Goats in Lesotho
Lesotho had 700,831 goats in 2024, the 84th largest in the world (0.06% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 15%. The record was 1.1 million head in 1987.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 700,831 head
- World rank
- 84 of 181
- 10-year change
- −15%
- Record
- 1.1 million head
- 1987
Goats in Lesotho, 1961–2024 (head)
Lesotho compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.06%
- 0.09% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −15%
- world +23%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Guinea-Bissau | 830,966 | 0.07% |
| 83 | Sierra Leone | 807,401 | 0.07% |
| 84 | Lesotho | 700,831 | 0.06% |
| 85 | Cuba | 667,000 | 0.06% |
| 86 | Kyrgyzstan | 659,048 | 0.06% |
Map of goats 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 | 700,831 | −19% |
| 2023 | 865,398 | −9.6% |
| 2022 | 957,522 | +242% |
| 2021 | 279,573 | −56% |
| 2020 | 628,561 | −16% |
| 2019 | 749,343 | −18% |
| 2018 | 909,554 | −6.5% |
| 2017 | 972,701 | +39% |
| 2016 | 700,509 | −14% |
| 2015 | 813,850 | −1.3% |
| 2014 | 824,698 | −1.7% |
| 2013 | 838,650 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 835,000 | −1.2% |
| 2011 | 845,000 | −3.4% |
| 2010 | 875,184 | −8.2% |
| 2009 | 953,337 | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 916,673 | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 879,278 | 0.0% |
| 2006 | 879,278 | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 821,171 | +34% |
| 2004 | 613,235 | −21% |
| 2003 | 775,632 | −1.8% |
| 2002 | 789,623 | −4.5% |
| 2001 | 826,598 | −0.4% |
| 2000 | 830,258 | −11% |
| 1999 | 937,600 | +72% |
| 1998 | 546,351 | −33% |
| 1997 | 811,250 | +11% |
| 1996 | 732,000 | −2.3% |
| 1995 | 749,135 | −14% |
| 1994 | 875,695 | +7.9% |
| 1993 | 811,325 | +25% |
| 1992 | 649,065 | −11% |
| 1991 | 729,255 | −14% |
| 1990 | 844,111 | −21% |
| 1989 | 1,067,540 | −5.0% |
| 1988 | 1,123,710 | −0.1% |
| 1987 | 1,125,074 | +15% |
| 1986 | 978,013 | −4.9% |
| 1985 | 1,028,625 | +20% |
| 1984 | 856,900 | −1.7% |
| 1983 | 872,145 | −6.3% |
| 1982 | 930,413 | +21% |
| 1981 | 766,535 | −2.3% |
| 1980 | 784,346 | +27% |
| 1979 | 618,314 | +6.1% |
| 1978 | 582,499 | −5.7% |
| 1977 | 617,500 | −26% |
| 1976 | 834,600 | −5.8% |
| 1975 | 886,400 | −7.8% |
| 1974 | 961,900 | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 942,600 | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 930,000 | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 920,000 | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 897,149 | +8.9% |
| 1969 | 823,895 | +21% |
| 1968 | 679,324 | −24% |
| 1967 | 890,628 | +9.0% |
| 1966 | 817,225 | −3.7% |
| 1965 | 848,392 | +18% |
| 1964 | 716,000 | −9.6% |
| 1963 | 791,726 | +5.6% |
| 1962 | 749,454 | +19% |
| 1961 | 632,032 | — |
Questions and answers
How many goats are there in Lesotho?
Lesotho had 700,831 goats in 2024, 0.06% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Lesotho rank in the world by number of goats?
Lesotho ranked 84th of 181 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in India with 17.7% of the world total.
How has the number of goats in Lesotho changed?
It fell by 15% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +23% for the world. The record was 1.1 million head in 1987.
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.