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Cabo Verde vs Lesotho
Side-by-side comparison of Cabo Verde and Lesotho from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Cabo Verde
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 51 years
In short
Cabo Verde scores 46.9 in the NationsTree Index (100th in the world) and Lesotho scores 24.0 (179th), a gap of 23.0 points. Their trees are 1.5 m and 1.4 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Lesotho has 4.5 times the population of Cabo Verde. Lesotho is 7.5 times larger than Cabo Verde by land area. The economy of Lesotho is 17% larger than that of Cabo Verde (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Cabo Verde 527,326 and Lesotho 2.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $12,165 in Cabo Verde and $3,184 in Lesotho (2025, international dollars). People in Cabo Verde live on average 18.4 years longer (76.2 vs 57.8 years).
Of 29 indicators reported by both countries, Cabo Verde ranks higher in the world on 22 and Lesotho on 7. Cabo Verde is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, infrastructure & digital and society & health. Lesotho is clearly stronger in main industries and tourism.
As a nation, Lesotho is the older of the two (statehood since 1966, 60 years), compared with Cabo Verde (since 1975). Over the last five years Cabo Verde improved faster (direction score 94 vs 44 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Cabo Verde and Lesotho.
Cabo Verdebetter
6.3%
32nd of 210
Lesotho
2.0%
146th of 210
Life expectancySociety & health
Cabo Verdebetter
76.2
98th of 217
Lesotho
57.8
213th of 217
General government gross debtEconomy
Cabo Verde
115.4%
177th of 189
Lesothobetter
49.4%
83rd of 189
Under-5 mortalitySociety & health
Cabo Verdebetter
11.1
80th of 196
Lesotho
60.0
176th of 196
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Cabo Verdebetter
62.8
63rd of 205
Lesotho
39.2
155th of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Cabo Verde has been ahead of Lesotho in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1997.
Cabo Verde has been ahead of Lesotho in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Lesotho has been ahead of Cabo Verde in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
Cabo VerdeLesotho All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Cabo Verde | Lesotho |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 4,030171st/216 · 2024 | 30,360138th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 4,030169th/216 · 2024 | 30,360137th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 527,326172nd/217 · 2025 | 2.4 m144th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.47%140th/217 · 2025 | 1.10%96th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 130.285th/216 · 2024 | 77.0129th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 77.6%67th/217 · 2025 | 44.7%162nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.7%96th/217 · 2025 | 34.1%54th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 7.2%123rd/217 · 2025 | 3.9%169th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.06 bn181st/210 · 2025 | $2.57 bn184th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $6.42 bn171st/199 · 2025 | $7.53 bn164th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $5.48 bn171st/199 · 2025 | $6.43 bn164th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $5,796133rd/210 · 2025 | $1,089195th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $12,165133rd/199 · 2025 | $3,184184th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $5,590124th/201 · 2025 | $1,280178th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 6.3%32nd/210 · 2025 | 2.0%146th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.3%70th/180 · 2025 | 4.3%130th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 11.9%161st/187 · 2025 | 16.3%174th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 3.0%1st/55 · 2020 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 115.4%177th/189 · 2025 | 49.4%83rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 1.1%28th/192 · 2025 | 4.9%6th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 5.0%107th/197 · 2025 | 6.5%96th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 10.7%181st/200 · 2025 | 25.2%85th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 5.2%151st/192 · 2025 | 12.1%78th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 67.9%43rd/200 · 2025 | 55.6%115th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.28 bn157th/182 · 2025 | $1.27 bn158th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.63 bn162nd/182 · 2025 | $2.69 bn153rd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 42.0%72nd/183 · 2025 | 49.5%53rd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 53.4%71st/183 · 2025 | 104.5%6th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 95.3%69th/183 · 2025 | 154.0%19th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%165th/170 · 2023 | 0.0%146th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 13.6%124th/171 · 2024 | 70.1%42nd/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 86.4%9th/171 · 2024 | 23.3%62nd/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%171st/171 · 2023 | 1.5%120th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.2%146th/168 · 2023 | 0.1%162nd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 3.4%48th/191 · 2025 | -1.2%95th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 5.0%41st/196 · 2025 | 1.3%130th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 17.7%29th/209 · 2021 | 4.3%78th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 