Foreign direct investment, net in Lesotho
Lesotho: Foreign direct investment, net was 5.77 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net in Lesotho, 1980–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net in Lesotho is 5.77 million BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 54.1% on the previous year and up 105.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net in Lesotho peaked at 25.65 million BoP, current US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, -113.22 million BoP, current US$, in 2015.
That places Lesotho 40th out of 195 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -6.15 million BoP, current US$ | -19.06 million BoP, current US$ | -1.55 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -22.81 million BoP, current US$ | -43.27 million BoP, current US$ | -7.99 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -41.98 million BoP, current US$ | -91.35 million BoP, current US$ | -11.01 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -58.35 million BoP, current US$ | -113.22 million BoP, current US$ | -9.51 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.03 million BoP, current US$ | -28.00 million BoP, current US$ | 25.65 million BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 37 Yemen 15.44 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 38 Tonga 13.33 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 39 Tajikistan 8.20 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 41 Nauru 4.51 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 42 Central African Republic 3.60 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 43 South Sudan 2.21 million BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Lesotho
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp -54.92 (2025)
- Inflation of consumer prices 4.27 (2025)
- Gdp per capita worldbank constant usd 1,021 (2025)
- Manufacturing value added to gdp 12.07 (2024)
- Gdp worldbank constant usd 2.41 billion (2025)
- Gdp per capita in international and market dollars 1,021 (2025)
- DEC alternative conversion factor 17.89 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) 11.20 billion current LCU (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) 625.90 million current US$ (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 5.87 billion current LCU (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net in Lesotho?
- Foreign direct investment, net in Lesotho was 5.77 million BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 25.65 million BoP, current US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -113.22 million BoP, current US$ in 2015.
- How does Lesotho rank for foreign direct investment, net?
- Lesotho ranks 40th out of 195 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 105.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the voting power is evidence of a direct investment relationship. 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.