Land under sorghum production in Lesotho
Lesotho: Land under sorghum production was 18,864 hectares in 2011. ▼ Falling
Land under sorghum production in Lesotho, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2011, land under sorghum production in Lesotho stood at 18,864 hectares.
That represents a change of down 43.1% on the previous year and down 64.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land under sorghum production in Lesotho peaked at 85,000 hectares in 1971 and was at its lowest, 8,579 hectares, in 1995.
Lesotho ranks 34th of 41 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Land under sorghum production in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 65,000 hectares | — |
| 1962 | 65,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 65,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 65,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 58,200 hectares | -10.5% |
| 1966 | 65,100 hectares | +11.9% |
| 1967 | 66,300 hectares | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 70,562 hectares | +6.4% |
| 1969 | 71,771 hectares | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 82,568 hectares | +15.0% |
| 1971 | 85,000 hectares | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 60,100 hectares | -29.3% |
| 1973 | 64,000 hectares | +6.5% |
| 1974 | 83,267 hectares | +30.1% |
| 1975 | 54,774 hectares | -34.2% |
| 1976 | 44,239 hectares | -19.2% |
| 1977 | 42,485 hectares | -4.0% |
| 1978 | 59,280 hectares | +39.5% |
| 1979 | 51,255 hectares | -13.5% |
| 1980 | 61,333 hectares | +19.7% |
| 1981 | 60,016 hectares | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 48,044 hectares | -19.9% |
| 1983 | 46,537 hectares | -3.1% |
| 1984 | 54,682 hectares | +17.5% |
| 1985 | 75,559 hectares | +38.2% |
| 1986 | 51,929 hectares | -31.3% |
| 1987 | 70,909 hectares | +36.5% |
| 1988 | 76,355 hectares | +7.7% |
| 1989 | 40,499 hectares | -47.0% |
| 1990 | 35,663 hectares | -11.9% |
| 1991 | 18,601 hectares | -47.8% |
| 1992 | 31,797 hectares | +70.9% |
| 1993 | 40,930 hectares | +28.7% |
| 1994 | 69,350 hectares | +69.4% |
| 1995 | 8,579 hectares | -87.6% |
| 1996 | 42,054 hectares | +390.2% |
| 1997 | 36,058 hectares | -14.3% |
| 1998 | 15,453 hectares | -57.1% |
| 1999 | 30,067 hectares | +94.6% |
| 2000 | 25,831 hectares | -14.1% |
| 2001 | 52,490 hectares | +103.2% |
| 2002 | 28,210 hectares | -46.3% |
| 2003 | 25,204 hectares | -10.7% |
| 2004 | 29,192 hectares | +15.8% |
| 2005 | 29,689 hectares | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 34,421 hectares | +15.9% |
| 2007 | 32,175 hectares | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 35,556 hectares | +10.5% |
| 2009 | 17,585 hectares | -50.5% |
| 2010 | 33,146 hectares | +88.5% |
| 2011 | 18,864 hectares | -43.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 18,864 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 119,355 hectares, 16% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 18,864 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 111,874 hectares, 17% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land under sorghum production 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +390.2% | 8,579 hectares | 42,054 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 65,770 hectares | 58,200 hectares | 71,771 hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 62,697 hectares | 42,485 hectares | 85,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 58,586 hectares | 40,499 hectares | 76,355 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 32,855 hectares | 8,579 hectares | 69,350 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 31,035 hectares | 17,585 hectares | 52,490 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 26,005 hectares | 18,864 hectares | 33,146 hectares | 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 land under sorghum production in Lesotho?
- Land under sorghum production in Lesotho was 18,864 hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest land under sorghum production recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 85,000 hectares in 1971.
- What is the lowest land under sorghum production recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,579 hectares in 1995.
- How does Lesotho rank for land under sorghum production?
- Lesotho ranks 34th out of 41 countries with data for 2011.
- Is land under sorghum production rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.1%. 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 Land under sorghum production (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Land under sorghum production refers to harvested area, although some countries report only sown or cultivated area. Production data on relate to crop harvested for dry grain only. Crop harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.