Agricultural raw materials imports in Lesotho
Lesotho: Agricultural raw materials imports was 2.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Agricultural raw materials imports in Lesotho, 2000–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agricultural raw materials imports in Lesotho is 2.0%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 10.0% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural raw materials imports in Lesotho peaked at 5.7% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2003.
That places Lesotho 21st out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Agricultural raw materials imports in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.9% | — |
| 2001 | 1.0% | +11.9% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | -14.3% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 0.9% | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | +128.9% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | +40.1% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -30.3% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | +23.1% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | +41.9% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | -13.5% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | +24.7% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | -39.9% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | +31.3% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | -10.6% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | +10.7% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | -15.4% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | -24.2% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | +7.3% |
| 2022 | 5.7% | +179.5% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | -67.2% |
| 2024 | 2.0% | +10.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 2.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.1%, 1.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 2.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.9%, 2.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.4% | 0.8% | 2.8% | 8 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 1.8% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.7% | 1.9% | 5.7% | 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)
- Rural population 55.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural raw materials imports in Lesotho?
- Agricultural raw materials imports in Lesotho was 2.0% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest agricultural raw materials imports recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 2022.
- What is the lowest agricultural raw materials imports recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2003.
- How does Lesotho rank for agricultural raw materials imports?
- Lesotho ranks 21st out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agricultural raw materials imports rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Agricultural raw materials imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Agricultural raw materials comprise section 2 of SITC Rev. 3 (crude materials, inedible, except fuels) excluding divisions 22 (oil-seeds and oleaginous fruits), 27 (crude fertilizers and minerals excluding coal, petroleum, and precious stones), and 28 (metalliferous ores and scrap). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.