External debt stocks, total in Lesotho
Lesotho: External debt stocks, total was 1.77 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.77 billion DOD, current US$
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
103rd
of 122 countries
All-time high
1.83 billion DOD, current US$
in 2021
All-time low
8.12 million DOD, current US$
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
External debt stocks, total in Lesotho, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in DOD, current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt stocks, total in Lesotho stood at 1.77 billion DOD, current US$.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 94.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks, total in Lesotho peaked at 1.83 billion DOD, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.12 million DOD, current US$, in 1970.
That places Lesotho 103rd out of 122 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks, total in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | DOD, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.12 million DOD, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 8.63 million DOD, current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 9.49 million DOD, current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1973 | 8.26 million DOD, current US$ | -12.9% |
| 1974 | 10.15 million DOD, current US$ | +22.9% |
| 1975 | 14.09 million DOD, current US$ | +38.7% |
| 1976 | 16.20 million DOD, current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1977 | 24.59 million DOD, current US$ | +51.8% |
| 1978 | 34.00 million DOD, current US$ | +38.3% |
| 1979 | 53.13 million DOD, current US$ | +56.2% |
| 1980 | 71.94 million DOD, current US$ | +35.4% |
| 1981 | 84.41 million DOD, current US$ | +17.3% |
| 1982 | 122.07 million DOD, current US$ | +44.6% |
| 1983 | 128.67 million DOD, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 138.03 million DOD, current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1985 | 175.29 million DOD, current US$ | +27.0% |
| 1986 | 197.62 million DOD, current US$ | +12.7% |
| 1987 | 258.63 million DOD, current US$ | +30.9% |
| 1988 | 287.09 million DOD, current US$ | +11.0% |
| 1989 | 328.15 million DOD, current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1990 | 395.59 million DOD, current US$ | +20.6% |
| 1991 | 447.39 million DOD, current US$ | +13.1% |
| 1992 | 494.40 million DOD, current US$ | +10.5% |
| 1993 | 542.37 million DOD, current US$ | +9.7% |
| 1994 | 622.55 million DOD, current US$ | +14.8% |
| 1995 | 684.36 million DOD, current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1996 | 701.23 million DOD, current US$ | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 672.95 million DOD, current US$ | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 688.21 million DOD, current US$ | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 687.19 million DOD, current US$ | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 769.69 million DOD, current US$ | +12.0% |
| 2001 | 684.40 million DOD, current US$ | -11.1% |
| 2002 | 712.58 million DOD, current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 705.76 million DOD, current US$ | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 773.44 million DOD, current US$ | +9.6% |
| 2005 | 666.29 million DOD, current US$ | -13.9% |
| 2006 | 657.44 million DOD, current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 685.48 million DOD, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 700.05 million DOD, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 766.53 million DOD, current US$ | +9.5% |
| 2010 | 788.06 million DOD, current US$ | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 813.62 million DOD, current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 904.23 million DOD, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 2013 | 925.02 million DOD, current US$ | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 912.09 million DOD, current US$ | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 952.59 million DOD, current US$ | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 1.36 billion DOD, current US$ | +42.6% |
| 2017 | 1.50 billion DOD, current US$ | +10.8% |
| 2018 | 1.46 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 1.58 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.2% |
| 2020 | 1.74 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.7% |
| 2021 | 1.83 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 1.81 billion DOD, current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 1.78 billion DOD, current US$ | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 1.77 billion DOD, current US$ | -0.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 1.77 billion DOD, current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.40 billion DOD, current US$, 12% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 1.77 billion DOD, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.69 billion DOD, current US$, 27% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18.67 million DOD, current US$ | 8.12 million DOD, current US$ | 53.13 million DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 179.19 million DOD, current US$ | 71.94 million DOD, current US$ | 328.15 million DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 593.62 million DOD, current US$ | 395.59 million DOD, current US$ | 701.23 million DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 712.17 million DOD, current US$ | 657.44 million DOD, current US$ | 773.44 million DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.12 billion DOD, current US$ | 788.06 million DOD, current US$ | 1.58 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.79 billion DOD, current US$ | 1.74 billion DOD, current US$ | 1.83 billion DOD, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 100 Botswana 2.32 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 101 Liberia 2.23 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 102 Somalia 1.80 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 104 Gambia 1.64 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 105 Belize 1.56 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 106 Guinea-Bissau 1.43 billion DOD, 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 external debt stocks, total in Lesotho?
- External debt stocks, total in Lesotho was 1.77 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks, total recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 1.83 billion DOD, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks, total recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.12 million DOD, current US$ in 1970.
- How does Lesotho rank for external debt stocks, total?
- Lesotho ranks 103rd out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks, total rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 94.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. Data are in current U.S. dollars.