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Economy of Lesotho vs Maldives compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a GDP of $2.27B compared to $7.06B for Maldives, ranking 175/197 and 159/197 by economy size, respectively.

Lesotho has $1.29B in government debt (56.8% of GDP), compared to $9.41B (133.3% of GDP) in Maldives.

Lesotho vs Maldives GDP by year

Lesotho
Maldives
1x
Year GDP, current $
Lesotho Maldives
2024 $2,271,759,455 $7,061,608,267
2023 $2,117,962,445 $6,621,008,704
2022 $2,354,980,960 $6,177,123,352
2021 $2,412,130,057 $5,252,457,370
2020 $2,053,699,864 $3,712,604,583
2019 $2,390,702,296 $5,726,094,799
2018 $2,556,247,292 $5,404,344,163
2017 $2,306,741,672 $4,816,426,257
2016 $2,114,426,452 $4,409,942,624
2015 $2,359,686,725 $4,129,505,319
2014 $2,441,063,054 $3,697,353,039
2013 $2,367,112,932 $3,295,009,238
2012 $2,477,702,216 $2,886,163,997
2011 $2,579,409,620 $2,774,350,240
2010 $2,234,754,242 $2,588,176,055
2009 $1,740,894,965 $2,345,294,875
2008 $1,766,902,709 $2,271,646,188
2007 $1,682,131,785 $1,868,383,461
2006 $1,800,092,564 $1,575,200,391
2005 $1,682,343,527 $1,163,362,438
2004 $1,511,236,656 $1,226,829,563
2003 $1,157,825,435 $1,052,121,055
2002 $775,777,239 $897,031,250
2001 $825,706,961 $870,031,677
2000 $887,291,688 $624,337,145
1999 $912,773,681 $589,239,754
1998 $928,460,893 $540,096,398
1997 $998,004,259 $508,223,602
1996 $946,112,493 $450,382,328
1995 $1,001,894,000 $398,988,955
1994 $878,250,945 $356,014,932
1993 $835,582,062 $322,417,837
1992 $831,029,862 $284,875,809
1991 $704,325,367 $244,396,762
1990 $596,410,264 $215,043,970
1989 $495,409,233 $189,514,434
1988 $470,395,801 $168,514,513
1987 $402,768,324 $141,223,029
1986 $318,858,423 $141,882,254
1985 $268,629,926 $127,190,758
1984 $333,163,670 $109,503,546
1983 $386,699,309 $57,829,787
1982 $348,741,684 $47,911,340
1981 $434,188,034 $44,781,457
1980 $431,542,537 $42,463,576
1979 $290,134,593 $38,523,364
1978 $266,570,067 $24,369,109
1977 $193,315,048 $20,853,789
1976 $147,660,037 $22,399,467
1975 $149,558,896 $24,540,878
1974 $150,851,317 $39,120,171
1973 $121,188,716 $30,862,042
1972 $80,913,200 $25,177,138
1971 $76,480,285 $21,566,404
1970 $68,739,973 $19,328,038
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/lesotho/maldives | CC BY

GDP per capita in Lesotho vs Maldives by year

Lesotho
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Maldives
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Lesotho Maldives
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $972 $3,001 $13,379 $26,183
2023 $916 $2,881 $12,588 $24,786
2022 $1,030 $2,761 $11,786 $22,881
2021 $1,067 $2,545 $10,176 $19,053
2020 $919 $2,559 $7,394 $13,425
2019 $1,082 $2,568 $11,740 $23,077
2018 $1,171 $2,632 $11,423 $21,899
2017 $1,069 $2,619 $10,510 $19,768
2016 $992 $2,942 $9,948 $18,770
2015 $1,121 $3,035 $9,645 $17,875
2014 $1,174 $2,771 $8,939 $16,723
2013 $1,151 $2,538 $8,236 $15,264
2012 $1,218 $2,291 $7,461 $13,989
2011 $1,281 $2,279 $7,425 $13,726
2010 $1,119 $2,153 $7,174 $12,797
2009 $879 $2,036 $6,734 $12,266
2008 $898 $2,064 $6,757 $13,779
2007 $861 $1,932 $5,758 $12,852
2006 $925 $1,813 $5,019 $12,075
2005 $861 $1,681 $3,797 $9,704
2004 $767 $1,561 $4,070 $10,770
2003 $583 $1,484 $3,549 $10,065
2002 $389 $1,385 $3,076 $8,823
2001 $413 $1,350 $3,034 $8,236
2000 $443 $1,273 $2,214 $8,526
1999 $456 $1,199 $2,124 $8,162
1998 $465 $1,179 $1,980 $7,710
1997 $502 $1,154 $1,898 $7,226
1996 $480 $1,103 $1,717 $6,687
1995 $513 $1,037 $1,555 $6,223
1994 $456 $995 $1,419 $5,520
1993 $439 $932 $1,317 $5,138
1992 $444 $893 $1,194 $4,881
1991 $382 $830 $1,054 $4,604
1990 $330 $764 $957 $4,528
1989 $279 - $870 -
1988 $270.4 - $799 -
1987 $236.5 - $692 -
1986 $191.4 - $720 -
1985 $165.4 - $669 -
1984 $211 - $594 -
1983 $252 - $323 -
1982 $233.9 - $274.8 -
1981 $299.8 - $264.1 -
1980 $307 - $257.6 -
1979 $212.4 - $240.2 -
1978 $200.8 - $156.1 -
1977 $149.9 - $137.3 -
1976 $117.8 - $151.8 -
1975 $123.2 - $171.4 -
1974 $128.7 - $281.5 -
1973 $107 - $228.7 -
1972 $74 - $192.2 -
1971 $72.4 - $169.8 -
1970 $67.4 - $156.9 -
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/lesotho/maldives | CC BY

