Lesotho vs United States: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 168 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
United States has 146 times as many people as Lesotho (349.13 million vs 2.39 million). United States's economy is 14,332 times the size of Lesotho's ($32.95 trillion vs $2.3 billion GDP).
Comparing Lesotho and United States: Lesotho leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (80,400) against United States (1.09); United States leads on Tourism Receipts per Capita (251.65 billion USD) against Lesotho (9.14 million USD); United States leads on Irrigated Land (234,782) against Lesotho (12). Across 168 compared metrics, Lesotho wins on 50 and United States wins on 107.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 63 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: 39 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
- Other: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 0.38 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 38.86 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 51.8 % | 94.69 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 47.99 % | 93.14 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 48% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 93% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 0.38 Mbps | 38.86 Mbps★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 52.07 points | 65.49 points★ | |
| Radios | NA (2002) | 575 | |
| Televisions | NA | 219 | |
| Waterways | none | 41,009 |
Economy
63 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 78,134 | -14.29M★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 0 %★ | -72,000 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 11.75 °C★ | 10.43 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 1.15★ | 4.8 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,328.92 mm★ | 810.4 mm | |
| Population Distribution | relatively 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 | large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 34.43 sq km★ | 12.85 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 23.4 %★ | 12.9 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0.5 Cubic meters per year | 1,383 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 3.02 | 3.07★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 4 species★ | 43 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 2.95 %★ | 2.11 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 73.72 | 94.67★ | |
| Agricultural land | 21,439 sq. km | 4.17M sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 30,360 | 9.15M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 0 km | 19,924 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 1,197.02 cubic meters per inhabitant | 2,113 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 12 | 234,782★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 32.71 % | 88.3 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 10 | 50★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 37 index★ | 65 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 37 index | 65 index★ | |
| Independence | 4 | 4 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 7.08★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 102 per 100,000★ | 693 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 37★ | 65 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 2,000 personnel | 1.36M personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 1.63 %★ | 3.12 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 2,000 | 1.40M★ |
People and Society
39 metricsTransportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.02 | 2.06★ | |
| Airports | 34 | 16,116★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 1 | 8,252★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 9.14M USD | 251.65B USD★ |
Other
1 metric| Metric | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Bank Rate | 6.5 %★ | 3.75 % |
Frequently Asked Questions About Lesotho vs United States
Which has a larger population, Lesotho or United States?▾
United States. United States has 146 times as many people as Lesotho (349.13 million vs 2.39 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Lesotho or United States?▾
United States. United States's economy is 14,332 times the size of Lesotho's ($32.95 trillion vs $2.3 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Lesotho or United States?▾
United States is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $94,373 in United States vs $962.19 in Lesotho (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).