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Economy of Israel vs Lesotho compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Israel has a GDP of $540B compared to $2.27B for Lesotho, ranking 29/197 and 175/197 by economy size, respectively.

Israel has $366B in government debt (67.6% of GDP), compared to $1.29B (56.8% of GDP) in Lesotho.

Israel vs Lesotho GDP by year

Israel
Lesotho
1x
Year GDP, current $
Israel Lesotho
2024 $540,379,921,262 $2,271,759,455
2023 $512,184,638,999 $2,117,962,445
2022 $525,181,008,026 $2,354,980,960
2021 $489,851,549,972 $2,412,130,057
2020 $410,768,352,658 $2,053,699,864
2019 $400,645,216,359 $2,390,702,296
2018 $376,299,083,108 $2,556,247,292
2017 $358,451,839,053 $2,306,741,672
2016 $321,940,971,558 $2,114,426,452
2015 $303,469,434,072 $2,359,686,725
2014 $315,017,088,117 $2,441,063,054
2013 $298,478,070,673 $2,367,112,932
2012 $263,589,172,712 $2,477,702,216
2011 $268,094,998,225 $2,579,409,620
2010 $239,679,036,634 $2,234,754,242
2009 $213,403,181,853 $1,740,894,965
2008 $221,231,658,863 $1,766,902,709
2007 $184,681,214,673 $1,682,131,785
2006 $158,900,547,825 $1,800,092,564
2005 $147,519,922,009 $1,682,343,527
2004 $140,047,984,605 $1,511,236,656
2003 $131,408,914,824 $1,157,825,435
2002 $125,332,331,884 $775,777,239
2001 $135,002,039,613 $825,706,961
2000 $136,512,300,542 $887,291,688
1999 $121,417,185,062 $912,773,681
1998 $120,547,409,279 $928,460,893
1997 $119,459,826,347 $998,004,259
1996 $115,116,595,545 $946,112,493
1995 $105,497,418,059 $1,001,894,000
1994 $90,740,103,829 $878,250,945
1993 $79,855,877,174 $835,582,062
1992 $79,457,685,757 $831,029,862
1991 $70,998,755,007 $704,325,367
1990 $62,016,729,541 $596,410,264
1989 $52,443,479,454 $495,409,233
1988 $52,650,948,910 $470,395,801
1987 $43,049,543,635 $402,768,324
1986 $35,834,154,874 $318,858,423
1985 $28,905,736,367 $268,629,926
1984 $30,645,607,293 $333,163,670
1983 $32,675,755,462 $386,699,309
1982 $29,255,285,401 $348,741,684
1981 $26,882,009,819 $434,188,034
1980 $25,395,256,478 $431,542,537
1979 $22,609,741,060 $290,134,593
1978 $17,701,286,907 $266,570,067
1977 $18,257,113,904 $193,315,048
1976 $15,956,349,550 $147,660,037
1975 $16,141,767,373 $149,558,896
1974 $17,172,607,138 $150,851,317
1973 $11,902,574,259 $121,188,716
1972 $9,222,557,539 $80,913,200
1971 $7,052,544,000 $76,480,285
1970 $7,406,712,876 $68,739,973
1969 $6,297,852,761 $65,967,974
1968 $5,458,427,928 $61,445,975
1967 $4,762,386,783 $59,261,976
1966 $4,703,300,098 $56,699,977
1965 $4,329,084,429 $54,879,978
1964 $4,024,344,853 $51,939,979
1963 $3,535,949,089 $47,039,981
1962 $2,966,154,031 $41,859,983
1961 $3,708,586,471 $35,699,986
1960 $3,070,585,807 $34,579,986

