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Economy of Lesotho vs Sierra Leone compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a GDP of $2.27B compared to $7.55B for Sierra Leone, ranking 174/197 and 157/197 by economy size, respectively.

Lesotho has $1.36B in government debt (59.7% of GDP), compared to $3.25B (44.3% of GDP) in Sierra Leone.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Lesotho
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Sierra Leone
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Lesotho Sierra Leone
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 $34,579,986 $193,508,327 $322,151,961 $2,005,356,249
1961 $35,699,986 $197,116,861 $327,978,758 $2,041,634,017
1962 $41,859,983 $227,338,452 $342,872,549 $2,134,343,945
1963 $47,039,981 $251,470,588 $348,700,980 $2,170,621,713
1964 $51,939,979 $272,219,723 $372,011,438 $2,315,732,958
1965 $54,879,978 $278,083,623 $359,523,810 $2,482,006,192
1966 $56,699,977 $276,955,935 $375,630,252 $2,524,200,297
1967 $59,261,976 $307,177,537 $348,895,028 $2,525,116,116
1968 $61,445,975 $306,049,827 $329,991,597 $2,576,121,538
1969 $65,967,974 $310,786,060 $408,853,541 $2,795,747,409
1970 $68,739,973 $317,552,094 $434,584,634 $3,036,754,626
1971 $76,480,285 $333,790,811 $419,495,788 $3,142,006,005
1972 $80,913,200 $333,114,189 $465,254,682 $3,170,291,432
1973 $121,188,716 $421,072,595 $575,471,814 $3,241,832,807
1974 $150,851,317 $467,306,740 $648,940,351 $3,355,291,389
1975 $149,558,896 $404,157,255 $679,352,876 $3,411,298,469
1976 $147,660,037 $448,813,113 $594,810,422 $3,395,975,723
1977 $193,315,048 $546,694,921 $692,079,407 $3,397,560,822
1978 $266,570,067 $646,832,346 $960,765,043 $3,479,317,421
1979 $290,134,593 $665,551,149 $1,109,343,425 $3,636,278,670
1980 $431,542,537 $647,283,239 $1,100,476,190 $3,812,401,965
1981 $434,188,034 $651,779,515 $1,114,926,661 $3,922,253,604
1982 $348,741,684 $680,830,657 $1,294,995,964 $4,109,806,182
1983 $386,699,309 $694,353,080 $995,278,515 $4,023,385,112
1984 $333,163,670 $732,784,813 $1,087,450,199 $4,188,063,643
1985 $268,629,926 $751,912,324 $856,890,459 $3,965,621,323
1986 $318,858,423 $787,138,334 $490,181,457 $4,014,638,262
1987 $402,768,324 $792,882,304 $660,106,336 $4,304,947,544
1988 $470,395,801 $861,085,399 $1,055,083,933 $4,000,157,258
1989 $495,409,233 $910,987,402 $932,974,420 $4,029,358,406
1990 $596,410,264 $966,060,902 $649,644,098 $4,164,341,831
1991 $704,325,367 $1,033,362,572 $779,981,987 $4,262,285,544
1992 $831,029,862 $1,105,247,043 $679,940,814 $3,451,901,040
1993 $835,582,062 $1,144,038,630 $768,867,883 $3,499,349,144
1994 $878,250,945 $1,212,450,693 $911,853,802 $3,431,203,335
1995 $1,001,894,000 $1,252,351,696 $870,740,292 $3,156,715,563
1996 $946,112,493 $1,322,446,272 $941,709,423 $3,212,078,681
1997 $998,004,259 $1,371,424,437 $850,232,760 $3,023,302,223
1998 $928,460,893 $1,392,512,226 $672,368,187 $3,077,268,550
1999 $912,773,681 $1,399,140,933 $669,386,624 $3,016,360,584
2000 $887,291,688 $1,453,365,294 $635,866,404 $3,217,030,904
2001 $825,706,961 $1,505,128,088 $1,681,473,894 $3,012,895,636
2002 $775,777,239 $1,516,022,748 $1,933,863,911 $3,812,040,143
2003 $1,157,825,435 $1,585,150,007 $2,142,618,046 $4,173,559,980
2004 $1,511,236,656 $1,611,976,677 $2,237,350,687 $4,443,958,502
2005 $1,682,343,527 $1,667,849,759 $2,545,275,313 $4,637,426,231
2006 $1,800,092,564 $1,738,401,392 $3,263,697,467 $4,836,052,320
2007 $1,682,131,785 $1,811,204,149 $3,632,957,611 $5,017,392,581
2008 $1,766,902,709 $1,911,244,555 $4,157,895,298 $5,202,336,667
2009 $1,740,894,965 $1,887,282,177 $3,953,403,098 $5,281,974,206
2010 $2,234,754,242 $1,986,735,735 $4,262,805,967 $5,617,678,842
2011 $2,579,409,620 $2,078,451,680 $4,861,632,885 $6,072,747,635
2012 $2,477,702,216 $2,210,102,550 $6,141,666,509 $6,715,143,020
2013 $2,367,112,932 $2,249,719,203 $7,502,762,863 $7,699,806,186
2014 $2,441,063,054 $2,288,201,773 $7,686,138,791 $7,098,065,168
2015 $2,359,686,725 $2,359,686,725 $6,788,352,975 $6,788,352,975
2016 $2,114,426,452 $2,444,845,631 $6,084,297,211 $7,225,348,889
2017 $2,306,741,672 $2,368,122,099 $5,749,846,528 $7,457,128,029
2018 $2,556,247,292 $2,333,058,898 $6,390,514,689 $7,672,926,607
2019 $2,390,702,296 $2,299,976,266 $6,526,183,564 $8,095,145,458
2020 $2,053,699,870 $2,112,391,150 $6,693,888,876 $7,993,685,031
2021 $2,412,130,022 $2,160,272,945 $7,173,379,137 $8,465,060,863
2022 $2,354,980,884 $2,211,855,515 $7,124,465,160 $8,914,856,495
2023 $2,117,962,430 $2,252,257,826 $6,411,787,856 $9,423,896,753
2024 $2,271,541,846 $2,314,470,552 $7,547,843,281 $9,800,852,626

