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Lesotho vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

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

Lesotho
lso
Leads on 55 of 164 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 100 of 164 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 27.4 times as many people as Lesotho (65.49 million vs 2.39 million). South Africa's economy is 185 times the size of Lesotho's ($424.75 billion vs $2.3 billion GDP).

Comparing Lesotho and South Africa: South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Lesotho (280,000); Lesotho leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (884,200) against South Africa (27.77); Lesotho leads on Major Urban Areas Population (202,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people). Across 164 compared metrics, Lesotho wins on 55 and South Africa wins on 100.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 61 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: 38 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration0.38 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★
Internet Penetration Rate (%)51.8 %78.36 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)47.99 %75.66 %★
Internet Userspercent of population: 48% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed0.38 Mbps5.35 Mbps★
Press Freedom Index Score52.07 points75.71 points★
RadiosNA (2002)17
TelevisionsNA6
WaterwaysnoneNA

Economy

61 metrics
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country180.83M $14.21B $★
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars2.30B $424.75B $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)27.22 %★15.39 %
Apple Import Volume4.20M tonnes★48,832 tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate61.57 %81.13 %★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)6.75 %★5.75 %
Coal Revenue02.4★
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)11.58 %★10.38 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)9.3 % of GDP★8.3 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index88.2★59.6
Electricity Consumption847.3★207.1
Electricity Exports016.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels085★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants100★1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables110★
Electricity Imports373★10.56
Electricity Installed Capacity80,400★50.02
Electricity Production510★234.5
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)8.12 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate50.49 %55.4 %★
Gender Pay Gap Percentage9.54 %★9.52 %
Gender Wage Gap9.54 %9.52 %★
Gini Index Coefficient44.963★
Gross Fixed Investment36.6★19.5
Gross National Saving20.3★16.1
Highest GDP per Capita Countries2,720.96 USD13,592.05 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)2.6 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate4.27 %3.21 %★
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)6.1 %4.4 %★
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1.5 % of GDP★0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption05.07★
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports04.16★
Natural Gas Production0906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption2,000553,000★
Oil Exports054,930★
Oil Imports1,690521,400★
Oil Production0192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves015★
Population Below Poverty Line49.7 people★55.5 people
Public Debt3★76.2
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.05 %0.73 %★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)2.8 USD★0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends4.92 %7.42 %★
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption5,000621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports5,118195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production0487,100★
Remittances22★0.2
Researchers in R&D per Million23.73 researchers466.56 researchers★
Robotics Research Funding0.05 USD0.73 USD★
Tax Burden (% of GDP)35.42 %25.88 %★
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)35.42 % of GDP★25.88 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues30.4★26
Top Exporting Countries909.09M USD126.84B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-0.22 %★-0.51 %
Unemployment Rate16.2 %★33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate57.12 %55.58 %★
Youth Unemployment Rate24.67 %★59.93 %

Environment

11 metrics
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)78,134★3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate0 %87,566.02 %★
Average Annual Temperature11.75 °C18.35 °C★
Carbon Dioxide Emissions1.15★446.7
Global Precipitation Distribution1,328.92 mm★652.17 mm
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 mapthe population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Protected Land Area for Adaptation34.43 sq km★9.88 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage23.4 %★9.6 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country0.5 Cubic meters per year4.8 Cubic meters per year★
Total Renewable Water Resources3.0251.35★
Total Threatened Mammal Species4 species★33 species

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization2.95 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)73.7285.66★
Agricultural land21,439 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km30,3601.21M★
Coastline Length (km)0 km2,798 km★
Dam capacity per capita1,197.02 cubic meters per inhabitant★464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land1216,700★

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country32.71 %61.59 %★
Administrative Divisions10★9
Corruption Perception Index37 index★41 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score37 index41 index★
Independence431★
LGBT Rights Index Score2.0710.94★
Prison Population Rate117 per 100,000★260 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception37★41
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

21 metrics
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water31.32 %68.01 %★
Average BMI for Adults22.7 kg/m²25 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate90 %★76 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)6.27.2★
Female Life Expectancy Leaders57.8 years66.31 years★
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends2.27 per 1,000 births1.87 per 1,000 births★
Health Care Spending per Capita239.19 USD1,541.18 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score55 score74 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)10.2 % of GDP★8.3 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy57.8 years66.31 years★
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate20.9 %18.3 %★
Hospital Bed Density1.3 people/sq km2.8 people/sq km★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence14.45 %★16.64 %
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)478 %118 %★
Mean Age at First Birth21.222.5★
Nurses and Midwives Density1.76 per 1,000 people6.39 per 1,000 people★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)16.6 %★28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending13.2 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS280,0007.8★
Total Number of Doctors0.240.79★
Underweight Children Under 512.54.9★

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel2,000 personnel74,000 personnel★
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.63 %0.74 %★
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)2,00089,000★

People and Society

38 metrics
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)44.3 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.44★0.42
Life expectancy at birth62.25 years71.98 years★
Median age of population22 years29 years★
Population Change26,625.4 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density78.67 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population2.39M persons65.49M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.640.83★
Beer Consumption per Capita2.07 liters3.65 liters★
Birth Rate (%)21.68 %★17.21 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate64.9 %★54.6 %
Crude Birth Rate23.76 per 1,000 people★18.48 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)10.2 %6.56 %★
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6.6 % of GDP★6 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age673,613 persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)11.95 %26.52 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate0.38 %5.35 %★
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth101.81 male/female103.52 male/female★
Human Development Index0.310.48★
Labor Force Participation Rate884,200★27.77
Learning-adjusted years of school6.78 years★4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population202,000 people★10.32 people
Mean Male Height (cm)165.59166.68★
Mean Years of Schooling6.88 years10.47 years★
Military Service Age and Obligation20★18
Old-Age Dependency Ratio6.25 %★9.65 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization40.74 %79.63 %★
Physician Density0.24 people/sq km0.79 people/sq km★
Population Growth Rate0.73 %1.06 %★
Population living in slums17.13 %23.64 %★
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio33.0930.33★
Total deaths22,773.8 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)58.42 %62.02 %★
Total fertility rate2.6 per woman★2.17 per woman
Total net-migration-5,758.8 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate65.76 per live births28.89 per live births★
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate3.35 %★1.34 %

Transportation

3 metrics
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.020.37★
Airports34573★
Civil Air Travel190★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita9.14M USD6.72B USD★

Other

1 metric
Metric🇱🇸 Lesotho🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Current Bank Rate6.5 %7 %★

Frequently Asked Questions About Lesotho vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, Lesotho or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 27.4 times as many people as Lesotho (65.49 million vs 2.39 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Lesotho or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 185 times the size of Lesotho's ($424.75 billion vs $2.3 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Lesotho or South Africa?▾

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $962.19 in Lesotho (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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