FAOSTAT · 1961–2024
Sheep in Lesotho
Lesotho had 1.9 million sheep in 2024, the 69th largest in the world (0.14% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 42%. The record was 2.4 million head in 2022.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 1.9 million head
- World rank
- 69 of 177
- 10-year change
- +42%
- Record
- 2.4 million head
- 2022
Sheep in Lesotho, 1961–2024 (head)
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,913,822 | −2.6% |
| 2023 | 1,965,660 | −17% |
| 2022 | 2,377,809 | +70% |
| 2021 | 1,397,997 | +123% |
| 2020 | 626,668 | −59% |
| 2019 | 1,539,855 | −4.6% |
| 2018 | 1,613,370 | −21% |
| 2017 | 2,041,479 | +43% |
| 2016 | 1,432,065 | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 1,356,485 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 1,346,596 | −4.5% |
| 2013 | 1,410,013 | +16% |
| 2012 | 1,220,000 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 1,215,000 | −1.1% |
| 2010 | 1,228,558 | −1.1% |
| 2009 | 1,241,960 | −2.6% |
| 2008 | 1,275,754 | +41% |
| 2007 | 904,743 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 904,742 | −13% |
| 2005 | 1,041,313 | −0.4% |
| 2004 | 1,045,253 | +12% |
| 2003 | 936,432 | −9.2% |
| 2002 | 1,030,785 | −4.8% |
| 2001 | 1,082,518 | −3.1% |
| 2000 | 1,116,629 | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 1,109,107 | +59% |
| 1998 | 696,344 | −26% |
| 1997 | 937,504 | −1.4% |
| 1996 | 951,000 | −16% |
| 1995 | 1,130,750 | −11% |
| 1994 | 1,276,595 | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 1,176,480 | −15% |
| 1992 | 1,382,000 | −5.8% |
| 1991 | 1,466,790 | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 1,377,750 | −8.5% |
| 1989 | 1,504,935 | −8.8% |
| 1988 | 1,650,145 | −3.1% |
| 1987 | 1,703,809 | +22% |
| 1986 | 1,391,625 | −1.5% |
| 1985 | 1,412,188 | +10% |
| 1984 | 1,280,975 | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 1,279,499 | −4.3% |
| 1982 | 1,337,448 | +14% |
| 1981 | 1,168,404 | +12% |
| 1980 | 1,043,561 | +7.1% |
| 1979 | 973,996 | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 942,833 | −16% |
| 1977 | 1,128,000 | −26% |
| 1976 | 1,519,700 | −3.7% |
| 1975 | 1,577,400 | −0.5% |
| 1974 | 1,584,700 | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 1,556,900 | −7.4% |
| 1972 | 1,681,500 | −1.1% |
| 1971 | 1,700,000 | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 1,655,128 | +12% |
| 1969 | 1,473,820 | +8.0% |
| 1968 | 1,364,703 | −11% |
| 1967 | 1,526,442 | +5.5% |
| 1966 | 1,447,300 | −1.4% |
| 1965 | 1,468,495 | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 1,408,000 | −1.7% |
| 1963 | 1,431,631 | −0.2% |
| 1962 | 1,434,538 | +17% |
| 1961 | 1,227,386 | — |
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.