Lesotho R&D Spending
Research and development expenditure as % of GDP GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS
Lesotho's r&d spending was 0.05% in 2015, ranked 99th globally. This represents a 306.5% increase from 2014. Data from World Bank, covering 2002–2015.
Overview
Lesotho's r&d spending stood at 0.05% in 2015, a rise of +0.04% from 2011. Lesotho ranked 99th globally.
Lesotho’s gross domestic product allocated to research and development (R&D) has remained marginal, recording a World Bank‑reported 0.05 % of GDP in 2015, which placed the country 99th globally. The indicator rose modestly from its earliest available figure of 0.04 % in 2002, reached an all‑time peak of 0.06 % in 2004, and then fell sharply to a trough of 0.01 % in 2011 before recovering to the 2015 level. Compared with peer nations of similar ranking, Trinidad and Tobago spent 0.08 % of GDP on R&D, while Iraq recorded 0.04 % in the same period, underscoring Lesotho’s persistent under‑investment in knowledge‑intensive activities. The limited fiscal commitment reflects structural constraints in the economy, such as a small industrial base and reliance on remittances, which curtail the capacity to fund scientific infrastructure and human capital development. Strengthening public‑private partnerships and channeling resources toward higher‑education research could reverse the low‑spending trajectory and gradually raise Lesotho’s R&D intensity in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | R&D Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0.05% | +0.04% | #99 |
| 2011 | 0.01% | −0.02% | #92 |
| 2009 | 0.03% | −0.03% | #93 |
| 2004 | 0.06% | +0.01% | #87 |
| 2003 | 0.04% | +0.00% | #89 |
| 2002 | 0.04% | – | #90 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lesotho matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw r&d spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lesotho's r&d spending was 0.05% in 2015. Ranked 99th globally. This represents a 306.5% increase from the previous year.
Lesotho's r&d spending peaked at 0.06% in 2004.
The lowest r&d spending in Lesotho was 0.01% in 2011.
Lesotho ranks 99th globally in r&d spending as of 2015.
The World Bank indicator code is GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The r&d spending of Lesotho in 2015 was 0.05%. This ranks 99th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lesotho_rd-spending,
title = {Lesotho R&D Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lesotho/rd-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}