Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) was 6.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Lesotho, 1975–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
Analysis
In 2024, debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Lesotho stood at 6.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 23.1% on the previous year and up 125.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Lesotho peaked at 8.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1977.
That places Lesotho 65th out of 118 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0.7% | — |
| 1977 | 0.2% | -67.9% |
| 1978 | 0.5% | +104.6% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | +86.2% |
| 1980 | 1.3% | +52.8% |
| 1981 | 1.2% | -12.6% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 2.3% | +108.9% |
| 1984 | 1.7% | -25.0% |
| 1985 | 3.0% | +77.0% |
| 1986 | 2.2% | -26.8% |
| 1987 | 1.5% | -31.9% |
| 1988 | 2.5% | +67.8% |
| 1989 | 2.3% | -9.2% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | -8.1% |
| 1991 | 2.3% | +9.5% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | +14.3% |
| 1993 | 2.7% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | -16.5% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | +38.7% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | +25.4% |
| 1998 | 5.4% | +36.9% |
| 1999 | 6.5% | +20.1% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | +15.0% |
| 2001 | 8.1% | +9.0% |
| 2002 | 7.7% | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | -29.4% |
| 2004 | 3.7% | -32.9% |
| 2005 | 5.7% | +55.6% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | -46.5% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | +93.9% |
| 2008 | 2.2% | -62.2% |
| 2009 | 2.6% | +16.3% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | -19.4% |
| 2011 | 2.1% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | +17.2% |
| 2013 | 2.9% | +19.6% |
| 2014 | 3.1% | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 3.7% | +22.6% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | -14.0% |
| 2018 | 3.8% | +12.3% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | +19.5% |
| 2020 | 5.2% | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | -22.1% |
| 2022 | 4.3% | +7.7% |
| 2023 | 5.6% | +29.3% |
| 2024 | 6.9% | +23.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 6.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.4%, 82% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 6.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.0%, 86% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.9% | 4 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 1.1% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.4% | 2.1% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.2% | 2.2% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 2.1% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.2% | 4.0% | 6.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 62 North Macedonia 7.1% compare
- 63 Republic of Moldova 7.0% compare
- 64 Belarus 6.9% compare
- 66 Rwanda 6.8% compare
- 67 Madagascar 6.5% compare
- 68 Suriname 6.5% compare
More external debt data for Lesotho
- IFC, private nonguaranteed 0 NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita 0 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP 0 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 0 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 2.7% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA 62.08 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita 26.56 NFL, current US$ per person (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.026 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD -363,000 NFL, current US$ (2013)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 4.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Lesotho?
- Debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Lesotho was 6.9% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 8.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1977.
- How does Lesotho rank for debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and)?
- Lesotho ranks 65th out of 118 countries with data for 2024.
- Is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 125.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Debt service, the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services, is expressed as a percentage of exports of goods and services--all transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world involving a change of ownership from residents to nonresidents of general merchandise, net exports of goods under merchanting, nonmonetary gold, and services. This series differs from the standard debt to exports series in that it covers only long-term public and publicly guaranteed debt and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.