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Economy of Lesotho vs Saint Kitts and Nevis compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a GDP of $2.27B compared to $1.12B for Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 175/197 and 187/197 by economy size, respectively.

Lesotho has $1.29B in government debt (56.8% of GDP), compared to $604M (53.8% of GDP) in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Lesotho vs Saint Kitts and Nevis GDP by year

Lesotho
Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year GDP, current $
Lesotho Saint Kitts
2024 $2,271,759,455 $1,122,388,889
2023 $2,117,962,445 $1,055,651,852
2022 $2,354,980,960 $981,429,630
2021 $2,412,130,057 $858,622,222
2020 $2,053,699,864 $883,922,222
2019 $2,390,702,296 $1,107,855,556
2018 $2,556,247,292 $1,076,548,148
2017 $2,306,741,672 $1,056,977,778
2016 $2,114,426,452 $1,006,818,519
2015 $2,359,686,725 $957,222,222
2014 $2,441,063,054 $952,111,111
2013 $2,367,112,932 $874,548,148
2012 $2,477,702,216 $824,585,185
2011 $2,579,409,620 $836,092,593
2010 $2,234,754,242 $778,718,519
2009 $1,740,894,965 $774,274,074
2008 $1,766,902,709 $777,692,593
2007 $1,682,131,785 $689,285,185
2006 $1,800,092,564 $644,414,815
2005 $1,682,343,527 $547,203,704
2004 $1,511,236,656 $506,900,000
2003 $1,157,825,435 $469,869,870
2002 $775,777,239 $481,077,374
2001 $825,706,961 $458,643,829
2000 $887,291,688 $421,695,770
1999 $912,773,681 $406,595,484
1998 $928,460,893 $383,257,331
1997 $998,004,259 $374,641,308
1996 $946,112,493 $333,944,444
1995 $1,001,894,000 $313,485,185
1994 $878,250,945 $295,159,259
1993 $835,582,062 $263,755,556
1992 $831,029,862 $242,137,037
1991 $704,325,367 $220,540,741
1990 $596,410,264 $217,259,259
1989 $495,409,233 $192,518,519
1988 $470,395,801 $172,692,593
1987 $402,768,324 $147,748,148
1986 $318,858,423 $130,685,185
1985 $268,629,926 $111,007,407
1984 $333,163,670 $98,603,704
1983 $386,699,309 $86,874,074
1982 $348,741,684 $86,022,222
1981 $434,188,034 $80,888,889
1980 $431,542,537 $68,459,259
1979 $290,134,593 $58,840,741
1978 $266,570,067 $49,433,333
1977 $193,315,048 $44,496,296
1976 $147,660,037 $30,095,602
1975 $149,558,896 $33,364,055
1974 $150,851,317 $31,514,856
1973 $121,188,716 $24,196,018
1972 $80,913,200 $22,944,849
1971 $76,480,285 $19,624,746
1970 $68,739,973 $16,300,000
1969 $65,967,974 $15,850,000
1968 $61,445,975 $14,600,000
1967 $59,261,976 $16,742,338
1966 $56,699,977 $14,469,078
1965 $54,879,978 $13,593,932
1964 $51,939,979 $13,416,633
1963 $47,039,981 $12,833,301
1962 $41,859,983 $12,541,635
1961 $35,699,986 $12,483,302
1960 $34,579,986 $12,366,636

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

GeoRank.org/economy/lesotho/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

