Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) (International Financial) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) (International Financial) was 4.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Inflation, consumer prices in Lesotho, 1974–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for inflation, consumer prices in Lesotho is 4.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 30.1% on the previous year and up 32.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inflation, consumer prices in Lesotho peaked at 33.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, -16.9%, in 2009.
That places Lesotho 56th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) (International Financial) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 13.4% | — |
| 1975 | 14.2% | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 11.4% | -19.7% |
| 1977 | 16.7% | +46.2% |
| 1978 | 13.5% | -19.2% |
| 1979 | 16.0% | +18.7% |
| 1980 | 16.3% | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 12.4% | -23.7% |
| 1982 | 12.1% | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 17.5% | +44.1% |
| 1984 | 11.0% | -37.2% |
| 1985 | 13.3% | +21.3% |
| 1986 | 18.0% | +35.2% |
| 1987 | 11.8% | -34.7% |
| 1988 | 11.5% | -2.5% |
| 1989 | 14.7% | +28.6% |
| 1990 | 11.6% | -21.0% |
| 1991 | 17.7% | +51.9% |
| 1992 | 17.2% | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 13.1% | -23.7% |
| 1994 | 8.2% | -37.5% |
| 1995 | 9.3% | +12.9% |
| 1996 | 9.3% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 6.1% | -34.3% |
| 2001 | -9.6% | -256.8% |
| 2002 | 33.8% | -451.6% |
| 2003 | 6.6% | -80.4% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | -24.2% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | -31.6% |
| 2006 | 6.1% | +76.6% |
| 2007 | 8.0% | +31.9% |
| 2008 | 10.7% | +33.7% |
| 2009 | -16.9% | -257.3% |
| 2010 | -2.4% | -85.7% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | -309.4% |
| 2012 | 6.1% | +20.1% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | -19.6% |
| 2014 | 5.4% | +10.4% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | -40.1% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | +105.0% |
| 2017 | 4.4% | -32.6% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | +6.8% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | +9.2% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 6.0% | +21.5% |
| 2022 | 8.3% | +36.8% |
| 2023 | 6.3% | -23.3% |
| 2024 | 6.1% | -3.7% |
| 2025 | 4.3% | -30.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 4.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.6%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 4.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.5%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) (International Financial) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +451.6% | -9.6% | 33.8% |
| 2011 | +309.4% | -2.4% | 5.0% |
| 2001 | -256.8% | 6.1% | -9.6% |
| 2009 | -257.3% | 10.7% | -16.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.2% | 11.4% | 16.7% | 6 |
| 1980s | 13.9% | 11.0% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.4% | 8.2% | 17.7% | 7 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | -16.9% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | -2.4% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.0% | 4.3% | 8.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More economy & growth data for Lesotho
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 57.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0799 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 87.06 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 50.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0584 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 63.57 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0303 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 33.01 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, annual growth rate -0.0491 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inflation, consumer prices in Lesotho?
- Inflation, consumer prices in Lesotho was 4.3% in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest inflation, consumer prices recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 33.8% in 2002.
- What is the lowest inflation, consumer prices recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.9% in 2009.
- How does Lesotho rank for inflation, consumer prices?
- Lesotho ranks 56th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inflation, consumer prices rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Inflation, consumer prices (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Inflation as measured by the consumer price index reflects the annual percentage change in the cost to the average consumer of acquiring a basket of goods and services that may be fixed or changed at specified intervals, such as yearly.