Lesotho vs South Africa: Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP)
Lesotho
12.1%
in 2024
South Africa
12.3%
in 2025
Lesotho rank
79th
South Africa rank
77th
Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) over time
- Lesotho
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 12.3% against 12.1% in Lesotho, a difference of 0.2%.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 61 shared years of data; in 1964 it was South Africa ahead.
Lesotho ranks 79th and South Africa ranks 77th of 202 countries.
Across the 7 decades both report, Lesotho averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Lesotho | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.5% | 22.3% | 19.8% | South Africa |
| 1970s | 4.9% | 22.0% | 17.1% | South Africa |
| 1980s | 7.8% | 23.3% | 15.5% | South Africa |
| 1990s | 9.5% | 21.1% | 11.6% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 20.7% | 17.2% | 3.5% | Lesotho |
| 2010s | 14.1% | 12.6% | 1.5% | Lesotho |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 12.4% | 2.7% | Lesotho |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp), Lesotho or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 12.3% against 12.1% in Lesotho as of 2025.
- What is the difference in share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) between Lesotho and South Africa?
- 0.2%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Lesotho and South Africa?
- 61 years are reported by both, from 1964 to 2024.
- How do Lesotho and South Africa rank globally for share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp)?
- Lesotho ranks 79th and South Africa ranks 77th of 202 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Manufacturing comprises units engaged in the physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products.