Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Lesotho

Government expense in Lesotho in 2022 — 40.23%. Ranked 14 in the world out of 111. Since 1987, the indicator has risen by 1.25 pp.

2022 40.23% +2.13 pp vs 2021
World rank 14of 111
Period maximum 52.18%2009
Period minimum 28.35%1993

Trend over time

1987–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — Lesotho, 1987–2022203040506019871991199519992003200720112015201920221987: 38.98%1988: 37.03%1989: 34.55%1991: 29.38%1992: 29.99%1993: 28.35%1994: 32.84%1995: 32.47%1996: 29.95%1997: 32.79%1998: 39.52%1999: 34.59%2000: 33.81%2001: 33.57%2002: 34.52%2003: 33.93%2004: 32.21%2005: 33.43%2006: 36.43%2007: 41.46%2008: 46.49%2009: 52.18%2010: 42.54%2011: 40.8%2012: 40.05%2013: 42.71%2014: 38.32%2015: 38.24%2016: 40.58%2017: 39.72%2018: 39.25%2019: 39.25%2020: 43.29%2021: 38.11%2022: 40.23%
Change over the period: +1.25 pp Annual average: 0.04 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Lesotho

Lesotho 40.23%
World 28.49%
Southern Africa computed 33.14%
Government expense — Lesotho, by year Lesotho All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 40.23 +2.13 pp
2021 38.11 −5.18 pp
2020 43.29 +4.04 pp
2019 39.25 −0 pp
2018 39.25 −0.47 pp
2017 39.72 −0.87 pp
2016 40.58 +2.34 pp
2015 38.24 −0.08 pp
2014 38.32 −4.39 pp
2013 42.71 +2.65 pp
2012 40.05 −0.74 pp
2011 40.8 −1.75 pp
2010 42.54 −9.64 pp
2009 52.18 +5.69 pp
2008 46.49 +5.03 pp
2007 41.46 +5.03 pp
2006 36.43 +3 pp
2005 33.43 +1.22 pp
2004 32.21 −1.72 pp
2003 33.93 −0.59 pp
2002 34.52 +0.95 pp
2001 33.57 −0.24 pp
2000 33.81 −0.78 pp
1999 34.59 −4.94 pp
1998 39.52 +6.73 pp
1997 32.79 +2.84 pp
1996 29.95 −2.52 pp
1995 32.47 −0.37 pp
1994 32.84 +4.49 pp
1993 28.35 −1.64 pp
1992 29.99 +0.61 pp
1991 29.38
1989 34.55 −2.48 pp
1988 37.03 −1.95 pp
1987 38.98

Southern Africa, 2022

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

Central government expense as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services, interest on debt, subsidies, grants and social benefits. The indicator is broader than government consumption from the national accounts, because it includes transfers — pensions and benefits — which the accounts record as household income. The quantity is closely tied to the level of income: in advanced countries it is usually twice as high as in the poorest ones.

Important: Central government only. In federations the spending of regions is not included here, so comparing unitary and federal states by this indicator calls for a caveat.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.