GDP per capita in Lesotho vs Saint Kitts and Nevis by year

Lesotho
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Saint Kitts and Nevis
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Lesotho Saint Kitts
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $972 $3,001 $23,961 $34,847
2023 $916 $2,881 $22,577 $33,980
2022 $1,030 $2,761 $21,012 $31,871
2021 $1,067 $2,545 $18,361 $26,897
2020 $919 $2,559 $18,859 $27,326
2019 $1,082 $2,568 $23,595 $32,482
2018 $1,171 $2,632 $22,901 $30,795
2017 $1,069 $2,619 $22,465 $29,579
2016 $992 $2,942 $21,388 $28,215
2015 $1,121 $3,035 $20,329 $26,877
2014 $1,174 $2,771 $20,219 $26,756
2013 $1,151 $2,538 $18,580 $24,624
2012 $1,218 $2,291 $17,532 $23,458
2011 $1,281 $2,279 $17,832 $24,550
2010 $1,119 $2,153 $16,623 $23,691
2009 $879 $2,036 $16,503 $23,385
2008 $898 $2,064 $16,605 $24,102
2007 $861 $1,932 $14,758 $21,301
2006 $925 $1,813 $13,838 $20,676
2005 $861 $1,681 $11,784 $19,500
2004 $767 $1,561 $10,945 $17,276
2003 $583 $1,484 $10,176 $16,226
2002 $389 $1,385 $10,454 $16,619
2001 $413 $1,350 $10,023 $16,235
2000 $443 $1,273 $9,320 $15,256
1999 $456 $1,199 $9,116 $13,754
1998 $465 $1,179 $8,711 $13,319
1997 $502 $1,154 $8,627 $13,409
1996 $480 $1,103 $7,788 $12,498
1995 $513 $1,037 $7,406 $11,747
1994 $456 $995 $7,065 $11,062
1993 $439 $932 $6,395 $10,418
1992 $444 $893 $5,947 $9,652
1991 $382 $830 $5,465 $9,131
1990 $330 $764 $5,373 $8,983
1989 $279 - $4,723 -
1988 $270.4 - $4,206 -
1987 $236.5 - $3,573 -
1986 $191.4 - $3,140 -
1985 $165.4 - $2,651 -
1984 $211 - $2,341 -
1983 $252 - $2,052 -
1982 $233.9 - $2,023 -
1981 $299.8 - $1,894 -
1980 $307 - $1,598 -
1979 $212.4 - $1,367 -
1978 $200.8 - $1,144 -
1977 $149.9 - $1,026 -
1976 $117.8 - $692 -
1975 $123.2 - $765 -
1974 $128.7 - $721 -
1973 $107 - $551 -
1972 $74 - $521 -
1971 $72.4 - $444 -
1970 $67.4 - $365 -
1969 $67.1 - $347 -
1968 $64.8 - $309 -
1967 $64.8 - $344 -
1966 $64.3 - $290 -
1965 $64.3 - $265.8 -
1964 $62.6 - $256.4 -
1963 $58.4 - $240.1 -
1962 $53.5 - $230.3 -
1961 $47 - $225.6 -
1960 $47 - $221.6 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/lesotho/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

Lesotho's GDP per capita is $972, ranking 181/197, compared to $23,961 in Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 51/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Lesotho ranks 180th at $3,001, while Saint Kitts and Nevis ranks 64th at $34,847.

Economic indicators

Lesotho Saint Kitts
Gross domestic product
$2.27B
2024
$1.12B
2024
GDP rank
175/197
2024
187/197
2024
GDP growth
2.85%
2023-2024
0.31%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$23,961
2024
GDP per capita rank
181/197
2024
51/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$34,847
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
180/197
2024
64/197
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$604M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
53.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$12,897
2024
Government debt per person rank
164/185
2024
44/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$13,301
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
43.2%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
6.11%
2023-2024
1.1%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
5.12%
2001
Population
2396633
47017

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Lesotho
Spending

Debt
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Lesotho Saint Kitts
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 53.5% 56.8% 43.2% 53.8%
2023 49.4% 61.5% 43.1% 55.7%
2022 50.8% 64.4% 49.5% 60.3%
2021 53.8% 58% 41.2% 69.1%
2020 54.4% 54.7% 36.5% 68%
2019 53.6% 58.2% 37.2% 54.3%
2018 51.9% 48.2% 33.7% 53.9%
2017 50.4% 41% 25.5% 56.2%
2016 54.1% 41.5% 26.1% 57.4%
2015 51.7% 45.8% 29% 62.2%
2014 50.1% 41.5% 28% 69.3%
2013 58.4% 41.2% 28.6% 91.5%
2012 58.1% 39.8% 27.2% 121.4%
2011 60.2% 36.2% 30.3% 127.1%
2010 55.3% 33.8% 31.2% 134.9%
2009 66.4% 35.9% 30.4% 129.1%
2008 54.1% 47% 29.5% 123.4%
2007 48.1% 49.6% 32.2% 135.4%
2006 43.2% 43.7% 32.5% 140.3%
2005 37.6% 41% 34.7% 130.1%
2004 36.3% 49.4% 33.7% 153.1%
2003 39.8% 52.6% 30.9% 140.7%
2002 41.2% 79.6% 35.4% 119.7%
2001 41.4% 108.7% 30.9% 105.2%
2000 39.3% 88.5% 34.6% 96.5%
1999 50.8% 83% 33.6% 89.2%
1998 51.4% 79.4% 29.1% 79%
1997 44.6% 65.7% 26.3% 67.2%
1996 41.5% 71.6% 26.8% 50.7%
1995 42.1% 62.8% 23.7% -
1994 40.2% 67% 22.2% -
1993 36% 71.2% 21.3% -
1992 35.3% 64.4% 19.8% -
1991 31.3% 11.9% 18.2% -
1990 32.9% 18% 19.3% -
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/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

