Lesotho vs Upper middle income: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)

Lesotho
18.7%
in 2024
Upper middle income
5.4%
in 2022
Lesotho rank
8th
Upper middle income rank
11th

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) over time

  • Lesotho
  • Upper middle income
010203040198620052024

How they compare

Lesotho currently reports 18.7% against 5.4% in Upper middle income, a difference of 13.3%.

That makes Lesotho's figure about 3.5 times Upper middle income's.

Across all 5 years both countries report, Lesotho has been ahead every year.

Lesotho ranks 8th and Upper middle income ranks 11th of 187 countries.

Lesotho has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Lesotho Upper middle income Difference Ahead
1990s 32.6% 4.4% 28.2% Lesotho
2000s 35.5% 4.2% 31.3% Lesotho
2010s 20.7% 5.2% 15.6% Lesotho

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), Lesotho or Upper middle income?
Lesotho, at 18.7% against 5.4% in Upper middle income as of 2024.
What is the difference in unemployment, total (% of total labor force) between Lesotho and Upper middle income?
13.3%, with Lesotho ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Lesotho and Upper middle income?
5 years are reported by both, from 1997 to 2019.
How do Lesotho and Upper middle income rank globally for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Lesotho ranks 8th and Upper middle income ranks 11th of 187 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Lesotho vs Upper middle income: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force). Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/lesotho/upper-middle-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 6,054 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.