Current account balance in Lesotho
Lesotho: Current account balance was -3.94 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Current account balance in Lesotho, 1975–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for current account balance in Lesotho is -3.94 million BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 104.4% on the previous year and up 97.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current account balance in Lesotho peaked at 305.17 million BoP, current US$ in 2007 and was at its lowest, -464.95 million BoP, current US$, in 2012.
That places Lesotho 77th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Current account balance in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -1.08 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | -34.16 million BoP, current US$ | +3057.2% |
| 1977 | -9.20 million BoP, current US$ | -73.1% |
| 1978 | 8.51 million BoP, current US$ | -192.5% |
| 1980 | 56.33 million BoP, current US$ | +561.9% |
| 1981 | 4.27 million BoP, current US$ | -92.4% |
| 1982 | 132.54 million BoP, current US$ | +3001.7% |
| 1983 | 169.45 million BoP, current US$ | +27.8% |
| 1984 | 159.42 million BoP, current US$ | -5.9% |
| 1985 | 142.13 million BoP, current US$ | -10.8% |
| 1986 | 137.64 million BoP, current US$ | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 250.93 million BoP, current US$ | +82.3% |
| 1988 | 109.72 million BoP, current US$ | -56.3% |
| 1989 | 70.91 million BoP, current US$ | -35.4% |
| 1990 | 101.63 million BoP, current US$ | +43.3% |
| 1991 | -119.19 million BoP, current US$ | -217.3% |
| 1992 | -163.59 million BoP, current US$ | +37.2% |
| 1993 | -103.90 million BoP, current US$ | -36.5% |
| 1994 | -25.29 million BoP, current US$ | -75.7% |
| 1995 | -153.35 million BoP, current US$ | +506.4% |
| 1996 | -216.15 million BoP, current US$ | +41.0% |
| 1997 | -228.78 million BoP, current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1998 | -203.28 million BoP, current US$ | -11.1% |
| 1999 | -166.62 million BoP, current US$ | -18.0% |
| 2000 | -76.93 million BoP, current US$ | -53.8% |
| 2001 | 28.57 million BoP, current US$ | -137.1% |
| 2002 | 63.52 million BoP, current US$ | +122.4% |
| 2003 | -17.20 million BoP, current US$ | -127.1% |
| 2004 | 26.58 million BoP, current US$ | -254.6% |
| 2005 | 95.69 million BoP, current US$ | +260.0% |
| 2006 | 215.99 million BoP, current US$ | +125.7% |
| 2007 | 305.17 million BoP, current US$ | +41.3% |
| 2008 | 277.61 million BoP, current US$ | -9.0% |
| 2009 | -51.27 million BoP, current US$ | -118.5% |
| 2010 | -245.87 million BoP, current US$ | +379.5% |
| 2011 | -305.83 million BoP, current US$ | +24.4% |
| 2012 | -464.95 million BoP, current US$ | +52.0% |
| 2013 | -254.65 million BoP, current US$ | -45.2% |
| 2014 | -205.54 million BoP, current US$ | -19.3% |
| 2015 | -135.26 million BoP, current US$ | -34.2% |
| 2016 | -222.05 million BoP, current US$ | +64.2% |
| 2017 | -207.85 million BoP, current US$ | -6.4% |
| 2018 | -143.76 million BoP, current US$ | -30.8% |
| 2019 | -178.29 million BoP, current US$ | +24.0% |
| 2020 | -120.97 million BoP, current US$ | -32.2% |
| 2021 | -196.06 million BoP, current US$ | +62.1% |
| 2022 | -268.88 million BoP, current US$ | +37.1% |
| 2023 | -151.56 million BoP, current US$ | -43.6% |
| 2024 | 89.31 million BoP, current US$ | -158.9% |
| 2025 | -3.94 million BoP, current US$ | -104.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's -3.94 million BoP, current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -391.82 million BoP, current US$, 1% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's -3.94 million BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -749.01 million BoP, current US$, 1% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Current account balance in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | -3057.2% | -1.08 million BoP, current US$ | -34.16 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1982 | +3001.7% | 4.27 million BoP, current US$ | 132.54 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1980 | +561.9% | 8.51 million BoP, current US$ | 56.33 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1995 | -506.4% | -25.29 million BoP, current US$ | -153.35 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -8.98 million BoP, current US$ | -34.16 million BoP, current US$ | 8.51 million BoP, current US$ | 4 |
| 1980s | 123.33 million BoP, current US$ | 4.27 million BoP, current US$ | 250.93 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -127.85 million BoP, current US$ | -228.78 million BoP, current US$ | 101.63 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 86.77 million BoP, current US$ | -76.93 million BoP, current US$ | 305.17 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -236.41 million BoP, current US$ | -464.95 million BoP, current US$ | -135.26 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -108.68 million BoP, current US$ | -268.88 million BoP, current US$ | 89.31 million BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 74 Micronesia (country) 22.41 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 75 Tuvalu 20.21 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 76 Nauru 9.73 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 78 Togo -20.74 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 79 Comoros -24.62 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 80 Central African Republic -24.68 million BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Lesotho
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 0 BoP, current US$ (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0 BoP, current US$ per person (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -5.77 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 54.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -2.44 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4215 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 431.19 includes gold, current US$ per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is current account balance in Lesotho?
- Current account balance in Lesotho was -3.94 million BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest current account balance recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 305.17 million BoP, current US$ in 2007.
- What is the lowest current account balance recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -464.95 million BoP, current US$ in 2012.
- How does Lesotho rank for current account balance?
- Lesotho ranks 77th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is current account balance rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Current account balance (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Balance of current transactions (transactions in goods and services, earned income and transfer income) between residents and non-residents. The term current account balance is used in the external accounts and is expressed from the perspective of resident units. The term current external balance is used in the national accounts and is expressed from the perspective of the non-resident units, and therefore with the opposite sign. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.