17.18%1st/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.48%71st/209 · 2021 | 4.32%18th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 18.0%60th/206 · 2024 | 19.0%58th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 577152nd/183 · 2022 | 2,28898th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 180,000154th/194 · 2020 | 1.1 m91st/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $169.0 m133rd/175 · 2020 | $23.1 m1999 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 39.9%20th/168 · 2020 | 10.1%1999 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.298th/217 · 2024 | 57.8213th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 11.180th/196 · 2024 | 60.0176th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.73114th/174 · 2023 | 0.24141st/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.283rd/145 · 2022 | 1.32006 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 93%81st/193 · 2024 | 86%125th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 33.7%128th/153 · 2024 | 37.2%122nd/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 96.4%75th/173 · 2022 | 59.4%2017 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 29.7%2007 | 74.8%2017 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.5%127th/217 · 2025 | 6.3%172nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.8%108th/193 · 2023 | 12.6%8th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 88.5%55th/98 · 2024 | 90.4%51st/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 24.3%2018 | 9.9%2018 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.668135th/193 · 2023 | 0.550167th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 42.42015 | 44.92017 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 14.6%2015 | 41.9%2017 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 98.4%140th/215 · 2024 | 60.6%187th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 31.3%126th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 43.8%92nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 74.7%113th/186 · 2024 | 51.8%147th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 112117th/210 · 2024 | 70179th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 8.3123rd/208 · 2024 | 0.4182nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | — | 1.96152nd/164 · 2018 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 71,784140th/161 · 2023 | 1,3001999 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.2972nd/203 · 2024 | 0.4338th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 21.8%100th/212 · 2022 | 34.9%69th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 20.2119th/200 · 2023 | 26.4143rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 12.5%152nd/214 · 2024 | 1.1%196th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2082007 | 102007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 62.863rd/205 · 2025 | 39.2155th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 66.341st/207 · 2025 | 42.5111th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 66.173rd/207 · 2025 | 51.0131st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 80.752nd/207 · 2025 | 65.4118th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 55.693rd/205 · 2025 | 47.1135th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 73.947th/205 · 2025 | 59.696th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 7.0109th/145 · 2020 | 38.22008 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $20.1 m152nd/156 · 2025 | $39.9 m145th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.7%136th/156 · 2025 | 1.6%81st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.3%137th/154 · 2025 | 2.7%126th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 1,000161st/170 · 2020 | 2,000154th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.51%114th/168 · 2020 | 0.24%149th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 3.0 m2019 | 1.0 m2019 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.07%2011 | 0.09%99th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1126th/137 · 2024 | 12019 |
| Scientific articles articles | 18174th/197 · 2023 | 60149th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Cabo Verde or Lesotho?
Lesotho has the larger population: 2.4 m (2025) compared with 527,326 for Cabo Verde (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Cabo Verde or Lesotho?
Lesotho is larger: 30,360 km² (2024) compared with 4,030 km² for Cabo Verde (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Cabo Verde or Lesotho?
Lesotho has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $7.53 bn intl. (2025) compared with $6.42 bn intl. for Cabo Verde (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Cabo Verde or Lesotho?
Cabo Verde has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $12,165 intl. (2025) compared with $3,184 intl. for Lesotho (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Cabo Verde or Lesotho?
Cabo Verde has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.2 years (2024) compared with 57.8 years for Lesotho (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Cabo Verde or Lesotho?
Lesotho spends more on the military: $39.9 m (2025) compared with $20.1 m for Cabo Verde (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Cabo Verde or Lesotho?
Cabo Verde: 46.9 points (100th in the world); Lesotho: 24.0 points (179th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
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São Tomé and Príncipe
Seychelles
Gambia
LiberiaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Cabo Verde vs Lesotho — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/cabo-verde-vs-lesotho. Data as of 26 October 2026.