In 2024, Lesotho's government spending was $1.22B, accounting for 53.5% of its GDP, while Saint Kitts and Nevis spent $484M, or 43.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 56.8% in Lesotho and 53.8% in Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 92/185 and 97/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Lesotho

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Lesotho Saint Kitts
2024 9.04% -11%
2023 7.31% -0.27%
2022 -6.41% -4.16%
2021 -4.95% 5.41%
2020 1.18% -3.06%
2019 -5.72% -0.7%
2018 -4.41% 1.8%
2017 -2.02% 1.68%
2016 -9.43% 3.77%
2015 -1.38% 5.66%
2014 3.16% 8.52%
2013 -2.58% 10.9%
2012 4.56% 4.32%
2011 -9.85% 1.6%
2010 -1.49% -4.15%
2009 -4.16% -1.23%
2008 8.1% -1.57%
2007 10.8% -1.03%
2006 11.6% -1.37%
2005 4.46% -3.45%
2004 6.05% -6.6%
2003 0.89% -5.66%
2002 -2.44% -11.7%
2001 -2.76% -10.9%
2000 -0.95% -13.3%
1999 -15.3% -11.1%
1998 -11.8% -5.13%
1997 0.27% -2.33%
1996 2.11% -2.27%
1995 5.13% 0.9%
1994 5.69% 0.79%
1993 7.55% 0.24%
1992 4.65% 0.5%
1991 9.74% 0.92%
1990 8.78% 0.62%
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/saint-kitts-and-nevis | 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis' deficit of $123M, or 11% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Lesotho recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Saint Kitts and Nevis ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Lesotho posted an annual surplus equal to 0.73% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.52% of GDP for Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Lesotho

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Lesotho Saint Kitts
2024 6.11% 1.1%
2023 6.34% 3.56%
2022 8.27% 2.67%
2021 6.05% 1.2%
2020 4.98% -1.17%
2019 5.19% -0.33%
2018 4.75% -1.04%
2017 4.45% 0.69%
2016 6.6% -0.69%
2015 3.22% -2.3%
2014 5.37% 0.25%
2013 4.87% 1.11%
2012 6.05% 0.82%
2011 5.04% 5.84%
2010 -2.41% 0.85%
2009 -16.9% 2.06%
2008 10.7% 5.3%
2007 8.01% 4.48%
2006 6.07% 8.49%
2005 3.44% 3.38%
2004 5.02% 2.31%
2003 6.63% 2.24%
2002 33.8% 2.04%
2001 -9.62% 2.3%
2000 6.13% 2.15%
1999 - 3.36%
1998 - 3.45%
1997 - 8.91%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/lesotho/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

Over the past 25 years, Lesotho has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.13%, compared with 1.89% in Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 2024, inflation was 6.11% in Lesotho and 1.1% in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Balance of trade

Lesotho Saint Kitts
Current account balance
$89.2M
2024
-$169M
2024
Current account balance ranking
68/190
2024
96/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.93%
2024
-15.1%
2024
Goods imports
$1.67B
2024
$404M
2024
Goods exports
$965M
2024
$33.7M
2024
Service imports
$415M
2024
$239M
2024
Service exports
$15.4M
2024
$471M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
98.6%
2023
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.9%
2023
11%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Lesotho Saint Kitts
Economic freedom 54.9 62
Economic freedom ranking 130/197 90/197
Property rights 41.7 n/a
Government integrity 39.6 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 43.6 n/a
Tax burden 76.4 n/a
Government spending 21.3 n/a
Fiscal health 93.5 n/a
Business freedom 50.6 n/a
Labor freedom 57 n/a
Monetary freedom 74.8 n/a
Trade freedom 65.4 n/a
Investment freedom 55 n/a
Financial freedom 40 n/a

Other economic metrics

Lesotho Saint Kitts
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
66.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
20.9%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.5%
2024
1.29%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$1.05B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,580
2024
$34,460
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$295M
2024
Total reserves ranking
142/177
2024
168/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$12.6M
2024
-$19.5M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$12.6M
2024
$42.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$8.97M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.06%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
49.7%
2017
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.2%
2023
n/a

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/saint-kitts-and-nevis | 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. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  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.