Dietary composition by country in Lesotho
Lesotho: Dietary composition by country was 11.82 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
11.82 kilocalories per day per capita
Change on year
up 9.0%
World rank
85th
of 191 countries
All-time high
42.83 kilocalories per day per capita
in 2017
All-time low
0 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Dietary composition by country in Lesotho, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilocalories per day per capita.
Analysis
In 2023, dietary composition by country in Lesotho stood at 11.82 kilocalories per day per capita.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.0% on the previous year and up 75.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, dietary composition by country in Lesotho peaked at 42.83 kilocalories per day per capita in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0 kilocalories per day per capita, in 1961.
Lesotho ranks 85th of 191 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.
Dietary composition by country in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | kilocalories per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1963 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1964 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1965 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1966 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1967 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1968 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1969 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1970 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1971 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1972 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1973 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1974 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1975 | 1.89 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1976 | 1.88 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.7% |
| 1977 | 1.87 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 1.87 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 3.73 kilocalories per day per capita | +99.5% |
| 1980 | 3.72 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 3.7 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 4.61 kilocalories per day per capita | +24.4% |
| 1983 | 6.42 kilocalories per day per capita | +39.3% |
| 1984 | 4.55 kilocalories per day per capita | -29.1% |
| 1985 | 4.52 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 4.49 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 4.46 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 4.44 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 4.42 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 4.42 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 4.42 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 3.54 kilocalories per day per capita | -19.8% |
| 1993 | 3.56 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 3.58 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 3.6 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 6.31 kilocalories per day per capita | +75.6% |
| 1997 | 4.53 kilocalories per day per capita | -28.2% |
| 1998 | 4.56 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 3.67 kilocalories per day per capita | -19.4% |
| 2000 | 2.78 kilocalories per day per capita | -24.4% |
| 2001 | 2.81 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 2003 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2004 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2005 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2006 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2007 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2008 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2009 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2010 | 0.12 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2011 | 0.01 kilocalories per day per capita | -91.7% |
| 2012 | 0.14 kilocalories per day per capita | +1300.0% |
| 2013 | 6.75 kilocalories per day per capita | +4721.4% |
| 2014 | 8.9 kilocalories per day per capita | +31.9% |
| 2015 | 9.18 kilocalories per day per capita | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 15.32 kilocalories per day per capita | +66.9% |
| 2017 | 42.83 kilocalories per day per capita | +179.6% |
| 2018 | 10.98 kilocalories per day per capita | -74.4% |
| 2019 | 10 kilocalories per day per capita | -8.9% |
| 2020 | 19.08 kilocalories per day per capita | +90.8% |
| 2021 | 11.51 kilocalories per day per capita | -39.7% |
| 2022 | 10.84 kilocalories per day per capita | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 11.82 kilocalories per day per capita | +9.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 11.82 kilocalories per day per capita is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.79 kilocalories per day per capita, 1.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 11.82 kilocalories per day per capita is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.79 kilocalories per day per capita, 2.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Dietary composition by country 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +4721.4% | 0.14 kilocalories per day per capita | 6.75 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 2012 | +1300.0% | 0.01 kilocalories per day per capita | 0.14 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 2017 | +179.6% | 15.32 kilocalories per day per capita | 42.83 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1979 | +99.5% | 1.87 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.73 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 2002 | -100.0% | 2.81 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 2011 | -91.7% | 0.12 kilocalories per day per capita | 0.01 kilocalories per day per capita |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.12 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.73 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.53 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.7 kilocalories per day per capita | 6.42 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.22 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.54 kilocalories per day per capita | 6.31 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5585 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.81 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.42 kilocalories per day per capita | 0.01 kilocalories per day per capita | 42.83 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.31 kilocalories per day per capita | 10.84 kilocalories per day per capita | 19.08 kilocalories per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 82 Switzerland 13.58 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 83 Azerbaijan 12.67 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 84 Dominican Republic 12.04 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 86 Comoros 11.64 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 87 Sao Tome and Principe 11.37 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 88 France 11.23 kilocalories per day per capita compare
More reference data data for Lesotho
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5388 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0101 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0549 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is dietary composition by country in Lesotho?
- Dietary composition by country in Lesotho was 11.82 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest dietary composition by country recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 42.83 kilocalories per day per capita in 2017.
- What is the lowest dietary composition by country recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilocalories per day per capita in 1961.
- How does Lesotho rank for dietary composition by country?
- Lesotho ranks 85th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is dietary composition by country rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.1%. 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 of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Dietary composition by country. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.