2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Lesotho
Lesotho: 2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) was 61.6 % in 2024. ▲ Rising
2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Lesotho, 2018–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 61.6 % for 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in 2024. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 23.9% over ten years.
Lesotho ranks 17th of 121 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 49.7 % | — |
| 2019 | 50.6 % | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 52.3 % | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 54.8 % | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 57.4 % | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 59.9 % | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 61.6 % | +2.8% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 61.6 % is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 44.1 %, 1.4× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 61.6 % is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 61 %, 1.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 50.15 % | 49.7 % | 50.6 % | 2 |
| 2020s | 57.2 % | 52.3 % | 61.6 % | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More agriculture & rural data for Lesotho
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0649 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 70.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6715 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5533 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 5.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Lesotho?
- 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) in Lesotho was 61.6 % in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 61.6 % in 2024.
- What is the lowest 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.7 % in 2018.
- How does Lesotho rank for 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or)?
- Lesotho ranks 17th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is 2.1.2 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or) rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity (both sexes or no breakdown by sex) (all age ranges or no breakdown by age) (no breakdown by urbanisation) — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
As the custodian agency of 22 SDG indicators, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is responsible for curating and refining the methodologies of these indicators, collecting data from national sources, ensuring their quality and compatibility with applicable standards and classifications, and disseminating data at global level. This FAOSTAT domain complements the global SDG database administered by the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), as well as FAO’s SDG indicators portal, by providing access to the available data for all SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship. While this metadata page provides summary information on all SDG indicators data disseminated through FAOSTAT, indicator-specific metadata can be accessed from the link on the right hand navigation column. This additional metadata file provides details on the methodology used to compile each indicators, their data sources and the contact information of the relevant FAO focal point. It includes the links to the official SDG Indicator metadata documents accessible from the UNSD global SDG database.SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship, consisting of 22 indicators and 66 series that fall under six goals: • Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.• Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.• Goal 14: Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.• Goal 15: Life on land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.