External balance on goods and services in Lesotho
Lesotho: External balance on goods and services was -1.41 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Lesotho, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Lesotho is -1.41 billion current US$, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 10.1% on the previous year and down 36.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Lesotho peaked at -9.24 million current US$ in 1960 and was at its lowest, -1.65 billion current US$, in 2012.
Lesotho ranks 122nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -9.24 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | -11.76 million current US$ | +27.3% |
| 1962 | -14.00 million current US$ | +19.0% |
| 1963 | -16.94 million current US$ | +21.0% |
| 1964 | -17.78 million current US$ | +5.0% |
| 1965 | -20.72 million current US$ | +16.5% |
| 1966 | -25.90 million current US$ | +25.0% |
| 1967 | -26.46 million current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1968 | -26.46 million current US$ | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -25.06 million current US$ | -5.3% |
| 1970 | -25.20 million current US$ | +0.6% |
| 1971 | -32.16 million current US$ | +27.6% |
| 1972 | -42.93 million current US$ | +33.5% |
| 1973 | -64.85 million current US$ | +51.1% |
| 1974 | -95.66 million current US$ | +47.5% |
| 1975 | -133.87 million current US$ | +39.9% |
| 1976 | -178.25 million current US$ | +33.1% |
| 1977 | -194.35 million current US$ | +9.0% |
| 1978 | -195.50 million current US$ | +0.6% |
| 1979 | -294.53 million current US$ | +50.7% |
| 1980 | -384.42 million current US$ | +30.5% |
| 1981 | -424.27 million current US$ | +10.4% |
| 2007 | -984.91 million current US$ | +132.1% |
| 2008 | -976.91 million current US$ | -0.8% |
| 2009 | -1.21 billion current US$ | +23.6% |
| 2010 | -1.47 billion current US$ | +21.9% |
| 2011 | -1.40 billion current US$ | -4.7% |
| 2012 | -1.65 billion current US$ | +17.7% |
| 2013 | -1.35 billion current US$ | -18.4% |
| 2014 | -1.22 billion current US$ | -9.3% |
| 2015 | -1.04 billion current US$ | -15.0% |
| 2016 | -946.33 million current US$ | -8.7% |
| 2017 | -1.19 billion current US$ | +25.3% |
| 2018 | -1.14 billion current US$ | -3.5% |
| 2019 | -1.15 billion current US$ | +0.5% |
| 2020 | -1.07 billion current US$ | -6.8% |
| 2021 | -1.13 billion current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2022 | -1.16 billion current US$ | +2.8% |
| 2023 | -1.18 billion current US$ | +1.4% |
| 2024 | -1.28 billion current US$ | +8.8% |
| 2025 | -1.41 billion current US$ | +10.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's -1.41 billion current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -1.67 billion current US$, 85% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's -1.41 billion current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -545.92 million current US$, 2.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | -132.1% | -424.27 million current US$ | -984.91 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -19.43 million current US$ | -26.46 million current US$ | -9.24 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -125.73 million current US$ | -294.53 million current US$ | -25.20 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -404.35 million current US$ | -424.27 million current US$ | -384.42 million current US$ | 2 |
| 2000s | -1.06 billion current US$ | -1.21 billion current US$ | -976.91 million current US$ | 3 |
| 2010s | -1.26 billion current US$ | -1.65 billion current US$ | -946.33 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.21 billion current US$ | -1.41 billion current US$ | -1.07 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
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 external balance on goods and services in Lesotho?
- External balance on goods and services in Lesotho was -1.41 billion current US$ in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was -9.24 million current US$ in 1960.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.65 billion current US$ in 2012.
- How does Lesotho rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Lesotho ranks 122nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. 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.