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Economy of Lesotho vs Mauritius compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a GDP of $2.27B compared to $14.9B for Mauritius, ranking 175/197 and 143/197 by economy size, respectively.

Lesotho has $1.29B in government debt (56.8% of GDP), compared to $13.6B (91.1% of GDP) in Mauritius.

Lesotho vs Mauritius GDP by year

Lesotho
Mauritius
1x
Year GDP, current $
Lesotho Mauritius
2024 $2,271,759,455 $14,937,861,786
2023 $2,117,962,445 $14,072,212,290
2022 $2,354,980,960 $12,936,444,123
2021 $2,412,130,057 $11,622,048,697
2020 $2,053,699,864 $11,566,111,138
2019 $2,390,702,296 $14,645,235,205
2018 $2,556,247,292 $14,957,535,716
2017 $2,306,741,672 $13,896,938,315
2016 $2,114,426,452 $12,757,680,847
2015 $2,359,686,725 $12,162,211,503
2014 $2,441,063,054 $13,230,490,082
2013 $2,367,112,932 $12,434,596,541
2012 $2,477,702,216 $11,832,323,837
2011 $2,579,409,620 $11,677,718,382
2010 $2,234,754,242 $10,144,716,155
2009 $1,740,894,965 $9,264,513,545
2008 $1,766,902,709 $10,127,777,060
2007 $1,682,131,785 $8,277,442,915
2006 $1,800,092,564 $7,137,710,413
2005 $1,682,343,527 $6,576,108,447
2004 $1,511,236,656 $6,667,418,752
2003 $1,157,825,435 $5,894,873,920
2002 $775,777,239 $4,906,494,249
2001 $825,706,961 $4,675,755,867
2000 $887,291,688 $4,726,108,622
1999 $912,773,681 $4,402,193,195
1998 $928,460,893 $4,225,813,976
1997 $998,004,259 $4,243,755,308
1996 $946,112,493 $4,481,489,762
1995 $1,001,894,000 $4,094,741,652
1994 $878,250,945 $3,606,050,873
1993 $835,582,062 $3,307,302,126
1992 $831,029,862 $3,267,677,814
1991 $704,325,367 $2,895,354,736
1990 $596,410,264 $2,689,212,760
1989 $495,409,233 $2,211,312,823
1988 $470,395,801 $2,163,252,449
1987 $402,768,324 $1,906,174,438
1986 $318,858,423 $1,482,601,552
1985 $268,629,926 $1,090,611,325
1984 $333,163,670 $1,054,564,759
1983 $386,699,309 $1,104,956,573
1982 $348,741,684 $1,092,923,636
1981 $434,188,034 $1,157,769,444
1980 $431,542,537 $1,147,027,924
1979 $290,134,593 $1,227,446,632
1978 $266,570,067 $1,029,040,323
1977 $193,315,048 $834,722,972
1976 $147,660,037 $713,510,052
1975 $149,558,896 $673,311,287
1974 $150,851,317 $669,894,030
1973 $121,188,716 $404,285,775
1972 $80,913,200 $318,664,900
1971 $76,480,285 $251,437,338
1970 $68,739,973 $224,125,805
1969 $65,967,974 $221,553,613
1968 $61,445,975 $206,576,631
1967 $59,261,976 $238,439,291
1966 $56,699,977 $227,534,083
1965 $54,879,978 $230,024,161
1964 $51,939,979 $218,914,569
1963 $47,039,981 $253,839,558
1962 $41,859,983 $197,738,208
1961 $35,699,986 $191,757,729
1960 $34,579,986 $162,089,564

