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Economy of Kiribati vs Lesotho compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Kiribati has a GDP of $308M compared to $2.27B for Lesotho, ranking 192/197 and 175/197 by economy size, respectively.

Kiribati has $30.5M in government debt (9.92% of GDP), compared to $1.29B (56.8% of GDP) in Lesotho.

Kiribati vs Lesotho GDP by year

Kiribati
Lesotho
1x
Year GDP, current $
Kiribati Lesotho
2024 $307,862,564 $2,271,759,455
2023 $288,610,748 $2,117,962,445
2022 $270,040,453 $2,354,980,960
2021 $285,259,881 $2,412,130,057
2020 $220,898,020 $2,053,699,864
2019 $216,985,388 $2,390,702,296
2018 $233,514,717 $2,556,247,292
2017 $222,875,736 $2,306,741,672
2016 $206,467,819 $2,114,426,452
2015 $191,559,399 $2,359,686,725
2014 $200,287,282 $2,441,063,054
2013 $201,730,861 $2,367,112,932
2012 $207,001,546 $2,477,702,216
2011 $195,970,140 $2,579,409,620
2010 $165,458,433 $2,234,754,242
2009 $140,177,384 $1,740,894,965
2008 $147,017,895 $1,766,902,709
2007 $138,054,946 $1,682,131,785
2006 $112,338,353 $1,800,092,564
2005 $113,895,437 $1,682,343,527
2004 $104,085,892 $1,511,236,656
2003 $96,105,619 $1,157,825,435
2002 $74,743,869 $775,777,239
2001 $64,935,850 $825,706,961
2000 $74,910,527 $887,291,688
1999 $77,323,978 $912,773,681
1998 $74,905,706 $928,460,893
1997 $80,205,807 $998,004,259
1996 $81,456,854 $946,112,493
1995 $68,596,395 $1,001,894,000
1994 $67,055,334 $878,250,945
1993 $58,953,596 $835,582,062
1992 $61,491,369 $831,029,862
1991 $41,247,792 $704,325,367
1990 $36,534,295 $596,410,264
1989 $37,645,319 $495,409,233
1988 $38,278,810 $470,395,801
1987 $29,554,413 $402,768,324
1986 $25,993,009 $318,858,423
1985 $26,126,615 $268,629,926
1984 $34,394,167 $333,163,670
1983 $31,000,546 $386,699,309
1982 $32,742,713 $348,741,684
1981 $35,267,489 $434,188,034
1980 $33,157,723 $431,542,537
1979 $34,466,197 $290,134,593
1978 $36,563,965 $266,570,067
1977 $31,335,459 $193,315,048
1976 $33,246,817 $147,660,037
1975 $44,547,454 $149,558,896
1974 $69,256,489 $150,851,317
1973 $25,645,040 $121,188,716
1972 $15,314,346 $80,913,200
1971 $12,356,134 $76,480,285
1970 $11,560,877 $68,739,973
1969 - $65,967,974
1968 - $61,445,975
1967 - $59,261,976
1966 - $56,699,977
1965 - $54,879,978
1964 - $51,939,979
1963 - $47,039,981
1962 - $41,859,983
1961 - $35,699,986
1960 - $34,579,986

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

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

GDP per capita in Kiribati vs Lesotho by year

Kiribati
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Lesotho
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Kiribati Lesotho
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,289 $3,702 $972 $3,001
2023 $2,178 $3,486 $916 $2,881
2022 $2,070 $3,329 $1,030 $2,761
2021 $2,222 $3,020 $1,067 $2,545
2020 $1,752 $2,711 $919 $2,559
2019 $1,751 $2,763 $1,082 $2,568
2018 $1,913 $2,672 $1,171 $2,632
2017 $1,853 $2,562 $1,069 $2,619
2016 $1,743 $2,463 $992 $2,942
2015 $1,640 $2,311 $1,121 $3,035
2014 $1,737 $2,084 $1,174 $2,771
2013 $1,772 $2,049 $1,151 $2,538
2012 $1,844 $1,896 $1,218 $2,291
2011 $1,771 $1,786 $1,281 $2,279
2010 $1,522 $1,724 $1,119 $2,153
2009 $1,317 $1,718 $879 $2,036
2008 $1,411 $1,735 $898 $2,064
2007 $1,353 $1,792 $861 $1,932
2006 $1,123 $1,728 $925 $1,813
2005 $1,162 $1,617 $861 $1,681
2004 $1,083 $1,579 $767 $1,561
2003 $1,021 $1,578 $583 $1,484
2002 $810 $1,605 $389 $1,385
2001 $719 $1,591 $413 $1,350
2000 $845 $1,638 $443 $1,273
1999 $887 $1,526 $456 $1,199
1998 $874 $1,593 $465 $1,179
1997 $953 $1,535 $502 $1,154
1996 $986 $1,519 $480 $1,103
1995 $844 $1,518 $513 $1,037
1994 $838 $1,469 $456 $995
1993 $748 $1,431 $439 $932
1992 $792 $1,421 $444 $893
1991 $540 $1,139 $382 $830
1990 $488 $1,192 $330 $764
1989 $515 - $279 -
1988 $536 - $270.4 -
1987 $424 - $236.5 -
1986 $382 - $191.4 -
1985 $393 - $165.4 -
1984 $527 - $211 -
1983 $483 - $252 -
1982 $519 - $233.9 -
1981 $568 - $299.8 -
1980 $542 - $307 -
1979 $573 - $212.4 -
1978 $611 - $200.8 -
1977 $520 - $149.9 -
1976 $548 - $117.8 -
1975 $730 - $123.2 -
1974 $1,131 - $128.7 -
1973 $422 - $107 -
1972 $256.2 - $74 -
1971 $210.7 - $72.4 -
1970 $201 - $67.4 -
1969 - - $67.1 -
1968 - - $64.8 -
1967 - - $64.8 -
1966 - - $64.3 -
1965 - - $64.3 -
1964 - - $62.6 -
1963 - - $58.4 -
1962 - - $53.5 -
1961 - - $47 -
1960 - - $47 -

