gross Fixed Investment36.6ā˜…25.2
Gross National Saving20.328.5ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries2,720.96 USD35,461.45 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)2.6 %4.9 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate4.27 %1.38 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)6.1 %1.8 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1.5 % of GDPā˜…1 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption030.44ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports038.23ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports02.8ā˜…
Natural Gas Production069.49ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves01.18ā˜…
Oil Consumption2,000561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports0644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports1,690355,300ā˜…
Oil Production0664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves04ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line49.7 people6.2 peopleā˜…
Public Debt3ā˜…64.3
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.05 %1.28 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)2.8 USD5.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends4.92 %ā˜…4.46 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption5,000704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0208,400ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports5,118304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production0528,300ā˜…
Remittances22ā˜…0.4
Researchers in R&D per Million23.73 researchers2,256.6 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources3.34ā˜…1.57
Robotics Research Funding0.05 USD1.28 USDā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)35.42 %12.43 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)35.42 % of GDPā˜…12.43 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues30.4ā˜…12.6
Top Exporting Countries909.09M USD274.68B USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-0.53 %3.69 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate16.2 %3.9 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate57.12 %ā˜…66.12 %
Youth Unemployment Rate24.67 %11.95 %ā˜…

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)78,134ā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate0 %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature11.75 Ā°C25.87 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions1.15ā˜…260.01
Global Precipitation Distribution1,328.92 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionrelatively 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 mapa highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Protected Land Area for Adaptation34.43 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage23.4 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country0.5 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources3.02580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species4 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization2.95 %4.11 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)73.72209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land21,439 sq. km85,710 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km30,360328,550ā˜…
Coastline Length (km)0 km4,675 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita1,197.02 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…611.58 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land124,420ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country32.71 %67.87 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions1013ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index37 indexā˜…50 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score37 index50 indexā˜…
Independence431ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score2.07ā˜…-2.46
Prison Population Rate117 per 100,000ā˜…244 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception37ā˜…50
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

21 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water31.32 %94.7 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults22.7 kg/mĀ²25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate90 %96 %ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)6.221.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders57.8 years76.82 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends2.27 per 1,000 births0.48 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita239.19 USD1,703.34 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score55 score80 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)10.2 % of GDPā˜…4.4 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy57.8 years76.82 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate20.9 %0.3 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density1.3 people/sq km1.9 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita1.3 beds per 1,0001.9 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence14.45 %13.81 %ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)478 %26 %ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density1.76 per 1,000 people4.03 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)16.6 %15.6 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending13.2 %ā˜…37.09 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS280,00092,000ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors0.242.29ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 512.5ā˜…15.3

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel2,000 personnel113,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.63 %1.04 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)2,000136,000ā˜…

People and Society

39 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)44.3 %58.88 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.440.65ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth62.25 years80.87 yearsā˜…
Median age of population22 years31.44 yearsā˜…
Population Change26,625.4 persons428,622.9 personsā˜…
Population density78.67 per sq. kmā˜…110.8 per sq. km
Total population2.39M persons36.40M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.64ā˜…0.29
Beer Consumption per Capita2.07 litersā˜…0.51 liters
Birth Rate (%)21.68 %ā˜…14.05 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate64.9 %ā˜…52.2 %
Crude Birth Rate23.76 per 1,000 peopleā˜…12.36 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)10.2 %5.8 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6.6 % of GDPā˜…3.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age673,613 persons9.69M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)11.95 %50.35 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate0.38 %13.55 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth101.81 male/female106.37 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.310.48ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate884,200ā˜…18.26
Learning-adjusted years of school6.78 years9.72 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population202,000 peopleā˜…8.62 people
Mean Male Height (cm)165.59167.88ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling6.88 years11.96 yearsā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation20ā˜…17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio6.25 %ā˜…10.6 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization40.74 %83.21 %ā˜…
Physician Density0.24 people/sq km2.34 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate0.73 %0.97 %ā˜…
Population living in slums17.13 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio32.9511.66ā˜…
Total deaths22,773.8 personsā˜…179,998.3 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)58.42 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate2.6 per womanā˜…1.53 per woman
Total net-migration-5,758.8 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate65.76 per live births5.53 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate3.35 %ā˜…1.79 %
Voting Age Population38.69 millions63.6 millionsā˜…

Transportation

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.021.58ā˜…
Airports34100ā˜…
Civil Air Travel153ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita9.14M USD24.59B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡±šŸ‡ø LesothošŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Current Bank Rate6.5 %ā˜…2.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Lesotho vs Malaysia

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

Malaysia. Malaysia has 15.2 times as many people as Lesotho (36.4 million vs 2.39 million). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia. Malaysia's economy is 203 times the size of Lesotho's ($466.53 billion vs $2.3 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

Malaysia is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $12,818 in Malaysia vs $962.19 in Lesotho (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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