Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Lesotho
Lesotho: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was -42.2 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Lesotho, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Lesotho is -42.2, 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 in 2015 and was at its lowest, -42.2, in 2024.
Lesotho ranks 211th of 222 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 in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.12 | — |
| 1991 | 7.24 | -55.1% |
| 1992 | 7.64 | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 15.33 | +100.6% |
| 1994 | 42.58 | +177.7% |
| 1995 | 23.41 | -45.0% |
| 1996 | 28.03 | +19.7% |
| 1997 | 31.68 | +13.0% |
| 1998 | 26.77 | -15.5% |
| 1999 | 32.74 | +22.3% |
| 2000 | 32.4 | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 29.68 | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 28.4 | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 43.94 | +54.7% |
| 2004 | 56.68 | +29.0% |
| 2005 | 27.4 | -51.7% |
| 2006 | 24.3 | -11.3% |
| 2007 | 75.6 | +211.1% |
| 2008 | 11 | -85.4% |
| 2009 | 91.3 | +730.0% |
| 2010 | 51 | -44.1% |
| 2011 | 150 | +194.1% |
| 2012 | 138.79 | -7.5% |
| 2013 | 123.62 | -10.9% |
| 2014 | 160.78 | +30.1% |
| 2015 | 206.51 | +28.4% |
| 2016 | 80.33 | -61.1% |
| 2017 | 42.06 | -47.6% |
| 2018 | 40.56 | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 35.39 | -12.8% |
| 2020 | 27.96 | -21.0% |
| 2021 | -12.43 | -144.5% |
| 2022 | -8.3 | -33.2% |
| 2023 | -25.63 | +208.7% |
| 2024 | -42.2 | +64.6% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's -42.2 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 936.46. (43 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's -42.2 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 596.7. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows 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 | 91.3 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.15 | 7.24 | 42.58 | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.07 | 11 | 91.3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 102.9 | 35.39 | 206.51 | 10 |
| 2020s | -12.12 | -42.2 | 27.96 | 5 |
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 foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Lesotho?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Lesotho was -42.2 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 in 2015.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -42.2 in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Lesotho ranks 211th out of 222 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.
Download this data
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