Military expenditure in Lesotho
Lesotho: Military expenditure was 36.30 million current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
36.30 million current USD
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
154th
of 168 countries
All-time high
70.66 million current USD
in 2010
All-time low
2.29 million current USD
in 1976
Years of data
49
1976–2024
Military expenditure in Lesotho, 1976–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Lesotho is 36.30 million current USD, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and down 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Lesotho peaked at 70.66 million current USD in 2010 and was at its lowest, 2.29 million current USD, in 1976.
Lesotho ranks 154th 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 in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 2.29 million current USD | — |
| 1977 | 2.78 million current USD | +21.3% |
| 1978 | 4.01 million current USD | +44.4% |
| 1979 | 5.37 million current USD | +33.8% |
| 1980 | 11.64 million current USD | +116.7% |
| 1981 | 12.39 million current USD | +6.5% |
| 1982 | 14.97 million current USD | +20.8% |
| 1983 | 14.07 million current USD | -6.0% |
| 1984 | 12.29 million current USD | -12.7% |
| 1985 | 10.67 million current USD | -13.2% |
| 1986 | 13.37 million current USD | +25.3% |
| 1987 | 18.11 million current USD | +35.5% |
| 1988 | 16.96 million current USD | -6.4% |
| 1989 | 22.61 million current USD | +33.3% |
| 1990 | 24.17 million current USD | +6.9% |
| 1991 | 22.31 million current USD | -7.7% |
| 1992 | 24.24 million current USD | +8.6% |
| 1993 | 22.14 million current USD | -8.7% |
| 1994 | 25.85 million current USD | +16.8% |
| 1995 | 34.37 million current USD | +33.0% |
| 1996 | 28.35 million current USD | -17.5% |
| 1997 | 28.70 million current USD | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 27.81 million current USD | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 34.08 million current USD | +22.6% |
| 2000 | 30.56 million current USD | -10.3% |
| 2001 | 23.39 million current USD | -23.4% |
| 2002 | 19.56 million current USD | -16.4% |
| 2003 | 27.36 million current USD | +39.9% |
| 2004 | 31.39 million current USD | +14.7% |
| 2005 | 33.62 million current USD | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 35.22 million current USD | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 39.83 million current USD | +13.1% |
| 2008 | 27.35 million current USD | -31.3% |
| 2009 | 47.40 million current USD | +73.3% |
| 2010 | 70.66 million current USD | +49.1% |
| 2011 | 58.17 million current USD | -17.7% |
| 2012 | 53.24 million current USD | -8.5% |
| 2013 | 47.94 million current USD | -10.0% |
| 2014 | 47.69 million current USD | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 44.03 million current USD | -7.7% |
| 2016 | 41.49 million current USD | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 52.59 million current USD | +26.8% |
| 2018 | 51.06 million current USD | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 44.85 million current USD | -12.2% |
| 2020 | 38.62 million current USD | -13.9% |
| 2021 | 37.04 million current USD | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 34.67 million current USD | -6.4% |
| 2023 | 34.45 million current USD | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 36.30 million current USD | +5.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 36.30 million current USD is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 493.99 million current USD, 7% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 36.30 million current USD is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 293.92 million current USD, 12% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +116.7% | 5.37 million current USD | 11.64 million current USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.61 million current USD | 2.29 million current USD | 5.37 million current USD | 4 |
| 1980s | 14.71 million current USD | 10.67 million current USD | 22.61 million current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.20 million current USD | 22.14 million current USD | 34.37 million current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.57 million current USD | 19.56 million current USD | 47.40 million current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.17 million current USD | 41.49 million current USD | 70.66 million current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.21 million current USD | 34.45 million current USD | 38.62 million current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 151 Central African Republic 71.17 million current USD compare
- 152 East Timor 46.40 million current USD compare
- 153 Sierra Leone 36.45 million current USD compare
- 155 Djibouti 36.27 million current USD compare
- 156 Liberia 33.83 million current USD compare
- 157 Belize 30.14 million current USD 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 military expenditure in Lesotho?
- Military expenditure in Lesotho was 36.30 million current USD in 2024, 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 70.66 million current USD in 2010.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.29 million current USD in 1976.
- How does Lesotho rank for military expenditure?
- Lesotho ranks 154th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.9%. 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 USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)