Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Lesotho instead of South Korea, you would:

Health

live 23.4 years less

In South Korea, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022. In Lesotho, that number is 60 years (58 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.5 times more likely to be obese

In South Korea, 4.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Lesotho, that number is 16.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

pay a 21.1% lower top tax rate

South Korea has a top tax rate of 38.0% as of 2016. In Lesotho, the top tax rate is 30.0% as of 2016.

make 95.1% less money

South Korea has a GDP per capita of $50,600 as of 2023, while in Lesotho, the GDP per capita is $2,500 as of 2023.

be 6.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In South Korea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Lesotho, that number is 16.5% as of 2023.

be 3.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Korea, 14.4% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Lesotho, however, that number is 49.7% as of 2017.

Life

have 3.3 times more children

In South Korea, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Lesotho, there are 22.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 70.8 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Korea, approximately 8.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Lesotho, 566.0 women do as of 2020.

be 17.3% less likely to be literate

In South Korea, the literacy rate is 98.0% as of 2019. In Lesotho, it is 81.0% as of 2021.

be 16.9 times more likely to die during infancy

In South Korea, approximately 2.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Lesotho, on the other hand, 48.4 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 50.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In South Korea, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Lesotho, 50% of the population do as of 2022.

be 51.0% less likely to have internet access

In South Korea, approximately 98.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Lesotho, about 48.0% do as of 2021.

be 17.3% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In South Korea, approximately 100% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Lesotho, 83% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 85.1% more on education

South Korea spends 4.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Lesotho spends 8.7% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 40.5% more on healthcare

South Korea spends 8.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Lesotho, that number is 11.8% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, National Tax Service, South Korea.

Lesotho: At a glance

Lesotho is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 30,355 sq km. Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995 and subsequently succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Batswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections of February 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties disputed how the electoral law was applied to award proportional seats in the Assembly. In May 2012, competitive elections involving 18 parties saw Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas THABANE form a coalition government - the first in the country's history - that ousted the 14-year incumbent, Pakalitha MOSISILI, who peacefully transferred power the following month.
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How big is Lesotho compared to South Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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