Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army (includes Air Wing) (2022)
note: the Lesotho Mounted Police Service is responsible for internal security and reports to the Minister of Police and Public Safety
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $60 million)
2.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $65 million)
2.2% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $70 million)
approximately 2,000 personnel (2022)
the LDF has a small inventory of older and second-hand equipment from a variety of countries (2021)
20-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2022)
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
the LDF began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986; it was subsequently renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2022)
NOTE: The information regarding Lesotho on this page is re-published from the 2022 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Lesotho 2022 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Lesotho 2022 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.
This page was last modified 01 Dec 23, Copyright © 23 ITA all rights reserved.