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/lesotho | CC BY

GDP per capita in Israel vs Lesotho by year

Israel
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Lesotho
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Israel Lesotho
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $54,177 $57,236 $972 $3,001
2023 $52,004 $55,171 $916 $2,881
2022 $54,950 $53,619 $1,030 $2,761
2021 $52,271 $46,162 $1,067 $2,545
2020 $44,576 $40,955 $919 $2,559
2019 $44,251 $41,325 $1,082 $2,568
2018 $42,363 $40,190 $1,171 $2,632
2017 $41,138 $39,471 $1,069 $2,619
2016 $37,672 $38,189 $992 $2,942
2015 $36,213 $35,871 $1,121 $3,035
2014 $38,343 $34,816 $1,174 $2,771
2013 $37,034 $34,827 $1,151 $2,538
2012 $33,321 $32,484 $1,218 $2,291
2011 $34,523 $31,314 $1,281 $2,279
2010 $31,439 $29,456 $1,119 $2,153
2009 $28,508 $28,087 $879 $2,036
2008 $30,269 $28,084 $898 $2,064
2007 $25,721 $28,307 $861 $1,932
2006 $22,527 $26,385 $925 $1,813
2005 $21,287 $25,701 $861 $1,681
2004 $20,568 $26,078 $767 $1,561
2003 $19,643 $24,702 $583 $1,484
2002 $19,076 $26,101 $389 $1,385
2001 $20,966 $25,806 $413 $1,350
2000 $21,707 $25,766 $443 $1,273
1999 $19,823 $23,415 $456 $1,199
1998 $20,189 $22,927 $465 $1,179
1997 $20,469 $22,279 $502 $1,154
1996 $20,224 $21,672 $480 $1,103
1995 $19,026 $20,642 $513 $1,037
1994 $16,807 $19,478 $456 $995
1993 $15,179 $18,218 $439 $932
1992 $15,510 $17,553 $444 $893
1991 $14,346 $16,486 $382 $830
1990 $13,308 $15,721 $330 $764
1989 $11,608 - $279 -
1988 $11,853 - $270.4 -
1987 $9,853 - $236.5 -
1986 $8,335 - $191.4 -
1985 $6,829 - $165.4 -
1984 $7,369 - $211 -
1983 $7,960 - $252 -
1982 $7,258 - $233.9 -
1981 $6,795 - $299.8 -
1980 $6,549 - $307 -
1979 $5,972 - $212.4 -
1978 $4,797 - $200.8 -
1977 $5,053 - $149.9 -
1976 $4,516 - $117.8 -
1975 $4,672 - $123.2 -
1974 $5,085 - $128.7 -
1973 $3,631 - $107 -
1972 $2,930 - $74 -
1971 $2,298 - $72.4 -
1970 $2,490 - $67.4 -
1969 $2,189 - $67.1 -
1968 $1,947 - $64.8 -
1967 $1,735 - $64.8 -
1966 $1,789 - $64.3 -
1965 $1,689 - $64.3 -
1964 $1,626 - $62.6 -
1963 $1,486 - $58.4 -
1962 $1,294 - $53.5 -
1961 $1,697 - $47 -
1960 $1,452 - $47 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/lesotho | CC BY

Israel's GDP per capita is $54,177, ranking 21/197, compared to $972 in Lesotho, ranking 181/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Israel ranks 36th at $57,236, while Lesotho ranks 180th at $3,001.

Economic indicators

Israel Lesotho
Gross domestic product
$540B
2024
$2.27B
2024
GDP rank
29/197
2024
175/197
2024
GDP growth
0.87%
2023-2024
2.85%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$54,177
2024
$972
2024
GDP per capita rank
21/197
2024
181/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$57,236
2024
$3,001
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
36/197
2024
180/197
2024
Government debt
$366B
2024
$1.29B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.6%
2024
56.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$36,645
2024
$552
2024
Government debt per person rank
18/185
2024
164/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$43,003
2026
$6,545
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$331B
2024
n/a
Number of millionaires
179,905
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
41
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
26.6%
2021
32.9%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
2%
2021
1.7%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
43.8%
2024
53.5%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.07%
2023-2024
6.11%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
4.5%
2024
6.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
2.9%
2024
18.7%
2024
Population
10290887
2396633

