GDP (constant LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Lesotho
Lesotho: GDP (constant LCU) (UNESCO Institute) was 21.31 billion constant LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
21.31 billion constant LCU
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
162nd
of 212 countries
All-time high
22.51 billion constant LCU
in 2016
All-time low
2.92 billion constant LCU
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP in Lesotho, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in constant LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp in Lesotho is 21.31 billion constant LCU, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp in Lesotho peaked at 22.51 billion constant LCU in 2016 and was at its lowest, 2.92 billion constant LCU, in 1970.
That places Lesotho 162nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP (constant LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | constant LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.92 billion constant LCU | — |
| 1971 | 3.07 billion constant LCU | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 3.07 billion constant LCU | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 3.88 billion constant LCU | +26.4% |
| 1974 | 4.30 billion constant LCU | +11.0% |
| 1975 | 3.72 billion constant LCU | -13.5% |
| 1976 | 4.13 billion constant LCU | +11.0% |
| 1977 | 5.03 billion constant LCU | +21.8% |
| 1978 | 5.95 billion constant LCU | +18.3% |
| 1979 | 6.13 billion constant LCU | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 5.96 billion constant LCU | -2.7% |
| 1981 | 6.00 billion constant LCU | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 6.27 billion constant LCU | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 6.39 billion constant LCU | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 6.75 billion constant LCU | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 6.92 billion constant LCU | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 7.25 billion constant LCU | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 7.30 billion constant LCU | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 7.93 billion constant LCU | +8.6% |
| 1989 | 8.39 billion constant LCU | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 8.89 billion constant LCU | +6.0% |
| 1991 | 9.51 billion constant LCU | +7.0% |
| 1992 | 10.18 billion constant LCU | +7.0% |
| 1993 | 10.53 billion constant LCU | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 11.16 billion constant LCU | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 11.53 billion constant LCU | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 12.17 billion constant LCU | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 12.63 billion constant LCU | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 12.82 billion constant LCU | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 12.88 billion constant LCU | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 13.38 billion constant LCU | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 13.86 billion constant LCU | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 13.96 billion constant LCU | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 14.59 billion constant LCU | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 14.84 billion constant LCU | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 15.35 billion constant LCU | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 16.00 billion constant LCU | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 16.67 billion constant LCU | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 17.60 billion constant LCU | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 17.37 billion constant LCU | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 18.29 billion constant LCU | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 19.13 billion constant LCU | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 20.35 billion constant LCU | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 20.71 billion constant LCU | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 21.07 billion constant LCU | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 21.72 billion constant LCU | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 22.51 billion constant LCU | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 21.80 billion constant LCU | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 21.48 billion constant LCU | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 21.17 billion constant LCU | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 19.45 billion constant LCU | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 19.89 billion constant LCU | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 20.36 billion constant LCU | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 20.73 billion constant LCU | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 21.31 billion constant LCU | +2.8% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 21.31 billion constant LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 660.05 billion constant LCU, 3% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 21.31 billion constant LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.34 trillion constant LCU, 1% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP (constant LCU) (UNESCO Institute) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | +26.4% | 3.07 billion constant LCU | 3.88 billion constant LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.22 billion constant LCU | 2.92 billion constant LCU | 6.13 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.91 billion constant LCU | 5.96 billion constant LCU | 8.39 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.23 billion constant LCU | 8.89 billion constant LCU | 12.88 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.36 billion constant LCU | 13.38 billion constant LCU | 17.60 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.82 billion constant LCU | 18.29 billion constant LCU | 22.51 billion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.35 billion constant LCU | 19.45 billion constant LCU | 21.31 billion constant LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 159 Cyprus 28.75 billion constant LCU compare
- 160 El Salvador 28.69 billion constant LCU compare
- 161 Seychelles 27.07 billion constant LCU compare
- 163 Faroe Islands 20.35 billion constant LCU compare
- 164 Brunei 19.70 billion constant LCU compare
- 165 Malta 17.32 billion constant LCU compare
More population data for Lesotho
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1905 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1905 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3315 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6353 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.201 (2100)
- Population density 107.36 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 190,191 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.201 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 2.27 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp in Lesotho?
- Gdp in Lesotho was 21.31 billion constant LCU in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 22.51 billion constant LCU in 2016.
- What is the lowest gdp recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.92 billion constant LCU in 1970.
- How does Lesotho rank for gdp?
- Lesotho ranks 162nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP (constant LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release