Lesotho's GDP per capita is $972, ranking 181/197, compared to $13,379 in Maldives, ranking 75/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Lesotho ranks 180th at $3,001, while Maldives ranks 81st at $26,183.

Economic indicators

Lesotho Maldives
Gross domestic product
$2.27B
2024
$7.06B
2024
GDP rank
175/197
2024
159/197
2024
GDP growth
2.85%
2023-2024
3.49%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$13,379
2024
GDP per capita rank
181/197
2024
75/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$26,183
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
180/197
2024
81/197
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$9.41B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
133.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$17,837
2024
Government debt per person rank
164/185
2024
35/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$9,909
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
23.3%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
3.8%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
46.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
6.11%
2023-2024
1.4%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
4.56%
2019
Population
2396633
532057

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Lesotho
Spending

Debt
Maldives
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Lesotho Maldives
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 53.5% 56.8% 46.1% 133.3%
2023 49.4% 61.5% 46.7% 122.4%
2022 50.8% 64.4% 42% 111.6%
2021 53.8% 58% 40.6% 123.4%
2020 54.4% 54.7% 50.4% 155.7%
2019 53.6% 58.2% 32.9% 77.2%
2018 51.9% 48.2% 31.9% 70.7%
2017 50.4% 41% 30.4% 63.8%
2016 54.1% 41.5% 37.3% 61.9%
2015 51.7% 45.8% 33.8% 54.8%
2014 50.1% 41.5% 29.1% 55.1%
2013 58.4% 41.2% 27% 55.9%
2012 58.1% 39.8% 29.8% 57.1%
2011 60.2% 36.2% 31.3% 51.9%
2010 55.3% 33.8% 33.2% 52.7%
2009 66.4% 35.9% 37% 48.4%
2008 54.1% 47% 35.6% 39%
2007 48.1% 49.6% 34.8% 35.8%
2006 43.2% 43.7% 35% 36.8%
2005 37.6% 41% 38.8% 43.2%
2004 36.3% 49.4% 24.1% 34.7%
2003 39.8% 52.6% 26.4% 37.6%
2002 41.2% 79.6% 29.6% 44.3%
2001 41.4% 108.7% 29.6% 41.8%
2000 39.3% 88.5% 29% 39%
1999 50.8% 83% 28% 38.9%
1998 51.4% 79.4% 25.9% 39.3%
1997 44.6% 65.7% 25.2% 38.1%
1996 41.5% 71.6% 27.3% 46.9%
1995 42.1% 62.8% 31.3% 52.2%
1994 40.2% 67% 30.7% 54.6%
1993 36% 71.2% 34.7% 55.7%
1992 35.3% 64.4% 36.1% 49%
1991 31.3% 11.9% 37.7% 46.7%
1990 32.9% 18% 33.3% 42.4%
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 (1982–1996, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Lesotho's government spending was $1.22B, accounting for 53.5% of its GDP, while Maldives spent $3.25B, or 46.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 56.8% in Lesotho and 133.3% in Maldives, ranking 92/185 and 10/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Lesotho

