Milk production in Lesotho
Lesotho: Milk production was 182,000 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Milk production in Lesotho, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, milk production in Lesotho stood at 182,000 tonnes.
The figure is down 19.1% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, milk production in Lesotho peaked at 225,000 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8,932 tonnes, in 1964.
That places Lesotho 127th out of 192 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Milk production in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 10,926 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 11,204 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 9,748 tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1964 | 8,932 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1965 | 10,150 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1966 | 10,440 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 10,730 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 11,310 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 12,180 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1970 | 13,050 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1971 | 13,920 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1972 | 14,500 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1973 | 15,370 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1974 | 15,950 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 16,820 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1976 | 17,400 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 17,980 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 18,560 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 19,140 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 19,720 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 20,300 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 20,880 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 21,460 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 22,040 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 22,330 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 22,620 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 22,910 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 23,200 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 23,490 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 23,780 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 115,438 tonnes | +385.4% |
| 1992 | 125,239 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 122,460 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 128,071 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 129,488 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 119,713 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1997 | 133,722 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1998 | 125,343 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 160,371 tonnes | +27.9% |
| 2000 | 174,411 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2001 | 188,459 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 167,448 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 2003 | 161,862 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 160,482 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 181,547 tonnes | +13.1% |
| 2006 | 135,291 tonnes | -25.5% |
| 2007 | 174,580 tonnes | +29.0% |
| 2008 | 181,622 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 161,471 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 2010 | 163,631 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 188,720 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 2012 | 189,449 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 189,475 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 190,204 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 180,000 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 175,000 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 170,000 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 170,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 180,000 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 133,000 tonnes | -26.1% |
| 2021 | 120,000 tonnes | -9.8% |
| 2022 | 205,000 tonnes | +70.8% |
| 2023 | 225,000 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2024 | 182,000 tonnes | -19.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 182,000 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 289,670 tonnes, 63% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 182,000 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 188,438 tonnes, 97% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Milk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +385.4% | 23,780 tonnes | 115,438 tonnes |
| 2022 | +70.8% | 120,000 tonnes | 205,000 tonnes |
| 2020 | -26.1% | 180,000 tonnes | 133,000 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10,624 tonnes | 8,932 tonnes | 12,180 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 16,269 tonnes | 13,050 tonnes | 19,140 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 21,895 tonnes | 19,720 tonnes | 23,490 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 118,362 tonnes | 23,780 tonnes | 160,371 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 168,717 tonnes | 135,291 tonnes | 188,459 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 179,648 tonnes | 163,631 tonnes | 190,204 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 173,000 tonnes | 120,000 tonnes | 225,000 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
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 milk production in Lesotho?
- Milk production in Lesotho was 182,000 tonnes in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest milk production recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 225,000 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest milk production recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,932 tonnes in 1964.
- How does Lesotho rank for milk production?
- Lesotho ranks 127th out of 192 countries with data for 2024.
- Is milk production rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Milk production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Milk represents the raw equivalents of all dairy products including cheese, yoghurt, cream and milk consumed as the final product.