Lesotho Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Lesotho's military spending was 1.46% in 2025, ranked 83rd globally. This represents a 7.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1976–2025.
Overview
Lesotho's military spending stood at 1.46% in 2025, a decline of +0.11% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.46% by 2025. Lesotho ranked 83rd globally.
Lesotho’s military outlays have remained low by global standards, registering a World Bank estimate of 1.46 percent of GDP in 2025, which placed the kingdom at 83rd in the world. Over a half‑century of data, the share fell from an early peak of 4.84 percent in 1986 to a historic trough of 1.44 percent in 1977, after which it has hovered near the one‑and‑half‑percent mark. The recent level is comparable to peer nations such as Spain (1.49 percent) and Portugal (1.51 percent), reflecting a modest but stable defence budget relative to the size of the economy. The persistence of low spending suggests limited ambition for large‑scale force expansion, constrained by fiscal priorities and a small domestic market for defence procurement. Should economic growth accelerate or regional security concerns intensify, the trajectory could shift upward, but absent such drivers Lesotho’s military expenditure is likely to remain near its current proportion of GDP.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.35% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.40% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.46% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.46% | −0.11% | #83 |
| 2024 | 1.57% | −0.06% | #70 |
| 2023 | 1.63% | +0.15% | #79 |
| 2022 | 1.47% | −0.06% | #78 |
| 2021 | 1.54% | −0.35% | #81 |
| 2020 | 1.88% | +0.01% | #97 |
| 2019 | 1.88% | −0.12% | #102 |
| 2018 | 2.00% | −0.27% | #113 |
| 2017 | 2.27% | +0.31% | #117 |
| 2016 | 1.96% | +0.10% | #106 |
| 2015 | 1.87% | −0.09% | #102 |
| 2014 | 1.95% | −0.07% | #108 |
| 2013 | 2.03% | −0.12% | #110 |
| 2012 | 2.15% | −0.11% | #110 |
| 2011 | 2.26% | −0.91% | #107 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lesotho matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lesotho's military spending was 1.46% in 2025. Ranked 83rd globally. This represents a 7.2% decrease from the previous year.
Lesotho's military spending peaked at 4.84% in 1986.
The lowest military spending in Lesotho was 1.44% in 1977.
Lesotho ranks 83rd globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Lesotho's military spending is projected to reach 1.46% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Lesotho in 2025 was 1.46%. This ranks 83rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lesotho_military-spending,
title = {Lesotho Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lesotho/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}