Natural resources of Lesotho
Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in Lesotho: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.
Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)
4.3 %
Resources, share of goods exports (2024)
23.8 %
Forest, share of land (2024)
1.1 %
Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Mining and minerals
The U.S. Geological Survey records 1 mineral commodities with published production in Lesotho between 2018 and 2022, from metals and gemstones to industrial minerals and fuels. The table includes processed products such as cement and steel, which USGS reports alongside raw minerals.
Showing 1 of 1
| Diamond, gem, unspecified | Industrial Minerals | carats | 1,294,283 | 1,113,526 | 481,243 | 339,452 | 548,150 | 2021: r |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook, country tables. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Showing 10 of 10
| Clay thousand bricks | Loti Brick (Proprietary) Ltd. | Plant at Thetsane, south of Maseru. Quarries at Ha Motloheloa, Phoqoane, and Tsikoane | 13,000 | Not published |
| Clay thousand bricks | Majara Bricks (Proprietary) Ltd. | Plant and quarry at Berea Hills, about 12 kilometers northeast of Maseru | Not published | Not published |
| Diamond | Storm Mountain Diamonds (Proprietary) Ltd. (Namakwa Diamonds Ltd., 62.5%; Government, 25%; Kimberlite Investments Lesotho Ltd, 12.5%) | Kao Mine, about 115 kilometers east-northeast of Maseru | 220,000 | carats |
| Diamond | Letšeng Diamonds (Proprietary) Ltd. (Gem Diamonds Ltd., 70%, and Government 30%) | Letseng Mine, about 140 kilometers east-northeast of Maseru | 100,000 | carats |
| Diamond | Liqhobong Mining Development Company (Proprietary) Ltd. (Firestone Diamonds plc, 75%, and Government, 25%) | Liqhobong Mine, about 120 kilometers east-northeast of Maseru | Not published | carats |
| Diamond | Mothae Diamonds Holdings Inc. (Lucara Diamond Corp., 75% and Government, 25%) | Mothae Mine, about 135 kilometers east-northeast of Maseru | 60,000 | carats |
| Aggregate | Moradi (Proprietary) Ltd. | Tabola, about 50 kilometers northeast of Maseru | Not published | Not published |
| Sandstone | Lesotho Smart Sandstone (Proprietary) Ltd. | Lekokaoneng, about 25 kilometers northeast of Maseru | 9,600 | Not published |
| Sandstone | Lesotho Stone Enterprises (Proprietary) Ltd. | Lekokaoneng, about 25 kilometers northeast of Maseru | 16,000 | Not published |
| Sandstone | Seroma Sandstone Production (Proprietary) Ltd. | Lekokaoneng, about 25 kilometers northeast of Maseru | Not published | Not published |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook 2016, Lesotho. Last checked 24 October 2026.
What natural resources earn
Natural resource rents were 4.3% of GDP in 2021, with forests and timber the largest part. That ranks Lesotho 39th of 54 African countries. See all 54.
View the data as a table
| Period | Forests |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.9 % |
| 2011 | 3.9 % |
| 2012 | 4.7 % |
| 2013 | 5.1 % |
| 2014 | 5.6 % |
| 2015 | 6.2 % |
| 2016 | 7.3 % |
| 2017 | 6.3 % |
| 2018 | 3.6 % |
| 2019 | 3.7 % |
| 2020 | 4.6 % |
| 2021 | 4.3 % |
| 2022 | Not published |
| 2023 | Not published |
| 2024 | Not published |
| 2025 | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Forest, share of land (2024)
1.1 %
Arable land, share of land (2024)
19.0 %
Renewable fresh water per person (2022)
2,288 m³
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Method and sources
Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.
USGS country page for Lesotho. EIA international energy data. World Bank resource rents.
Frequently asked questions
What natural resources does Lesotho have?
Lesotho's main natural resources are timber. Gold, diamonds and precious metals made up 23.5% of its goods exports in 2024. The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 4.3% of GDP in 2021, mostly from forests and timber.
Does Lesotho produce oil?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration records no meaningful crude oil production for Lesotho in 2025.
What is Lesotho's most valuable natural resource?
By export earnings, gold, diamonds and precious metals: 23.5% of goods exports in 2024, according to UN Comtrade.
How much do natural resources contribute to Lesotho's economy?
Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 4.3% of GDP in 2021. That ranks Lesotho 39th of 54 African countries.
Which companies mine in Lesotho?
The U.S. Geological Survey's 2016 list of Lesotho's mineral industry names 10 operating companies, including Loti Brick, Majara Bricks, Storm Mountain Diamonds, Letšeng Diamonds and Liqhobong Mining Development Company. The full list is on this page.