Lesotho Military - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing) (2021)

Military expenditures

1.5% of GDP (2019)

1.8% of GDP (2018)

2% of GDP (2017)

1.8% of GDP (2016)

1.9% of GDP (2015)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) has approximately 2,000 personnel (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the LDF has a small inventory of older equipment from a variety of countries; the only reported delivery to the LDF since 2007 was two second-hand helicopters from France in 2017 and 2019 (2019 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women can serve as commissioned officers (2019)

Military - note

Lesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa

NOTE: The information regarding Lesotho on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Lesotho 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Lesotho 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.