GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Lesotho
Lesotho: GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) was 17,812 current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
17,812 current LCU
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
185th
of 211 countries
All-time high
17,812 current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
48.17 current LCU
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP per capita in Lesotho, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 17,812 current LCU for gdp per capita in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and up 39.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Lesotho peaked at 17,812 current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 48.17 current LCU, in 1970.
Lesotho ranks 185th of 211 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 48.17 current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 51.79 current LCU | +7.5% |
| 1972 | 56.85 current LCU | +9.8% |
| 1973 | 74.25 current LCU | +30.6% |
| 1974 | 87.43 current LCU | +17.7% |
| 1975 | 91.13 current LCU | +4.2% |
| 1976 | 102.46 current LCU | +12.4% |
| 1977 | 130.31 current LCU | +27.2% |
| 1978 | 174.65 current LCU | +34.0% |
| 1979 | 178.82 current LCU | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 238.96 current LCU | +33.6% |
| 1981 | 263.11 current LCU | +10.1% |
| 1982 | 254.02 current LCU | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 280.77 current LCU | +10.5% |
| 1984 | 311.28 current LCU | +10.9% |
| 1985 | 368.56 current LCU | +18.4% |
| 1986 | 437.3 current LCU | +18.6% |
| 1987 | 481.42 current LCU | +10.1% |
| 1988 | 614.67 current LCU | +27.7% |
| 1989 | 731.82 current LCU | +19.1% |
| 1990 | 852.69 current LCU | +16.5% |
| 1991 | 1,056 current LCU | +23.8% |
| 1992 | 1,265 current LCU | +19.9% |
| 1993 | 1,436 current LCU | +13.5% |
| 1994 | 1,618 current LCU | +12.7% |
| 1995 | 1,862 current LCU | +15.1% |
| 1996 | 2,062 current LCU | +10.7% |
| 1997 | 2,313 current LCU | +12.2% |
| 1998 | 2,569 current LCU | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 2,784 current LCU | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 3,073 current LCU | +10.4% |
| 2001 | 3,553 current LCU | +15.6% |
| 2002 | 4,100 current LCU | +15.4% |
| 2003 | 4,412 current LCU | +7.6% |
| 2004 | 4,952 current LCU | +12.2% |
| 2005 | 5,478 current LCU | +10.6% |
| 2006 | 6,267 current LCU | +14.4% |
| 2007 | 6,067 current LCU | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 7,423 current LCU | +22.3% |
| 2009 | 7,447 current LCU | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 8,194 current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2011 | 9,298 current LCU | +13.5% |
| 2012 | 10,002 current LCU | +7.6% |
| 2013 | 11,107 current LCU | +11.0% |
| 2014 | 12,736 current LCU | +14.7% |
| 2015 | 14,305 current LCU | +12.3% |
| 2016 | 14,599 current LCU | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 14,248 current LCU | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 15,492 current LCU | +8.7% |
| 2019 | 15,634 current LCU | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 15,119 current LCU | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 15,763 current LCU | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 16,849 current LCU | +6.9% |
| 2023 | 16,906 current LCU | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 17,812 current LCU | +5.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 17,812 current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 228,151 current LCU, 8% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 17,812 current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 591,280 current LCU, 3% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 99.59 current LCU | 48.17 current LCU | 178.82 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 398.19 current LCU | 238.96 current LCU | 731.82 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,782 current LCU | 852.69 current LCU | 2,784 current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,277 current LCU | 3,073 current LCU | 7,447 current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,562 current LCU | 8,194 current LCU | 15,634 current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,490 current LCU | 15,119 current LCU | 17,812 current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 182 Panama 19,103 current LCU compare
- 183 Solomon Islands 18,173 current LCU compare
- 184 American Samoa 18,018 current LCU compare
- 186 Belize 16,859 current LCU compare
- 187 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16,191 current LCU compare
- 188 Palau 15,899 current 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 per capita in Lesotho?
- Gdp per capita in Lesotho was 17,812 current LCU in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 17,812 current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.17 current LCU in 1970.
- How does Lesotho rank for gdp per capita?
- Lesotho ranks 185th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.9%. 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 per capita (current 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