Total debt service in Lesotho
Lesotho: Total debt service was 3.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Lesotho, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 3.8% for total debt service in 2024.
The figure is down 24.4% on the previous year and up 134.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Lesotho peaked at 6.1% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1977.
That places Lesotho 63rd out of 121 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total debt service in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.6% | — |
| 1971 | 0.4% | -31.6% |
| 1972 | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 0.4% | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 0.2% | -43.8% |
| 1975 | 0.4% | +102.4% |
| 1976 | 0.2% | -56.2% |
| 1977 | 0.1% | -32.8% |
| 1978 | 0.2% | +92.8% |
| 1979 | 0.5% | +95.2% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | +63.2% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 1.4% | +83.7% |
| 1983 | 2.8% | +94.7% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | -22.9% |
| 1985 | 3.8% | +76.7% |
| 1986 | 2.5% | -33.9% |
| 1987 | 2.1% | -16.7% |
| 1988 | 3.0% | +43.9% |
| 1989 | 2.7% | -8.9% |
| 1990 | 2.4% | -11.3% |
| 1991 | 2.4% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 2.8% | +14.5% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | -12.1% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | +23.8% |
| 1996 | 3.0% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | +19.9% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | +20.2% |
| 1999 | 4.6% | +6.0% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | +18.7% |
| 2001 | 5.8% | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 6.1% | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | -33.2% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | -36.3% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | +41.2% |
| 2006 | 2.0% | -43.9% |
| 2007 | 4.2% | +105.2% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -62.7% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 1.2% | -27.2% |
| 2011 | 1.3% | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 1.4% | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | +21.7% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | +24.8% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | +20.0% |
| 2017 | 2.1% | -11.7% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | +22.2% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 3.0% | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | +13.5% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -14.5% |
| 2023 | 5.0% | +72.5% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | -24.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.2% | 0.8% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.2% | 2.4% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 1.6% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.2% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 2.9% | 5.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 60 Belize 4.1% compare
- 61 Burkina Faso 4.1% compare
- 62 Mauritania 3.8% compare
- 64 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3.8% compare
- 65 Mexico 3.8% compare
- 66 Thailand 3.5% compare
More economy & growth data for Lesotho
- Services, value added (constant LCU), per capita 5,937 constant LCU per person (2025)
- GDP deflator (base year varies by country), annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 9.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8725 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 950.1 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 6.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 15.61 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 16,996 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 2.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.8589 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in Lesotho?
- Total debt service in Lesotho was 3.8% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 6.1% in 2002.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1977.
- How does Lesotho rank for total debt service?
- Lesotho ranks 63rd out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 134.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total debt service (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.