SOTWStatistics of the World
World›Sub-Saharan Africa ›Lesotho

Lesotho

LSOSub-Saharan Africa Lower middle incomeCapital: Maseru
Economy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
68/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
GDP
$2.97B
2026▲ 4.1%
Population
2.4M
2025▲ 1.1%
GDP per Capita
$1,241
2026▲ 2.9%
Life Expectancy
57.8 years
2024▲ 0.7%
Lesotho in world space2000–2024
1k10k100k405060708090GDP per capita (USD, log)Life expectancy (years)20002024
192 countries · log scale on X world Lesotho· trajectory line: 1980 → today
▶About Lesotho

Lesotho's GDP is $2.97B (2026), with a population of 2.4M, and GDP per capita of $1,241. Key indicators include real GDP growth of 1.1%, inflation at 4.2%, government debt at 49.0% of GDP, life expectancy of 57.8 years. Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.

▶Economy31 indicators · 2020–2026 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
GDP (Current USD)$2.97B2026▲ 4.1%IMF
Real GDP Growth (%)1.1%2026▼ 21.4%IMF
GDP per Capita (USD)$1,2412026▲ 2.9%IMF
GDP, PPP (Intl $)$7.90B2026▲ 4.0%IMF
GDP per Capita, PPP (Intl $)$3,3012026▲ 2.8%IMF
Share of World GDP, PPP (%)0.00%2026▲ 0.0%IMF
GNI (Current USD)$3.15B2025▲ 8.5%WB
GNI per Capita, Atlas Method (Current US$)$1,2802025▲ 3.2%WB
GNI per Capita, PPP (Current Intl $)$3,9002025▲ 4.6%WB
Industry Value Added (% of GDP)25.2%2025▼ 10.5%WB
Services Value Added (% of GDP)55.6%2025▲ 8.3%WB
Agriculture Value Added (% of GDP)6.5%2025▼ 2.1%WB
Government Consumption (% of GDP)36.4%2025▲ 1.9%WB
Household Consumption (% of GDP)96.8%2025▲ 4.3%WB
Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP)31.2%2025▲ 5.3%WB
Gross Savings (% of GDP)13.6%2025▼ 36.3%WB
GDP Deflator Inflation (Annual %)3.0%2025▼ 50.0%WB
GDP per Employed Person (Constant 2021 PPP $)$8,6392025▲ 0.7%WB
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)12.1%2024▼ 14.1%WB
Adjusted Net National Income per Capita (USD)$1,0372021—WB
Adjusted Net Savings (% of GNI)5.8%2020—WB
External Balance on Goods & Services (% of GDP)-54.9%2025▼ 2.3%WB
Coal Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Mineral Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Oil Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Natural Gas Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)4.3%2021—WB
Forest Rents (% of GDP)4.32%2021—WB
Industry Value Added (Current USD)$647.4M2025▼ 3.6%WB
GDP per Capita, PPP (Constant 2021 Intl $)$2,7212025▲ 0.9%WB
GDP per Capita (Constant 2015 US$)$1,0212025▲ 0.9%WB
▶Fiscal & Monetary23 indicators · 2020–2026 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Inflation, Consumer Prices (%)4.2%2026▼ 4.5%IMF
Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP)49.0%2026▼ 0.2%IMF
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP)4.2%2026▲ 90.9%IMF
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)-3.4%2026▼ 3.0%IMF
Total Investment (% of GDP)33.7%2026▲ 11.0%IMF
Gross National Savings (% of GDP)30.4%2026▲ 12.1%IMF
Inflation, CPI (%, World Bank)4.3%2025▼ 30.1%WB
Real Interest Rate (%)4.9%2024▼ 54.1%WB
Lending Interest Rate (%)11.2%2024▲ 1.1%WB
Deposit Interest Rate (%)2.5%2024▲ 1.0%WB
Central Government Debt (% of GDP)3.0%2020—WB
Government Revenue Excluding Grants (% of GDP)42.0%2024▼ 11.3%WB
Government Expense (% of GDP)40.2%2022▲ 5.6%WB
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)35.4%2024▼ 11.5%WB
Taxes on Goods & Services (% of revenue)32.7%2024▼ 1.6%WB