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

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

GDP per capita in Lesotho vs Mauritius by year

Lesotho
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Mauritius
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Lesotho Mauritius
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $972 $3,001 $11,991 $31,840
2023 $916 $2,881 $11,270 $29,561
2022 $1,030 $2,761 $10,247 $26,874
2021 $1,067 $2,545 $9,178 $23,010
2020 $919 $2,559 $9,136 $21,622
2019 $1,082 $2,568 $11,568 $24,375
2018 $1,171 $2,632 $11,819 $23,416
2017 $1,069 $2,619 $10,987 $22,898
2016 $992 $2,942 $10,095 $21,952
2015 $1,121 $3,035 $9,631 $20,270
2014 $1,174 $2,771 $10,490 $19,294
2013 $1,151 $2,538 $9,877 $18,435
2012 $1,218 $2,291 $9,422 $17,259
2011 $1,281 $2,279 $9,324 $16,884
2010 $1,119 $2,153 $8,113 $15,920
2009 $879 $2,036 $7,427 $15,105
2008 $898 $2,064 $8,141 $14,569
2007 $861 $1,932 $6,677 $13,612
2006 $925 $1,813 $5,784 $12,593
2005 $861 $1,681 $5,354 $11,703
2004 $767 $1,561 $5,461 $11,216
2003 $583 $1,484 $4,858 $10,535
2002 $389 $1,385 $4,073 $9,824
2001 $413 $1,350 $3,909 $9,586
2000 $443 $1,273 $3,982 $9,143
1999 $456 $1,199 $3,746 $8,344
1998 $465 $1,179 $3,642 $8,121
1997 $502 $1,154 $3,696 $7,651
1996 $480 $1,103 $3,952 $7,206
1995 $513 $1,037 $3,648 $6,771
1994 $456 $995 $3,240 $6,414
1993 $439 $932 $3,014 $6,116
1992 $444 $893 $3,013 $5,753
1991 $382 $830 $2,705 $5,351
1990 $330 $764 $2,540 $5,010
1989 $279 - $2,103 -
1988 $270.4 - $2,074 -
1987 $236.5 - $1,840 -
1986 $191.4 - $1,442 -
1985 $165.4 - $1,069 -
1984 $211 - $1,042 -
1983 $252 - $1,103 -
1982 $233.9 - $1,101 -
1981 $299.8 - $1,181 -
1980 $307 - $1,187 -
1979 $212.4 - $1,292 -
1978 $200.8 - $1,102 -
1977 $149.9 - $906 -
1976 $117.8 - $787 -
1975 $123.2 - $755 -
1974 $128.7 - $763 -
1973 $107 - $467 -
1972 $74 - $374 -
1971 $72.4 - $299.6 -
1970 $67.4 - $271.3 -
1969 $67.1 - $272.7 -
1968 $64.8 - $258.7 -
1967 $64.8 - $304 -
1966 $64.3 - $296 -
1965 $64.3 - $305 -
1964 $62.6 - $297.3 -
1963 $58.4 - $353 -
1962 $53.5 - $282.3 -
1961 $47 - $281.7 -
1960 $47 - $238.3 -

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

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

Lesotho's GDP per capita is $972, ranking 181/197, compared to $11,991 in Mauritius, ranking 78/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Lesotho ranks 180th at $3,001, while Mauritius ranks 71st at $31,840.

Economic indicators

Lesotho Mauritius
Gross domestic product
$2.27B
2024
$14.9B
2024
GDP rank
175/197
2024
143/197
2024
GDP growth
2.85%
2023-2024
4.93%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$11,991
2024
GDP per capita rank
181/197
2024
78/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$31,840
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
180/197
2024
71/197
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$13.6B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
91.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$10,929
2024
Government debt per person rank
164/185
2024
54/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$7,203
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$9.12B
2024
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
29.9%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
2.9%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
33.7%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
6.11%
2023-2024
3.6%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6.5%
2025
4.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
5.21%
2024
Population
2396633
1240121

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Lesotho
Spending

Debt
Mauritius
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Lesotho Mauritius
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 53.5% 56.8% 33.7% 91.1%
2023 49.4% 61.5% 29.9% 85.6%
2022 50.8% 64.4% 29.4% 86.9%
2021 53.8% 58% 30.8% 93.8%
2020 54.4% 54.7% 32.6% 93.4%
2019 53.6% 58.2% 27.8% 74.6%
2018 51.9% 48.2% 24.3% 64.1%
2017 50.4% 41% 24.3% 63%
2016 54.1% 41.5% 24% 64.3%
2015 51.7% 45.8% 24.5% 65%
2014 50.1% 41.5% 23% 60.6%
2013 58.4% 41.2% 24.1% 58.2%
2012 58.1% 39.8% 22.5% 55.9%
2011 60.2% 36.2% 23.7% 56.5%
2010 55.3% 33.8% 24% 56.4%
2009 66.4% 35.9% 25.2% 58.4%
2008 54.1% 47% 22.7% 49.4%
2007 48.1% 49.6% 21.5% 51.6%
2006 43.2% 43.7% 22.2% 59.3%
2005 37.6% 41% 23% 61.7%
2004 36.3% 49.4% 22.6% 61.1%
2003 39.8% 52.6% 23.4% 70.8%
2002 41.2% 79.6% 23.3% 66.7%
2001 41.4% 108.7% 22.4% 60.5%
2000 39.3% 88.5% 22.2% 59.7%
1999 50.8% 83% 27.5% -
1998 51.4% 79.4% 26.6% -
1997 44.6% 65.7% 27.5% -
1996 41.5% 71.6% 27.4% -
1995 42.1% 62.8% 27.3% -
1994 40.2% 67% 27.5% -
1993 36% 71.2% 24.5% -
1992 35.3% 64.4% 26.8% -
1991 31.3% 11.9% 27.2% -
1990 32.9% 18% 30.2% -
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/mauritius | CC BY

In 2024, Lesotho's government spending was $1.22B, accounting for 53.5% of its GDP, while Mauritius spent $5.03B, or 33.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 56.8% in Lesotho and 91.1% in Mauritius, ranking 92/185 and 30/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Lesotho