Economic indicators

Lesotho Sierra Leone
Gross domestic product
$2.27B
2024
$7.55B
2024
GDP rank
174/197
2024
157/197
2024
GDP growth
7.25%
2023-2024
17.7%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$873
2024
GDP per capita rank
180/197
2024
183/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,998
2024
$3,516
2024
Government debt
$1.36B
2024
$3.25B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.7%
2025
44.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$581
2024
$376
2024
Government debt per person rank
160/185
2024
174/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$7,614
2025
$3,438
2025
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
29.4%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
3.4%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
52.4%
2025
17.7%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
6.11%
2023-2024
9.4%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
6.75%
2025
24.8%
2024
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
3.19%
2018
Population
2384217
8961932

GDP per capita in Lesotho vs Sierra Leone

Lesotho's GDP per capita is $972, ranking 180/197, compared to $873 in Sierra Leone, ranking 183/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Lesotho ranks 180th at $2,998, while Sierra Leone ranks 171st at $3,516.

Lesotho
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Sierra Leone
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Lesotho Sierra Leone
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 $47 - $142 -
1961 $47 - $142.3 -
1962 $53.5 - $146.4 -
1963 $58.4 - $146.4 -
1964 $62.6 - $153.4 -
1965 $64.3 - $145.6 -
1966 $64.3 - $149.4 -
1967 $64.8 - $136.2 -
1968 $64.8 - $126.4 -
1969 $67.1 - $153.6 -
1970 $67.4 - $160.2 -
1971 $72.4 - $151.8 -
1972 $74 - $165.3 -
1973 $107 - $200.7 -
1974 $128.7 - $222.2 -
1975 $123.2 - $228.4 -
1976 $117.8 - $196.4 -
1977 $149.9 - $224.3 -
1978 $200.8 - $305 -
1979 $212.4 - $346 -
1980 $307 - $336 -
1981 $299.8 - $334 -
1982 $233.9 - $380 -
1983 $252 - $285.9 -
1984 $211 - $306 -
1985 $165.4 - $235.5 -
1986 $191.4 - $131.5 -
1987 $236.5 - $172.4 -
1988 $270.4 - $268.2 -
1989 $279 - $231.3 -
1990 $330 $764 $154.8 $1,382
1991 $382 $830 $183.7 $1,445
1992 $444 $893 $163.2 $1,220
1993 $439 $932 $185 $1,269
1994 $456 $995 $218.5 $1,266
1995 $513 $1,037 $208.4 $1,187
1996 $480 $1,103 $224.3 $1,225
1997 $502 $1,154 $199.9 $1,157
1998 $465 $1,179 $156.5 $1,180
1999 $456 $1,199 $155 $1,167
2000 $443 $1,273 $143.7 $1,242
2001 $413 $1,350 $358 $1,121
2002 $389 $1,385 $389 $1,360
2003 $583 $1,484 $414 $1,458
2004 $767 $1,561 $418 $1,541
2005 $861 $1,681 $463 $1,615
2006 $925 $1,813 $580 $1,698
2007 $861 $1,932 $632 $1,770
2008 $898 $2,064 $705 $1,824
2009 $879 $2,036 $653 $1,814
2010 $1,119 $2,153 $685 $1,900
2011 $1,281 $2,279 $761 $2,043
2012 $1,218 $2,291 $938 $2,317
2013 $1,151 $2,538 $1,117 $2,701
2014 $1,174 $2,771 $1,118 $2,762
2015 $1,121 $3,035 $965 $2,560
2016 $992 $2,942 $844 $2,635
2017 $1,069 $2,619 $779 $2,501
2018 $1,171 $2,632 $846 $2,640
2019 $1,082 $2,568 $844 $2,705
2020 $919 $2,559 $846 $2,721
2021 $1,067 $2,545 $886 $2,852
2022 $1,030 $2,761 $861 $3,147
2023 $916 $2,881 $758 $3,371
2024 $972 $2,998 $873 $3,516

