External health expenditure in Lesotho
Lesotho: External health expenditure was 40.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
External health expenditure in Lesotho, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, external health expenditure in Lesotho stood at 40.5%.
That represents a change of up 11.0% on the previous year and up 33.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure in Lesotho peaked at 61.9% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2000.
That places Lesotho 12th out of 177 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External health expenditure in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.9% | — |
| 2001 | 6.8% | +75.4% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | +15.4% |
| 2003 | 8.6% | +10.2% |
| 2004 | 11.5% | +32.8% |
| 2005 | 17.4% | +51.5% |
| 2006 | 13.6% | -21.8% |
| 2007 | 11.7% | -13.7% |
| 2008 | 21.0% | +79.3% |
| 2009 | 25.9% | +23.6% |
| 2010 | 22.8% | -12.2% |
| 2011 | 26.3% | +15.7% |
| 2012 | 26.8% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 30.3% | +13.3% |
| 2014 | 27.7% | -8.8% |
| 2015 | 23.7% | -14.5% |
| 2016 | 23.3% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 26.9% | +15.1% |
| 2018 | 35.2% | +31.0% |
| 2019 | 61.9% | +75.8% |
| 2020 | 37.2% | -39.9% |
| 2021 | 44.2% | +18.9% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | -17.5% |
| 2023 | 40.5% | +11.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.8% | 3.9% | 25.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.5% | 22.8% | 61.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.6% | 36.5% | 44.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 9 Tonga 44.2% compare
- 10 Uganda 44.1% compare
- 11 Sao Tome and Principe 43.9% compare
- 13 Central African Republic 39.9% compare
- 14 Tanzania, United Republic of 39.4% compare
- 15 Benin 38.4% compare
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,227 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 382 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.8108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0548 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external health expenditure in Lesotho?
- External health expenditure in Lesotho was 40.5% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest external health expenditure recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 61.9% in 2019.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2000.
- How does Lesotho rank for external health expenditure?
- Lesotho ranks 12th out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from external sources. External sources compose of direct foreign transfers and foreign transfers distributed by government encompassing all financial inflows into the national health system from outside the country. External sources either flow through the government scheme or are channeled through non-governmental organizations or other schemes.