> 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%.

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

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# 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.

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

Animals, 2024700,831 head
World rank84 of 181
10-year change−15%
Record1.1 million head1987

## Goats in Lesotho, 1961–2024 (head)

## Lesotho compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.06%0.09% in 2014
10-year change−15%world +23%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 82 | [Guinea-Bissau](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/guinea-bissau/) | 830,966 | 0.07% |
| 83 | [Sierra Leone](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/sierra-leone/) | 807,401 | 0.07% |
| 84 | **Lesotho** | 700,831 | 0.06% |
| 85 | [Cuba](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/cuba/) | 667,000 | 0.06% |
| 86 | [Kyrgyzstan](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/kyrgyzstan/) | 659,048 | 0.06% |

[Full ranking of 181 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/)

### Map of goats 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 | 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

[India](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/india/)[China](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/china/)[Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/nigeria/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/pakistan/)[Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/ethiopia/)[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/chad/)[Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/kenya/)[Mali](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/mali/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/sudan/)[Tanzania](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/tanzania/)[Bangladesh](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/bangladesh/)[Mongolia](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/mongolia/)
[All countries producing goats](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/)

## 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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