Lesotho at its true size
Lesotho covers 30,355 km², number 141 of 235 by area. Home to 2,363,325 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.
Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50m
| Area | 30,355 km² Wikidata |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,363,325 World Bank, 2025 |
| Density | 78 per km² |
| Capital | Maseru |
| Region | Southern Africa, Africa |
| Status | Independent state |
| Coast | Landlocked |
| Codes | LS · LSO · 426 |
Countries of a similar size
- Belgium0.99×Lesotho and Belgium are almost exactly the same size.
- Armenia1.02×Lesotho and Armenia are almost exactly the same size.
- Albania1.06×Lesotho is 6% larger than Albania.
- Solomon Islands1.07×Lesotho is 7% larger than Solomon Islands.
- Equatorial Guinea1.08×Lesotho is 8% larger than Equatorial Guinea.
- Burundi1.09×Lesotho is 9% larger than Burundi.
How many times does Lesotho fit into…
- Russia: about 563 times
- Canada: about 329 times
- United States: about 324 times
Neighbours
Questions about Lesotho
- How big is Lesotho?
- Lesotho covers 30,355 km², which makes it number 141 of 235 countries and territories by area. About 2,363,325 people live there (2025), 78 per km².
- Is Lesotho bigger than Belgium?
- Lesotho and Belgium are almost exactly the same size. Lesotho: 30,355 km²; Belgium: 30,688 km².
- How much does the Mercator map distort Lesotho?
- Lesotho lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
- Which countries border Lesotho?
- Lesotho shares a land border with South Africa.