External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Lesotho
Lesotho: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -54.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
-54.9%
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
187th
of 191 countries
All-time high
-26.7%
in 1960
All-time low
-120.7%
in 1976
Years of data
41
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Lesotho, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Lesotho is -54.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Lesotho peaked at -26.7% in 1960 and was at its lowest, -120.7%, in 1976.
That places Lesotho 187th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -26.7% | — |
| 1961 | -32.9% | +23.3% |
| 1962 | -33.4% | +1.5% |
| 1963 | -36.0% | +7.7% |
| 1964 | -34.2% | -4.9% |
| 1965 | -37.8% | +10.3% |
| 1966 | -45.7% | +21.0% |
| 1967 | -44.6% | -2.3% |
| 1968 | -43.1% | -3.6% |
| 1969 | -38.0% | -11.8% |
| 1970 | -36.7% | -3.5% |
| 1971 | -42.0% | +14.7% |
| 1972 | -53.1% | +26.2% |
| 1973 | -53.5% | +0.9% |
| 1974 | -63.4% | +18.5% |
| 1975 | -89.5% | +41.2% |
| 1976 | -120.7% | +34.9% |
| 1977 | -100.5% | -16.7% |
| 1978 | -73.3% | -27.1% |
| 1979 | -101.5% | +38.4% |
| 1980 | -89.1% | -12.2% |
| 1981 | -97.7% | +9.7% |
| 2007 | -58.6% | -40.1% |
| 2008 | -55.3% | -5.6% |
| 2009 | -69.4% | +25.5% |
| 2010 | -65.8% | -5.1% |
| 2011 | -54.4% | -17.5% |
| 2012 | -66.6% | +22.6% |
| 2013 | -56.9% | -14.6% |
| 2014 | -50.0% | -12.1% |
| 2015 | -43.9% | -12.1% |
| 2016 | -44.8% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | -51.4% | +14.9% |
| 2018 | -44.8% | -12.9% |
| 2019 | -48.1% | +7.4% |
| 2020 | -52.2% | +8.5% |
| 2021 | -46.9% | -10.2% |
| 2022 | -49.4% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | -55.4% | +12.1% |
| 2024 | -53.7% | -3.1% |
| 2025 | -54.9% | +2.3% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's -54.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -9.2%, 6.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's -54.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -6.9%, 8.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -37.2% | -45.7% | -26.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | -73.4% | -120.7% | -36.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | -93.4% | -97.7% | -89.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | -61.1% | -69.4% | -55.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | -52.7% | -66.6% | -43.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | -52.1% | -55.4% | -46.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 184 Northern Mariana Islands -48.6% compare
- 185 Micronesia (country) -48.8% compare
- 186 Afghanistan -52.4% compare
- 188 Guam -56.1% compare
- 189 Somalia -69.6% compare
- 190 East Timor -74.3% compare
More economy & growth data for Lesotho
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 57.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0799 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 87.06 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 50.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0584 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 63.57 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0303 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 33.01 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, annual growth rate -0.0491 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Lesotho?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Lesotho was -54.9% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was -26.7% in 1960.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -120.7% in 1976.
- How does Lesotho rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Lesotho ranks 187th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures 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 part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.