Economy · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income
Lesotho: the economy in numbers
GDP is $2.6bn (2025), 185th of 211 in the world and 42nd of 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa. GDP per capita is $1,089 (2025), 196th of 211 in the world and 33rd of 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa. GDP per capita, PPP is $3,184 (2025), 184th of 199 in the world and 34th of 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
GDP
Lesotho
GDP per capita
LesothoSub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
13 indicators
Economy: Lesotho in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDPGDP, current US$ | $2.6bn2025 | 185/211 | 42/46 | $887m | $2.2bn | $2.1bn | +9.1%since 2015 | $2.2tn | $7.3tn | $118tn | |
| GDP per capitaGDP per capita, current US$ | $1,0892025 | 196/211 | 33/46 | $443 | $1,119 | $919 | −2.9%since 2015 | $1,673 | $2,481 | $14,406 | |
| GDP per capita, PPPGDP per capita, PPP (current international $) | $3,1842025 | 184/199 | 34/46 | $1,273 | $2,153 | $2,559 | +4.9%since 2015 | $5,786 | $10,942 | $25,704 | |
| GNI per capitaGNI per capita, Atlas method, US$ | $1,2802025 | 178/201 | 25/46 | $590 | $1,270 | $1,170 | ±0.0%since 2015 | $1,610 | $2,488 | $14,244 | |
| GDP growthGDP growth, annual % | 2.0%2025 | 146/210 | 39/46 | 3.9% | 5.3% | -8.2% | −1.1 ppsince 2015 | 4.1% | 6.0% | 2.9% | |
| GDP per capita growthGDP per capita growth, annual % | 0.9%2025 | 154/210 | 32/46 | 3.8% | 4.5% | -9.2% | −1.1 ppsince 2015 | 1.6% | 4.6% | 2.0% | |
| Agriculture shareAgriculture, forestry and fishing, % of GDP | 6.5%2025 | 96/198 | 37/45 | 7.8% | 4.9% | 5.3% | +2.7 ppsince 2015 | 17.9% | 17.8% | 4.0% | |
| Industry shareIndustry incl. construction, % of GDP | 25.2%2025 | 85/201 | 21/45 | 35.2% | 31.5% | 31.1% | −8.6 ppsince 2015 | 25.1% | 31.3% | 25.0% | |
| Manufacturing shareManufacturing, value added, % of GDP | 12.1%2024 | 79/194 | 15/43 | 13.6% | 13.1% | 16.3% | −0.2 ppsince 2014 | 9.6% | 16.9% | 14.9% | |
| Services shareServices, % of GDP | 55.6%2025 | 116/201 | 10/45 | 51.3% | 53.8% | 51.9% | +4.1 ppsince 2015 | 50.2% | 61.3% | 63.3% | |
| InvestmentGross capital formation, % of GDP | 31.2%2025 | 25/175 | 8/43 | · | 31.3% | 26.3% | +0.8 ppsince 2015 | 23.1% | 31.1% | 26.3% | |
| SavingsGross savings, % of GDP | 13.6%2025 | 128/163 | 28/39 | · | 20.2% | 20.5% | −10.9 ppsince 2015 | 19.3% | 28.2% | 26.0% | |
| Resource rentsNatural resources rents, % of GDP | 4.3%2021 | 78/209 | 34/46 | 3.5% | 3.9% | 4.6% | +0.4 ppsince 2011 | 10.0% | 4.7% | 3.1% |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- GDP+9.1%$2.6bn in 2025
- GDP per capita, PPP+4.9%$3,184 in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
- GDP per capita−2.9%$1,089 in 2025
- GDP growth−1.1 pp2.0% in 2025
- GDP per capita growth−1.1 pp0.9% in 2025
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Lesotho and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Lesotho. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Lesotho | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| GDP | $2.6bn2025 | $427bn2025 |
| GDP per capita | $1,0892025 | $6,5982025 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $3,1842025 | $15,9062025 |
| GNI per capita | $1,2802025 | $6,2702025 |
| GDP growth | 2.0%2025 | 1.1%2025 |
| GDP per capita growth | 0.9%2025 | 0.0%2025 |
| Agriculture share | 6.5%2025 | 2.8%2025 |
| Industry share | 25.2%2025 | 24.1%2025 |
| Manufacturing share | 12.1%2024 | 12.3%2025 |