Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lesotho
Lesotho: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was -0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lesotho, 1975–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lesotho is -0.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 57.3% on the previous year and down 104.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lesotho peaked at 5.2% in 2009 and was at its lowest, -1.2%, in 2023.
Lesotho ranks 180th of 200 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, net inflows in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.2% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | -96.7% |
| 1979 | 0.1% | +818.8% |
| 1980 | 1.0% | +1410.7% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 0.9% | -15.7% |
| 1983 | 1.3% | +40.6% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | -44.5% |
| 1985 | 1.8% | +151.4% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -61.2% |
| 1987 | 1.5% | +108.2% |
| 1988 | 4.5% | +208.3% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | -38.9% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 1.1% | -58.9% |
| 1992 | 1.0% | -11.2% |
| 1993 | 1.9% | +86.0% |
| 1994 | 4.9% | +162.9% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | -51.0% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | +27.3% |
| 1997 | 3.3% | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 3.1% | -6.7% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | -20.9% |
| 2000 | 3.7% | +51.3% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 3.7% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 3.7% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | -55.7% |
| 2006 | 1.4% | -17.2% |
| 2007 | 4.5% | +232.7% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -86.1% |
| 2009 | 5.2% | +742.1% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | -91.9% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | +457.4% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 3.9% | +81.6% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | +24.0% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | -21.9% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -51.2% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 1.4% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | -0.5% | -137.6% |
| 2022 | -0.3% | -35.3% |
| 2023 | -1.2% | +262.6% |
| 2024 | -0.5% | -56.3% |
| 2025 | -0.2% | -57.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 5 |
| 1980s | 1.6% | 0.7% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 1.0% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.2% | 0.6% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.2% | -1.2% | 1.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 177 Belize 0.0% compare
- 178 Finland -0.1% compare
- 179 French Polynesia -0.2% compare
- 181 Kazakhstan -0.3% compare
- 182 South Africa -0.5% compare
- 183 Iceland -0.5% compare
More economy & growth data for Lesotho
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1207 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 123.45 current US$ per person (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.21 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 2,263 current LCU per person (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1622 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 165.93 constant 2015 US$ per person (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 1,061 constant LCU per person (2024)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual -3.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2516 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 273.96 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lesotho?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lesotho was -0.2% in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2% in 2009.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.2% in 2023.
- How does Lesotho rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Lesotho ranks 180th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 104.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.