Gross domestic product (GDP), per capita in Lesotho
Lesotho: Gross domestic product (GDP), per capita was 2,316 international-$ in 2021 prices per person in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
2,316 international-$ in 2021 prices per person
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
169th
of 181 countries
All-time high
3,622 international-$ in 2021 prices per person
in 2015
All-time low
1,233 international-$ in 2021 prices per person
in 1961
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Gross domestic product (GDP), per capita in Lesotho, 1960–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices per person.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 2,316 international-$ in 2021 prices per person for gross domestic product (gdp), per capita in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp), per capita in Lesotho peaked at 3,622 international-$ in 2021 prices per person in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,233 international-$ in 2021 prices per person, in 1961.
That places Lesotho 169th out of 181 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 64 years of available data.
Gross domestic product (GDP), per capita in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,252 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | — |
| 1961 | 1,233 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -1.5% |
| 1962 | 1,381 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +12.0% |
| 1963 | 1,502 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +8.7% |
| 1964 | 1,569 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +4.4% |
| 1965 | 1,558 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 1,604 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 1,668 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 1,613 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -3.3% |
| 1969 | 1,559 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 1,576 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 1,425 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -9.6% |
| 1972 | 1,694 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +18.9% |
| 1973 | 2,023 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +19.5% |
| 1974 | 2,106 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +4.1% |
| 1975 | 2,024 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -3.9% |
| 1976 | 2,301 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +13.7% |
| 1977 | 2,471 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +7.4% |
| 1978 | 2,680 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +8.5% |
| 1979 | 2,424 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -9.5% |
| 1980 | 2,147 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -11.4% |
| 1981 | 2,169 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 2,201 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 2,089 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -5.1% |
| 1984 | 2,091 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 2,077 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 1,987 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 2,060 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 2,295 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +11.4% |
| 1989 | 2,442 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +6.4% |
| 1990 | 2,467 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 2,497 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 2,434 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 2,650 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +8.9% |
| 1994 | 2,603 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 2,705 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 2,942 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +8.8% |
| 1997 | 3,008 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 2,619 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -12.9% |
| 1999 | 2,657 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 2,714 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 2,891 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 2,934 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 2,968 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 2,980 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 3,080 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 3,156 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 3,217 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 3,443 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 3,244 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 2,936 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -9.5% |
| 2011 | 2,967 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 3,214 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +8.3% |
| 2013 | 3,213 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 3,412 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 3,622 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 3,414 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 3,228 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 2,934 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -9.1% |
| 2019 | 2,707 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 2,405 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -11.2% |
| 2021 | 2,284 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 2,292 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 2,316 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | +1.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 2,316 international-$ in 2021 prices per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6,271 international-$ in 2021 prices per person, 37% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 2,316 international-$ in 2021 prices per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,431 international-$ in 2021 prices per person, 67% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,494 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 1,233 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 1,668 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 2,072 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 1,425 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 2,680 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,156 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 1,987 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 2,442 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,658 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 2,434 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 3,008 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,063 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 2,714 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 3,443 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,165 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 2,707 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 3,622 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,324 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 2,284 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 2,405 international-$ in 2021 prices per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 166 Sudan 2,550 international-$ in 2021 prices per person compare
- 167 Guinea-Bissau 2,439 international-$ in 2021 prices per person compare
- 168 Burkina Faso 2,361 international-$ in 2021 prices per person compare
- 170 Chad 2,165 international-$ in 2021 prices per person compare
- 171 Niger 1,919 international-$ in 2021 prices per person compare
- 172 Malawi 1,748 international-$ in 2021 prices per person 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), per capita in Lesotho?
- Gross domestic product (gdp), per capita in Lesotho was 2,316 international-$ in 2021 prices per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp), per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 3,622 international-$ in 2021 prices per person in 2015.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp), per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,233 international-$ in 2021 prices per person in 1961.
- How does Lesotho rank for gross domestic product (gdp), per capita?
- Lesotho ranks 169th out of 181 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp), per capita rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Gross domestic product (GDP) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Gross domestic product (GDP) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Gross domestic product (GDP) Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Gross domestic product (GDP) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.