Taxes on International Trade (% of revenue)13.0%2024▲ 0.9%WB
Taxes on Income, Profits & Capital Gains (% of rev)20.4%2024▲ 0.9%WB
Net Investment in Nonfinancial Assets (% of GDP)7.7%2024▼ 15.2%WB
Total Reserves incl. Gold (USD)$1.01B2024▲ 18.0%WB
Total Reserves (months of imports)5.52024▲ 17.7%WB
Official Exchange Rate (per USD)17.892025▼ 2.4%WB
PPP Conversion Factor6.122025▲ 0.2%WB
Broad Money (% of GDP)42.3%2020—WB
▶Trade14 indicators · 2024–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Trade (% of GDP)154.0%2025▲ 1.0%WB
Exports of Goods & Services (% of GDP)49.5%2025▲ 0.3%WB
Imports of Goods & Services (% of GDP)104.5%2025▲ 1.3%WB
Exports of Goods & Services (USD)$1.27B2025▲ 7.9%WB
Imports of Goods & Services (USD)$2.69B2025▲ 9.1%WB
Merchandise Exports (USD)$773.0M2025▼ 22.0%WB
Merchandise Imports (USD)$1.88B2025▲ 1.2%WB
FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-0.2%2025▲ 57.3%WB
FDI Net Inflows (USD)$-5.8M2025▲ 54.1%WB
Personal Remittances Received (USD)$533.1M2025▲ 12.0%WB
Personal Remittances Received (% of GDP)20.7%2025▲ 4.1%WB
High-Tech Exports (% of manufactured)0.1%2024▲ 20.6%WB
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)-0.2%2025▼ 104.1%WB
Current Account Balance (USD)$-3.9M2025▼ 104.4%WB
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
External Debt (% of GNI)65.4%2024▼ 5.2%WB
External Debt Stocks (USD)$1.77B2024▼ 0.1%WB
Total Debt Service (% of GNI)3.8%2024▼ 24.4%WB
Present Value of External Debt (USD)$786.4M2024—WB
Use of IMF Credit (USD)$145.3M2024▼ 17.8%WB
Net ODA Received (% of GNI)6.6%2023▲ 21.7%WB
Net ODA Received (USD)$172.3M2023▲ 12.1%WB
▶Finance7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Domestic Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP)24.3%2024▼ 1.7%WB
Bank Capital to Assets Ratio (%)11.2%2024▲ 16.9%WB
Bank Nonperforming Loans (%)4.3%2024▲ 11.2%WB
Financial Institution or Mobile-Money Account Ownership (Age 15+, %)61.6%2024▼ 3.2%WB
Account Ownership, Female (%)60.4%2024▼ 3.1%WB
Account Ownership, Male (%)62.9%2024▼ 3.3%WB
Firms Using Banks to Finance Investment (%)20.4%2023—WB
▶Business Environment1 indicator · 2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Time to Get Electricity (days)522023—WB
▶Private Sector6 indicators · 2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Firms Expected to Pay Bribes (%)10.2%2023—WB
Firms with Female Participation in Ownership (%)55.4%2023—WB
Firms with a Female Top Manager (%)30.0%2023—WB
Firms Offering Training (%)33.1%2023—WB
Time to Obtain an Operating License (days)152023—WB
Firms Competing with Unregistered Firms (%)55.4%2023—WB
▶People23 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Population2.4M2025▲ 1.1%WB
Population Growth (%)1.1%2025▼ 1.3%WB
Population Density (per km²)762023▲ 1.1%WB
Surface Area (sq km)30,3602023▲ 0.0%WB
Land Area (sq km)30,3602023▲ 0.0%WB
Urban Population (%)44.7%2025▲ 2.3%WB
Urban Population (total)1.1M2025▲ 3.4%WB
Rural Population (%)55.3%2025▼ 1.8%WB
Life Expectancy at Birth57.8 years2024▲ 0.7%WB
Life Expectancy, Male55.0 years2024▲ 0.8%WB
Life Expectancy, Female60.4 years2024▲ 0.7%WB
Fertility Rate (births per woman)2.72024▼ 1.1%WB
Birth Rate (per 1,000)23.82024▼ 1.4%WB
Death Rate (per 1,000)10.52024▼ 1.6%WB
Net Migration-5,1922025▼ 1.7%WB
Population Ages 0–14 (%)34.1%2025▼ 1.2%WB
Population Ages 15–64 (%)62.0%2025▲ 0.6%WB
Population Ages 65+ (%)3.9%2025▲ 0.6%WB
