Military expenditure (current USD) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Military expenditure (current USD) was 39.91 million current USD in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
39.91 million current USD
Change on year
up 8.7%
World rank
155th
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
50
1976–2025
Military expenditure in Lesotho, 1976–2025
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 39.91 million current USD, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.7% on the previous year and down 9.4% 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 155th 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 USD) 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 | 34.42 million current USD | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 36.70 million current USD | +6.6% |
| 2025 | 39.91 million current USD | +8.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 39.91 million current USD is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 590.39 million current USD, 7% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 39.91 million current USD is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 338.94 million current USD, 12% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
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 | 36.89 million current USD | 34.42 million current USD | 39.91 million current USD | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
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 39.91 million current USD 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 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 155th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. 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.
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About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)