> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/lesotho/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Cattle](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/)›LesothoFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# 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.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/beef/)

Animals, 2024517,450 head
World rank121 of 190
10-year change−4.2%
Record755,134 head1999

## Cattle in Lesotho, 1961–2024 (head)

## Lesotho compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.03%0.04% in 2014
10-year change−4.2%world +9.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 119 | [Bulgaria](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/bulgaria/) | 558,770 | 0.04% |
| 120 | [Saudi Arabia](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/saudi-arabia/) | 534,181 | 0.03% |
| 121 | **Lesotho** | 517,450 | 0.03% |
| 122 | [Tunisia](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/tunisia/) | 495,935 | 0.03% |
| 123 | [Armenia](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/armenia/) | 491,594 | 0.03% |

[Full ranking of 190 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/)

### Map of cattle numbers by country

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
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

[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/brazil/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/india/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/united-states/)[Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/ethiopia/)[China](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/china/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/pakistan/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/argentina/)[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/chad/)[Tanzania](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/tanzania/)[Mexico](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/mexico/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/sudan/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/australia/)
[All countries producing cattle](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/)

## Other products of Lesotho

[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/lesotho/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/lesotho/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/lesotho/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/lesotho/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/lesotho/)[Other fruits, n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-fruits/lesotho/)[Wool, greasy](https://husfarm.com/production/wool/lesotho/)[Sorghum](https://husfarm.com/production/sorghum/lesotho/)[Game meat, fresh, chilled or frozen](https://husfarm.com/production/game-meat/lesotho/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/lesotho/)[Beans, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/beans-dry/lesotho/)[Hen eggs](https://husfarm.com/production/hen-eggs/lesotho/)
[Agricultural production in Lesotho](https://husfarm.com/production/country/lesotho/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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