Agricultural population in Lesotho
Lesotho: Agricultural population was 848,000 FAO, number in 2012. ▲ Rising
Agricultural population in Lesotho, 1980–2012
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in FAO, number.
Analysis
In 2012, agricultural population in Lesotho stood at 848,000 FAO, number. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural population in Lesotho peaked at 848,000 FAO, number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 589,000 FAO, number, in 1980.
Lesotho ranks 43rd of 53 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Agricultural population in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | FAO, number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 589,000 FAO, number | — |
| 1981 | 602,000 FAO, number | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 616,000 FAO, number | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 629,000 FAO, number | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 645,000 FAO, number | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 660,000 FAO, number | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 673,000 FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 685,000 FAO, number | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 699,000 FAO, number | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 712,000 FAO, number | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 724,000 FAO, number | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 733,000 FAO, number | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 743,000 FAO, number | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 752,000 FAO, number | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 761,000 FAO, number | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 771,000 FAO, number | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 783,000 FAO, number | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 794,000 FAO, number | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 804,000 FAO, number | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 812,000 FAO, number | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 819,000 FAO, number | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 825,000 FAO, number | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 828,000 FAO, number | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 831,000 FAO, number | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 833,000 FAO, number | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 834,000 FAO, number | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 837,000 FAO, number | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 837,000 FAO, number | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 839,000 FAO, number | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 841,000 FAO, number | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 844,000 FAO, number | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 846,000 FAO, number | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 848,000 FAO, number | +0.2% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 848,000 FAO, number is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.27 million FAO, number, 12% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 848,000 FAO, number is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.16 million FAO, number, 12% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 651,000 FAO, number | 589,000 FAO, number | 712,000 FAO, number | 10 |
| 1990s | 767,700 FAO, number | 724,000 FAO, number | 812,000 FAO, number | 10 |
| 2000s | 832,400 FAO, number | 819,000 FAO, number | 841,000 FAO, number | 10 |
| 2010s | 846,000 FAO, number | 844,000 FAO, number | 848,000 FAO, number | 3 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More environment data for Lesotho
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.284 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.783 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.521 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -2.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -0.4197 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural population in Lesotho?
- Agricultural population in Lesotho was 848,000 FAO, number in 2012, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest agricultural population recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 848,000 FAO, number in 2012.
- What is the lowest agricultural population recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 589,000 FAO, number in 1980.
- How does Lesotho rank for agricultural population?
- Lesotho ranks 43rd out of 53 countries with data for 2012.
- Is agricultural population rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Agricultural Population is defined as all persons depending for their livelihood on agriculture, hunting, fishing or forestry. This estimate comprises all persons actively engaged in agriculture and their non-working dependants. The Agricultural Population series are estimated by FAO based on the total population series obtained from UN Population Division ("World population prospects: The 2008 Revision") and the ratios of labour force in total population and agricultural labour force in total labour force from ILO: ("Economically active population, 1950-2010: The 4th Revision", ILO, Geneva, 1996). Direct information on agricultural population derived from national population censuses or surveys is scarce.