Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) was 38.06 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Lesotho, 2000–2027
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 38.06 for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in 2027.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Lesotho peaked at 80.72 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 29.54, in 2011.
Lesotho ranks 11th of 45 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 72.4 | — |
| 2001 | 79.22 | +9.4% |
| 2002 | 80.72 | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 54.08 | -33.0% |
| 2004 | 43.13 | -20.2% |
| 2005 | 35.73 | -17.2% |
| 2006 | 37.13 | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 39.13 | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 39.57 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 34.64 | -12.5% |
| 2010 | 31.06 | -10.3% |
| 2011 | 29.54 | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 31.7 | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 35.31 | +11.4% |
| 2014 | 33.33 | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 38.19 | +14.6% |
| 2016 | 38.5 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 37.26 | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 36.18 | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 38.35 | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 47.5 | +23.8% |
| 2021 | 42.82 | -9.8% |
| 2022 | 45.01 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 45.99 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 41.64 | -9.4% |
| 2025 | 38.54 | -7.4% |
| 2026 | 38.37 | -0.4% |
| 2027 | 38.06 | -0.8% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 38.06 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.53, 1.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 38.06 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 30.44, 1.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51.57 | 34.64 | 80.72 | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.94 | 29.54 | 38.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.24 | 38.06 | 47.5 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 8 Gambia 41.11 compare
- 9 Liberia 39.7 compare
- 10 Madagascar 39.67 compare
- 12 Angola 36.12 compare
- 13 Cote d'Ivoire 33.29 compare
- 14 Seychelles 32.19 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 gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Lesotho?
- Gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Lesotho was 38.06 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 80.72 in 2002.
- What is the lowest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.54 in 2011.
- How does Lesotho rank for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and)?
- Lesotho ranks 11th out of 45 countries with data for 2027.
- Is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for sub-Saharan Africa are prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall.