Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly in Lesotho
Lesotho: Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly was 7.72 Percentage change in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly in Lesotho, 1950–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage change.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 7.72 Percentage change for historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly in 2025.
The figure is up 129.5% on the previous year and up 150.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly in Lesotho peaked at 21.14 Percentage change in 1976 and was at its lowest, -61.23 Percentage change, in 1951.
That places Lesotho 1st out of 72 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Percentage change | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | -13.32 Percentage change | — |
| 1951 | -61.23 Percentage change | +359.6% |
| 1952 | -54.73 Percentage change | -10.6% |
| 1953 | -56.76 Percentage change | +3.7% |
| 1954 | -35.86 Percentage change | -36.8% |
| 1955 | 2.24 Percentage change | -106.2% |
| 1956 | -7.91 Percentage change | -453.6% |
| 1957 | 18.42 Percentage change | -333.0% |
| 1958 | -0.227 Percentage change | -101.2% |
| 1959 | 3.36 Percentage change | -1578.8% |
| 1960 | -6.52 Percentage change | -294.1% |
| 1961 | 1.82 Percentage change | -128.0% |
| 1962 | 3.1 Percentage change | +69.8% |
| 1963 | 11.4 Percentage change | +268.0% |
| 1964 | 2.89 Percentage change | -74.6% |
| 1965 | -8.03 Percentage change | -377.7% |
| 1966 | -30.49 Percentage change | +279.5% |
| 1967 | 9.1 Percentage change | -129.9% |
| 1968 | -15.13 Percentage change | -266.2% |
| 1969 | -9.61 Percentage change | -36.5% |
| 1970 | -3.66 Percentage change | -62.0% |
| 1971 | -0.8113 Percentage change | -77.8% |
| 1972 | 2.59 Percentage change | -419.7% |
| 1973 | -3.54 Percentage change | -236.6% |
| 1974 | 20.47 Percentage change | -677.5% |
| 1975 | 4.43 Percentage change | -78.3% |
| 1976 | 21.14 Percentage change | +376.7% |
| 1977 | 14.7 Percentage change | -30.4% |
| 1978 | 3.2 Percentage change | -78.3% |
| 1979 | 1.95 Percentage change | -38.9% |
| 1980 | -15.43 Percentage change | -890.1% |
| 1981 | -4.58 Percentage change | -70.3% |
| 1982 | -2.86 Percentage change | -37.6% |
| 1983 | -14.41 Percentage change | +404.3% |
| 1984 | -0.2128 Percentage change | -98.5% |
| 1985 | -16.53 Percentage change | +7670.5% |
| 1986 | 7.94 Percentage change | -148.0% |
| 1987 | 12.54 Percentage change | +57.8% |
| 1988 | 19.91 Percentage change | +58.8% |
| 1989 | 20.47 Percentage change | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 6.62 Percentage change | -67.7% |
| 1991 | -8.42 Percentage change | -227.3% |
| 1992 | -18.08 Percentage change | +114.7% |
| 1993 | -10.92 Percentage change | -39.6% |
| 1994 | -2.73 Percentage change | -75.0% |
| 1995 | -9.92 Percentage change | +263.7% |
| 1996 | 9.6 Percentage change | -196.8% |
| 1997 | 17.25 Percentage change | +79.8% |
| 1998 | 3.59 Percentage change | -79.2% |
| 1999 | -7.52 Percentage change | -309.6% |
| 2000 | 11.25 Percentage change | -249.6% |
| 2001 | 18.56 Percentage change | +65.0% |
| 2002 | 10.71 Percentage change | -42.3% |
| 2003 | -12.9 Percentage change | -220.5% |
| 2004 | 0.2177 Percentage change | -101.7% |
| 2005 | 1.99 Percentage change | +815.0% |
| 2006 | 13.37 Percentage change | +571.3% |
| 2007 | -3.53 Percentage change | -126.4% |
| 2008 | -15.56 Percentage change | +341.0% |
| 2009 | -7.1 Percentage change | -54.4% |
| 2010 | -18.73 Percentage change | +163.8% |
| 2011 | 3.27 Percentage change | -117.4% |
| 2012 | -6.71 Percentage change | -305.2% |
| 2013 | -18.32 Percentage change | +173.1% |
| 2014 | -18.16 Percentage change | -0.8% |
| 2015 | -15.39 Percentage change | -15.3% |
| 2016 | -23.33 Percentage change | +51.7% |
| 2017 | -27.31 Percentage change | +17.0% |
| 2018 | -13.74 Percentage change | -49.7% |
| 2019 | -38.41 Percentage change | +179.5% |
| 2020 | -4.71 Percentage change | -87.7% |
| 2021 | 6.99 Percentage change | -248.5% |
| 2022 | 9.86 Percentage change | +41.1% |
| 2023 | 5.28 Percentage change | -46.5% |
| 2024 | -26.19 Percentage change | -596.3% |
| 2025 | 7.72 Percentage change | -129.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | -7670.5% | -0.2128 Percentage change | -16.53 Percentage change |
| 1959 | +1578.8% | -0.227 Percentage change | 3.36 Percentage change |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | -20.6 Percentage change | -61.23 Percentage change | 18.42 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1960s | -4.15 Percentage change | -30.49 Percentage change | 11.4 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.05 Percentage change | -3.66 Percentage change | 21.14 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.684 Percentage change | -16.53 Percentage change | 20.47 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.05 Percentage change | -18.08 Percentage change | 17.25 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.7 Percentage change | -15.56 Percentage change | 18.56 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2010s | -17.68 Percentage change | -38.41 Percentage change | 3.27 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.1755 Percentage change | -26.19 Percentage change | 9.86 Percentage change | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 1 India 12.52 Percentage change compare
- 2 Northern Mariana Islands 10.19 Percentage change compare
- 3 Mauritius 9.84 Percentage change compare
- 4 Eswatini 6.06 Percentage change compare
- 4 South Africa 8.52 Percentage change compare
More environment data for Lesotho
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 7.08 Percentage change (2025)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -18.9 Percentage change (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -26.87 Percentage change (2024)
- Land use hidden — Land area 30,360 Square kilometres (2023)
- Land use hidden — Total area 30,360 Square kilometres (2023)
- Land use hidden — Cropland 3,607 Square kilometres (2023)
- Land use hidden — Permanent meadows and pastures 20,000 Square kilometres (2023)
- Land use hidden — Cropland, annual growth rate 30.99 % change on previous year (2023)
- Land use hidden — Land area, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2023)
- Land use hidden — Other areas, annual growth rate -11.75 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly in Lesotho?
- Historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly in Lesotho was 7.72 Percentage change in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 21.14 Percentage change in 1976.
- What is the lowest historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -61.23 Percentage change in 1951.
- How does Lesotho rank for historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly?
- Lesotho ranks 1st out of 72 countries with data for 2025.
- Is historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 150.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The dataset provides annual anomalies in land and cropland soil moisture content of the top soil layer (0 to 7 cm) compared to the reference period 1981-2010. Exposure indicators to drought have been prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Please see the working paper for a more complete description of the methods. The datasets span the period 1981-2024 and is the result of the use of a variety of geospatial data sources, including the ERA5-Land averaged monthly data of volumetric soil moisture and ESA CCI land cover data. Average anomalies have been calculated for both land and cropland exposure to drought. The dataset has a global coverage on a national level; on the sub-national TL2 level (i.e. large subnational regions) results are reported for all OECD countries as well as for Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa. A number of aggregates are included: Euro area, European Union, Advanced economies, Emerging market economies, G7, G20, OECD, OECD Europe, OECD Asia Oceania, OECD Americas and the LAC region. Data source(s): Copernicus Climate Change Initiative land cover data and Copernicus Climate Data Store monthly soil moisture data based on the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset. Contact: ENV.Stat@oecd.org