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Lesotho's government spending was $1.18B, accounting for 52.4% of its GDP, while Sierra Leone's spent $1.33B, or 17.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 59.7% in Lesotho and 44.3% in Sierra Leone, ranking 81/185 and 118/185, respectively.

Lesotho
Government spending

Government debt
Sierra Leone
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Lesotho Sierra Leone
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1982 29.9% 61.4% - -
1983 27.2% 56.7% - -
1984 26.8% 57.2% - -
1985 32.8% 86.3% - -
1986 33.2% 92.5% - -
1987 40.3% 97.4% - -
1988 35.3% 105.2% - -
1989 35.8% 112.5% - -
1990 32.9% 18% - -
1991 31.3% 11.9% - -
1992 35.3% 64.4% - -
1993 36% 71.2% - -
1994 40.2% 67% - -
1995 42.1% 62.8% - -
1996 41.5% 71.6% - -
1997 44.6% 65.7% - -
1998 51.4% 79.4% - -
1999 50.8% 83% - -
2000 39.3% 88.5% 10.3% -
2001 41.4% 108.7% 12% 113.5%
2002 41.2% 79.6% 12.6% 99.8%
2003 39.8% 52.6% 11.7% 99.8%
2004 36.3% 49.4% 11.1% 93.2%
2005 37.6% 41% 10.9% 78.9%
2006 43.2% 43.7% 9.97% 61.9%
2007 48.1% 49.6% 8.1% 26.4%
2008 54.1% 47% 10.3% 46.1%
2009 66.4% 35.9% 11.3% 31.1%
2010 55.3% 33.8% 12.5% 28.9%
2011 60.2% 36.2% 13.2% 25.8%
2012 58.1% 39.8% 13.5% 24.1%
2013 58.4% 41.2% 11.4% 22.3%
2014 50.1% 41.5% 13.5% 26.8%
2015 51.7% 45.8% 13.1% 28.8%
2016 54.1% 41.5% 14.9% 38.9%
2017 50.4% 41% 15% 44.2%
2018 51.9% 48.2% 13.7% 44.2%
2019 53.6% 58.2% 13.3% 45.3%
2020 54.4% 54.7% 15.6% 46.4%
2021 53.8% 58% 20.3% 47.1%
2022 50.8% 64.6% 19.5% 54%
2023 49.4% 61.5% 17.7% 49.9%
2024 51.9% 59.8% 17.6% 43%
2025 52.4% 59.7% 17.7% 44.3%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Lesotho's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $201M, equivalent to 8.87% of GDP. This compares to Sierra Leone's deficit of -$349M, or -4.62% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Lesotho recorded a fiscal deficit in 14 of those years, while Sierra Leone ran a deficit in 24 years. On average, Lesotho posted an annual surplus equal to +0.34% of GDP, compared to deficit of -2.49% of GDP for Sierra Leone.

Deficit/surplus
Lesotho

Sierra Leone
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Lesotho Sierra Leone
1982 -2.03% -
1983 1.85% -
1984 4.82% -
1985 1.68% -
1986 0.87% -
1987 -2.85% -
1988 -1.87% -
1989 3.88% -
1990 8.78% -
1991 9.74% -
1992 4.65% -
1993 7.55% -
1994 5.69% -
1995 5.13% -
1996 2.11% -
1997 0.27% -
1998 -11.8% -
1999 -15.3% -
2000 -0.95% -1.94%
2001 -2.76% -3.22%
2002 -2.44% -3.03%
2003 0.89% -2.78%
2004 6.05% -1.46%
2005 4.46% -1.17%
2006 11.6% -0.93%
2007 10.8% 12.6%
2008 8.1% -2.22%
2009 -4.16% -1.51%
2010 -1.49% -3.09%
2011 -9.85% -2.78%
2012 4.56% -3.41%
2013 -2.58% -1.74%
2014 3.16% -2.77%
2015 -1.38% -2.86%
2016 -9.43% -5.41%
2017 -2.02% -5.61%
2018 -4.41% -3.57%
2019 -5.72% -1.95%
2020 1.18% -3.5%
2021 -4.95% -4.35%
2022 -6.41% -5.93%
2023 7.32% -4.99%
2024 8.87% -4.62%
2025 6.05% -4.2%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, Lesotho has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.29%, compared with 14.1% in Sierra Leone. In 2024, inflation was 6.11% in Lesotho and 9.4% in Sierra Leone.

Inflation
Lesotho

Sierra Leone
Year Inflation
Lesotho Sierra Leone Lesotho Sierra Leone
1996 9.33% 23.1%
1997 - 14.6%
1998 - 36%
1999 - 34.1%
2000 6.13% -0.9%
2001 -9.62% 2.6%
2002 33.8% 0.1%
2003 6.63% 4%
2004 5.02% 12.9%
2005 3.44% 13.7%
2006 6.07% 10.5%
2007 8.01% 17%
2008 10.7% 8.2%
2009 -16.9% 7.5%
2010 -2.41% 7.2%
2011 5.04% 6.8%
2012 6.05% 6.6%
2013 4.87% 5.5%
2014 5.37% 4.6%
2015 3.22% 6.7%
2016 6.6% 10.9%
2017 4.45% 18.2%
2018 4.75% 16%
2019 5.19% 14.8%
2020 4.98% 13.4%
2021 6.05% 11.9%
2022 8.27% 27.2%
2023 6.34% 47.7%
2024 6.11% 28.4%
2025 - 9.4%

Top exports between countries

Lesotho
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $2K
Sierra Leone
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Lesotho Sierra Leone
Current account balance
$84.4M
2024
-$606M
2023
Current account balance ranking
67/189
2024
106/189
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.72%
2024
-9.46%
2023
Goods imports
$1.67B
2024
$1.92B
2023
Goods exports
$968M
2024
$1.34B
2023
Service imports
$415M
2024
$348M
2023
Service exports
$15.4M
2024
$42.5M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
98.6%
2023
43.5%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.9%
2023
20.9%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Lesotho Sierra Leone
Economic freedom 54.1 48
Economic freedom ranking 137/197 173/197
Property rights 42.4 33.8
Government integrity 39.3 36
Judicial effectiveness 43.6 41.5
Tax burden 68 87.8
Government spending 23.8 89
Fiscal health 92 53.8
Business freedom 49.6 37
Labor freedom 58 23.7
Monetary freedom 73.5 50.2
Trade freedom 63.8 63.6
Investment freedom 55 40
Financial freedom 40 20

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Lesotho is 54.1, ranking 137/197, compared to 48 for Sierra Leone, ranking 173/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Lesotho
Sierra Leone
Year Economic freedom index
Lesotho Sierra Leone
1995 - 49.8
1996 47 52.3
1997 47.2 45
1998 48.4 47.7
1999 48.2 47.2
2000 48.4 44.2
2001 50.6 -
2002 48.9 -
2003 52 42.2
2004 50.3 43.6
2005 53.9 44.8
2006 54.7 45.2
2007 53.2 47
2008 52.1 48.3
2009 49.7 47.8
2010 48.1 47.9
2011 47.5 49.6
2012 46.6 49.1
2013 47.9 48.3
2014 49.5 50.5
2015 49.6 51.7
2016 50.6 52.3
2017 53.9 52.6
2018 53.9 51.8
2019 53.1 47.5
2020 54.5 48
2021 53.5 51.7
2022 48.1 52
2023 51.6 50.2
2024 51.9 44.6
2025 54.1 48

More economic indicators

Lesotho Sierra Leone
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
44.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
31%
2024
27.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.5%
2024
25.4%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$7.26B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,580
2024
$3,490
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$433M
2024
Total reserves ranking
142/177
2024
160/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$12.6M
2024
-$241M
2023
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$12.6M
2024
$274M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
1989
-$33.3K
2010
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.07%
2023
2.44%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
49.7%
2017
56.8%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.2%
2023
29.5%
2024

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.