Gross domestic product (GDP) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Gross domestic product (GDP) was 2.41 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.41 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
181st
of 209 countries
All-time high
2.44 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2016
All-time low
193.51 million constant 2015 US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Lesotho, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross domestic product (gdp) in Lesotho is 2.41 billion constant 2015 US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp) in Lesotho peaked at 2.44 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2016 and was at its lowest, 193.51 million constant 2015 US$, in 1960.
Lesotho ranks 181st of 209 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 193.51 million constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 197.12 million constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 227.34 million constant 2015 US$ | +15.3% |
| 1963 | 251.47 million constant 2015 US$ | +10.6% |
| 1964 | 272.22 million constant 2015 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1965 | 278.08 million constant 2015 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 276.96 million constant 2015 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 307.18 million constant 2015 US$ | +10.9% |
| 1968 | 306.05 million constant 2015 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 310.79 million constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 317.55 million constant 2015 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 333.79 million constant 2015 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 333.11 million constant 2015 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 421.07 million constant 2015 US$ | +26.4% |
| 1974 | 467.31 million constant 2015 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1975 | 404.16 million constant 2015 US$ | -13.5% |
| 1976 | 448.81 million constant 2015 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1977 | 546.70 million constant 2015 US$ | +21.8% |
| 1978 | 646.83 million constant 2015 US$ | +18.3% |
| 1979 | 665.55 million constant 2015 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 647.28 million constant 2015 US$ | -2.7% |
| 1981 | 651.78 million constant 2015 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 680.83 million constant 2015 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 694.35 million constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 732.78 million constant 2015 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 751.91 million constant 2015 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 787.14 million constant 2015 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 792.88 million constant 2015 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 861.09 million constant 2015 US$ | +8.6% |
| 1989 | 910.99 million constant 2015 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 966.06 million constant 2015 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1991 | 1.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1992 | 1.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1993 | 1.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 1.21 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 1.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 1.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 1.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 1.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 1.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 1.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 1.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 1.52 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 1.59 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 1.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 1.67 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 1.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 1.81 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 1.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 1.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 1.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 2.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 2.21 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 2.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 2.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 2.36 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 2.44 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 2.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 2.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 2.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 2.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 2.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 2.21 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 2.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 2.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.2% |
| 2025 | 2.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 2.41 billion constant 2015 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.68 billion constant 2015 US$, 8% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 2.41 billion constant 2015 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.42 billion constant 2015 US$, 15% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross domestic product (GDP) in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | +26.4% | 333.11 million constant 2015 US$ | 421.07 million constant 2015 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 262.07 million constant 2015 US$ | 193.51 million constant 2015 US$ | 310.79 million constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 458.49 million constant 2015 US$ | 317.55 million constant 2015 US$ | 665.55 million constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 751.10 million constant 2015 US$ | 647.28 million constant 2015 US$ | 910.99 million constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.22 billion constant 2015 US$ | 966.06 million constant 2015 US$ | 1.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.67 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.26 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.44 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 178 Belize 2.70 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 179 Turks and Caicos Islands 2.66 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 180 Cape Verde 2.48 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 182 Eritrea 2.25 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 183 Gambia 2.22 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 184 Saint Lucia 2.18 billion constant 2015 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 gross domestic product (gdp) in Lesotho?
- Gross domestic product (gdp) in Lesotho was 2.41 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 2.44 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2016.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 193.51 million constant 2015 US$ in 1960.
- How does Lesotho rank for gross domestic product (gdp)?
- Lesotho ranks 181st out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total economic output of a country or region per year. This data is adjusted by inflation but _does not_ account for differences in living costs between countries.