Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Lesotho
Lesotho: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Lesotho, 2002–2023
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 0.1% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2023. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 653.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Lesotho peaked at 0.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2011.
That places Lesotho 103rd out of 116 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 4 |
| 2010s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 100 Burkina Faso 0.1% compare
- 101 Uzbekistan 0.1% compare
- 102 El Salvador 0.1% compare
- 104 Turkmenistan 0.1% compare
- 105 Tajikistan 0.1% compare
- 106 Kuwait 0.1% compare
More science & technology data for Lesotho
- Scientific and technical journal articles 60.18 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 1.64 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 70.33 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 70.33 per 100 people (2024)
- Share of the population using the Internet 51.8% (2024)
- Research and development expenditure 0.1% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 1.02 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 0.3794 per 100 people (2024)
- Landline Internet subscriptions 8,869 (2024)
- Researchers in R&D 32.24 per million people (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Lesotho?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Lesotho was 0.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2011.
- How does Lesotho rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Lesotho ranks 103rd out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 653.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Research & development spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.