Female labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho
Lesotho: Female labor force participation rate by age was 24.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 24.3% for female labor force participation rate by age in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 31.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho peaked at 63.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 24.3%, in 2024.
That places Lesotho 144th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 63.0% | — |
| 1991 | 63.0% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 62.8% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 62.5% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 62.1% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 61.7% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 61.2% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 60.6% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 59.8% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 59.0% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 57.5% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 56.0% | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 54.5% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 53.0% | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 51.4% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 49.9% | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 48.4% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 46.8% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 45.2% | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 43.7% | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 42.1% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 40.6% | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 39.0% | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 37.5% | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 35.3% | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 33.2% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 31.1% | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 29.0% | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 27.0% | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 25.0% | -7.3% |
| 2020 | 24.8% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 25.2% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 24.3% | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 24.3% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 24.3% | -0.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 24.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.0%, 84% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 24.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.5%, 70% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.6% | 59.0% | 63.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.6% | 43.7% | 57.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.0% | 25.0% | 42.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.6% | 24.3% | 25.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 141 Philippines 25.0% compare
- 142 Serbia 25.0% compare
- 143 South Africa 24.4% compare
- 145 Czechia 23.7% compare
- 146 North Macedonia 23.5% compare
- 147 Greece 22.1% compare
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 female labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho?
- Female labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho was 24.3% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate by age recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 63.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate by age recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.3% in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for female labor force participation rate by age?
- Lesotho ranks 144th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).