Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was -42.2 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Lesotho, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Lesotho is -42.2 million current US$, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 64.6% on the previous year and down 126.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Lesotho peaked at 206.51 million current US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, -42.2 million current US$, in 2024.
Lesotho ranks 213th of 224 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.12 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 7.24 million current US$ | -55.1% |
| 1992 | 7.64 million current US$ | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 15.33 million current US$ | +100.6% |
| 1994 | 42.58 million current US$ | +177.7% |
| 1995 | 23.41 million current US$ | -45.0% |
| 1996 | 28.03 million current US$ | +19.7% |
| 1997 | 31.68 million current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1998 | 26.77 million current US$ | -15.5% |
| 1999 | 32.74 million current US$ | +22.3% |
| 2000 | 32.4 million current US$ | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 29.68 million current US$ | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 28.4 million current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 43.94 million current US$ | +54.7% |
| 2004 | 56.68 million current US$ | +29.0% |
| 2005 | 27.4 million current US$ | -51.7% |
| 2006 | 24.3 million current US$ | -11.3% |
| 2007 | 75.6 million current US$ | +211.1% |
| 2008 | 11 million current US$ | -85.4% |
| 2009 | 91.3 million current US$ | +730.0% |
| 2010 | 51 million current US$ | -44.1% |
| 2011 | 150 million current US$ | +194.1% |
| 2012 | 138.79 million current US$ | -7.5% |
| 2013 | 123.62 million current US$ | -10.9% |
| 2014 | 160.78 million current US$ | +30.1% |
| 2015 | 206.51 million current US$ | +28.4% |
| 2016 | 80.33 million current US$ | -61.1% |
| 2017 | 42.06 million current US$ | -47.6% |
| 2018 | 40.56 million current US$ | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 35.39 million current US$ | -12.8% |
| 2020 | 27.96 million current US$ | -21.0% |
| 2021 | -12.43 million current US$ | -144.5% |
| 2022 | -8.3 million current US$ | -33.2% |
| 2023 | -25.63 million current US$ | +208.7% |
| 2024 | -42.2 million current US$ | +64.6% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's -42.2 million current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 936.46 million current US$. (43 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's -42.2 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 596.7 million current US$. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +730.0% | 11 million current US$ | 91.3 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.15 million current US$ | 7.24 million current US$ | 42.58 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.07 million current US$ | 11 million current US$ | 91.3 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 102.9 million current US$ | 35.39 million current US$ | 206.51 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -12.12 million current US$ | -42.2 million current US$ | 27.96 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 210 Netherlands Antilles [former] -21.96 million current US$ compare
- 211 Suriname -26.5 million current US$ compare
- 212 Eritrea -27.95 million current US$ compare
- 214 Angola -136.42 million current US$ compare
- 215 Yemen -370.98 million current US$ compare
- 216 Trinidad and Tobago -798.93 million current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Lesotho
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -71.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Lesotho?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Lesotho was -42.2 million current US$ in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 206.51 million current US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -42.2 million current US$ in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Lesotho ranks 213th out of 224 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 126.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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