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

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

Kiribati's GDP per capita is $2,289, ranking 152/197, compared to $972 in Lesotho, ranking 181/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Kiribati ranks 169th at $3,702, while Lesotho ranks 180th at $3,001.

Economic indicators

Kiribati Lesotho
Gross domestic product
$308M
2024
$2.27B
2024
GDP rank
192/197
2024
175/197
2024
GDP growth
5.27%
2023-2024
2.85%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,289
2024
$972
2024
GDP per capita rank
152/197
2024
181/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,702
2024
$3,001
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
169/197
2024
180/197
2024
Government debt
$30.5M
2024
$1.29B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
9.92%
2024
56.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$226.9
2024
$552
2024
Government debt per person rank
181/185
2024
164/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,967
2026
$6,545
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.8%
2019
32.9%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
4%
2019
1.7%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
98.1%
2024
53.5%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.5%
2023-2024
6.11%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
6.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
2.79%
2023
18.7%
2024
Population
139020
2396633

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Kiribati
Spending

Debt
Lesotho
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Kiribati Lesotho
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 98.1% 9.92% 53.5% 56.8%
2023 95.3% 11.4% 49.4% 61.5%
2022 87.5% 16.3% 50.8% 64.4%
2021 84% 17.3% 53.8% 58%
2020 102.2% 21% 54.4% 54.7%
2019 108.3% 19% 53.6% 58.2%
2018 108.8% 19% 51.9% 48.2%
2017 92.1% 20.2% 50.4% 41%
2016 99% 21.2% 54.1% 41.5%
2015 90.9% 18.8% 51.7% 45.8%
2014 101.2% 8.97% 50.1% 41.5%
2013 78% 8.86% 58.4% 41.2%
2012 83.9% 8.13% 58.1% 39.8%
2011 80.9% 8.8% 60.2% 36.2%
2010 75.7% 9.43% 55.3% 33.8%
2009 74.7% 10.3% 66.4% 35.9%
2008 79.4% 13.9% 54.1% 47%
2007 77.3% 11.1% 48.1% 49.6%
2006 82.1% 12.9% 43.2% 43.7%
2005 95.6% 12.1% 37.6% 41%
2004 103.8% 13.6% 36.3% 49.4%
2003 84.4% 12.3% 39.8% 52.6%
2002 96.9% 13.3% 41.2% 79.6%
2001 101.3% 17% 41.4% 108.7%
2000 66% 12.7% 39.3% 88.5%
1999 77.6% 11.8% 50.8% 83%
1998 74.7% 9.81% 51.4% 79.4%
1997 70.9% 10.7% 44.6% 65.7%
1996 68.4% 11% 41.5% 71.6%
1995 69.6% 12.3% 42.1% 62.8%
1994 54.6% 12.3% 40.2% 67%
1993 55.3% 10.9% 36% 71.2%
1992 65.9% 7.31% 35.3% 64.4%
1991 82.1% 8.43% 31.3% 11.9%
1990 105.5% 7.72% 32.9% 18%
1989 - - 35.8% 112.5%
1988 - - 35.3% 105.2%
1987 - - 40.3% 97.4%
1986 - - 33.2% 92.5%
1985 - - 32.8% 86.3%
1984 - - 26.8% 57.2%
1983 - - 27.2% 56.7%
1982 - - 29.9% 61.4%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Kiribati's government spending was $302M, accounting for 98.1% of its GDP, while Lesotho spent $1.22B, or 53.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 9.92% in Kiribati and 56.8% in Lesotho, ranking 180/185 and 92/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Kiribati

