Central government spending as share of GDP in Lesotho
Lesotho: Central government spending as share of GDP was 40.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in Lesotho, 1987–2022
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for central government spending as share of gdp in Lesotho is 40.2%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Lesotho peaked at 52.2% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 28.4%, in 1993.
Lesotho ranks 17th of 157 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 39.0% | — |
| 1988 | 37.0% | -5.0% |
| 1989 | 34.5% | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 29.4% | -15.0% |
| 1992 | 30.0% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 28.4% | -5.5% |
| 1994 | 32.8% | +15.8% |
| 1995 | 32.5% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 30.0% | -7.8% |
| 1997 | 32.8% | +9.5% |
| 1998 | 39.5% | +20.5% |
| 1999 | 34.6% | -12.5% |
| 2000 | 33.8% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 33.6% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 34.5% | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 33.9% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 32.2% | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 33.4% | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 36.4% | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 41.5% | +13.8% |
| 2008 | 46.5% | +12.1% |
| 2009 | 52.2% | +12.2% |
| 2010 | 42.5% | -18.5% |
| 2011 | 40.8% | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 40.1% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 42.7% | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 38.3% | -10.3% |
| 2015 | 38.2% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 40.6% | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 39.7% | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 39.2% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 39.2% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 43.3% | +10.3% |
| 2021 | 38.1% | -12.0% |
| 2022 | 40.2% | +5.6% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 40.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.3%, 1.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 40.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.5%, 2.4× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 36.9% | 34.5% | 39.0% | 3 |
| 1990s | 32.2% | 28.4% | 39.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 37.8% | 32.2% | 52.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.1% | 38.2% | 42.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.5% | 38.1% | 43.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 14 Luxembourg 42.2% compare
- 15 United Kingdom 41.2% compare
- 16 San Marino 40.5% compare
- 18 Netherlands 40.0% compare
- 19 Slovakia 39.8% compare
- 20 Belgium 39.7% 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 central government spending as share of gdp in Lesotho?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Lesotho was 40.2% in 2022, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 52.2% in 2009.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.4% in 1993.
- How does Lesotho rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Lesotho ranks 17th out of 157 countries with data for 2022.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.