Agricultural land in Lesotho
Lesotho: Agricultural land was 23,608 sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Agricultural land in Lesotho, 1961–2023
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
In 2023, agricultural land in Lesotho stood at 23,608 sq. km.
The figure is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Lesotho peaked at 25,830 sq. km in 1966 and was at its lowest, 21,544 sq. km, in 2019.
Lesotho ranks 112th of 210 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 25,810 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 25,760 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 25,760 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 25,780 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 25,780 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 25,830 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 25,830 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 25,330 sq. km | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 24,780 sq. km | -2.2% |
| 1970 | 24,270 sq. km | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 23,640 sq. km | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 23,590 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 23,590 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 23,590 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 23,760 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 23,590 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1977 | 22,920 sq. km | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 22,930 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 23,090 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 22,960 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 23,020 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 22,920 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 22,870 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 23,010 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 23,080 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 22,910 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 23,300 sq. km | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 23,430 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 23,050 sq. km | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 23,210 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 23,230 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 23,360 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 23,340 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 23,290 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 23,240 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 23,260 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 23,290 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 23,290 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 23,290 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 23,340 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 23,340 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 23,040 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 23,040 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 23,140 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 23,270 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 23,070 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 23,290 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 23,620 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 23,390 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 23,260 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 23,120 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 22,853 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 22,521 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 22,763 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 22,230 sq. km | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 23,560 sq. km | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 24,180 sq. km | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 24,333 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 21,544 sq. km | -11.5% |
| 2020 | 23,494 sq. km | +9.1% |
| 2021 | 22,294 sq. km | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 22,754 sq. km | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 23,608 sq. km | +3.8% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 23,608 sq. km is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 93,990 sq. km, 25% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 23,608 sq. km is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 135,094 sq. km, 17% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25,629 sq. km | 24,780 sq. km | 25,830 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 23,497 sq. km | 22,920 sq. km | 24,270 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 23,055 sq. km | 22,870 sq. km | 23,430 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 23,280 sq. km | 23,210 sq. km | 23,360 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 23,254 sq. km | 23,040 sq. km | 23,620 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 23,036 sq. km | 21,544 sq. km | 24,333 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 23,037 sq. km | 22,294 sq. km | 23,608 sq. km | 4 |
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 agricultural land in Lesotho?
- Agricultural land in Lesotho was 23,608 sq. km in 2023, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest agricultural land recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 25,830 sq. km in 1966.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,544 sq. km in 2019.
- How does Lesotho rank for agricultural land?
- Lesotho ranks 112th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Agricultural land (sq. km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Agricultural land refers to the land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded. Land under permanent crops is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber. Permanent pasture is land used for five or more years for forage, including natural and cultivated crops.