GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in Lesotho
Lesotho: GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) was 971.82 current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
971.82 current US$
Change on year
up 6.1%
World rank
194th
of 211 countries
All-time high
1,281 current US$
in 2011
All-time low
67.44 current US$
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP per capita in Lesotho, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, gdp per capita in Lesotho stood at 971.82 current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.1% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Lesotho peaked at 1,281 current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 67.44 current US$, in 1970.
Lesotho ranks 194th of 211 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 67.44 current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 72.41 current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1972 | 73.96 current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 106.99 current US$ | +44.7% |
| 1974 | 128.67 current US$ | +20.3% |
| 1975 | 123.23 current US$ | -4.2% |
| 1976 | 117.83 current US$ | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 149.86 current US$ | +27.2% |
| 1978 | 200.84 current US$ | +34.0% |
| 1979 | 212.37 current US$ | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 306.82 current US$ | +44.5% |
| 1981 | 299.84 current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 233.94 current US$ | -22.0% |
| 1983 | 252.02 current US$ | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 211 current US$ | -16.3% |
| 1985 | 165.37 current US$ | -21.6% |
| 1986 | 191.38 current US$ | +15.7% |
| 1987 | 236.45 current US$ | +23.6% |
| 1988 | 270.37 current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1989 | 279.04 current US$ | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 329.56 current US$ | +18.1% |
| 1991 | 382.29 current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1992 | 443.62 current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1993 | 439.37 current US$ | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 455.59 current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 513.41 current US$ | +12.7% |
| 1996 | 479.67 current US$ | -6.6% |
| 1997 | 501.98 current US$ | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 464.68 current US$ | -7.4% |
| 1999 | 455.65 current US$ | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 442.78 current US$ | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 412.68 current US$ | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 388.92 current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 583.27 current US$ | +50.0% |
| 2004 | 766.69 current US$ | +31.4% |
| 2005 | 861.38 current US$ | +12.4% |
| 2006 | 925.47 current US$ | +7.4% |
| 2007 | 861.19 current US$ | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 898.48 current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 878.85 current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 1,119 current US$ | +27.4% |
| 2011 | 1,281 current US$ | +14.4% |
| 2012 | 1,218 current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 1,151 current US$ | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 1,174 current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 1,121 current US$ | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 992.49 current US$ | -11.5% |
| 2017 | 1,069 current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 1,171 current US$ | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 1,082 current US$ | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 918.58 current US$ | -15.1% |
| 2021 | 1,067 current US$ | +16.1% |
| 2022 | 1,030 current US$ | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 916.28 current US$ | -11.1% |
| 2024 | 971.82 current US$ | +6.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 971.82 current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2,419 current US$, 40% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 971.82 current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,136 current US$, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 125.36 current US$ | 67.44 current US$ | 212.37 current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 244.62 current US$ | 165.37 current US$ | 306.82 current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 446.58 current US$ | 329.56 current US$ | 513.41 current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 701.97 current US$ | 388.92 current US$ | 925.47 current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,138 current US$ | 992.49 current US$ | 1,281 current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 980.68 current US$ | 916.28 current US$ | 1,067 current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 191 Rwanda 999.65 current US$ compare
- 192 Sudan 989.31 current US$ compare
- 193 Burkina Faso 987.32 current US$ compare
- 195 Guinea-Bissau 962.98 current US$ compare
- 196 Gambia 908.53 current US$ compare
- 197 Sierra Leone 873.39 current US$ 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 971.82 current US$ in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 1,281 current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.44 current US$ in 1970.
- How does Lesotho rank for gdp per capita?
- Lesotho ranks 194th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. 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 US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release