Wheat production in Lesotho
Lesotho: Wheat production was 20,065 metric tons in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Wheat production in Lesotho, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in metric tons.
Analysis
In 2011, wheat production in Lesotho stood at 20,065 metric tons.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 60.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wheat production in Lesotho peaked at 61,381 metric tons in 1977 and was at its lowest, 3,720 metric tons, in 2008.
Lesotho ranks 18th of 32 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Wheat production in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 57,540 metric tons | — |
| 1962 | 55,000 metric tons | -4.4% |
| 1963 | 55,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 54,000 metric tons | -1.8% |
| 1965 | 50,000 metric tons | -7.4% |
| 1966 | 58,000 metric tons | +16.0% |
| 1967 | 50,000 metric tons | -13.8% |
| 1968 | 53,780 metric tons | +7.6% |
| 1969 | 59,696 metric tons | +11.0% |
| 1970 | 57,552 metric tons | -3.6% |
| 1971 | 57,903 metric tons | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 24,000 metric tons | -58.6% |
| 1973 | 36,000 metric tons | +50.0% |
| 1974 | 57,000 metric tons | +58.3% |
| 1975 | 45,337 metric tons | -20.5% |
| 1976 | 44,640 metric tons | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 61,381 metric tons | +37.5% |
| 1978 | 57,906 metric tons | -5.7% |
| 1979 | 33,629 metric tons | -41.9% |
| 1980 | 28,194 metric tons | -16.2% |
| 1981 | 16,993 metric tons | -39.7% |
| 1982 | 14,462 metric tons | -14.9% |
| 1983 | 14,810 metric tons | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 17,127 metric tons | +15.6% |
| 1985 | 18,434 metric tons | +7.6% |
| 1986 | 11,009 metric tons | -40.3% |
| 1987 | 18,547 metric tons | +68.5% |
| 1988 | 19,237 metric tons | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 29,698 metric tons | +54.4% |
| 1990 | 33,162 metric tons | +11.7% |
| 1991 | 6,844 metric tons | -79.4% |
| 1992 | 11,854 metric tons | +73.2% |
| 1993 | 8,127 metric tons | -31.4% |
| 1994 | 11,955 metric tons | +47.1% |
| 1995 | 10,603 metric tons | -11.3% |
| 1996 | 31,300 metric tons | +195.2% |
| 1997 | 33,722 metric tons | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 29,641 metric tons | -12.1% |
| 1999 | 15,426 metric tons | -48.0% |
| 2000 | 15,545 metric tons | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 50,755 metric tons | +226.5% |
| 2002 | 26,250 metric tons | -48.3% |
| 2003 | 21,805 metric tons | -16.9% |
| 2004 | 16,216 metric tons | -25.6% |
| 2005 | 13,797 metric tons | -14.9% |
| 2006 | 6,085 metric tons | -55.9% |
| 2007 | 3,956 metric tons | -35.0% |
| 2008 | 3,720 metric tons | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 7,420 metric tons | +99.5% |
| 2010 | 20,119 metric tons | +171.1% |
| 2011 | 20,065 metric tons | -0.3% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 20,065 metric tons is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,000 metric tons, 1.5× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 20,065 metric tons is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 48,022 metric tons, 42% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wheat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +226.5% | 15,545 metric tons | 50,755 metric tons |
| 1996 | +195.2% | 10,603 metric tons | 31,300 metric tons |
| 2010 | +171.1% | 7,420 metric tons | 20,119 metric tons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 54,780 metric tons | 50,000 metric tons | 59,696 metric tons | 9 |
| 1970s | 47,535 metric tons | 24,000 metric tons | 61,381 metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 18,851 metric tons | 11,009 metric tons | 29,698 metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 19,263 metric tons | 6,844 metric tons | 33,722 metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 16,555 metric tons | 3,720 metric tons | 50,755 metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 20,092 metric tons | 20,065 metric tons | 20,119 metric tons | 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 wheat production in Lesotho?
- Wheat production in Lesotho was 20,065 metric tons in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest wheat production recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 61,381 metric tons in 1977.
- What is the lowest wheat production recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,720 metric tons in 2008.
- How does Lesotho rank for wheat production?
- Lesotho ranks 18th out of 32 countries with data for 2011.
- Is wheat production rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.5%. 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, electronic files and web site, published as part of Wheat production (metric tons). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Production data on wheat 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.