Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) was 6.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Fertilizer consumption in Lesotho, 1961–2024
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 kilograms per hectare of arable land.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 6.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land for fertilizer consumption in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.4% on the previous year and down 65.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer consumption in Lesotho peaked at 35.24 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.8408 kilograms per hectare of arable land, in 1961.
Lesotho ranks 174th of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | kilograms per hectare of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.8408 kilograms per hectare of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 1.22 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +45.2% |
| 1963 | 0.8669 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -29.0% |
| 1964 | 1.21 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +39.7% |
| 1965 | 1.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +27.9% |
| 1966 | 1.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +16.5% |
| 1967 | 2.22 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +23.1% |
| 1968 | 0.8986 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -59.6% |
| 1969 | 1.23 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +37.2% |
| 1970 | 1.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -17.6% |
| 1971 | 2.98 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +193.0% |
| 1972 | 1.78 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -40.2% |
| 1973 | 2.53 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +42.1% |
| 1974 | 2.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -10.7% |
| 1975 | 4.03 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +78.5% |
| 1976 | 3.66 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -9.2% |
| 1977 | 7.64 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +108.6% |
| 1978 | 15.22 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +99.3% |
| 1979 | 14.43 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 15.41 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 15.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 15.62 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 15.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 15.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 11.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -25.7% |
| 1986 | 13.59 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +18.0% |
| 1987 | 12.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -9.7% |
| 1988 | 13.27 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +8.2% |
| 1989 | 15.28 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +15.1% |
| 1990 | 14.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -5.0% |
| 1991 | 18.5 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +27.5% |
| 1992 | 17.17 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -7.2% |
| 1993 | 18.29 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +6.5% |
| 1994 | 16.36 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -10.6% |
| 1995 | 18.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +12.8% |
| 1996 | 18.99 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 17.49 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -7.9% |
| 1998 | 18.7 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +6.9% |
| 1999 | 15.69 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -16.1% |
| 2000 | 24.86 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +58.5% |
| 2001 | 35.24 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +41.7% |
| 2002 | 13.69 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -61.2% |
| 2003 | 9.32 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -31.9% |
| 2004 | 3.32 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -64.4% |
| 2005 | 3.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 5.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +64.6% |
| 2007 | 8.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +37.2% |
| 2008 | 2.38 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -70.5% |
| 2009 | 2.89 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +21.3% |
| 2010 | 1.57 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -45.8% |
| 2011 | 6.12 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +291.2% |
| 2012 | 2.79 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -54.4% |
| 2013 | 18.67 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +568.3% |
| 2014 | 17.73 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 7.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -59.0% |
| 2016 | 5.57 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -23.3% |
| 2017 | 8.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +45.3% |
| 2018 | 15.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +92.4% |
| 2019 | 22.3 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +43.1% |
| 2020 | 10.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -51.7% |
| 2021 | 7.15 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -33.6% |
| 2022 | 3.85 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -46.1% |
| 2023 | 5.37 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +39.5% |
| 2024 | 6.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +13.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 6.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 30.96 kilograms per hectare of arable land, 20% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 6.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.96 kilograms per hectare of arable land, 41% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +568.3% | 2.79 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 18.67 kilograms per hectare of arable land |
| 2011 | +291.2% | 1.57 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 6.12 kilograms per hectare of arable land |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.32 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 0.8408 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 2.22 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 1.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 15.22 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.35 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 11.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 15.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.41 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 14.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 18.99 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.93 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 2.38 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 35.24 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.57 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 1.57 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 22.3 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.65 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 3.85 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 171 Haiti 7.29 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 172 Sudan 7.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 173 Madagascar 6.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 175 Chad 5.86 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 176 Gambia 5.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 177 Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.8 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
More agriculture & rural data for Lesotho
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0139 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1831 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0072 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0003 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.3524 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertilizer consumption in Lesotho?
- Fertilizer consumption in Lesotho was 6.09 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2024, 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 fertilizer consumption recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 35.24 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2001.
- What is the lowest fertilizer consumption recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8408 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 1961.
- How does Lesotho rank for fertilizer consumption?
- Lesotho ranks 174th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertilizer consumption rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fertilizer consumption measures the quantity of plant nutrients used per unit of arable land. Fertilizer products cover nitrogenous, potash, and phosphate fertilizers (including ground rock phosphate). Traditional nutrients--animal and plant manures--are not included. For the purpose of data dissemination, FAO has adopted the concept of a calendar year (January to December). Some countries compile fertilizer data on a calendar year basis, while others are on a split-year basis. 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.