Cattle in Lesotho
Lesotho had 517,450 cattle in 2024, the 121st largest in the world (0.03% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 4.2%. The record was 755,134 head in 1999.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 517,450 head
- World rank
- 121 of 190
- 10-year change
- −4.2%
- Record
- 755,134 head
- 1999
Cattle in Lesotho, 1961–2024 (head)
Lesotho compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.03%
- 0.04% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −4.2%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 119 | Bulgaria | 558,770 | 0.04% |
| 120 | Saudi Arabia | 534,181 | 0.03% |
| 121 | Lesotho | 517,450 | 0.03% |
| 122 | Tunisia | 495,935 | 0.03% |
| 123 | Armenia | 491,594 | 0.03% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Lesotho is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 517,450 | −23% |
| 2023 | 670,022 | +13% |
| 2022 | 593,664 | +106% |
| 2021 | 288,664 | −13% |
| 2020 | 330,726 | −8.3% |
| 2019 | 360,602 | −20% |
| 2018 | 453,297 | −1.8% |
| 2017 | 461,573 | −6.6% |
| 2016 | 494,007 | −2.8% |
| 2015 | 508,344 | −5.9% |
| 2014 | 540,133 | −1.4% |
| 2013 | 548,042 | −16% |
| 2012 | 650,000 | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 635,000 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 626,343 | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 616,562 | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 616,159 | −10% |
| 2007 | 687,588 | 0.0% |
| 2006 | 687,588 | −5.7% |
| 2005 | 729,327 | +7.7% |
| 2004 | 677,215 | −0.8% |
| 2003 | 682,488 | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 644,550 | −12% |
| 2001 | 732,191 | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 709,884 | −6.0% |
| 1999 | 755,134 | +52% |
| 1998 | 495,614 | −18% |
| 1997 | 601,410 | +12% |
| 1996 | 539,000 | −7.1% |
| 1995 | 580,230 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 577,975 | −12% |
| 1993 | 658,305 | −5.8% |
| 1992 | 699,000 | +29% |
| 1991 | 542,399 | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 523,244 | −10% |
| 1989 | 583,260 | −7.0% |
| 1988 | 627,195 | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 625,270 | +19% |
| 1986 | 524,675 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 522,125 | −1.3% |
| 1984 | 529,125 | −1.6% |
| 1983 | 537,517 | −4.4% |
| 1982 | 562,372 | −4.7% |
| 1981 | 589,976 | −0.7% |
| 1980 | 593,929 | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 560,327 | +6.5% |
| 1978 | 526,151 | +8.4% |
| 1977 | 485,500 | −3.9% |
| 1976 | 505,400 | −1.4% |
| 1975 | 512,400 | +10% |
| 1974 | 465,500 | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 441,700 | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 440,000 | −6.4% |
| 1971 | 470,000 | −15% |
| 1970 | 551,522 | +16% |
| 1969 | 474,356 | +7.2% |
| 1968 | 442,582 | +18% |
| 1967 | 375,709 | +35% |
| 1966 | 278,940 | −33% |
| 1965 | 418,951 | +36% |
| 1964 | 308,000 | −8.4% |
| 1963 | 336,146 | −13% |
| 1962 | 386,342 | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 376,740 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Lesotho?
Lesotho had 517,450 cattle in 2024, 0.03% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Lesotho rank in the world by number of cattle?
Lesotho ranked 121st of 190 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in Brazil with 15.1% of the world total.
How has the number of cattle in Lesotho changed?
It fell by 4.2% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 755,134 head in 1999.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for Lesotho is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.