Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Lesotho

Lesotho: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP was 69.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
69.6%
Change on year
down 9.9%
World rank
22nd
of 201 countries
All-time high
96.1%
in 2019
All-time low
34.1%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Lesotho, 2000–2024

0204060801002000201220242000: 34.1 %2001: 66.9 %2002: 88.4 %2003: 90.9 %2004: 77.9 %2005: 44.9 %2006: 44.4 %2007: 51.3 %2008: 40.9 %2009: 46.3 %2010: 52.4 %2011: 51.3 %2012: 59.2 %2013: 69.4 %2014: 57.6 %2015: 60.2 %2016: 63.9 %2017: 79.1 %2018: 73.2 %2019: 96.1 %2020: 85.2 %2021: 75.8 %2022: 76.4 %2023: 77.2 %2024: 69.6 %

Source: International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Lesotho is 69.6%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.9% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Lesotho peaked at 96.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 34.1%, in 2000.

Lesotho ranks 22nd of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Lesotho, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 34.1%
2001 66.9% +96.2%
2002 88.4% +32.1%
2003 90.9% +2.8%
2004 77.9% -14.2%
2005 44.9% -42.4%
2006 44.4% -1.0%
2007 51.3% +15.4%
2008 40.9% -20.2%
2009 46.3% +13.2%
2010 52.4% +13.2%
2011 51.3% -2.1%
2012 59.2% +15.3%
2013 69.4% +17.2%
2014 57.6% -17.0%
2015 60.2% +4.6%
2016 63.9% +6.1%
2017 79.1% +23.8%
2018 73.2% -7.5%
2019 96.1% +31.2%
2020 85.2% -11.4%
2021 75.8% -10.9%
2022 76.4% +0.7%
2023 77.2% +1.1%
2024 69.6% -9.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 58.6% 34.1% 90.9% 10
2010s 66.2% 51.3% 96.1% 10
2020s 76.8% 69.6% 85.2% 5

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 19 Seychelles 73.3% compare
  2. 20 Malaysia 71.4% compare
  3. 21 North Macedonia 70.6% compare
  4. 23 Netherlands 66.6% compare
  5. 24 Czechia 66.6% compare
  6. 25 Lebanon 66.2% compare

See the full ranking of 201 places →

More economy & growth data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Lesotho?
Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Lesotho was 69.6% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 96.1% in 2019.
What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 34.1% in 2000.
How does Lesotho rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
Lesotho ranks 22nd out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Lesotho?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Lesotho data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-imports-as-a-share-of-countrys-gdp/lesotho/

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About this data

Indicator
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP
Unit
%
Source
International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
201 places, 10,161 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Value of a country’s total goods imports, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).