Economy
Nominal GDP
USD 2.36 billion
GDP per capita
USD 1,026
2021–2025 average
Currency
- Name
- Lesotho loti
Лоти Лесото - ISO code
- LSL
- Rate against the US dollar
- USD 1 = 16.44 LSL
- Rate against the rouble
- 1 LSL = 5.0830 RUB
- Rate type
- Cross rate via the Bank of Russia USD/RUB rate
- Currency zone
- Common currency area (rand)
- Note
- 1:1 peg to the South African rand
Exchange rate as of 1 October 2026
Economic structure
GDP structure: 2021–2025 average Source: Based on World Bank data. Period: 2021–2025 average
- Agriculture 6.3%
- Industry 28.9%
- Services 51.5%
Industries and programmes
- Key industries
- Textiles and apparel, diamond mining, water resources (water sales to South Africa), and agriculture.
- Government programmes
- Second National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP II) 2018/19–2027/28
International trade
Exports of goods, 2021–2025
USD billion Source: World Bank / WTO, merchandise exports (TX.VAL.MRCH.CD.WT). Period: 2021–2025
Table
| Year | USD billion | index, 2021 = 100 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0.94 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 0.89 | 94.7 |
| 2023 | 0.82 | 87.2 |
| 2024 | 0.99 | 105.3 |
| 2025 | 0.77 | 81.9 |
- Imports of goods
- USD 1.80 billion 2021–2025 averageSource: ITC. Period: 2021–2025 average
- Exports of goods and services
- USD 1.27 billion 2025Source: World Bank, national accounts. Period: 2025
- Change in exports of goods, 2021–2025
- −18.1%
- Average annual rate of change in exports of goods, 2021–2025
- −4.9%
Export specialisation
Main export products
share of exports of goods, %, 2024 Source: UN Comtrade, 2024; share of total merchandise exports, HS chapters (2 digits). Period: 2024
Main export destinations
share of exports of goods, %, 2024 Source: UN Comtrade, 2024; share of total merchandise exports, HS chapters (2 digits). Period: 2024
Investment areas
- Textiles and apparel manufacturing
- Wool and mohair
- Hydro and solar energy
- Diamond mining
- Agro-processing
- Tourism
- Creative industries
- Data centers
Agreements with Russia
Investment protection
There is no bilateral agreement with Russia on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments.
Absent
Double taxation
There is no double taxation agreement with Russia.
Absent
Visa requirements
Russian citizens holding ordinary passports require a visa
Visa required
Peaceful nuclear energy
No information
Other agreements
- Intergovernmental Agreements on Cooperation in Culture and Science and on Economic and Technical Cooperation (1985).
Incentives
- Main regimes and incentives
Reduced corporate income tax rate for manufacturing (10%), export incentives, and provision of industrial premises.
- Type of measure
- Administering organisation
- LNDC — Lesotho National Development Corporation
