Agricultural water withdrawals in Lesotho
Lesotho: Agricultural water withdrawals was 3.80 million cubic meters in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.80 million cubic meters
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
165th
of 180 countries
All-time high
28.00 million cubic meters
in 1987
All-time low
3.80 million cubic meters
in 1999
Years of data
37
1987–2023
Agricultural water withdrawals in Lesotho, 1987–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agricultural water withdrawals in Lesotho is 3.80 million cubic meters, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural water withdrawals in Lesotho peaked at 28.00 million cubic meters in 1987 and was at its lowest, 3.80 million cubic meters, in 1999.
That places Lesotho 165th out of 180 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agricultural water withdrawals in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 28.00 million cubic meters | — |
| 1988 | 25.98 million cubic meters | -7.2% |
| 1989 | 23.97 million cubic meters | -7.8% |
| 1990 | 21.95 million cubic meters | -8.4% |
| 1991 | 19.93 million cubic meters | -9.2% |
| 1992 | 17.92 million cubic meters | -10.1% |
| 1993 | 15.90 million cubic meters | -11.3% |
| 1994 | 13.88 million cubic meters | -12.7% |
| 1995 | 11.87 million cubic meters | -14.5% |
| 1996 | 9.85 million cubic meters | -17.0% |
| 1997 | 7.83 million cubic meters | -20.5% |
| 1998 | 5.82 million cubic meters | -25.7% |
| 1999 | 3.80 million cubic meters | -34.7% |
| 2000 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.80 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 25.98 million cubic meters | 23.97 million cubic meters | 28.00 million cubic meters | 3 |
| 1990s | 12.88 million cubic meters | 3.80 million cubic meters | 21.95 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.80 million cubic meters | 3.80 million cubic meters | 3.80 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.80 million cubic meters | 3.80 million cubic meters | 3.80 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.80 million cubic meters | 3.80 million cubic meters | 3.80 million cubic meters | 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 water withdrawals in Lesotho?
- Agricultural water withdrawals in Lesotho was 3.80 million cubic meters in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agricultural water withdrawals recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 28.00 million cubic meters in 1987.
- What is the lowest agricultural water withdrawals recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.80 million cubic meters in 1999.
- How does Lesotho rank for agricultural water withdrawals?
- Lesotho ranks 165th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural water withdrawals rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - AQUASTAT (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Agricultural water withdrawals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Water withdrawn each year for irrigation, livestock, and aquaculture.