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Economy of Lesotho vs Mauritania compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a GDP of $2.27B compared to $10.9B for Mauritania, ranking 175/197 and 153/197 by economy size, respectively.

Lesotho has $1.29B in government debt (56.8% of GDP), compared to $4.67B (42.8% of GDP) in Mauritania.

Lesotho vs Mauritania GDP by year

Lesotho
Mauritania
1x
Year GDP, current $
Lesotho Mauritania
2024 $2,271,759,455 $10,908,045,687
2023 $2,117,962,445 $10,726,838,461
2022 $2,354,980,960 $9,557,966,698
2021 $2,412,130,057 $9,222,536,364
2020 $2,053,699,864 $8,260,752,385
2019 $2,390,702,296 $7,894,764,886
2018 $2,556,247,292 $7,473,550,557
2017 $2,306,741,672 $6,800,135,898
2016 $2,114,426,452 $6,398,747,592
2015 $2,359,686,725 $6,166,863,897
2014 $2,441,063,054 $6,592,537,782
2013 $2,367,112,932 $7,223,071,097
2012 $2,477,702,216 $6,728,208,836
2011 $2,579,409,620 $6,764,627,746
2010 $2,234,754,242 $5,628,878,798
2009 $1,740,894,965 $4,714,595,548
2008 $1,766,902,709 $5,206,437,194
2007 $1,682,131,785 $4,346,212,355
2006 $1,800,092,564 $3,919,577,286
2005 $1,682,343,527 $2,936,019,526
2004 $1,511,236,656 $2,362,501,023
2003 $1,157,825,435 $2,051,147,607
2002 $775,777,239 $1,777,057,481
2001 $825,706,961 $1,746,063,558
2000 $887,291,688 $1,779,520,886
1999 $912,773,681 $1,985,922,776
1998 $928,460,893 $2,032,347,665
1997 $998,004,259 $2,071,996,564
1996 $946,112,493 $2,132,087,009
1995 $1,001,894,000 $2,091,726,101
1994 $878,250,945 $1,944,876,755
1993 $835,582,062 $1,847,353,211
1992 $831,029,862 $2,164,298,425
1991 $704,325,367 $2,133,692,697
1990 $596,410,264 $1,506,914,408
1989 $495,409,233 $1,450,647,019
1988 $470,395,801 $1,414,951,290
1987 $402,768,324 $1,344,664,725
1986 $318,858,423 $1,186,628,778
1985 $268,629,926 $1,009,723,326
1984 $333,163,670 $1,074,373,230
1983 $386,699,309 $1,165,171,263
1982 $348,741,684 $1,108,776,653
1981 $434,188,034 $1,105,494,682
1980 $431,542,537 $1,047,925,106
1979 $290,134,593 $951,900,945
1978 $266,570,067 $804,629,877
1977 $193,315,048 $799,030,017
1976 $147,660,037 $775,045,517
1975 $149,558,896 $703,377,837
1974 $150,851,317 $613,010,553
1973 $121,188,716 $493,237,876
1972 $80,913,200 $391,669,449
1971 $76,480,285 $335,568,907
1970 $68,739,973 $309,405,316
1969 $65,967,974 $295,062,308
1968 $61,445,975 $311,395,937
1967 $59,261,976 $282,615,310
1966 $56,699,977 $266,533,605
1965 $54,879,978 $255,340,475
1964 $51,939,979 $224,495,744
1963 $47,039,981 $168,186,297
1962 $41,859,983 $164,271,558
1961 $35,699,986 $159,213,430
1960 $34,579,986 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Lesotho vs Mauritania by year

