Employment in services, female (% of female employment) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Employment in services, female (% of female employment) was 44.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in services, female (% of female employment) in Lesotho, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 44.5% for employment in services, female (% of female employment) in 2025.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services, female (% of female employment) in Lesotho peaked at 69.1% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 42.7%, in 2021.
Lesotho ranks 154th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in services, female (% of female employment) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 69.1% | — |
| 1992 | 69.0% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 69.1% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 69.1% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 69.1% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 69.0% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 68.0% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 66.6% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 65.4% | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 64.2% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 62.8% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 61.9% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 60.6% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 59.4% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 58.1% | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 56.8% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 55.5% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 54.1% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 53.5% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 52.2% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 50.9% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 49.5% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 48.5% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 47.6% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 46.5% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 45.4% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 44.9% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 44.3% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 43.4% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 43.0% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 42.7% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 43.1% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 43.6% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 44.0% | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 44.5% | +1.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 44.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.6%, 88% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 44.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 45.1%, 99% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 68.3% | 65.4% | 69.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 58.7% | 53.5% | 64.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.3% | 43.4% | 52.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.5% | 42.7% | 44.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More work & labour data for Lesotho
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1902 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1964 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1849 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.293 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.37 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,485 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,719 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,674 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,586 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3,259 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in services, female (% of female employment) in Lesotho?
- Employment in services, female (% of female employment) in Lesotho was 44.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in services, female (% of female employment) recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 69.1% in 1993.
- What is the lowest employment in services, female (% of female employment) recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.7% in 2021.
- How does Lesotho rank for employment in services, female (% of female employment)?
- Lesotho ranks 154th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in services, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services, in accordance with divisions 6-9 (ISIC 2) or categories G-Q (ISIC 3) or categories G-U (ISIC 4).