Updated
Overview
South Africa has 27 times the population of Lesotho: 64.75 million people against 2.36 million (2025).
South Africa's economy is 166 times the size of Lesotho's, at $427.18B versus $2.57B.
Per person, South Africa is the wealthier of the two: $6,598 against $1,089 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Africa | Lesotho | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $427.18B | $2.57B | 2025 | $400.26B / $2.27B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $6,598 | $1,089 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.1% | Higher: 2.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.2% | 4.3% | 2025 | 4.4% / 6.1% |
| Unemployment | 32.4% | Lower: 16.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 34 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $485 | $136 | 2020 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $261 | $103 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.49 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 64.75 million | 2.36 million | 2025 | 61.09 million / 2.22 million |
| Population growth | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.7 yrs | 21.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.19 | 2.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 66.3 yrs | 57.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 64% | 45% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 78% | 52% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,221,037 km² | 30,355 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 53.0/km² | 77.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 440 Mt | Lower: 2.57 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.9 t | Lower: 1.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.84B | $36.30M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 1.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 89,000 | 2,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Lesotho is growing faster: 2.0% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in South Africa and 4.3% in Lesotho.
Average monthly earnings favour South Africa: $485 against $136 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Lesotho is the younger society: median age 21.8 versus 28.7 years.
Life expectancy is 8.5 years longer in South Africa (66.3 vs 57.8).
South Africa is considerably more urbanized: 64% of people live in cities, against 45%.
Internet adoption is higher in South Africa (78% vs 52% of the population).
Geography
By land area, South Africa is 40 times the size of Lesotho: 1,221,037 km² versus 30,355 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
South Africa spends 78 times as much on defence as Lesotho: $2.84B versus $36.30M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Lesotho carries the heavier military burden: 1.6% of GDP versus 0.7%.
South Africa fields the larger armed forces: 89,000 personnel against 2,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Africa bigger than Lesotho?
- South Africa is larger by land area. South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² while Lesotho covers 30,355 km², so South Africa is 40 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Africa or Lesotho?
- South Africa has the larger population: 64.75 million versus 2.36 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Africa richer than Lesotho?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Africa is richer: $6,598 against $1,089. Total GDP tells the same story: $427.18B for South Africa versus $2.57B for Lesotho.
- Who spends more on their military, South Africa or Lesotho?
- South Africa spends more: $2.84B versus $36.30M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).