Military expenditure as a share of government spending in Lesotho
Lesotho: Military expenditure as a share of government spending was 2.71 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure as a share of government spending in Lesotho, 1988–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure as a share of government spending in Lesotho is 2.71, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 38 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.8% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure as a share of government spending in Lesotho peaked at 11.3 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 2.71, in 2025.
Lesotho ranks 133rd of 162 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Military expenditure as a share of government spending in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 8.92 | — |
| 1989 | 11.3 | +26.6% |
| 1990 | 10.87 | -3.7% |
| 1991 | 9.31 | -14.4% |
| 1992 | 7.73 | -16.9% |
| 1993 | 6.94 | -10.3% |
| 1994 | 6.88 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 7.78 | +13.0% |
| 1996 | 6.87 | -11.7% |
| 1997 | 6.14 | -10.6% |
| 1998 | 5.6 | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 7.08 | +26.4% |
| 2000 | 8.44 | +19.2% |
| 2001 | 6.59 | -22.0% |
| 2002 | 6.01 | -8.8% |
| 2003 | 5.78 | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 5.59 | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 5.13 | -8.2% |
| 2006 | 4.56 | -11.2% |
| 2007 | 4.65 | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 2.86 | -38.6% |
| 2009 | 3.99 | +39.7% |
| 2010 | 5.52 | +38.3% |
| 2011 | 3.67 | -33.5% |
| 2012 | 3.58 | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 3.34 | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 3.77 | +12.9% |
| 2015 | 3.58 | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 3.64 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 4.39 | +20.6% |
| 2018 | 3.83 | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 3.52 | -8.0% |
| 2020 | 3.41 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 2.8 | -17.8% |
| 2022 | 2.89 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 3.1 | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 2.84 | -8.3% |
| 2025 | 2.71 | -4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.11 | 8.92 | 11.3 | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.52 | 5.6 | 10.87 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.36 | 2.86 | 8.44 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.88 | 3.34 | 5.52 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.96 | 2.71 | 3.41 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 130 Seychelles 3.41 compare
- 131 Slovenia 3.2 compare
- 132 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 3.18 compare
- 134 New Zealand 2.66 compare
- 135 Mexico 2.55 compare
- 136 Trinidad and Tobago 2.54 compare
More reference data data for Lesotho
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5388 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0101 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0549 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure as a share of government spending in Lesotho?
- Military expenditure as a share of government spending in Lesotho was 2.71 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military expenditure as a share of government spending recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 11.3 in 1989.
- What is the lowest military expenditure as a share of government spending recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.71 in 2025.
- How does Lesotho rank for military expenditure as a share of government spending?
- Lesotho ranks 133rd out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure as a share of government spending rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Military expenditure as a share of government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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