Military expenditure (current LCU) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 713.77 million current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
713.77 million current LCU
Change on year
up 6.1%
World rank
149th
of 168 countries
All-time high
713.77 million current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
1.99 million current LCU
in 1976
Years of data
50
1976–2025
Military expenditure in Lesotho, 1976–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Lesotho stood at 713.77 million current LCU. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Lesotho peaked at 713.77 million current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.99 million current LCU, in 1976.
Lesotho ranks 149th of 168 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 1.99 million current LCU | — |
| 1977 | 2.42 million current LCU | +21.3% |
| 1978 | 3.49 million current LCU | +44.4% |
| 1979 | 4.52 million current LCU | +29.6% |
| 1980 | 9.06 million current LCU | +100.4% |
| 1981 | 10.88 million current LCU | +20.0% |
| 1982 | 16.25 million current LCU | +49.4% |
| 1983 | 15.68 million current LCU | -3.5% |
| 1984 | 18.12 million current LCU | +15.6% |
| 1985 | 23.77 million current LCU | +31.2% |
| 1986 | 30.55 million current LCU | +28.5% |
| 1987 | 36.88 million current LCU | +20.7% |
| 1988 | 38.55 million current LCU | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 59.30 million current LCU | +53.8% |
| 1990 | 62.52 million current LCU | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 61.60 million current LCU | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 69.12 million current LCU | +12.2% |
| 1993 | 72.35 million current LCU | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 91.80 million current LCU | +26.9% |
| 1995 | 124.67 million current LCU | +35.8% |
| 1996 | 121.88 million current LCU | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 132.25 million current LCU | +8.5% |
| 1998 | 153.72 million current LCU | +16.2% |
| 1999 | 208.20 million current LCU | +35.4% |
| 2000 | 212.05 million current LCU | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 201.38 million current LCU | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 206.18 million current LCU | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 207.00 million current LCU | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 202.75 million current LCU | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 213.80 million current LCU | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 238.53 million current LCU | +11.6% |
| 2007 | 280.65 million current LCU | +17.7% |
| 2008 | 225.95 million current LCU | -19.5% |
| 2009 | 401.65 million current LCU | +77.8% |
| 2010 | 517.33 million current LCU | +28.8% |
| 2011 | 422.38 million current LCU | -18.4% |
| 2012 | 437.10 million current LCU | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 462.88 million current LCU | +5.9% |
| 2014 | 517.60 million current LCU | +11.8% |
| 2015 | 561.72 million current LCU | +8.5% |
| 2016 | 610.82 million current LCU | +8.7% |
| 2017 | 697.92 million current LCU | +14.3% |
| 2018 | 676.38 million current LCU | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 647.80 million current LCU | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 635.98 million current LCU | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 547.40 million current LCU | -13.9% |
| 2022 | 567.33 million current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 635.11 million current LCU | +11.9% |
| 2024 | 672.70 million current LCU | +5.9% |
| 2025 | 713.77 million current LCU | +6.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 713.77 million current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 121.21 billion current LCU, 1% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 713.77 million current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 1% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.11 million current LCU | 1.99 million current LCU | 4.52 million current LCU | 4 |
| 1980s | 25.90 million current LCU | 9.06 million current LCU | 59.30 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 109.81 million current LCU | 61.60 million current LCU | 208.20 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 238.99 million current LCU | 201.38 million current LCU | 401.65 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 555.19 million current LCU | 422.38 million current LCU | 697.92 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 628.71 million current LCU | 547.40 million current LCU | 713.77 million current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 146 Luxembourg 758.29 million current LCU compare
- 147 Brunei 748.53 million current LCU compare
- 148 Sierra Leone 732.10 million current LCU compare
- 150 Cyprus 588.00 million current LCU compare
- 151 Bahrain 552.02 million current LCU compare
- 152 El Salvador 490.00 million current LCU compare
More public sector data for Lesotho
- Democracy, 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)
- Elected parliament, 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)
- Arms imports 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2019)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.4526 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2019)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0004 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2019)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Lesotho?
- Military expenditure in Lesotho was 713.77 million current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 713.77 million current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.99 million current LCU in 1976.
- How does Lesotho rank for military expenditure?
- Lesotho ranks 149th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)