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Israel
Spending

Debt
Lesotho
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Israel Lesotho
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 43.8% 67.6% 53.5% 56.8%
2023 39.3% 61.3% 49.4% 61.5%
2022 36.9% 60.3% 50.8% 64.4%
2021 40% 67.7% 53.8% 58%
2020 44.8% 71.1% 54.4% 54.7%
2019 38.7% 59.3% 53.6% 58.2%
2018 39.2% 60.1% 51.9% 48.2%
2017 38.3% 59.8% 50.4% 41%
2016 37.9% 61.7% 54.1% 41.5%
2015 37.6% 62.8% 51.7% 45.8%
2014 38.3% 64.9% 50.1% 41.5%
2013 39.7% 66% 58.4% 41.2%
2012 39.6% 66.9% 58.1% 39.8%
2011 39.3% 67.2% 60.2% 36.2%
2010 39.7% 69% 55.3% 33.8%
2009 41.4% 72.6% 66.4% 35.9%
2008 41.2% 70.2% 54.1% 47%
2007 40.2% 70.8% 48.1% 49.6%
2006 41.6% 77.7% 43.2% 43.7%
2005 42.3% 85.2% 37.6% 41%
2004 43% 88.3% 36.3% 49.4%
2003 45.4% 89.7% 39.8% 52.6%
2002 50% 87.2% 41.2% 79.6%
2001 46.1% 81.1% 41.4% 108.7%
2000 43.4% 77.2% 39.3% 88.5%
1999 53.6% 94.8% 50.8% 83%
1998 55% 101% 51.4% 79.4%
1997 52.6% 99.3% 44.6% 65.7%
1996 53.2% 100.3% 41.5% 71.6%
1995 52.8% 102.3% 42.1% 62.8%
1994 41.7% 110.2% 40.2% 67%
1993 42.2% 118.3% 36% 71.2%
1992 44.1% 119.6% 35.3% 64.4%
1991 34.4% 123.7% 31.3% 11.9%
1990 46.8% 138.3% 32.9% 18%
1989 47.5% 147.4% 35.8% 112.5%
1988 46.5% 145.4% 35.3% 105.2%
1987 52.8% 143.2% 40.3% 97.4%
1986 55.7% 162.5% 33.2% 92.5%
1985 65.2% 199% 32.8% 86.3%
1984 - 284% 26.8% 57.2%
1983 - 260.5% 27.2% 56.7%
1982 69.7% - 29.9% 61.4%
1981 71.8% - - -
1980 69.4% 154.3% - -
1979 70.1% 155.5% - -
1978 62.2% 133.6% - -
1977 69.1% 142% - -
1976 66.3% 97.4% - -
1975 62% 85.1% - -
1974 - 79.8% - -
1973 - 62.1% - -
1972 - 63.9% - -
1971 - - - -
1970 41.6% - - -
1969 41.1% - - -
1968 39.4% - - -
1967 33.9% - - -
1966 29.6% - - -
1965 27.8% - - -
1964 28.2% - - -
1963 26.9% - - -
1962 27.7% - - -
1961 30.3% - - -
1960 30.4% - - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, Israel's government spending was $237B, accounting for 43.8% of its GDP, while Lesotho spent $1.22B, or 53.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 67.6% in Israel and 56.8% in Lesotho, ranking 62/185 and 92/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Israel

Lesotho
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Israel Lesotho
2024 -8.26% 9.04%
2023 -5.06% 7.31%
2022 0.32% -6.41%
2021 -3.37% -4.95%
2020 -10.7% 1.18%
2019 -3.79% -5.72%
2018 -3.56% -4.41%
2017 -1.13% -2.02%
2016 -1.79% -9.43%
2015 -1.21% -1.38%
2014 -2.29% 3.16%
2013 -4.06% -2.58%
2012 -4.46% 4.56%
2011 -3.43% -9.85%
2010 -3.72% -1.49%
2009 -6.53% -4.16%
2008 -3.5% 8.1%
2007 -0.43% 10.8%
2006 -0.95% 11.6%
2005 -2.74% 4.46%
2004 -3.4% 6.05%
2003 -5.03% 0.89%
2002 -8.22% -2.44%
2001 -4.06% -2.76%
2000 -0.8% -0.95%
1999 -6.26% -15.3%
1998 -7.99% -11.8%
1997 -4.84% 0.27%
1996 -5.97% 2.11%
1995 -4.28% 5.13%
1994 -5.62% 5.69%
1993 -5.62% 7.55%
1992 -8% 4.65%
1991 -7.04% 9.74%
1990 -9.67% 8.78%
1989 -9.03% 3.88%
1988 -7.57% -1.87%
1987 -7.47% -2.85%
1986 -7.51% 0.87%
1985 -14.2% 1.68%
1984 - 4.82%
1983 - 1.85%
1982 -13.8% -2.03%
1981 -23.5% -
1980 -19.6% -
1979 -16.7% -
1978 -14.7% -
1977 -20.3% -
1976 -19.4% -
1975 -19.6% -
1974 - -
1973 - -
1972 - -
1971 - -
1970 -16% -
1969 -15.3% -
1968 -11.7% -
1967 -7.68% -
1966 -4.35% -
1965 -2.72% -
1964 -3.65% -
1963 -4.41% -
1962 -4.09% -
1961 -5.86% -
1960 -6.62% -
1959 -7.23% -
1958 -8.31% -
1957 -7.17% -
1956 -9.3% -
1955 -4.3% -
1954 -7.84% -
1953 -8.32% -
1952 -7.19% -
1951 -8.13% -
1950 -10.7% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1950–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, Israel's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $44.6B, equivalent to 8.26% of GDP. This compares to Lesotho's surplus of $205M, or 9.04% of GDP.

