Sorghum production in Lesotho
Lesotho: Sorghum production was 9,606 metric tons in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
9,606 metric tons
Change on year
down 59.7%
World rank
35th
of 41 countries
All-time high
85,775 metric tons
in 1978
All-time low
6,887 metric tons
in 1995
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Sorghum production in Lesotho, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in metric tons.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 9,606 metric tons for sorghum production in 2011.
The figure is down 59.7% on the previous year and down 78.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sorghum production in Lesotho peaked at 85,775 metric tons in 1978 and was at its lowest, 6,887 metric tons, in 1995.
Lesotho ranks 35th of 41 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sorghum production in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 55,000 metric tons | — |
| 1962 | 55,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 55,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 55,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 54,000 metric tons | -1.8% |
| 1966 | 53,800 metric tons | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 55,000 metric tons | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 49,983 metric tons | -9.1% |
| 1969 | 48,268 metric tons | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 56,897 metric tons | +17.9% |
| 1971 | 64,000 metric tons | +12.5% |
| 1972 | 20,000 metric tons | -68.8% |
| 1973 | 43,000 metric tons | +115.0% |
| 1974 | 84,013 metric tons | +95.4% |
| 1975 | 37,443 metric tons | -55.4% |
| 1976 | 24,540 metric tons | -34.5% |
| 1977 | 62,313 metric tons | +153.9% |
| 1978 | 85,775 metric tons | +37.7% |
| 1979 | 68,952 metric tons | -19.6% |
| 1980 | 59,285 metric tons | -14.0% |
| 1981 | 47,729 metric tons | -19.5% |
| 1982 | 26,158 metric tons | -45.2% |
| 1983 | 30,687 metric tons | +17.3% |
| 1984 | 33,768 metric tons | +10.0% |
| 1985 | 54,823 metric tons | +62.4% |
| 1986 | 33,458 metric tons | -39.0% |
| 1987 | 31,232 metric tons | -6.7% |
| 1988 | 53,447 metric tons | +71.1% |
| 1989 | 31,140 metric tons | -41.7% |
| 1990 | 36,062 metric tons | +15.8% |
| 1991 | 10,043 metric tons | -72.2% |
| 1992 | 19,468 metric tons | +93.8% |
| 1993 | 51,996 metric tons | +167.1% |
| 1994 | 60,725 metric tons | +16.8% |
| 1995 | 6,887 metric tons | -88.7% |
| 1996 | 36,129 metric tons | +424.6% |
| 1997 | 29,050 metric tons | -19.6% |
| 1998 | 22,814 metric tons | -21.5% |
| 1999 | 33,340 metric tons | +46.1% |
| 2000 | 26,807 metric tons | -19.6% |
| 2001 | 45,350 metric tons | +69.2% |
| 2002 | 11,919 metric tons | -73.7% |
| 2003 | 11,954 metric tons | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 11,482 metric tons | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 18,527 metric tons | +61.4% |
| 2006 | 11,326 metric tons | -38.9% |
| 2007 | 7,837 metric tons | -30.8% |
| 2008 | 10,189 metric tons | +30.0% |
| 2009 | 10,151 metric tons | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 23,830 metric tons | +134.8% |
| 2011 | 9,606 metric tons | -59.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 9,606 metric tons is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 93,796 metric tons, 10% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 9,606 metric tons is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 86,865 metric tons, 11% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where 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 | +424.6% | 6,887 metric tons | 36,129 metric tons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 53,450 metric tons | 48,268 metric tons | 55,000 metric tons | 9 |
| 1970s | 54,693 metric tons | 20,000 metric tons | 85,775 metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 40,173 metric tons | 26,158 metric tons | 59,285 metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 30,651 metric tons | 6,887 metric tons | 60,725 metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 16,554 metric tons | 7,837 metric tons | 45,350 metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 16,718 metric tons | 9,606 metric tons | 23,830 metric tons | 2 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 32 Gambia 20,556 metric tons compare
- 33 Guinea-Bissau 15,480 metric tons compare
- 34 Morocco 15,000 metric tons compare
- 36 Democratic Republic of Congo 7,368 metric tons compare
- 37 Namibia 4,137 metric tons compare
- 38 Madagascar 1,509 metric tons 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 sorghum production in Lesotho?
- Sorghum production in Lesotho was 9,606 metric tons in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest sorghum production recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 85,775 metric tons in 1978.
- What is the lowest sorghum production recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,887 metric tons in 1995.
- How does Lesotho rank for sorghum production?
- Lesotho ranks 35th out of 41 countries with data for 2011.
- Is sorghum production rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 78.8%. 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, electronic files and web site, published as part of Sorghum production (metric tons). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Production data on sorghum 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.