Mauritius
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Lesotho Mauritius
2024 9.04% -7.47%
2023 7.31% -4.7%
2022 -6.41% -3.34%
2021 -4.95% -4.45%
2020 1.18% -10.6%
2019 -5.72% -7.53%
2018 -4.41% -2.19%
2017 -2.02% -1.66%
2016 -9.43% -2.81%
2015 -1.38% -3.59%
2014 3.16% -3.13%
2013 -2.58% -3.4%
2012 4.56% -1.78%
2011 -9.85% -3.09%
2010 -1.49% -3.07%
2009 -4.16% -3.41%
2008 8.1% -2.66%
2007 10.8% -3.09%
2006 11.6% -4.14%
2005 4.46% -4.44%
2004 6.05% -4.34%
2003 0.89% -4.82%
2002 -2.44% -5.18%
2001 -2.76% -5.53%
2000 -0.95% -4.4%
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/mauritius | 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 Mauritius' deficit of $1.12B, or 7.47% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Lesotho recorded a fiscal deficit in 14 of those years, while Mauritius ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Lesotho posted an annual surplus equal to 0.34% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.19% of GDP for Mauritius.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Lesotho

Mauritius
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Lesotho Mauritius
2024 6.11% 3.6%
2023 6.34% 7.05%
2022 8.27% 10.8%
2021 6.05% 4.03%
2020 4.98% 2.58%
2019 5.19% 0.41%
2018 4.75% 3.22%
2017 4.45% 3.67%
2016 6.6% 0.98%
2015 3.22% 1.29%
2014 5.37% 3.22%
2013 4.87% 3.54%
2012 6.05% 3.85%
2011 5.04% 6.52%
2010 -2.41% 2.93%
2009 -16.9% 2.52%
2008 10.7% 9.73%
2007 8.01% 8.83%
2006 6.07% 8.91%
2005 3.44% 4.94%
2004 5.02% 4.71%
2003 6.63% 3.92%
2002 33.8% 6.42%
2001 -9.62% 5.39%
2000 6.13% 4.2%
1999 - 6.91%
1998 - 6.81%
1997 - 6.83%

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

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

Over the past 25 years, Lesotho has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.13%, compared with 4.69% in Mauritius. In 2024, inflation was 6.11% in Lesotho and 3.6% in Mauritius.

Top exports between countries

Lesotho
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $36K
Wood & paper products $27K
Miscellaneous $24K
Mauritius
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $368K
Machinery & equipment $31K
Wood & paper products $21K
Miscellaneous $1K

Balance of trade

Lesotho Mauritius
Current account balance
$89.2M
2024
-$1.05B
2024
Current account balance ranking
68/190
2024
126/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.93%
2024
-7.03%
2024
Goods imports
$1.67B
2024
$6.35B
2024
Goods exports
$965M
2024
$2.37B
2024
Service imports
$415M
2024
$2.28B
2024
Service exports
$15.4M
2024
$4.19B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
98.6%
2023
78.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.9%
2023
67.1%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Lesotho Mauritius
Economic freedom 54.9 73
Economic freedom ranking 130/197 26/197
Property rights 41.7 83.9
Government integrity 39.6 53.4
Judicial effectiveness 43.6 80.7
Tax burden 76.4 89.6
Government spending 21.3 73.8
Fiscal health 93.5 45.5
Business freedom 50.6 81.5
Labor freedom 57 69.6
Monetary freedom 74.8 70.7
Trade freedom 65.4 87
Investment freedom 55 70
Financial freedom 40 70

Economic freedom comparison by year

Lesotho
Mauritius
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Lesotho Mauritius
2026 54.9 73
2025 54.1 75
2024 51.9 71.5
2023 51.6 70.6
2022 48.1 70.9
2021 53.5 77
2020 54.5 74.9
2019 53.1 73
2018 53.9 75.1
2017 53.9 74.7
2016 50.6 74.7
2015 49.6 76.4
2014 49.5 76.5
2013 47.9 76.9
2012 46.6 77
2011 47.5 76.2
2010 48.1 76.3
2009 49.7 74.3
2008 52.1 72.6
2007 53.2 69.4
2006 54.7 67.4
2005 53.9 67.2
2004 50.3 64.3
2003 52 64.4
2002 48.9 67.7
2001 50.6 66.4
2000 48.4 67.2
1999 48.2 68.5
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/mauritius | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Lesotho is 54.9, ranking 130/197, compared to 73 for Mauritius, ranking 26/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Lesotho Mauritius
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
64.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
17.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.5%
2024
4.23%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$16.2B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,580
2024
$35,100
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$8.51B
2024
Total reserves ranking
142/177
2024
83/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$12.6M
2024
$963M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$12.6M
2024
$681M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$38.3M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.06%
2024
10.1%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
49.7%
2017
8.4%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.2%
2023
21.2%
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/mauritius | 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. TradeMap (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. 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.