Military spending, per capita in Lesotho
Lesotho: Military spending, per capita was 15.76 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, per capita in Lesotho, 1976–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, per capita in Lesotho is 15.76 constant 2024 US$ per person, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 35.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in Lesotho peaked at 29.97 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2010 and was at its lowest, 2.22 constant 2024 US$ per person, in 1976.
That places Lesotho 133rd out of 161 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per capita in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 2.22 constant 2024 US$ per person | — |
| 1977 | 2.25 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 2.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | +23.6% |
| 1979 | 3.01 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.5% |
| 1980 | 5.05 constant 2024 US$ per person | +67.4% |
| 1981 | 5.23 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 6.77 constant 2024 US$ per person | +29.4% |
| 1983 | 5.4 constant 2024 US$ per person | -20.2% |
| 1984 | 5.47 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 6.15 constant 2024 US$ per person | +12.5% |
| 1986 | 6.53 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 6.9 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 6.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.2% |
| 1989 | 8.33 constant 2024 US$ per person | +31.4% |
| 1990 | 7.72 constant 2024 US$ per person | -7.3% |
| 1991 | 6.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | -17.8% |
| 1992 | 5.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.8% |
| 1993 | 5.44 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.9% |
| 1994 | 6.3 constant 2024 US$ per person | +15.7% |
| 1995 | 7.73 constant 2024 US$ per person | +22.8% |
| 1996 | 6.84 constant 2024 US$ per person | -11.5% |
| 1997 | 11.02 constant 2024 US$ per person | +61.2% |
| 1998 | 13 constant 2024 US$ per person | +17.9% |
| 1999 | 18.4 constant 2024 US$ per person | +41.5% |
| 2000 | 17.65 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 18.57 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 14.25 constant 2024 US$ per person | -23.3% |
| 2003 | 13.48 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 12.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | -6.1% |
| 2005 | 13.03 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 13.76 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 14.93 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 10.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | -27.8% |
| 2009 | 22.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | +112.3% |
| 2010 | 29.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | +31.0% |
| 2011 | 23.09 constant 2024 US$ per person | -23.0% |
| 2012 | 22.31 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 22.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 23.38 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 24.3 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 24.48 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 26.45 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.0% |
| 2018 | 24.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.6% |
| 2019 | 21.76 constant 2024 US$ per person | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 20.11 constant 2024 US$ per person | -7.6% |
| 2021 | 16.13 constant 2024 US$ per person | -19.8% |
| 2022 | 15.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 15.91 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 15.7 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 15.76 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 15.76 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.14 constant 2024 US$ per person, 56% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 15.76 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.2 constant 2024 US$ per person, 87% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per capita in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +112.3% | 10.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | 22.89 constant 2024 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.57 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2.22 constant 2024 US$ per person | 3.01 constant 2024 US$ per person | 4 |
| 1980s | 6.22 constant 2024 US$ per person | 5.05 constant 2024 US$ per person | 8.33 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.88 constant 2024 US$ per person | 5.44 constant 2024 US$ per person | 18.4 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.2 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10.78 constant 2024 US$ per person | 22.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.22 constant 2024 US$ per person | 21.76 constant 2024 US$ per person | 29.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.48 constant 2024 US$ per person | 15.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | 20.11 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 130 Mauritius 18.2 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 131 Nicaragua 16.35 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 132 Niger 16.12 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 134 Zambia 15.64 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 135 Nepal 14.48 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 136 Tanzania 13.94 constant 2024 US$ per person 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 spending, per capita in Lesotho?
- Military spending, per capita in Lesotho was 15.76 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 29.97 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2010.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.22 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1976.
- How does Lesotho rank for military spending, per capita?
- Lesotho ranks 133rd out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.