Age Dependency Ratio (%)61.2%2025▼ 1.7%WB
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%)6.3%2025▼ 0.0%WB
Youth Dependency Ratio (%)55.0%2025▼ 1.8%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000)464.12024▼ 1.4%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000)355.42024▼ 1.7%WB
▶Labor20 indicators · 2024–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Total Labor Force889,5302025▲ 1.2%WB
Labor Force Participation (%)57.1%2025▼ 0.5%WB
Female Labor Force Participation (%)48.1%2025▼ 0.8%WB
Male Labor Force Participation (%)66.9%2025▼ 0.4%WB
Unemployment (%)16.3%2025▼ 0.2%WB
Female Unemployment (%)18.4%2025▼ 0.7%WB
Male Unemployment (%)14.7%2025▲ 0.4%WB
Youth Unemployment (%)24.7%2025▼ 0.3%WB
Employment in Agriculture (%)30.9%2025▼ 0.8%WB
Employment in Industry (%)33.0%2025▼ 0.2%WB
Employment in Services (%)36.1%2025▲ 0.9%WB
Labor Force Participation, Age 15+ (National Estimate, %)65.4%2024—WB
Vulnerable Employment (%)32.6%2025▼ 0.4%WB
Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total)61.5%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Part-Time Employment (%)15.0%2024—WB
Employers (% of total employment)5.9%2025▼ 0.1%WB
Labor Force, Female (% of total)43.8%2025▼ 0.3%WB
Employment to Population Ratio (%)47.8%2025▼ 0.5%WB
Self-Employed (% of total)38.5%2025▼ 0.3%WB
NEET Youth (% not in education/employment)38.0%2024—WB
▶Education20 indicators · 2017–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Education Spending (% of GDP)6.6%2024▼ 9.2%WB
Education Spending (% of govt expenditure)10.4%2024▼ 5.7%WB
Adult Literacy Rate (%)90.4%2024—WB
Female Literacy Rate (%)96.6%2024—WB
Male Literacy Rate (%)83.2%2024—WB
Youth Literacy Rate (%)96.5%2024—WB
Primary School Enrollment (%)80.2%2024▼ 1.8%WB
Secondary School Enrollment (%)59.4%2017—WB
Primary Completion Rate (%)67.0%2023▼ 5.1%WB
Lower Secondary Completion Rate (%)45.0%2024▲ 10.9%WB
Out-of-School Children, Primary124,1752024▲ 5.8%WB
Out-of-School Girls, Primary60,9972024▲ 5.9%WB
Primary School Teachers10,3882024▲ 3.7%WB
Secondary School Teachers5,6722023▲ 2.2%WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary332017—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Secondary252017—WB
Primary Education Spending (% of Education Budget)56.0%2018—WB
Persistence to Last Primary Grade (% of Cohort)69.9%2022—WB
Secondary Education Spending (% of Education Budget)30.1%2018—WB
Tertiary Education Spending (% of Education Budget)7.4%2018—WB
▶Health48 indicators · 2020–2025 · WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Health Spending (% of GDP)12.6%2023▼ 2.2%WHO
Health Spending per Capita (USD)$1232023▼ 8.0%WHO
Government Health Spending (% of GDP)5.8%2023▼ 10.8%WHO
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending (% of total)13.2%2023▲ 3.5%WHO
Physicians (per 1,000 people)0.22022—WHO
Nurses & Midwives (per 1,000)1.82022—WHO
Under-5 Mortality (per 1,000 live births)602024▼ 2.1%WHO
Neonatal Mortality (per 1,000)28.52024▼ 2.1%WHO
Maternal Mortality (per 100,000)4782023▲ 0.2%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Female (per 1,000)53.52024▼ 2.0%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Male (per 1,000)66.12024▼ 2.1%WHO
Communicable, Maternal, Prenatal & Nutrition Causes (% of Deaths)54.1%2021—WHO
Cause of Death, Non-Communicable (%)34.1%2021—WHO
Cause of Death, Injury (%)9.1%2021—WHO
Measles Immunization (% of children)90.0%2024▲ 18.4%WHO
