Cereal seed quantity in Lesotho
Lesotho: Cereal seed quantity was 4,368 FAO, metric tonnes in 2011. ▼ Falling
Cereal seed quantity in Lesotho, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in FAO, metric tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cereal seed quantity in Lesotho is 4,368 FAO, metric tonnes, measured in 2011.
That represents a change of up 20.1% on the previous year and down 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cereal seed quantity in Lesotho peaked at 12,529 FAO, metric tonnes in 1963 and was at its lowest, 3,351 FAO, metric tonnes, in 2004.
Lesotho ranks 42nd of 50 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Cereal seed quantity in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | FAO, metric tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 11,203 FAO, metric tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 11,763 FAO, metric tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1963 | 12,529 FAO, metric tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1964 | 10,447 FAO, metric tonnes | -16.6% |
| 1965 | 10,240 FAO, metric tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1966 | 10,596 FAO, metric tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1967 | 11,500 FAO, metric tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1968 | 12,166 FAO, metric tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1969 | 11,357 FAO, metric tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1970 | 12,081 FAO, metric tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1971 | 12,230 FAO, metric tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 10,070 FAO, metric tonnes | -17.7% |
| 1973 | 10,126 FAO, metric tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 8,228 FAO, metric tonnes | -18.7% |
| 1975 | 7,619 FAO, metric tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1976 | 5,844 FAO, metric tonnes | -23.3% |
| 1977 | 6,469 FAO, metric tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1978 | 6,007 FAO, metric tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1979 | 5,429 FAO, metric tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1980 | 5,207 FAO, metric tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1981 | 5,444 FAO, metric tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 5,628 FAO, metric tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 6,037 FAO, metric tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 7,082 FAO, metric tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1985 | 5,449 FAO, metric tonnes | -23.1% |
| 1986 | 6,386 FAO, metric tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1987 | 7,117 FAO, metric tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1988 | 8,248 FAO, metric tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1989 | 8,750 FAO, metric tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1990 | 5,862 FAO, metric tonnes | -33.0% |
| 1991 | 5,501 FAO, metric tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1992 | 3,994 FAO, metric tonnes | -27.4% |
| 1993 | 6,884 FAO, metric tonnes | +72.4% |
| 1994 | 3,836 FAO, metric tonnes | -44.3% |
| 1995 | 5,929 FAO, metric tonnes | +54.6% |
| 1996 | 5,321 FAO, metric tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1997 | 4,562 FAO, metric tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1998 | 5,191 FAO, metric tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1999 | 4,507 FAO, metric tonnes | -13.2% |
| 2000 | 5,348 FAO, metric tonnes | +18.7% |
| 2001 | 4,746 FAO, metric tonnes | -11.3% |
| 2002 | 4,488 FAO, metric tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 3,910 FAO, metric tonnes | -12.9% |
| 2004 | 3,351 FAO, metric tonnes | -14.3% |
| 2005 | 4,492 FAO, metric tonnes | +34.0% |
| 2006 | 3,752 FAO, metric tonnes | -16.5% |
| 2007 | 3,847 FAO, metric tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 4,050 FAO, metric tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 4,534 FAO, metric tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2010 | 3,636 FAO, metric tonnes | -19.8% |
| 2011 | 4,368 FAO, metric tonnes | +20.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 4,368 FAO, metric tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38,973 FAO, metric tonnes, 11% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 4,368 FAO, metric tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38,973 FAO, metric tonnes, 11% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11,311 FAO, metric tonnes | 10,240 FAO, metric tonnes | 12,529 FAO, metric tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 8,410 FAO, metric tonnes | 5,429 FAO, metric tonnes | 12,230 FAO, metric tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 6,535 FAO, metric tonnes | 5,207 FAO, metric tonnes | 8,750 FAO, metric tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,159 FAO, metric tonnes | 3,836 FAO, metric tonnes | 6,884 FAO, metric tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,252 FAO, metric tonnes | 3,351 FAO, metric tonnes | 5,348 FAO, metric tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,002 FAO, metric tonnes | 3,636 FAO, metric tonnes | 4,368 FAO, metric tonnes | 2 |
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 cereal seed quantity in Lesotho?
- Cereal seed quantity in Lesotho was 4,368 FAO, metric tonnes in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest cereal seed quantity recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 12,529 FAO, metric tonnes in 1963.
- What is the lowest cereal seed quantity recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,351 FAO, metric tonnes in 2004.
- How does Lesotho rank for cereal seed quantity?
- Lesotho ranks 42nd out of 50 countries with data for 2011.
- Is cereal seed quantity rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Cereal seed quantity (FAO, metric tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Data include the amounts of the commodity in question set aside for sowing or planting (or generally for reproduction purposes, e.g. sugar cane planted, potatoes for seed, eggs for hatching and fish for bait, whether domestically produced or imported) during the reference period. Account is taken of double or successive sowing or planting whenever it occurs. The data of seed include also, when it is the case, the quantities necessary for sowing or planting the area relating to crops harvested green for fodder or for food.(e.g. green peas, green beans, maize for forage) Data for seed element are stored in tonnes (t). Whenever official data were not available, seed figures have been estimated either as a percentage of supply (e.g. eggs for hatching) or by multiplying a seed rate with the area under the crop of the subsequent year.