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ECON FACTBOOK

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Economy of Lesotho

Population: 2.07 million in 20131

GDP: $2.23 billion in 20132

GDP per capita: $1,126 nominal3 ($2,586 PPP4) in 2013

GDP growth rate: 5.5% in 20135

Industries

GDP by Industry 20126

Industry sectorValue added ($ millions) 2012Percent of total
Other activities97642.6%
Mining and utilities33614.7%
Manufacturing27912.2%
Wholesale, retail trade, restaurants and hotels2109.1%
Agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing1978.6%
Transport, storage and communication1506.5%
Construction1446.3%
Total value added2,291100%

Employment

Unemployment rate: 24.7% in 20137

Employment by Industry 20028

Employment sectorPercent of total
Agriculture86%
Industry and services14%
Total100%

Corporations

Top 10 Corporations by Revenue 20139

N/A

Households

Household Wealth: $4 billion (179% of GDP) in 201410

Household Wealth per Adult: $3,455 in 201410

Gini Coefficient: .525 in 201311

Government

Central Government

Central Government Revenue: $1.46 billion (65% of GDP) in 201312

Central Government Expenditure: $1.48 billion (66% of GDP) in 201312

Central Government Budget Balance: -$0.02 billion (-1% of GDP) in 201312

Central Government Public Debt: $880 million (39% of GDP) in Q3 2014* 13

Central Government 10 Year Bond Interest Rate: N/A

* Public debt calculated using the exchange rate 11.64 LSL = 1 USD

Government Funds

N/A

Tax Structure

Individual Income Tax Rates and Thresholds in 2013* 14

Corporate Tax Rate: 25% in 201315

* Individual thresholds calculated using the exchange rate 11.64 LSL = 1 USD

Monetary Policy

Money Supply (M1): $343 million (15% of GDP) in 2013* 16

Benchmark Interest Rate: Lombard Facility = 10.11% in Feb 201517

Total Reserves: $1.06 billion (48% of GDP) in 201318

Exchange Rate: 11.64 Lesotho Loti = 1 U.S. Dollar on Feb 22, 201519

Inflation: 4.9% in 201320

* Money supply calculated using the exchange rate 11.64 LSL = 1 USD

Financial Institutions

Top 10 Financial Institutions by Assets 201321

N/A (data not available at Relbanks.com)

International Accounts

Exports: $0.94 billion (42% of GDP) in 201322

Imports: $2.15 billion (96% of GDP) in 201322

Trade Balance: -$1.21 billion (-54% of GDP) in 201322

Foreign Direct Investment Inflow: $44 million (2% of GDP) in 201323

Foreign Direct Investment Outflow: N/A

Foreign Aid Inflow: $283 million (13% of GDP) in 201224

Foreign Aid Outflow: N/A

References

1. Source: World Bank Indicators (Population) Go back
2. Source: World Bank Indicators (GDP) Go back
3. Source: World Bank Indicators (GDP per capita) Go back
4. Source: World Bank Indicators (GDP per capita PPP) Go back
5. Source: World Bank Indicators (GDP growth rate) Go back
6. Source: United Nations Statistics Division (GDP by industry) Go back
7. Source: World Bank Indicators (Unemployment rate) Go back
8. Source: CIA World Factbook (Employment by economic activity) Go back
9. Source: Annual reports (Corporate data) Go back
10. Source: Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook (Household wealth) Go back
11. Source: UN Human Development Report (Gini coefficient) Go back
12. Source: CIA World Factbook (Government budget) Go back
13. Source: Central Bank of Lesotho, Quarterly Reviews (Public debt) Go back
14. Source: Ernst & Young, Worldwide Personal Tax Guide (Individual tax rates) Go back
15. Source: Ernst & Young, Worldwide Corporate Tax Guide (Corporate tax rate) Go back
16. Source: World Bank Indicators (Money supply) Go back
17. Source: Central Bank of Lesotho, Financial Matters, Monetary Policy Statements (Benchmark interest rate) Go back
18. Source: World Bank Indicators (Total reserves) Go back
19. Source: xe.com (Exchange rate) Go back
20. Source: World Bank Indicators (Inflation rate) Go back
21. Source: Relbanks.com (Financial institutions by assets) Go back
22. Source: CIA World Factbook (Trade data) Go back
23. Source: World Bank Indicators (FDI data) Go back
24. Source: World Bank Indicators (Aid data) Go back