Lesotho: Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Lesotho's fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) rose 0.72 on 2023 (from 5.37 to 6.09).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −0.43 and a typical year strayed about 7.04 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 15.88 in 2013 and the biggest yearly fall was 21.56 in 2002. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 5% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Lesotho had the 170th highest value of the 190 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Lesotho in the 2024 ranking

• Haiti — 166th of 190: 7.29
• Sudan — 167th of 190: 7.1
• Madagascar — 168th of 190: 6.46
• Chad — 170th of 190: 5.86
• Gambia, The — 171st of 190: 5.58
• St. Kitts and Nevis — 172nd of 190: 4.8

What this measures

Fertilizer consumption measures the quantity of plant nutrients used per unit of arable land. Fertilizer products cover nitrogenous, potash, and phosphate fertilizers (including ground rock phosphate). Traditional nutrients--animal and plant manures--are not included. For the purpose of data dissemination, FAO has adopted the concept of a calendar year (January to December). Some countries compile fertilizer data on a calendar year basis, while others are on a split-year basis. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.

Limitations: The FAO has revised the time series for fertilizer consumption and irrigation for 2002 onward. FAO collects fertilizer statistics for production, imports, exports, and consumption through the new FAO fertilizer resources questionnaire. In the previous release, the data were based on total consumption of fertilizers, but the data in the recent release are based on the nutrients in fertilizers. Some countries compile fertilizer data on a calendar year basis, while others compile on a crop year basis (July-June).

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 64 values

Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) in nearby economies

• Angola — 15.57 (2024)
• Benin — 25.54 (2024)
• Botswana — 93.07 (2024)
• Burkina Faso — 12.81 (2024)
• Burundi — 75.28 (2024)
• Cabo Verde — 3.47 (2024)
• Cameroon — 16.3 (2024)
• Central African Republic — 0.01 (2024)
• Chad — 5.86 (2024)

More environment data for Lesotho

• Rural population — 1.31 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 55.33% (2025)
• Urban population — 1.06 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 44.67% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 2,107 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons) — 74 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 2,181 (2024)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — -0.67% (2025)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — 3.35% (2025)
• Agricultural land (sq. km) — 28,200 (2024)

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Questions people ask

What is Lesotho's fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land)?

6.09 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1961?

It is up 624.75% from 0.84 in 1961 (3.19% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 35.24 in 2001 and the lowest 0.84 in 1961.

How does Lesotho rank?

170th highest of 190 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) unusual for Lesotho?

In 2024, Lesotho's fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) rose 0.72 on 2023 (from 5.37 to 6.09). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −0.43 and a typical year strayed about 7.04 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator AG.CON.FERT.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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