Arms imports in Lesotho
Lesotho: Arms imports was 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Arms imports in Lesotho, 1977–2019
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
In 2019, arms imports in Lesotho stood at 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Lesotho peaked at 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0 SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1985.
Lesotho ranks 158th of 173 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1979 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +400.0% |
| 1980 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -40.0% |
| 1983 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -66.7% |
| 1985 | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | -100.0% |
| 1986 | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1989 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -20.0% |
| 1991 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.0% |
| 1998 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.0% |
| 2001 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +20.0% |
| 2004 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -83.3% |
| 2006 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 9% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 12% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +400.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2 |
| 1980s | 4.40 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
| 1990s | 4.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.67 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 158 Belize 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 158 Comoros 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 158 Gabon 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 158 North Korea 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 158 Madagascar 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 158 Mozambique 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 158 North Macedonia 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 158 Yemen 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 158 Zambia 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Lesotho
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 6 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Lesotho?
- Arms imports in Lesotho was 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2019, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1986.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 SIPRI trend indicator values in 1985.
- How does Lesotho rank for arms imports?
- Lesotho ranks 158th out of 173 countries with data for 2019.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.