Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Lesotho
Lesotho: Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land was 8.7 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
8.7 kilograms per hectare of arable land
Change on year
up 6.1%
World rank
164th
of 199 countries
All-time high
34.37 kilograms per hectare of arable land
in 2001
All-time low
0.8408 kilograms per hectare of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Lesotho, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per hectare of arable land.
Analysis
In 2023, fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Lesotho stood at 8.7 kilograms per hectare of arable land.
The figure is up 6.1% on the previous year and down 53.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Lesotho peaked at 34.37 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.8408 kilograms per hectare of arable land, in 1961.
That places Lesotho 164th out of 199 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.
Fertilizer use 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 | 18.18 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 16.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -10.3% |
| 1995 | 18.45 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +13.1% |
| 1996 | 18.89 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 17.25 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -8.7% |
| 1998 | 18.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 15.5 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -16.0% |
| 2000 | 24.22 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +56.2% |
| 2001 | 34.37 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +41.9% |
| 2002 | 14.7 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -57.2% |
| 2003 | 10.02 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -31.9% |
| 2004 | 3.46 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -65.4% |
| 2005 | 3.59 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 5.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +64.4% |
| 2007 | 8.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +37.3% |
| 2008 | 2.39 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -70.5% |
| 2009 | 2.9 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +21.2% |
| 2010 | 1.57 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -45.7% |
| 2011 | 6.13 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +290.1% |
| 2012 | 2.8 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -54.3% |
| 2013 | 18.69 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +567.1% |
| 2014 | 17.74 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 7.26 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -59.1% |
| 2016 | 5.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -23.2% |
| 2017 | 8.1 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +45.2% |
| 2018 | 15.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +92.4% |
| 2019 | 22.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +43.1% |
| 2020 | 10.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -51.7% |
| 2021 | 15.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +46.4% |
| 2022 | 8.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land | -48.0% |
| 2023 | 8.7 kilograms per hectare of arable land | +6.1% |
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 | 17.32 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 14.51 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 18.89 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.96 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 2.39 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 34.37 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.58 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 1.57 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 22.31 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.86 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 8.2 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 15.77 kilograms per hectare of arable land | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 161 Congo 10.34 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 162 Bhutan 9.81 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 163 Yemen 8.93 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 165 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 8.55 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 166 Mali 8.54 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
- 167 Mauritania 8.52 kilograms per hectare of arable land compare
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 fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Lesotho?
- Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land in Lesotho was 8.7 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertilizer use per hectare of arable land recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 34.37 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 2001.
- What is the lowest fertilizer use per hectare of arable land recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8408 kilograms per hectare of arable land in 1961.
- How does Lesotho rank for fertilizer use per hectare of arable land?
- Lesotho ranks 164th out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertilizer use per hectare of arable land rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.5%. 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 (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertilizer use per hectare of arable land. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Fertilizer products cover nitrogenous, potash, and phosphate fertilizers (including ground rock phosphate). Animal and plant manures are not included. Application rates are measured in kilograms per hectare.