Over the past 43 years, Israel recorded a fiscal deficit in 40 of those years, while Lesotho ran a deficit in 19 years. On average, Israel posted an annual deficit equal to 5.29% of GDP, compared to surplus of 0.74% of GDP for Lesotho.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Israel

Lesotho
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Israel Lesotho
2024 3.07% 6.11%
2023 4.23% 6.34%
2022 4.41% 8.27%
2021 1.48% 6.05%
2020 -0.58% 4.98%
2019 0.82% 5.19%
2018 0.81% 4.75%
2017 0.25% 4.45%
2016 -0.54% 6.6%
2015 -0.62% 3.22%
2014 0.47% 5.37%
2013 1.59% 4.87%
2012 1.68% 6.05%
2011 3.49% 5.04%
2010 2.7% -2.41%
2009 3.37% -16.9%
2008 4.53% 10.7%
2007 0.47% 8.01%
2006 2.05% 6.07%
2005 1.34% 3.44%
2004 -0.42% 5.02%
2003 0.71% 6.63%
2002 5.8% 33.8%
2001 1.12% -9.62%
2000 1.03% 6.13%
1999 5.19% -
1998 5.49% -
1997 8.95% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/lesotho | CC BY

Over the past 25 years, Israel has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.73%, compared with 5.13% in Lesotho. In 2024, inflation was 3.07% in Israel and 6.11% in Lesotho.

Top exports between countries

Israel
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $178K
Chemicals & pharma $1K
Textiles & consumer goods $1K
Lesotho
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $659K
Chemicals & pharma $147K
Machinery & equipment $42K
Miscellaneous $8K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $3K
Raw agricultural goods $1K

Balance of trade

Israel Lesotho
Current account balance
$15.5B
2024
$89.2M
2024
Current account balance ranking
21/190
2024
68/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.86%
2024
+3.93%
2024
Goods imports
$96.3B
2024
$1.67B
2024
Goods exports
$70B
2024
$965M
2024
Service imports
$44.4B
2024
$415M
2024
Service exports
$83.7B
2024
$15.4M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
26%
2024
98.6%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.4%
2024
42.9%
2023

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Israel Lesotho
Economic freedom 68.4 54.9
Economic freedom ranking 47/197 130/197
Property rights 73.1 41.7
Government integrity 66.2 39.6
Judicial effectiveness 68.1 43.6
Tax burden 60.2 76.4
Government spending 52 21.3
Fiscal health 60.8 93.5
Business freedom 72.4 50.6
Labor freedom 56.8 57
Monetary freedom 78.2 74.8
Trade freedom 82.8 65.4
Investment freedom 70 55
Financial freedom 80 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Israel
Lesotho
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Israel Lesotho
2026 68.4 54.9
2025 69.9 54.1
2024 70.1 51.9
2023 68.9 51.6
2022 68 48.1
2021 73.8 53.5
2020 74 54.5
2019 72.8 53.1
2018 72.2 53.9
2017 69.7 53.9
2016 70.7 50.6
2015 70.5 49.6
2014 68.4 49.5
2013 66.9 47.9
2012 67.8 46.6
2011 68.5 47.5
2010 67.7 48.1
2009 67.6 49.7
2008 66.3 52.1
2007 64.8 53.2
2006 64.4 54.7
2005 62.6 53.9
2004 61.4 50.3
2003 62.7 52
2002 66.9 48.9
2001 66.1 50.6
2000 65.5 48.4
1999 68.3 48.2
1998 68 48.4
1997 62.7 47.2
1996 62 47
1995 61.5 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/lesotho | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Israel is 68.4, ranking 47/197, compared to 54.9 for Lesotho, ranking 130/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Israel Lesotho
Services, % of GDP
72.5%
2024
48%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.3%
2024
30.9%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.28%
2024
6.5%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$528B
2024
$2.75B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$56,790
2024
$3,580
2024
Total reserves including gold
$215B
2024
$1.01B
2024
Total reserves ranking
18/177
2024
142/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.86B
2024
$12.6M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$14.8B
2024
-$12.6M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$9.92B
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
4.06%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
22%
2020
49.7%
2017
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
23.4%
2024
27.2%
2023

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/israel/lesotho | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1950–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.