Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Lesotho

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Lesotho in 2025 — 102.89%. Ranked 21 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 42.16 pp.

2025 102.89% −16.04 pp vs 2024
World rank 21of 189
Period maximum 160.86%1982
Period minimum 55.28%1970

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Lesotho, 1960–202505010015020019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 60.73%1962: 59.72%1964: 57.76%1966: 67.02%1968: 61.84%1970: 55.28%1972: 79.1%1974: 88.83%1976: 155.09%1978: 117.42%1980: 120.96%1982: 160.86%1984: 141.07%1986: 119.18%1988: 138.39%1990: 123.07%1992: 121.3%1994: 116.37%1996: 138.78%1998: 122.25%2000: 115.97%2002: 151.2%2004: 142.14%2006: 123.22%2008: 151.9%2010: 142.21%2012: 144.25%2014: 124.25%2016: 129.68%2018: 133.24%2020: 108.34%2022: 116.77%2024: 118.93%2025: 102.89%
Change over the period: +42.16 pp Annual average: 0.65 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Lesotho 102.89%
World 43.89%
Southern Africa computed 59.28%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Lesotho, by year Lesotho All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 102.89 −16.04 pp
2024 118.93 −0.75 pp
2023 119.68 +2.9 pp
2022 116.77 +2.39 pp
2021 114.38 +6.04 pp
2020 108.34 −2.63 pp
2019 110.97 −22.27 pp
2018 133.24 −0.89 pp
2017 134.13 +4.45 pp
2016 129.68 +5.68 pp
2015 124 −0.25 pp
2014 124.25 −3.42 pp
2013 127.67 −16.58 pp
2012 144.25 +1.89 pp
2011 142.36 +0.15 pp
2010 142.21 −6.22 pp
2009 148.43 −3.47 pp
2008 151.9 −0.76 pp
2007 152.66 +29.45 pp
2006 123.22 +0.71 pp
2005 122.51 −19.63 pp
2004 142.14 +4.2 pp
2003 137.93 −13.27 pp
2002 151.2 +27.31 pp
2001 123.89 +7.92 pp
2000 115.97 +2.25 pp
1999 113.72 −8.53 pp
1998 122.25 −11.62 pp
1997 133.87 −4.91 pp
1996 138.78 +12.32 pp
1995 126.46 +10.09 pp
1994 116.37 −3.67 pp
1993 120.04 −1.26 pp
1992 121.3 −3.65 pp
1991 124.94 +1.87 pp
1990 123.07 −14.8 pp
1989 137.87 −0.53 pp
1988 138.39 +10.28 pp
1987 128.11 +8.94 pp
1986 119.18 −17.07 pp
1985 136.25 −4.82 pp
1984 141.07 +7.63 pp
1983 133.44 −27.43 pp
1982 160.86 +30.51 pp
1981 130.36 +9.4 pp
1980 120.96 −7.6 pp
1979 128.56 +11.14 pp
1978 117.42 −10.87 pp
1977 128.29 −26.8 pp
1976 155.09 +37.41 pp
1975 117.68 +28.85 pp
1974 88.83 +5.49 pp
1973 83.34 +4.24 pp
1972 79.1 +22.87 pp
1971 56.22 +0.94 pp
1970 55.28 −5.35 pp
1969 60.64 −1.21 pp
1968 61.84 −3.97 pp
1967 65.81 −1.21 pp
1966 67.02 +8.71 pp
1965 58.31 +0.55 pp
1964 57.76 +0.36 pp
1963 57.4 −2.32 pp
1962 59.72 −7.5 pp
1961 67.23 +6.5 pp
1960 60.73

Southern Africa, 2025

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

About the indicator

The sum of exports and imports of goods as a percent of GDP. It differs from trade openness in that services are not counted here, and the difference between the two indicators is exactly what shows the weight of services in a country's foreign trade. The highest values come not from large exporters but from transshipment economies — Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg — where goods are brought in to be sent out again, and both flows are counted in full.

Important: Goods only. The value can exceed 100% of GDP: exports and imports are counted at the full value of the goods while GDP is counted as value added, so in transshipment economies the values run to several hundred percent.

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