Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) was 5.54 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in months of imports in Lesotho, 1980–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in months of imports in Lesotho is 5.54, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.7% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in Lesotho peaked at 8.3 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.5394, in 1989.
That places Lesotho 59th out of 179 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.25 | — |
| 1981 | 1.02 | -18.8% |
| 1982 | 0.6453 | -36.4% |
| 1983 | 0.8368 | +29.7% |
| 1984 | 0.6807 | -18.7% |
| 1985 | 0.8203 | +20.5% |
| 1986 | 1.07 | +30.7% |
| 1987 | 0.8616 | -19.6% |
| 1988 | 0.6494 | -24.6% |
| 1989 | 0.5394 | -16.9% |
| 1990 | 0.704 | +30.5% |
| 1991 | 0.9851 | +39.9% |
| 1992 | 1.2 | +22.1% |
| 1993 | 2.02 | +67.7% |
| 1994 | 2.97 | +47.2% |
| 1995 | 3.28 | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 3.46 | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 4.25 | +23.1% |
| 1998 | 5.14 | +20.7% |
| 1999 | 5.23 | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 4.42 | -15.5% |
| 2001 | 4.29 | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 4.63 | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 3.7 | -20.2% |
| 2004 | 3.36 | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 3.66 | +8.9% |
| 2006 | 4.4 | +20.2% |
| 2007 | 6.05 | +37.6% |
| 2008 | 5.73 | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 8.3 | +44.8% |
| 2010 | 7.13 | -14.0% |
| 2011 | 3.82 | -46.5% |
| 2012 | 4.15 | +8.7% |
| 2013 | 5.25 | +26.4% |
| 2014 | 5.58 | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 5.54 | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 5.25 | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 3.27 | -37.6% |
| 2018 | 3.41 | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 3.92 | +15.0% |
| 2020 | 4.17 | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 4.08 | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 3.91 | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 4.7 | +20.2% |
| 2024 | 5.54 | +17.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 5.54 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.09, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 5.54 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.46, 1.6× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8371 | 0.5394 | 1.25 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.92 | 0.704 | 5.23 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.85 | 3.36 | 8.3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.73 | 3.27 | 7.13 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.48 | 3.91 | 5.54 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More financial sector data for Lesotho
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0069 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 7.46 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.548 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 5.45 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0069 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 7.46 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.548 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in Lesotho?
- Total reserves in months of imports in Lesotho was 5.54 in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 8.3 in 2009.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5394 in 1989.
- How does Lesotho rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- Lesotho ranks 59th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Total reserves in months of imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This item is expressed in terms of the number of months of imports of goods and services they could pay for [X/(Imports/12)].