Government spending vs. GDP in Lesotho
Lesotho: Government spending vs. GDP was 805.47 million constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
805.47 million constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
147th
of 166 countries
All-time high
1.03 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2007
All-time low
639,593 constant 2015 US$
in 1970
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Government spending vs. GDP in Lesotho, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending vs. gdp in Lesotho is 805.47 million constant 2015 US$, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp in Lesotho peaked at 1.03 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2007 and was at its lowest, 639,593 constant 2015 US$, in 1970.
Lesotho ranks 147th of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 655,581 constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 863,450 constant 2015 US$ | +31.7% |
| 1962 | 911,412 constant 2015 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1963 | 911,412 constant 2015 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 911,412 constant 2015 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1.10 million constant 2015 US$ | +21.1% |
| 1966 | 815,477 constant 2015 US$ | -26.1% |
| 1967 | 1.09 million constant 2015 US$ | +33.3% |
| 1968 | 991,371 constant 2015 US$ | -8.8% |
| 1969 | 975,372 constant 2015 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1970 | 639,593 constant 2015 US$ | -34.4% |
| 1971 | 959,385 constant 2015 US$ | +50.0% |
| 1972 | 1.28 million constant 2015 US$ | +33.3% |
| 1973 | 1.28 million constant 2015 US$ | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.76 million constant 2015 US$ | +37.5% |
| 1975 | 2.56 million constant 2015 US$ | +45.5% |
| 1976 | 3.04 million constant 2015 US$ | +18.8% |
| 1977 | 3.52 million constant 2015 US$ | +15.8% |
| 1978 | 4.96 million constant 2015 US$ | +40.9% |
| 1979 | 6.40 million constant 2015 US$ | +29.0% |
| 1980 | 11.71 million constant 2015 US$ | +83.1% |
| 1981 | 12.73 million constant 2015 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1982 | 7.53 million constant 2015 US$ | -40.8% |
| 1983 | 8.20 million constant 2015 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1984 | 9.19 million constant 2015 US$ | +12.0% |
| 1985 | 15.09 million constant 2015 US$ | +64.2% |
| 1986 | 17.78 million constant 2015 US$ | +17.8% |
| 1987 | 37.25 million constant 2015 US$ | +109.5% |
| 1988 | 51.76 million constant 2015 US$ | +38.9% |
| 1989 | 54.20 million constant 2015 US$ | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 57.74 million constant 2015 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 80.23 million constant 2015 US$ | +39.0% |
| 1992 | 101.65 million constant 2015 US$ | +26.7% |
| 1993 | 118.70 million constant 2015 US$ | +16.8% |
| 1994 | 141.72 million constant 2015 US$ | +19.4% |
| 1995 | 164.00 million constant 2015 US$ | +15.7% |
| 1996 | 175.77 million constant 2015 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1997 | 210.43 million constant 2015 US$ | +19.7% |
| 1998 | 278.38 million constant 2015 US$ | +32.3% |
| 1999 | 283.98 million constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 303.33 million constant 2015 US$ | +6.8% |
| 2001 | 332.43 million constant 2015 US$ | +9.6% |
| 2002 | 407.42 million constant 2015 US$ | +22.6% |
| 2003 | 435.72 million constant 2015 US$ | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 454.11 million constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 510.61 million constant 2015 US$ | +12.4% |
| 2006 | 547.75 million constant 2015 US$ | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 1.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | +88.7% |
| 2008 | 939.48 million constant 2015 US$ | -9.1% |
| 2009 | 862.10 million constant 2015 US$ | -8.2% |
| 2010 | 812.98 million constant 2015 US$ | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 822.13 million constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 874.83 million constant 2015 US$ | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 876.01 million constant 2015 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 892.91 million constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 871.76 million constant 2015 US$ | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 898.90 million constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 858.79 million constant 2015 US$ | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 792.96 million constant 2015 US$ | -7.7% |
| 2019 | 835.14 million constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 798.09 million constant 2015 US$ | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 771.29 million constant 2015 US$ | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 769.11 million constant 2015 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 760.68 million constant 2015 US$ | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 780.54 million constant 2015 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 805.47 million constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 805.47 million constant 2015 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.32 billion constant 2015 US$, 35% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 805.47 million constant 2015 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.05 billion constant 2015 US$, 39% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government spending vs. GDP in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +109.5% | 17.78 million constant 2015 US$ | 37.25 million constant 2015 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 922,609 constant 2015 US$ | 655,581 constant 2015 US$ | 1.10 million constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.64 million constant 2015 US$ | 639,593 constant 2015 US$ | 6.40 million constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.54 million constant 2015 US$ | 7.53 million constant 2015 US$ | 54.20 million constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 161.26 million constant 2015 US$ | 57.74 million constant 2015 US$ | 283.98 million constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 582.67 million constant 2015 US$ | 303.33 million constant 2015 US$ | 1.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 853.64 million constant 2015 US$ | 792.96 million constant 2015 US$ | 898.90 million constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 780.86 million constant 2015 US$ | 760.68 million constant 2015 US$ | 805.47 million constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 144 Montenegro 914.31 million constant 2015 US$ compare
- 145 Maldives 832.50 million constant 2015 US$ compare
- 146 Bermuda 818.25 million constant 2015 US$ compare
- 148 Djibouti 682.23 million constant 2015 US$ compare
- 149 Bhutan 629.82 million constant 2015 US$ compare
- 150 Sierra Leone 605.09 million 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 government spending vs. gdp in Lesotho?
- Government spending vs. gdp in Lesotho was 805.47 million constant 2015 US$ in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 1.03 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2007.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 639,593 constant 2015 US$ in 1970.
- How does Lesotho rank for government spending vs. gdp?
- Lesotho ranks 147th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. 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) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending vs. 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
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.