Lesotho
Diet and nutrition profile based on FAO Food Balance Sheets (1961–2023).
Food Supply Trend
Daily food supply per capita in Lesotho compared to the world average.
Diet Composition (2023)
Where the calories come from — food group breakdown by kcal/capita/day.
Macronutrient Trends
Protein and fat supply over time in Lesotho.
Food Supply Treemap
Area-proportional view of Lesotho's food supply — larger blocks mean more calories from that food group.
What's Different?
How Lesotho's food supply differs from the world average — bars show excess (right) or deficit (left) in calories.
vs. EAT-Lancet Reference Diet
How Lesotho's food supply compares to the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet — the scientifically-derived dietary pattern for human and planetary health.
Similar Countries
Countries with a similar calorie supply.
🔗 Lesotho in the Mortality Explorer
Explore Lesotho's mortality data — life expectancy, causes of death, and risk factors — in our companion tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories per day does Lesotho produce?
Lesotho's food supply provides approximately 1,873 kcal per person per day as of 2023, according to FAO Food Balance Sheets. This measures food availability, not actual individual consumption — household-level waste typically reduces actual intake by 20–30%.
How has Lesotho's diet changed over time?
Between 1961 and 2023, Lesotho's total calorie supply changed from 2,013 to 1,873 kcal/capita/day (a decrease of 7%). Protein supply went from 64.2g to 50.5g per day. Fat supply changed from 24.7g to 42.1g per day.
Where does Lesotho rank globally?
Lesotho ranks #198 out of 200 countries by calorie supply per capita. The world average is approximately 3,016 kcal/capita/day.
How does Lesotho's diet differ from the world average?
The butterfly chart above shows the difference in food supply composition between Lesotho and the global average. Bars extending to the right indicate food groups where Lesotho consumes more than the world average, while bars extending left show deficits. These differences reflect agricultural production, cultural food traditions, income levels, and trade patterns.
What are dietary risk factors?
Dietary risk factors are eating patterns linked to chronic disease and premature death, as modeled by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. The five major dietary risks are: high sodium intake, low fruit intake, low vegetable intake, low whole grain intake, and low nut and seed intake. These are population-level statistical estimates — not direct counts of individual deaths.