Lesotho's economy contracted by 0.58% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, following a 3.90% expansion in the previous quarter. This marked the country's first economic downturn since the third quarter of 2023, driven primarily by a sharp decline in public administration output (-9.52%). source: Lesotho Bureau of Statistics

GDP Annual Growth Rate in Lesotho averaged 2.88 percent from 1961 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 26.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 1973 and a record low of -18.31 percent in the second quarter of 2020. This page provides - Lesotho GDP Annual Growth Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Lesotho GDP Annual Growth Rate - values, historical data and charts - was last updated on September of 2025.

GDP Annual Growth Rate in Lesotho is expected to be 2.60 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Lesotho GDP Annual Growth Rate is projected to trend around 1.50 percent in 2026 and 1.80 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
GDP Annual Growth Rate -0.58 3.90 percent Mar 2025
GDP Constant Prices 5269.89 5532.38 LSL Million Mar 2025
GDP from Agriculture 342.92 387.73 LSL Million Mar 2025
GDP from Construction 200.96 204.03 LSL Million Mar 2025
GDP from Manufacturing 586.09 666.03 LSL Million Mar 2025
GDP from Mining 175.50 114.58 LSL Million Mar 2025
GDP from Public Administration 770.97 726.94 LSL Million Mar 2025
GDP from Services 380.78 468.10 LSL Million Mar 2025
GDP from Transport 107.08 118.47 LSL Million Mar 2025
GDP from Utilities 225.52 206.99 LSL Million Mar 2025
GDP Growth Rate -0.47 0.48 percent Mar 2025



Lesotho GDP Annual Growth Rate
Lesotho is a landlocked country inside South Africa. Lesotho’s economy is dependent on diamonds extraction, exports of water to South Africa and workers remittances from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The agricultural sector, which accounts for only 8.6 percent of GDP, is the main source of income for the majority of rural population. Yet, in recent years, increasing foreign direct investments (mainly from China) in textile industry and commerce have created more jobs and strengthen the economy. However, widespread poverty, youth unemployment and high prevalence rate of AIDS remain the main obstacles to growth.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-0.58 3.90 26.40 -18.31 1961 - 2025 percent Quarterly
2012=100,NSA