Military spending in Lesotho
Lesotho: Military spending was 37.25 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
37.25 million constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
149th
of 162 countries
All-time high
59.83 million constant 2024 US$
in 2010
All-time low
2.79 million constant 2024 US$
in 1976
Years of data
50
1976–2025
Military spending in Lesotho, 1976–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending in Lesotho stood at 37.25 million constant 2024 US$.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Lesotho peaked at 59.83 million constant 2024 US$ in 2010 and was at its lowest, 2.79 million constant 2024 US$, in 1976.
That places Lesotho 149th out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 2.79 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1977 | 2.90 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 3.69 million constant 2024 US$ | +27.2% |
| 1979 | 4.12 million constant 2024 US$ | +11.7% |
| 1980 | 7.10 million constant 2024 US$ | +72.4% |
| 1981 | 7.58 million constant 2024 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1982 | 10.09 million constant 2024 US$ | +33.2% |
| 1983 | 8.29 million constant 2024 US$ | -17.9% |
| 1984 | 8.63 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 9.99 million constant 2024 US$ | +15.8% |
| 1986 | 10.88 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.9% |
| 1987 | 11.76 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.0% |
| 1988 | 11.03 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.2% |
| 1989 | 14.78 million constant 2024 US$ | +34.1% |
| 1990 | 13.96 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 11.69 million constant 2024 US$ | -16.3% |
| 1992 | 11.19 million constant 2024 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1993 | 10.35 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1994 | 12.14 million constant 2024 US$ | +17.3% |
| 1995 | 15.09 million constant 2024 US$ | +24.3% |
| 1996 | 13.49 million constant 2024 US$ | -10.6% |
| 1997 | 21.92 million constant 2024 US$ | +62.5% |
| 1998 | 25.97 million constant 2024 US$ | +18.5% |
| 1999 | 36.85 million constant 2024 US$ | +41.9% |
| 2000 | 35.36 million constant 2024 US$ | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 37.16 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 28.43 million constant 2024 US$ | -23.5% |
| 2003 | 26.77 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 24.96 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.7% |
| 2005 | 25.45 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 26.77 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 29.16 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.9% |
| 2008 | 21.20 million constant 2024 US$ | -27.3% |
| 2009 | 45.33 million constant 2024 US$ | +113.8% |
| 2010 | 59.83 million constant 2024 US$ | +32.0% |
| 2011 | 46.51 million constant 2024 US$ | -22.3% |
| 2012 | 45.38 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 45.83 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 48.63 million constant 2024 US$ | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 51.13 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 52.16 million constant 2024 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 57.06 million constant 2024 US$ | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 52.79 million constant 2024 US$ | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 48.07 million constant 2024 US$ | -8.9% |
| 2020 | 44.95 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 36.49 million constant 2024 US$ | -18.8% |
| 2022 | 34.93 million constant 2024 US$ | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 36.77 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 36.70 million constant 2024 US$ | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 37.25 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.5% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 37.25 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 557.82 million constant 2024 US$, 7% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 37.25 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 336.91 million constant 2024 US$, 11% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +113.8% | 21.20 million constant 2024 US$ | 45.33 million constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.37 million constant 2024 US$ | 2.79 million constant 2024 US$ | 4.12 million constant 2024 US$ | 4 |
| 1980s | 10.01 million constant 2024 US$ | 7.10 million constant 2024 US$ | 14.78 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.27 million constant 2024 US$ | 10.35 million constant 2024 US$ | 36.85 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.06 million constant 2024 US$ | 21.20 million constant 2024 US$ | 45.33 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.74 million constant 2024 US$ | 45.38 million constant 2024 US$ | 59.83 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.85 million constant 2024 US$ | 34.93 million constant 2024 US$ | 44.95 million constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 146 Djibouti 51.72 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 147 East Timor 47.50 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 148 Liberia 40.26 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 150 Belize 32.86 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 151 Haiti 30.42 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 152 Sierra Leone 29.53 million constant 2024 US$ 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 in Lesotho?
- Military spending in Lesotho was 37.25 million constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 59.83 million constant 2024 US$ in 2010.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.79 million constant 2024 US$ in 1976.
- How does Lesotho rank for military spending?
- Lesotho ranks 149th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.