Lesotho vs South Africa: Inflation
Inflation in 2025: 4% a year in Lesotho and 3.2% a year in South Africa, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Lesotho, by 0.7 percentage points, or 1.23 times that in South Africa.
LesothoSouth Africa
Watch it change on the mapLatest figures
% a year · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesotho | 4 2025 | 4.3 | 55 of 179 | 4 2031 |
| South Africa | 3.2 2025 | 4.6 | 79 of 179 | 3 2031 |
What the numbers say
- Lesotho has been higher since 2018, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2025, Lesotho ranked 55 and South Africa ranked 79 of 179 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Lesotho at 4% a year and South Africa at 3% a year in 2031.
Every year
% a year · IMF
| Year | Lesotho | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 3.2 |
| 2024 | 5.2 | 4.4 |
| 2023 | 6.5 | 5.9 |
| 2022 | 8.2 | 6.9 |
| 2021 | 6.5 | 4.6 |
| 2020 | 5.4 | 3.3 |
| 2019 | 4.9 | 4.1 |
| 2018 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| 2017 | 4.5 | 5.3 |
| 2016 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 2015 | 4.3 | 4.6 |
| 2014 | 4.6 | 6.1 |
| 2013 | 5 | 5.7 |
| 2012 | 5.5 | 5.7 |
| 2011 | 6 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3.3 | 4.2 |
| 2009 | 5.8 | 7.2 |
| 2008 | 10.7 | 10.9 |
| 2007 | 9.2 | 7.1 |
| 2006 | 6.3 | 4.7 |
| 2005 | 3.6 | 3.4 |
| 2004 | 4.6 | 1.4 |
| 2003 | 6.3 | 5.9 |
| 2002 | 12.2 | 9.1 |
| 2001 | 8 | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 6.1 | 5.3 |
| 1999 | 7.8 | 5.1 |
| 1998 | 8.2 | 7 |
| 1997 | 8.4 | 8.6 |
| 1996 | 8.9 | 7.4 |
| 1995 | 9.7 | 8.8 |
| 1994 | 8.3 | 8.9 |
| 1993 | 10.7 | 9.6 |
| 1992 | 18.1 | 14 |
| 1991 | 17.3 | 15.1 |
| 1990 | 12 | 14.4 |
| 1989 | 14.7 | 14.8 |
| 1988 | 12.4 | 12.6 |
| 1987 | 12 | 16.4 |
| 1986 | 15.7 | 18.2 |
| 1985 | 15 | 16.5 |
| 1984 | 11.6 | 11.3 |
| 1983 | 15.1 | 12.7 |
| 1982 | 14.4 | 14 |
| 1981 | 11.9 | 15.9 |
| 1980 | 19.6 | 14.2 |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | Lesotho | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| 2027 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| 2028 | 4 | 3.3 |
| 2029 | 4 | 3 |
| 2030 | 4 | 3 |
| 2031 | 4 | 3 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How much consumer prices rose in a year, on average.
- Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026.
- The dashed line is the IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 179 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time