DPT Immunization (% of children)86.0%2024▼ 4.4%WHO
HIV Incidence (per 1,000)1.92024▼ 17.4%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100,000)5482024▼ 6.2%WHO
Stunting, Children Under 5 (%)35.6%2024—WHO
Overweight, Children Under 5 (%)7.7%2024—WHO
Current Tobacco Use, Male Adults (%)49.4%2024▲ 0.8%WHO
Current Tobacco Use, Female Adults (%)6.6%2024▼ 1.5%WHO
Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000)28.72021—WHO
Alcohol Consumption (liters per capita)4.32020—WHO
Life Expectancy at Birth (WHO)51.479074822021—WHO
Remaining Life Expectancy at Age 60 (WHO)12.015679172021—WHO
Healthy Life Expectancy at Birth (HALE)44.634332722021—WHO
Infant Mortality, Under Age 1 (WHO)56.3375600592024—WHO
Under-5 Mortality (WHO)59.9572488382024—WHO
Neonatal Mortality, 0–27 Days (WHO)28.4909315682024—WHO
Maternal Deaths (WHO Estimates)266.39119152023—WHO
Estimated Tuberculosis Incidence (WHO)5482024—WHO
TB Mortality, Excluding HIV (per 100K)572024—WHO
People Living with HIV2600002025—WHO
Diabetes Prevalence, Age 18+ (age-standardized, %)7.75719732022—WHO
DTP3 Immunization Coverage (WHO/UNICEF)882025—WHO
Measles First-Dose Coverage (MCV1, WHO/UNICEF)802025—WHO
Hepatitis B Three-Dose Coverage (HepB3, WHO/UNICEF)882025—WHO
Physicians (total)4312024▼ 19.7%WHO
Nursing & Midwifery Personnel7,9442024—WHO
Dentists (total)282024—WHO
Pharmacists (total)1652024▼ 35.8%WHO
Child Wasting, Under 5 (survey, %)1.62024—WHO
Child Stunting, Under 5 (survey, %)35.62024—WHO
Child Underweight, Under 5 (survey, %)12.52024—WHO
UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1)552023—WHO
Road Traffic Death Rate (per 100K)21.62021—WHO
Current Health Expenditure per Capita (WHO, US$)122.639823912023—WHO
▶Energy & Environment15 indicators · 2021–2025 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
CO₂ Emissions per Capita, Excluding LULUCF (t CO2e)0.42024▼ 0.2%WB
CO₂ Emissions, Excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e)12024▲ 0.9%WB
Renewable Electricity Output (%)99.8%2021—WB
Renewable Energy Consumption (%)34.9%2022▲ 3.9%WB
Access to Electricity (%)60.6%2024▲ 5.8%WB
Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%)53.8%2023▲ 3.9%WB
PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³)26.42023▼ 14.0%WB
Forest Area (%)1.1%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Forest Area (sq km)3452023▲ 0.0%WB
Arable Land (%)11.8%2023▲ 31.4%WB
Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas (%)23.4%2025▲ 0.0%WB
Access to Basic Drinking Water (%)78.1%2024▲ 0.8%WHO
Access to Basic Sanitation (%)47.9%2024▲ 2.7%WHO
Urban PM2.5 Concentration (WHO)19.0836840972023—WHO
Air Pollution Mortality (household + ambient, age-standardized)209.862021—WHO
▶Agriculture10 indicators · 2022–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Agricultural Land (%)77.8%2023▲ 3.8%WB
Cereal Yield (kg per hectare)8042023▲ 10.3%WB
Food Production Index (2014–2016=100)98.72022▼ 3.4%WB
Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100)107.62022▼ 9.7%WB
Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100)93.82022▲ 1.3%WB
Land Under Cereal Production (hectares)177,9332023▲ 57.3%WB
Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes)742024▲ 0.0%WB
Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare)8.72023▲ 6.1%WB
Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal)0.8%2022▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Production (metric tons)143,0802023▲ 73.5%WB
