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Lesotho vs Liberia
Side-by-side comparison of Lesotho and Liberia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Liberia
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 204 years
In short
Liberia scores 24.0 in the NationsTree Index (178th in the world) and Lesotho scores 24.0 (179th), a gap of 0.0 points. Their trees are 1.4 m and 1.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Liberia has 2.4 times the population of Lesotho. Liberia is 3.7 times larger than Lesotho by land area. The economy of Liberia is 51% larger than that of Lesotho (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Lesotho 2.4 million and Liberia 5.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $3,184 in Lesotho and $1,981 in Liberia (2025, international dollars). People in Liberia live on average 4.5 years longer (62.3 vs 57.8 years).
Of 28 indicators reported by both countries, Lesotho ranks higher in the world on 19 and Liberia on 9. Lesotho is clearly stronger in institutions & safety and trade. Liberia is clearly stronger in environment & energy, land & people and natural resources.
As a nation, Liberia is the older of the two (statehood since 1822, 204 years), compared with Lesotho (since 1966). Over the last five years Liberia improved faster (direction score 64 vs 44 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Lesotho and Liberia.
Lesotho
16.3%
174th of 187
Liberiabetter
2.9%
36th of 187
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Lesotho
2,288
98th of 183
Liberiabetter
37,221
15th of 183
GDP growthEconomy
Lesotho
2.0%
146th of 210
Liberiabetter
5.0%
51st of 210
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Lesotho
1.96
152nd of 164
Liberiabetter
2.40
96th of 164
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Lesotho
34.9%
69th of 212
Liberiabetter
92.8%
3rd of 212
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Liberia overtook Lesotho in GDP (PPP) in 2016 and has stayed ahead since.
Liberia overtook Lesotho in life expectancy in 1999 and has stayed ahead since.
Lesotho overtook Liberia in GDP per person (PPP) in 1991 and has stayed ahead since.
Liberia has been ahead of Lesotho in 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
LesothoLiberia 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 | Lesotho | Liberia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 30,360138th/216 · 2024 | 111,370104th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 30,360137th/216 · 2024 | 96,320107th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 2.4 m144th/217 · 2025 | 5.7 m116th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.10%96th/217 · 2025 | 2.09%44th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 77.0129th/216 · 2024 | 58.3147th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 44.7%162nd/217 · 2025 | 56.1%138th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 34.1%54th/217 · 2025 | 39.1%28th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.9%169th/217 · 2025 | 3.3%183rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.57 bn184th/210 · 2025 | $5.25 bn167th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $7.53 bn164th/199 · 2025 | $11.35 bn160th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $6.43 bn164th/199 · 2025 | $9.70 bn160th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,089195th/210 · 2025 | $915200th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,184184th/199 · 2025 | $1,981192nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,280178th/201 · 2025 | $830190th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 2.0%146th/210 · 2025 | 5.0%51st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 4.3%130th/180 · 2025 | 8.3%153rd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 16.3%174th/187 · 2025 | 2.9%36th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 3.0%1st/55 · 2020 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 49.4%83rd/189 · 2025 | 55.1%103rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 4.9%6th/192 · 2025 | -2.1%79th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 6.5%96th/197 · 2025 | 32.7%10th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.2%85th/200 · 2025 | 24.5%91st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 12.1%78th/192 · 2024 | 2.3%2011 |
| Services % of GDP | 55.6%115th/200 · 2025 | 40.0%186th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.27 bn158th/182 · 2025 | — |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $2.69 bn153rd/182 · 2025 | — |
| Exports % of GDP | 49.5%53rd/183 · 2025 | — |
| Imports % of GDP | 104.5%6th/183 · 2025 | — |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 154.0%19th/183 · 2025 | — |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%146th/170 · 2024 | 1.8%103rd/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 70.1%42nd/171 · 2024 | 9.9%133rd/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 23.3%62nd/171 · 2024 | 24.5%59th/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 1.5%120th/171 · 2024 | 0.1%166th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.1%162nd/168 · 2024 | 0.6%151st/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -1.2%95th/191 · 2025 | -7.0%160th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.3%130th/196 · 2025 | 9.5%23rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 4.3%78th/209 · 2021 | 21.9%21st/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 | 5.44%20th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 4.32%18th/209 · 2021 | 16.48%2nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 19.0%58th/206 · 2024 | 5.2%135th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,28898th/183 · 2022 | 37,22115th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.1 m91st/194 · 2019 | — |
| Tourism receipts USD | $23.1 m1999 | $123.0 m2009 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 10.1%1999 | 27.1%2009 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 57.8213th/217 · 2024 | 62.3202nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 60.0176th/196 · 2024 | 86.4187th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.24141st/174 · 2022 | 0.18149th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.32006 | 1.698th/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 86%125th/193 · 2024 | 83%137th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 37.2%122nd/153 · 2024 | 35.6%2019 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 59.4%2017 | 37.7%2020 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 74.8%2017 | 14.3%2016 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.3%172nd/217 · 2025 | 5.8%182nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 12.6%8th/193 · 2023 | 13.0%6th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 90.4%51st/98 · 2024 | 59.4%2010 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 9.9%2018 | 10.8%2012 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.550167th/193 · 2023 | 0.510177th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 44.92017 | 35.32016 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 41.9%2017 | 33.6%2016 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 60.6%187th/215 · 2024 | 34.9%207th/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 | 51.8%147th/186 · 2024 | 32.2%166th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 70179th/210 · 2024 | 32208th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.4182nd/208 · 2024 | 0.3186th/208 · 2022 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 1.96152nd/164 · 2018 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 1,3001999 | 32,0001992 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.4338th/203 · 2024 | 0.1518th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 34.9%69th/212 · 2022 | 92.8%3rd/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 26.4143rd/200 · 2023 | 17.9102nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 1.1%196th/214 · 2024 | 66.1%21st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 102007 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 39.2155th/205 · 2025 | 28.4186th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 42.5111th/207 · 2025 | 28.6166th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 51.0131st/207 · 2025 | 44.6155th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 65.4118th/207 · 2025 | 63.2125th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 47.1135th/205 · 2025 | 40.6169th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 59.696th/205 · 2025 | 58.0101st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 38.22008 | 3.12012 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $39.9 m145th/156 · 2025 | $44.2 m144th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.6%81st/156 · 2025 | 0.9%126th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.7%126th/154 · 2025 | 3.9%111th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 2,000154th/170 · 2020 | 2,000154th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.24%149th/168 · 2020 | 0.09%163rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m2019 | 0158th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.09%99th/110 · 2023 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 12019 | 2123rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 60149th/197 · 2023 | 32165th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Lesotho or Liberia?
Liberia has the larger population: 5.7 m (2025) compared with 2.4 m for Lesotho (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Lesotho or Liberia?
Liberia is larger: 111,370 km² (2024) compared with 30,360 km² for Lesotho (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Lesotho or Liberia?
Liberia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $11.35 bn intl. (2025) compared with $7.53 bn intl. for Lesotho (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Lesotho or Liberia?
Lesotho has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $3,184 intl. (2025) compared with $1,981 intl. for Liberia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Lesotho or Liberia?
Liberia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 62.3 years (2024) compared with 57.8 years for Lesotho (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Lesotho or Liberia?
Liberia spends more on the military: $44.2 m (2025) compared with $39.9 m for Lesotho (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Lesotho or Liberia?
Liberia: 24.0 points (178th 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.
Cabo Verde
Central African Republic
Gambia
Guinea-Bissau
Burundi
EswatiniSources
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). Lesotho vs Liberia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/lesotho-vs-liberia. Data as of 26 October 2026.