Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in Lesotho
Lesotho: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East was 8.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in Lesotho, 2001–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Lesotho stood at 8.4%.
The figure is up 62.3% on the previous year and up 76.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Lesotho peaked at 17.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2005.
That places Lesotho 161st out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0.6% | — |
| 2002 | 5.1% | +768.3% |
| 2003 | 3.2% | -36.4% |
| 2004 | 4.9% | +51.4% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | +3585.9% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +621.4% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | +136.7% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | -19.1% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | +2482.5% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -85.3% |
| 2012 | 3.4% | +555.8% |
| 2013 | 4.8% | +40.6% |
| 2014 | 3.8% | -21.3% |
| 2015 | 6.8% | +81.7% |
| 2016 | 6.2% | -9.6% |
| 2017 | 17.5% | +183.2% |
| 2018 | 5.1% | -71.0% |
| 2019 | 4.2% | -16.3% |
| 2020 | 9.2% | +117.4% |
| 2021 | 9.5% | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | -45.7% |
| 2023 | 8.4% | +62.3% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 8.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.4%, 38% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 8.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.6%, 43% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +3585.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2010 | +2482.5% | 0.1% | 3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.6% | 0.0% | 5.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 0.5% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.1% | 5.2% | 9.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More private sector data for Lesotho
- Merchandise trade 102.9% (2025)
- Food imports 23.0% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 59.2% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 1.88 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 23.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 70.1% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 773.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 327.08 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3004 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -22 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Lesotho?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Lesotho was 8.4% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 17.5% in 2017.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2005.
- How does Lesotho rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east?
- Lesotho ranks 161st out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 76.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East Asia & Pacific (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East Asia and Pacific are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the East Asia and Pacific region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.