▶Technology11 indicators · 2019–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Internet Users (%)51.8%2024▲ 5.7%WB
Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people)702024▲ 1.4%WB
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100)0.42024▼ 1.1%WB
Secure Internet Servers (per million)862024▼ 3.5%WB
R&D Spending (% of GDP)0.09%2023—WB
Patent Applications, Residents12019—WB
Scientific Journal Articles602023▲ 27.1%WB
High-Technology Exports (USD)$622,8012024▲ 29.6%WB
ICT Service Exports (% of service exports)0.1%2025▼ 0.0%WB
ICT Service Exports (USD)$15,6672025▲ 2.5%WB
Researchers in R&D (per million)322023—WB
▶Infrastructure3 indicators · 2018–2021 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Logistics Performance Index (1–5)2.282018—WB
Electricity from Oil (%)0.1%2021—WB
Electricity from Nuclear (%)0.0%2021—WB
▶Gender9 indicators · 2017–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Women in Parliament (%)25.0%2025▲ 0.0%WB
Female Labor Force Participation, 15+ (%)57.5%2024—WB
Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%)66.4%2025▲ 0.4%WB
Gross Intake to First Primary Grade, Female (%)113.8%2017—WB
Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000)69.52024▼ 1.5%WB
Women Who Believe Husband Can Beat Wife (%)19.0%2024—WB
Gross Intake to First Primary Grade, Total (%)119.7%2017—WB
Gender Parity Index, Secondary1.242019—WB
Gender Parity in Primary Education0.952019—WB
▶Governance10 indicators · 2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Control of Corruption-0.512023▼ 38.2%WB
Government Effectiveness-0.952023▼ 7.4%WB
Political Stability-0.312023▼ 4.4%WB
Regulatory Quality-0.592023▲ 4.1%WB
Rule of Law-0.482023▼ 1.4%WB
Voice & Accountability0.032023▼ 40.3%WB
Control of Corruption (percentile rank)33.5%2023▼ 18.4%WB
Government Effectiveness (percentile rank)16.5%2023▼ 7.9%WB
Rule of Law (percentile rank)34.0%2023▼ 5.3%WB
Political Stability (percentile rank)35.5%2023▼ 0.8%WB
▶Military5 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Military Spending (% of GDP)1.6%2024▼ 3.6%WB
Military Expenditure (USD)$36.3M2024▲ 5.4%WB
Armed Forces Personnel2,0002020—WB
Armed Forces (% of labor force)0.2%2020—WB
Military Spending (% of govt expenditure)2.5%2024▼ 22.4%WB
▶Social Protection4 indicators · 2010–2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Human Capital Index (0–1)0.402020—WB
Human Capital Index, Female0.362010—WB
Human Capital Index, Male0.322010—WB
Learning-Adjusted Years of School6.3 years2020—WB
▶Tourism2 indicators · 2019–2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
International Tourism, Arrivals1.1M2019—WB
Tourism Expenditures (USD)$277.0M2020—WB
▶Urban Development5 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Urban Population Growth (%)3.3%2025▼ 2.5%WB
Population in Slums (% of urban)25.6%2022—WB
Rural Population Growth (%)-0.7%2025▼ 4.8%WB
Access to Safely Managed Drinking Water (%)31.3%2024▲ 3.2%WHO
Access to Safely Managed Sanitation (%)43.8%2024▲ 2.3%WHO

Rank Lesotho globally

GDPGDP/capGrowthPopulationInflationUnemp.Life exp.DebtInequalityCO₂

Compare Lesotho

pick a comparator →

Explore global data

GDP tableGDP/cap tableInflation tableUnemp. tablePop. tableLife exp. tableLargestRichestWorldG7BRICS

Similar economies — same region or income group

AngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeBangladeshBhutan