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Economy of Lesotho vs Suriname compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has a GDP of $2.27B compared to $4.42B for Suriname, ranking 175/197 and 164/197 by economy size, respectively.

Lesotho has $1.29B in government debt (56.8% of GDP), compared to $3.86B (87.3% of GDP) in Suriname.

Lesotho vs Suriname GDP by year

Lesotho
Suriname
1x
Year GDP, current $
Lesotho Suriname
2024 $2,271,759,455 $4,416,775,112
2023 $2,117,962,445 $3,472,693,412
2022 $2,354,980,960 $3,791,603,200
2021 $2,412,130,057 $3,107,923,198
2020 $2,053,699,864 $2,911,807,496
2019 $2,390,702,296 $4,016,040,575
2018 $2,556,247,292 $3,996,198,867
2017 $2,306,741,672 $3,591,679,431
2016 $2,114,426,452 $3,317,421,648
2015 $2,359,686,725 $5,126,237,646
2014 $2,441,063,054 $5,240,606,061
2013 $2,367,112,932 $5,145,757,576
2012 $2,477,702,216 $4,980,000,000
2011 $2,579,409,620 $4,422,276,622
2010 $2,234,754,242 $4,368,370,998
2009 $1,740,894,965 $3,875,409,836
2008 $1,766,902,709 $3,532,969,035
2007 $1,682,131,785 $2,936,612,022
2006 $1,800,092,564 $2,626,380,435
2005 $1,682,343,527 $1,793,410,397
2004 $1,511,236,656 $1,484,092,538
2003 $1,157,825,435 $1,274,190,311
2002 $775,777,239 $1,093,574,468
2001 $825,706,961 $834,279,358
2000 $887,291,688 $947,671,970
1999 $912,773,681 $886,290,698
1998 $928,460,893 $1,110,850,000
1997 $998,004,259 $926,422,500
1996 $946,112,493 $861,372,806
1995 $1,001,894,000 $691,590,498
1994 $878,250,945 $605,492,537
1993 $835,582,062 $428,764,706
1992 $831,029,862 $404,600,000
1991 $704,325,367 $448,100,000
1990 $596,410,264 $388,400,000
1989 $495,409,233 $542,600,000
1988 $470,395,801 $1,161,000,000
1987 $402,768,324 $980,000,000
1986 $318,858,423 $891,000,000
1985 $268,629,926 $873,000,000
1984 $333,163,670 $864,000,000
1983 $386,699,309 $883,500,000
1982 $348,741,684 $915,000,000
1981 $434,188,034 $889,000,000
1980 $431,542,537 $795,000,000
1979 $290,134,593 $782,500,000
1978 $266,570,067 $735,500,000
1977 $193,315,048 $641,500,000
1976 $147,660,037 $505,500,000
1975 $149,558,896 $465,500,000
1974 $150,851,317 $409,850,000
1973 $121,188,716 $339,450,000
1972 $80,913,200 $311,950,000
1971 $76,480,285 $301,000,000
1970 $68,739,973 $274,900,000
1969 $65,967,974 $259,650,000
1968 $61,445,975 $241,350,000
1967 $59,261,976 $220,700,000
1966 $56,699,977 $190,350,000
1965 $54,879,978 $154,150,000
1964 $51,939,979 $134,400,000
1963 $47,039,981 $125,950,000
1962 $41,859,983 $116,150,000
1961 $35,699,986 $107,700,000
1960 $34,579,986 $99,650,000

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

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

GDP per capita in Lesotho vs Suriname by year

Lesotho
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Suriname
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Lesotho Suriname
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $972 $3,001 $6,962 $21,801
2023 $916 $2,881 $5,522 $21,110
2022 $1,030 $2,761 $6,084 $20,079
2021 $1,067 $2,545 $5,030 $18,458
2020 $919 $2,559 $4,755 $16,947
2019 $1,082 $2,568 $6,630 $19,772
2018 $1,171 $2,632 $6,666 $17,855
2017 $1,069 $2,619 $6,050 $17,568
2016 $992 $2,942 $5,644 $14,475
2015 $1,121 $3,035 $8,814 $16,544
2014 $1,174 $2,771 $9,108 $16,598
2013 $1,151 $2,538 $9,043 $16,173
2012 $1,218 $2,291 $8,851 $15,185
2011 $1,281 $2,279 $7,950 $13,926
2010 $1,119 $2,153 $7,944 $13,039
2009 $879 $2,036 $7,130 $12,393
2008 $898 $2,064 $6,576 $12,097
2007 $861 $1,932 $5,530 $11,530
2006 $925 $1,813 $5,003 $10,803
2005 $861 $1,681 $3,453 $10,014
2004 $767 $1,561 $2,888 $9,389
2003 $583 $1,484 $2,516 $8,552
2002 $389 $1,385 $2,202 $8,046
2001 $413 $1,350 $1,715 $7,865
2000 $443 $1,273 $1,988 $7,535
1999 $456 $1,199 $1,898 $7,367
1998 $465 $1,179 $2,429 $7,521
1997 $502 $1,154 $2,068 $7,422
1996 $480 $1,103 $1,963 $7,048
1995 $513 $1,037 $1,610 $7,000
1994 $456 $995 $1,434 $6,973
1993 $439 $932 $1,022 $6,650
1992 $444 $893 $969 $6,992
1991 $382 $830 $1,080 $6,852
1990 $330 $764 $942 $6,493
1989 $279 - $1,329 -
1988 $270.4 - $2,886 -
1987 $236.5 - $2,469 -
1986 $191.4 - $2,271 -
1985 $165.4 - $2,256 -
1984 $211 - $2,261 -
1983 $252 - $2,333 -
1982 $233.9 - $2,430 -
1981 $299.8 - $2,368 -
1980 $307 - $2,118 -
1979 $212.4 - $2,072 -
1978 $200.8 - $1,928 -
1977 $149.9 - $1,666 -
1976 $117.8 - $1,302 -
1975 $123.2 - $1,190 -
1974 $128.7 - $1,041 -
1973 $107 - $858 -
1972 $74 - $785 -
1971 $72.4 - $768 -
1970 $67.4 - $724 -
1969 $67.1 - $708 -
1968 $64.8 - $681 -
1967 $64.8 - $644 -
1966 $64.3 - $575 -
1965 $64.3 - $482 -
1964 $62.6 - $435 -
1963 $58.4 - $424 -
1962 $53.5 - $409 -
1961 $47 - $395 -
1960 $47 - $378 -

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

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

Lesotho's GDP per capita is $972, ranking 181/197, compared to $6,962 in Suriname, ranking 102/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Lesotho ranks 180th at $3,001, while Suriname ranks 89th at $21,801.

Economic indicators

Lesotho Suriname
Gross domestic product
$2.27B
2024
$4.42B
2024
GDP rank
175/197
2024
164/197
2024
GDP growth
2.85%
2023-2024
1.72%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$972
2024
$6,962
2024
GDP per capita rank
181/197
2024
102/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,001
2024
$21,801
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
180/197
2024
89/197
2024
Government debt
$1.29B
2024
$3.86B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56.8%
2024
87.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$552
2024
$6,077
2024
Government debt per person rank
164/185
2024
74/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,545
2026
$3,263
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.9%
2017
30.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2017
2.2%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
53.5%
2024
29.2%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
6.11%
2023-2024
16.2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6.5%
2025
10%
2013
Unemployment rate
18.7%
2024
7.92%
2016
Population
2396633
646767

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Lesotho
Spending

Debt
Suriname
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Lesotho Suriname
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 53.5% 56.8% 29.2% 87.3%
2023 49.4% 61.5% 29% 98.2%
2022 50.8% 64.4% 29.5% 116.9%
2021 53.8% 58% 32% 115.8%
2020 54.4% 54.7% 30.2% 146.4%
2019 53.6% 58.2% 40.5% 84%
2018 51.9% 48.2% 29.5% 68.6%
2017 50.4% 41% 28.7% 73%
2016 54.1% 41.5% 27.9% 75.4%
2015 51.7% 45.8% 29.9% 41.2%
2014 50.1% 41.5% 25.2% 25.2%
2013 58.4% 41.2% 26.2% 27.9%
2012 58.1% 39.8% 25.1% 20.1%
2011 60.2% 36.2% 21% 18.7%
2010 55.3% 33.8% 21% 17.3%
2009 66.4% 35.9% 24% 14.6%
2008 54.1% 47% 20.5% 14.8%
2007 48.1% 49.6% 22.6% 16.4%
2006 43.2% 43.7% 22.2% 22.5%
2005 37.6% 41% 22.2% 27.1%
2004 36.3% 49.4% 20.8% 29.4%
2003 39.8% 52.6% 19.2% 31.5%
2002 41.2% 79.6% 22.2% 37.4%
2001 41.4% 108.7% 21.8% 37.2%
2000 39.3% 88.5% 24.4% 48.4%
1999 50.8% 83% 19.6% 32.3%
1998 51.4% 79.4% 30.3% 21.6%
1997 44.6% 65.7% 21.1% 16.8%
1996 41.5% 71.6% 21.4% 11.8%
1995 42.1% 62.8% 20.2% 16.3%
1994 40.2% 67% 19.8% 30.5%
1993 36% 71.2% 21.2% 51.1%
1992 35.3% 64.4% 24.4% 64.4%
1991 31.3% 11.9% 26.6% 75.7%
1990 32.9% 18% 22.7% 72.9%
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/suriname | CC BY

In 2024, Lesotho's government spending was $1.22B, accounting for 53.5% of its GDP, while Suriname spent $1.29B, or 29.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 56.8% in Lesotho and 87.3% in Suriname, ranking 92/185 and 37/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Lesotho

Suriname
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Lesotho Suriname
2024 9.04% -2.42%
2023 7.31% -1.68%
2022 -6.41% -2.69%
2021 -4.95% -5.66%
2020 1.18% -12%
2019 -5.72% -20.2%
2018 -4.41% -8.56%
2017 -2.02% -8.62%
2016 -9.43% -10.2%
2015 -1.38% -8.29%
2014 3.16% -2.65%
2013 -2.58% -2.64%
2012 4.56% -0.38%
2011 -9.85% 2.32%
2010 -1.49% -0.15%
2009 -4.16% 2.03%
2008 8.1% 2.39%
2007 10.8% 5.01%
2006 11.6% 0.59%
2005 4.46% -3.39%
2004 6.05% -1.2%
2003 0.89% -0.11%
2002 -2.44% -3.3%
2001 -2.76% 3.49%
2000 -0.95% -7.76%
1999 -15.3% -4.92%
1998 -11.8% -6.39%
1997 0.27% -0.32%
1996 2.11% 3.42%
1995 5.13% 1.17%
1994 5.69% -1.89%
1993 7.55% -4.68%
1992 4.65% -6.45%
1991 9.74% -9.8%
1990 8.78% -3.04%
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/suriname | 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 Suriname's deficit of $107M, or 2.42% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Lesotho recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Suriname ran a deficit in 27 years. On average, Lesotho posted an annual surplus equal to 0.73% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.4% of GDP for Suriname.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Lesotho

Suriname
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Lesotho Suriname
2024 6.11% 16.2%
2023 6.34% 51.6%
2022 8.27% 52.4%
2021 6.05% 59.1%
2020 4.98% 34.9%
2019 5.19% -
2018 4.75% -
2017 4.45% 22%
2016 6.6% 55.4%
2015 3.22% 6.89%
2014 5.37% 3.38%
2013 4.87% 1.92%
2012 6.05% 5.01%
2011 5.04% 17.7%
2010 -2.41% 6.94%
2009 -16.9% -0.13%
2008 10.7% 14.7%
2007 8.01% 6.43%
2006 6.07% 11.3%
2005 3.44% 9.9%
2004 5.02% 9.99%
2003 6.63% 23%
2002 33.8% 15.5%
2001 -9.62% 38.6%
2000 6.13% 59.4%
1999 - 98.8%
1998 - 19%
1997 - 7.15%

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

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

Over the past 25 years, Lesotho has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.13%, compared with 22.7% in Suriname. In 2024, inflation was 6.11% in Lesotho and 16.2% in Suriname.

Balance of trade

Lesotho Suriname
Current account balance
$89.2M
2024
$9.31M
2024
Current account balance ranking
68/190
2024
76/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.93%
2024
+0.21%
2024
Goods imports
$1.67B
2024
$1.65B
2024
Goods exports
$965M
2024
$2.58B
2024
Service imports
$415M
2024
$921M
2024
Service exports
$15.4M
2024
$211M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
98.6%
2023
38.4%
2010
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.9%
2023
52.5%
2010

Economic freedom indices

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

Lesotho Suriname
Economic freedom 54.9 53
Economic freedom ranking 130/197 143/197
Property rights 41.7 40.5
Government integrity 39.6 41
Judicial effectiveness 43.6 46.5
Tax burden 76.4 69.1
Government spending 21.3 74.3
Fiscal health 93.5 76.6
Business freedom 50.6 56.9
Labor freedom 57 69
Monetary freedom 74.8 56.4
Trade freedom 65.4 65.2
Investment freedom 55 20
Financial freedom 40 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Lesotho
Suriname
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Lesotho Suriname
2026 54.9 53
2025 54.1 50.9
2024 51.9 46.7
2023 51.6 46.1
2022 48.1 48.1
2021 53.5 46.4
2020 54.5 49.5
2019 53.1 48.1
2018 53.9 48.1
2017 53.9 48
2016 50.6 53.8
2015 49.6 54.2
2014 49.5 54.2
2013 47.9 52
2012 46.6 52.6
2011 47.5 53.1
2010 48.1 52.5
2009 49.7 54.1
2008 52.1 54.3
2007 53.2 54.8
2006 54.7 55.1
2005 53.9 51.9
2004 50.3 47.9
2003 52 46.9
2002 48.9 48
2001 50.6 44.3
2000 48.4 45.8
1999 48.2 40.1
1998 48.4 39.9
1997 47.2 35.9
1996 47 36.7

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Lesotho is 54.9, ranking 130/197, compared to 53 for Suriname, ranking 143/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Lesotho Suriname
Services, % of GDP
48%
2024
50.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.9%
2024
35.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.5%
2024
6.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$3.61B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,580
2024
$20,000
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$1.63B
2024
Total reserves ranking
142/177
2024
132/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$12.6M
2024
$26.5M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$12.6M
2024
-$37.6M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
-$11.1M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.06%
2024
20.5%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
49.7%
2017
70%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.2%
2023
36.2%
2010

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/suriname | 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)
  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.