Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Namibia instead of Lesotho, you would:

Health

be 45.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Lesotho, 21.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Namibia, that number is 11.6% of people as of 2020.

live 6.9 years longer

In Lesotho, the average life expectancy is 60 years (58 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2022. In Namibia, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 4.6 times more money

Lesotho has a GDP per capita of $2,500 as of 2023, while in Namibia, the GDP per capita is $11,500 as of 2023.

be 65.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Lesotho, 49.7% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Namibia, however, that number is 17.4% as of 2015.

be 18.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Lesotho, 16.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Namibia, that number is 19.4% as of 2023.

pay a 23.3% higher top tax rate

Lesotho has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In Namibia, the top tax rate is 37.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 62.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Lesotho, approximately 566.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Namibia, 215.0 women do as of 2020.

be 14.0% more likely to be literate

In Lesotho, the literacy rate is 81.0% as of 2021. In Namibia, it is 92.3% as of 2021.

be 39.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Lesotho, approximately 48.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Namibia, on the other hand, 29.4 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 12.4% more likely to have access to electricity

In Lesotho, approximately 50% of people have electricity access (81% in urban areas, and 38% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Namibia, that number is 56% of people on average (75% in urban areas, and 33% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 10.4% more likely to have internet access

In Lesotho, approximately 48.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Namibia, about 53.0% do as of 2021.

be 10.7% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Lesotho, approximately 83% of people have improved drinking water access (96% in urban areas, and 77% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Namibia, that number is 91% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 83% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 24.6% less on healthcare

Lesotho spends 11.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Namibia, that number is 8.9% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 10.3% more on education

Lesotho spends 8.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Namibia spends 9.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Inland Revenue Department.

Namibia: At a glance

Namibia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 823,290 sq km. South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.
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How big is Namibia compared to Lesotho? See an in-depth size comparison.

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