Lesotho Income Share Top 10%
Income share held by highest 10% SI.DST.10TH.10
Lesotho's income share top 10% was 32.90% in 2017, ranked 67th globally. This represents a 13.9% decrease from 2016. Data from World Bank, covering 1986–2017.
Overview
Lesotho's income share top 10% stood at 32.90% in 2017, a decline of +5.30pp from 2002. Lesotho ranked 67th globally.
Lesotho’s share of national income accruing to the top 10 percent of earners fell from a post‑apartheid high of 48.20 percent in 1994 to a trough of 32.90 percent in 2017, placing the country at 67th globally in that year. The decline, observed over a 31‑year span, reflects a gradual erosion of income concentration rather than a sudden shock, with the latest figure of 32.90 percent closely matching São Tomé and Principe’s 32.80 percent and slightly below the Dominican Republic’s 33.50 percent. While the downward trajectory suggests modest progress toward a more equitable distribution, the persistence of a top‑decile share near one‑third of total income indicates that structural factors such as limited fiscal capacity and reliance on remittances continue to constrain deeper redistribution. Future shifts in tax policy, social protection spending, or labor‑market reforms could alter this pattern, potentially accelerating the decline in elite income share.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Top 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 32.90% | −5.30pp | #67 |
| 2002 | 38.20% | −10.00pp | #54 |
| 1994 | 48.20% | +4.60pp | #29 |
| 1986 | 43.60% | – | #16 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lesotho matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw income share top 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lesotho's income share top 10% was 32.90% in 2017. Ranked 67th globally. This represents a 13.9% decrease from the previous year.
Lesotho's income share top 10% peaked at 48.20% in 1994.
The lowest income share top 10% in Lesotho was 32.90% in 2017.
Lesotho ranks 67th globally in income share top 10% as of 2017.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.DST.10TH.10. Data sourced from World Bank.
The income share top 10% of Lesotho in 2017 was 32.90%. This ranks 67th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lesotho_income-top-10,
title = {Lesotho Income Share Top 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lesotho/income-top-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}