Lesotho
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Mauritania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Lesotho Mauritania
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $972 $3,001 $2,110 $7,369
2023 $916 $2,881 $2,136 $6,966
2022 $1,030 $2,761 $1,960 $6,485
2021 $1,067 $2,545 $1,948 $5,837
2020 $919 $2,559 $1,796 $5,741
2019 $1,082 $2,568 $1,767 $5,610
2018 $1,171 $2,632 $1,723 $5,429
2017 $1,069 $2,619 $1,615 $5,353
2016 $992 $2,942 $1,566 $4,683
2015 $1,121 $3,035 $1,555 $3,978
2014 $1,174 $2,771 $1,713 $3,865
2013 $1,151 $2,538 $1,934 $3,831
2012 $1,218 $2,291 $1,859 $3,465
2011 $1,281 $2,279 $1,931 $3,271
2010 $1,119 $2,153 $1,660 $3,178
2009 $879 $2,036 $1,435 $3,159
2008 $898 $2,064 $1,636 $3,236
2007 $861 $1,932 $1,405 $3,278
2006 $925 $1,813 $1,301 $3,342
2005 $861 $1,681 $999 $2,809
2004 $767 $1,561 $824 $2,570
2003 $583 $1,484 $732 $2,447
2002 $389 $1,385 $649 $2,296
2001 $413 $1,350 $652 $2,280
2000 $443 $1,273 $681 $2,304
1999 $456 $1,199 $781 $2,411
1998 $465 $1,179 $821 $2,355
1997 $502 $1,154 $859 $2,325
1996 $480 $1,103 $904 $2,436
1995 $513 $1,037 $905 $2,306
1994 $456 $995 $865 $2,114
1993 $439 $932 $850 $2,209
1992 $444 $893 $1,036 $2,122
1991 $382 $830 $1,062 $2,116
1990 $330 $764 $772 $2,070
1989 $279 - $762 -
1988 $270.4 - $762 -
1987 $236.5 - $746 -
1986 $191.4 - $677 -
1985 $165.4 - $593 -
1984 $211 - $650 -
1983 $252 - $725 -
1982 $233.9 - $710 -
1981 $299.8 - $729 -
1980 $307 - $711 -
1979 $212.4 - $664 -
1978 $200.8 - $578 -
1977 $149.9 - $590 -
1976 $117.8 - $589 -
1975 $123.2 - $551 -
1974 $128.7 - $494 -
1973 $107 - $410 -
1972 $74 - $335 -
1971 $72.4 - $296 -
1970 $67.4 - $281.3 -
1969 $67.1 - $276.6 -
1968 $64.8 - $301 -
1967 $64.8 - $281.5 -
1966 $64.3 - $273.6 -
1965 $64.3 - $270 -
1964 $62.6 - $244.3 -
1963 $58.4 - $188.2 -
1962 $53.5 - $189 -
1961 $47 - $188.2 -
1960 $47 - - -

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

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

Lesotho's GDP per capita is $972, ranking 181/197, compared to $2,110 in Mauritania, ranking 156/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Lesotho ranks 180th at $3,001, while Mauritania ranks 147th at $7,369.

Economic indicators

Lesotho Mauritania
Gross domestic product
$2.27B
2024
$10.9B
2024
GDP rank
175/197
2024
153/197
2024
GDP growth
2.85%
2023-2024
6.31%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$2,110
2024
GDP per capita rank
181/197
2024
156/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$7,369
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
180/197
2024
147/197
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$4.67B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
42.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$904
2024
Government debt per person rank
164/185
2024
145/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$2,078
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
24.6%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
3.1%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
23.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
6.11%
2023-2024
2.49%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
10.4%
2019
Population
2396633
5505206

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Lesotho
Spending

Debt
Mauritania
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Lesotho Mauritania
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 53.5% 56.8% 23.6% 42.8%
2023 49.4% 61.5% 24.8% 47.1%
2022 50.8% 64.4% 28.7% 50.5%
2021 53.8% 58% 20.8% 54.5%
2020 54.4% 54.7% 18.5% 56.5%
2019 53.6% 58.2% 17.8% 57.7%
2018 51.9% 48.2% 19% 59.2%
2017 50.4% 41% 20.3% 55.7%
2016 54.1% 41.5% 20.8% 57.6%
2015 51.7% 45.8% 25.7% 59.9%
2014 50.1% 41.5% 23.9% 49.5%
2013 58.4% 41.2% 20.1% 40.7%
2012 58.1% 39.8% 21.5% 39.3%
2011 60.2% 36.2% 17% 38.8%
2010 55.3% 33.8% 17.3% 43.9%
2009 66.4% 35.9% 19.6% 54.3%
2008 54.1% 47% 19.8% 57.2%
2007 48.1% 49.6% 19.7% 61.5%
2006 43.2% 43.7% 19% 38%
2005 37.6% 41% 21.3% 71.1%
2004 36.3% 49.4% 23.9% 22%
2003 39.8% 52.6% - 22.9%
2002 41.2% 79.6% - 59.5%
2001 41.4% 108.7% - 63.5%
2000 39.3% 88.5% - 55.5%
1999 50.8% 83% - -
1998 51.4% 79.4% - -
1997 44.6% 65.7% - -
1996 41.5% 71.6% - -
1995 42.1% 62.8% - -
1994 40.2% 67% - -
1993 36% 71.2% - -
1992 35.3% 64.4% - -
1991 31.3% 11.9% - -
1990 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/lesotho/mauritania | CC BY

In 2024, Lesotho's government spending was $1.22B, accounting for 53.5% of its GDP, while Mauritania spent $2.57B, or 23.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 56.8% in Lesotho and 42.8% in Mauritania, ranking 92/185 and 126/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Lesotho