Lesotho
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Kiribati Lesotho
2024 -22% 9.04%
2023 0.13% 7.31%
2022 -18.3% -6.41%
2021 -10.8% -4.95%
2020 3.57% 1.18%
2019 10.8% -5.72%
2018 5.18% -4.41%
2017 34.1% -2.02%
2016 20.1% -9.43%
2015 42.5% -1.38%
2014 35% 3.16%
2013 11.8% -2.58%
2012 -5.43% 4.56%
2011 -17.6% -9.85%
2010 -7.8% -1.49%
2009 -8.56% -4.16%
2008 -15.8% 8.1%
2007 -12.5% 10.8%
2006 -12.3% 11.6%
2005 -9.96% 4.46%
2004 -19.2% 6.05%
2003 -8.93% 0.89%
2002 3.13% -2.44%
2001 -10.9% -2.76%
2000 -0.03% -0.95%
1999 -1.81% -15.3%
1998 14.6% -11.8%
1997 5.92% 0.27%
1996 -20.2% 2.11%
1995 -5.14% 5.13%
1994 0.74% 5.69%
1993 6.27% 7.55%
1992 0.79% 4.65%
1991 3.87% 9.74%
1990 -4.62% 8.78%
1989 - 3.88%
1988 - -1.87%
1987 - -2.85%
1986 - 0.87%
1985 - 1.68%
1984 - 4.82%
1983 - 1.85%
1982 - -2.03%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Kiribati's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $67.7M, equivalent to 22% of GDP. This compares to Lesotho's surplus of $205M, or 9.04% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Kiribati recorded a fiscal deficit in 19 of those years, while Lesotho ran a deficit in 16 years. On average, Kiribati posted an annual deficit equal to 0.38% of GDP, compared to surplus of 0.73% of GDP for Lesotho.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Kiribati

Lesotho
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Kiribati Lesotho
2024 2.5% 6.11%
2023 9.3% 6.34%
2022 5.3% 8.27%
2021 2.1% 6.05%
2020 2.6% 4.98%
2019 -1.8% 5.19%
2018 0.6% 4.75%
2017 0.4% 4.45%
2016 1.9% 6.6%
2015 0.6% 3.22%
2014 2.1% 5.37%
2013 -1.5% 4.87%
2012 -3% 6.05%
2011 1.5% 5.04%
2010 -3.9% -2.41%
2009 9.8% -16.9%
2008 13.7% 10.7%
2007 3.6% 8.01%
2006 -1% 6.07%
2005 -0.4% 3.44%
2004 -0.7% 5.02%
2003 1.6% 6.63%
2002 3.2% 33.8%
2001 6% -9.62%
2000 0.4% 6.13%
1999 1.8% -
1998 3.7% -
1997 2.6% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 25 years, Kiribati has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.2%, compared with 5.13% in Lesotho. In 2024, inflation was 2.5% in Kiribati and 6.11% in Lesotho.

Balance of trade

Kiribati Lesotho
Current account balance
-$59.5M
2024
$89.2M
2024
Current account balance ranking
85/190
2024
68/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-19.3%
2024
+3.93%
2024
Goods imports
$227M
2024
$1.67B
2024
Goods exports
$8.49M
2024
$965M
2024
Service imports
$108M
2024
$415M
2024
Service exports
$7M
2024
$15.4M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
94.9%
2024
98.6%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
6.27%
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.

Kiribati Lesotho
Economic freedom 50.8 54.9
Economic freedom ranking 158/197 130/197
Property rights 69.6 41.7
Government integrity 50.5 39.6
Judicial effectiveness 54.6 43.6
Tax burden 72.6 76.4
Government spending 0 21.3
Fiscal health 19.8 93.5
Business freedom 60.2 50.6
Labor freedom 65.3 57
Monetary freedom 76.7 74.8
Trade freedom 80 65.4
Investment freedom 30 55
Financial freedom 30 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Kiribati
Lesotho
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Kiribati Lesotho
2026 50.8 54.9
2025 50.9 54.1
2024 51.3 51.9
2023 58.8 51.6
2022 59.2 48.1
2021 44.4 53.5
2020 45.2 54.5
2019 47.3 53.1
2018 50.8 53.9
2017 50.9 53.9
2016 46.2 50.6
2015 46.4 49.6
2014 46.3 49.5
2013 45.9 47.9
2012 46.9 46.6
2011 44.8 47.5
2010 43.7 48.1
2009 45.7 49.7
2008 - 52.1
2007 - 53.2
2006 - 54.7
2005 - 53.9
2004 - 50.3
2003 - 52
2002 - 48.9
2001 - 50.6
2000 - 48.4
1999 - 48.2
1998 - 48.4
1997 - 47.2
1996 - 47

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Kiribati is 50.8, ranking 158/197, 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

Kiribati Lesotho
Services, % of GDP
67.1%
2023
48%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
11.5%
2023
30.9%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
27.2%
2023
6.5%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$493M
2024
$2.75B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,060
2024
$3,580
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$1.01B
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
142/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$8.06M
2024
$12.6M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$8.07M
2024
-$12.6M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$16.4K
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
4.06%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
5.5%
2023
49.7%
2017
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
25.8%
2023
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/kiribati/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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

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.