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Guinea-Bissau vs Lesotho
Side-by-side comparison of Guinea-Bissau and Lesotho from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Guinea-Bissau
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 52 years
In short
Lesotho scores 24.0 in the NationsTree Index (179th in the world) and Guinea-Bissau scores 17.0 (192nd), a gap of 7.0 points. Their trees are 1.3 m and 1.4 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Guinea-Bissau and Lesotho have a similar population. Guinea-Bissau has 19% more land area than Lesotho. Guinea-Bissau and Lesotho have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Guinea-Bissau 2.2 million and Lesotho 2.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $3,293 in Guinea-Bissau and $3,184 in Lesotho (2025, international dollars). People in Guinea-Bissau live on average 6.5 years longer (64.3 vs 57.8 years).
Of 31 indicators reported by both countries, Guinea-Bissau ranks higher in the world on 12 and Lesotho on 19. Guinea-Bissau is clearly stronger in environment & energy and infrastructure & digital. Lesotho is clearly stronger in trade, tourism and institutions & safety.
As a nation, Lesotho is the older of the two (statehood since 1966, 60 years), compared with Guinea-Bissau (since 1974). Over the last five years Lesotho improved faster (direction score 44 vs 11 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Guinea-Bissau and Lesotho.
Guinea-Bissau
-6.7%
172nd of 192
Lesothobetter
4.9%
6th of 192
UnemploymentEconomy
Guinea-Bissaubetter
2.7%
27th of 187
Lesotho
16.3%
174th of 187
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Guinea-Bissau
19.8
193rd of 207
Lesothobetter
42.5
111th of 207
Adult literacySociety & health
Guinea-Bissau
63.9%
85th of 98
Lesothobetter
90.4%
51st of 98
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Guinea-Bissaubetter
2.40
96th of 164
Lesotho
1.96
152nd of 164
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Guinea-Bissau overtook Lesotho in GDP per person (PPP) in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Lesotho overtook Guinea-Bissau in the NationsTree Index in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Guinea-Bissau overtook Lesotho in life expectancy in 2000 and has stayed ahead since.
Lesotho has been ahead of Guinea-Bissau 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
Guinea-BissauLesotho 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 | Guinea-Bissau | Lesotho |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 36,125135th/216 · 2024 | 30,360138th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 28,120139th/216 · 2024 | 30,360137th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 2.2 m147th/217 · 2025 | 2.4 m144th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.16%41st/217 · 2025 | 1.10%96th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 78.3127th/216 · 2024 | 77.0129th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 46.7%157th/217 · 2025 | 44.7%162nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 38.3%31st/217 · 2025 | 34.1%54th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.2%187th/217 · 2025 | 3.9%169th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.53 bn185th/210 · 2025 | $2.57 bn184th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $7.41 bn165th/199 · 2025 | $7.53 bn164th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $6.33 bn165th/199 · 2025 | $6.43 bn164th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,124193rd/210 · 2025 | $1,089195th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,293183rd/199 · 2025 | $3,184184th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,090185th/201 · 2025 | $1,280178th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.8%37th/210 · 2025 | 2.0%146th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 0.9%32nd/180 · 2025 | 4.3%130th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.7%27th/187 · 2025 | 16.3%174th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 3.0%1st/55 · 2020 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 75.1%142nd/189 · 2025 | 49.4%83rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.7%172nd/192 · 2025 | 4.9%6th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 40.6%3rd/197 · 2025 | 6.5%96th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 15.7%158th/200 · 2025 | 25.2%85th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 8.6%115th/192 · 2025 | 12.1%78th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 39.1%187th/200 · 2025 | 55.6%115th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $350.5 m170th/182 · 2025 | $1.27 bn158th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $682.9 m171st/182 · 2025 | $2.69 bn153rd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 13.9%165th/183 · 2025 | 49.5%53rd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 27.0%146th/183 · 2025 | 104.5%6th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 40.9%160th/183 · 2025 | 154.0%19th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%2015 | 0.0%146th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%2015 | 70.1%42nd/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 68.5%2018 | 23.3%62nd/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.6%2005 | 1.5%120th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 5.8%2015 | 0.1%162nd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -6.2%155th/191 · 2025 | -1.2%95th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.3%128th/196 · 2025 | 1.3%130th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 10.4%44th/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 | 0.00%68th/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 | 10.43%5th/209 · 2021 | 4.32%18th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 16.1%69th/206 · 2024 | 19.0%58th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 7,59955th/183 · 2022 | 2,28898th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 52,400178th/194 · 2019 | 1.1 m91st/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $18.9 m166th/175 · 2019 | $23.1 m1999 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 6.5%77th/168 · 2019 | 10.1%1999 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 64.3193rd/217 · 2024 | 57.8213th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 67.3182nd/196 · 2024 | 60.0176th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.25138th/174 · 2022 | 0.24141st/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.02009 | 1.32006 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 68%173rd/193 · 2024 | 86%125th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 21.4%140th/153 · 2022 | 37.2%122nd/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 34.4%2006 | 59.4%2017 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 22.0%45th/55 · 2021 | 74.8%2017 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.5%190th/217 · 2025 | 6.3%172nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 8.8%49th/193 · 2023 | 12.6%8th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 63.9%85th/98 · 2022 | 90.4%51st/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 2.6%2006 | 9.9%2018 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.514174th/193 · 2023 | 0.550167th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 33.444th/108 · 2021 | 44.92017 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 39.9%99th/108 · 2021 | 41.9%2017 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 43.7%202nd/215 · 2024 | 60.6%187th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 24.0%135th/150 · 2024 | 31.3%126th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 22.6%124th/144 · 2024 | 43.8%92nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 29.8%169th/186 · 2024 | 51.8%147th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 14733rd/210 · 2024 | 70179th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.4181st/208 · 2024 | 0.4182nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 1.96152nd/164 · 2018 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 20,4001998 | 1,3001999 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.1619th/203 · 2024 | 0.4338th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 87.4%8th/212 · 2022 | 34.9%69th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 32.3160th/200 · 2023 | 26.4143rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 74.8%11th/214 · 2024 | 1.1%196th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 652007 | 102007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 22.2193rd/205 · 2025 | 39.2155th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 19.8193rd/207 · 2025 | 42.5111th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 37.7185th/207 · 2025 | 51.0131st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 56.3156th/207 · 2025 | 65.4118th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 34.3185th/205 · 2025 | 47.1135th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 38.0155th/205 · 2025 | 59.696th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.12017 | 38.22008 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $22.4 m151st/156 · 2025 | $39.9 m145th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.9%123rd/156 · 2025 | 1.6%81st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.7%89th/154 · 2025 | 2.7%126th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 4,000148th/170 · 2020 | 2,000154th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.53%110th/168 · 2020 | 0.24%149th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 5.0 m1993 | 1.0 m2019 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.09%99th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 12019 |
| Scientific articles articles | 14181st/197 · 2023 | 60149th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Guinea-Bissau or Lesotho?
Lesotho has the larger population: 2.4 m (2025) compared with 2.2 m for Guinea-Bissau (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Guinea-Bissau or Lesotho?
Guinea-Bissau is larger: 36,125 km² (2024) compared with 30,360 km² for Lesotho (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Guinea-Bissau or Lesotho?
Lesotho has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $7.53 bn intl. (2025) compared with $7.41 bn intl. for Guinea-Bissau (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Guinea-Bissau or Lesotho?
Guinea-Bissau has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $3,293 intl. (2025) compared with $3,184 intl. for Lesotho (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Guinea-Bissau or Lesotho?
Guinea-Bissau has the higher life expectancy at birth: 64.3 years (2024) compared with 57.8 years for Lesotho (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Guinea-Bissau or Lesotho?
Lesotho spends more on the military: $39.9 m (2025) compared with $22.4 m for Guinea-Bissau (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Guinea-Bissau or Lesotho?
Lesotho: 24.0 points (179th in the world); Guinea-Bissau: 17.0 points (192nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
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Gambia
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SeychellesSources
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). Guinea-Bissau vs Lesotho — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/guinea-bissau-vs-lesotho. Data as of 26 October 2026.