Maldives
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Lesotho Maldives
2024 9.04% -13.9%
2023 7.31% -13.2%
2022 -6.41% -11.2%
2021 -4.95% -14.2%
2020 1.18% -23.7%
2019 -5.72% -6.54%
2018 -4.41% -5.17%
2017 -2.02% -3.02%
2016 -9.43% -9.93%
2015 -1.38% -6.52%
2014 3.16% -2.42%
2013 -2.58% -3.49%
2012 4.56% -6.91%
2011 -9.85% -8.13%
2010 -1.49% -13.6%
2009 -4.16% -17.9%
2008 8.1% -9.92%
2007 10.8% -3.16%
2006 11.6% -4.52%
2005 4.46% -7.81%
2004 6.05% -2.26%
2003 0.89% -3.45%
2002 -2.44% -3.97%
2001 -2.76% -3.97%
2000 -0.95% -3.89%
1999 -15.3% -3.03%
1998 -11.8% -2.25%
1997 0.27% -1.46%
1996 2.11% -2.01%
1995 5.13% -5.66%
1994 5.69% -4.82%
1993 7.55% -13.9%
1992 4.65% -12.6%
1991 9.74% -10.2%
1990 8.78% -12.8%
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/lesotho/maldives | CC BY

In 2024, Lesotho's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $205M, equivalent to 9.04% of GDP. This compares to Maldives' deficit of $982M, or 13.9% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Lesotho recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Maldives ran a deficit in 35 years. On average, Lesotho posted an annual surplus equal to 0.73% of GDP, compared to deficit of 7.75% of GDP for Maldives.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Lesotho

Maldives
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Lesotho Maldives
2024 6.11% 1.4%
2023 6.34% 2.6%
2022 8.27% 2.6%
2021 6.05% 0.2%
2020 4.98% -1.6%
2019 5.19% 1.3%
2018 4.75% 1.4%
2017 4.45% 2.3%
2016 6.6% 0.8%
2015 3.22% 1.4%
2014 5.37% 2.4%
2013 4.87% 4%
2012 6.05% 10.9%
2011 5.04% 11.3%
2010 -2.41% 6.1%
2009 -16.9% 4.5%
2008 10.7% 12%
2007 8.01% 6.8%
2006 6.07% 3.5%
2005 3.44% 2.5%
2004 5.02% 6.3%
2003 6.63% -2.8%
2002 33.8% 0.9%
2001 -9.62% 0.7%
2000 6.13% -1.2%
1999 - 3%
1998 - -1.4%
1997 - 7.6%

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/lesotho/maldives | CC BY

Over the past 25 years, Lesotho has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.13%, compared with 3.21% in Maldives. In 2024, inflation was 6.11% in Lesotho and 1.4% in Maldives.

Balance of trade

Lesotho Maldives
Current account balance
$89.2M
2024
-$1.32B
2024
Current account balance ranking
68/190
2024
130/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.93%
2024
-18.7%
2024
Goods imports
$1.67B
2024
$3.46B
2024
Goods exports
$965M
2024
$383M
2024
Service imports
$415M
2024
$1.89B
2024
Service exports
$15.4M
2024
$5.03B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
98.6%
2023
78.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.9%
2023
78.2%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Lesotho Maldives
Economic freedom 54.9 47.6
Economic freedom ranking 130/197 174/197
Property rights 41.7 52.2
Government integrity 39.6 41.9
Judicial effectiveness 43.6 39.3
Tax burden 76.4 89.9
Government spending 21.3 39.5
Fiscal health 93.5 0
Business freedom 50.6 49.7
Labor freedom 57 54.1
Monetary freedom 74.8 76.4
Trade freedom 65.4 62.8
Investment freedom 55 35
Financial freedom 40 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Lesotho
Maldives
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Lesotho Maldives
2026 54.9 47.6
2025 54.1 48.3
2024 51.9 47.8
2023 51.6 46.6
2022 48.1 47.3
2021 53.5 55.2
2020 54.5 56.5
2019 53.1 53.2
2018 53.9 51.1
2017 53.9 50.3
2016 50.6 53.9
2015 49.6 53.4
2014 49.5 51
2013 47.9 49
2012 46.6 49.2
2011 47.5 48.3
2010 48.1 49
2009 49.7 51.3
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/lesotho/maldives | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Lesotho is 54.9, ranking 130/197, compared to 47.6 for Maldives, ranking 174/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Lesotho Maldives
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
72.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
9.2%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.5%
2024
3.84%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$6.15B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,580
2024
$23,400
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$674M
2024
Total reserves ranking
142/177
2024
150/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$12.6M
2024
-$806M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$12.6M
2024
$806M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.06%
2024
7.95%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
49.7%
2017
15%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.2%
2023
30.8%
2024

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/lesotho/maldives | 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 (1982–1996, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. 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.