Mauritania
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Lesotho Mauritania
2024 9.04% -1.35%
2023 7.31% -2.45%
2022 -6.41% -3.09%
2021 -4.95% 2.6%
2020 1.18% 2.78%
2019 -5.72% 2.65%
2018 -4.41% 3.23%
2017 -2.02% 0.53%
2016 -9.43% 0.13%
2015 -1.38% -2.44%
2014 3.16% -2.64%
2013 -2.58% -0.66%
2012 4.56% 1.67%
2011 -9.85% 0.07%
2010 -1.49% -0.45%
2009 -4.16% -3.59%
2008 8.1% -3.32%
2007 10.8% -1.38%
2006 11.6% 2.05%
2005 4.46% -3.16%
2004 6.05% -3.06%
2003 0.89% -
2002 -2.44% -
2001 -2.76% -
2000 -0.95% -
1999 -15.3% -
1998 -11.8% -
1997 0.27% -
1996 2.11% -
1995 5.13% -
1994 5.69% -
1993 7.55% -
1992 4.65% -
1991 9.74% -
1990 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/lesotho/mauritania | 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 Mauritania's deficit of $148M, or 1.35% of GDP.

Over the past 21 years, Lesotho recorded a fiscal deficit in 11 of those years, while Mauritania ran a deficit in 12 years. On average, Lesotho posted an annual surplus equal to 0.66% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.57% of GDP for Mauritania.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Lesotho

Mauritania
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Lesotho Mauritania
2024 6.11% 2.49%
2023 6.34% 4.95%
2022 8.27% 9.53%
2021 6.05% 3.57%
2020 4.98% 2.39%
2019 5.19% 2.3%
2018 4.75% 3.07%
2017 4.45% 2.25%
2016 6.6% 1.47%
2015 3.22% 3.25%
2014 5.37% 3.53%
2013 4.87% 4.13%
2012 6.05% 4.9%
2011 5.04% 5.69%
2010 -2.41% 6.28%
2009 -16.9% 2.22%
2008 10.7% 7.35%
2007 8.01% 7.25%
2006 6.07% 6.24%
2005 3.44% 12.1%
2004 5.02% 10.4%
2003 6.63% 5.15%
2002 33.8% 3.9%
2001 -9.62% 4.71%
2000 6.13% 3.25%
1999 - 4.07%
1998 - 8.03%
1997 - 4.63%

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

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

Over the past 25 years, Lesotho has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.13%, compared with 4.9% in Mauritania. In 2024, inflation was 6.11% in Lesotho and 2.49% in Mauritania.

Balance of trade

Lesotho Mauritania
Current account balance
$89.2M
2024
-$1.04B
2024
Current account balance ranking
68/190
2024
124/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.93%
2024
-9.53%
2024
Goods imports
$1.67B
2024
$4.32B
2024
Goods exports
$965M
2024
$3.83B
2024
Service imports
$415M
2024
$1.05B
2024
Service exports
$15.4M
2024
$230M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
98.6%
2023
52.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.9%
2023
41.4%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Lesotho Mauritania
Economic freedom 54.9 53.9
Economic freedom ranking 130/197 136/197
Property rights 41.7 32.6
Government integrity 39.6 24.5
Judicial effectiveness 43.6 26.4
Tax burden 76.4 75.5
Government spending 21.3 80.2
Fiscal health 93.5 87.9
Business freedom 50.6 38.7
Labor freedom 57 53.6
Monetary freedom 74.8 77.8
Trade freedom 65.4 59.6
Investment freedom 55 50
Financial freedom 40 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Lesotho
Mauritania
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Lesotho Mauritania
2026 54.9 53.9
2025 54.1 54.9
2024 51.9 55.3
2023 51.6 55.3
2022 48.1 55.3
2021 53.5 56.1
2020 54.5 55.3
2019 53.1 55.7
2018 53.9 54
2017 53.9 54.4
2016 50.6 54.8
2015 49.6 53.3
2014 49.5 53.2
2013 47.9 52.3
2012 46.6 53
2011 47.5 52.1
2010 48.1 52
2009 49.7 53.9
2008 52.1 55.2
2007 53.2 53.6
2006 54.7 55.7
2005 53.9 59.4
2004 50.3 61.8
2003 52 59
2002 48.9 52.5
2001 50.6 48.5
2000 48.4 46
1999 48.2 42.8
1998 48.4 43.7
1997 47.2 47
1996 47 45.5

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Lesotho is 54.9, ranking 130/197, compared to 53.9 for Mauritania, ranking 136/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Lesotho Mauritania
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
42.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
30.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.5%
2024
19.3%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$11B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,580
2024
$7,300
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$2.04B
2021
Total reserves ranking
142/177
2024
126/177
2021
Net foreign direct investment
$12.6M
2024
-$1.44B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$12.6M
2024
$1.44B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$3.9M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.06%
2024
3.82%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
49.7%
2017
31.8%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.2%
2023
43.1%
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/mauritania | 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.