Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Lesotho
Lesotho: Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending was 48.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Lesotho, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 48.1% for female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Lesotho peaked at 67.4% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 48.1%, in 2025.
That places Lesotho 122nd out of 185 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.7% | — |
| 1991 | 66.7% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 66.7% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 66.7% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 66.8% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 66.9% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 67.0% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 67.1% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 67.2% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 67.4% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 66.7% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 66.0% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 65.3% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 64.6% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 63.9% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 63.2% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 62.5% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 61.7% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 61.0% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 60.3% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 59.5% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 58.8% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 58.0% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 57.3% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 55.9% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 54.5% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 53.1% | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 51.8% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 50.4% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 49.0% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 48.5% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 48.3% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 48.4% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 48.4% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 48.5% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 48.1% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.9% | 66.7% | 67.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.5% | 60.3% | 66.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.8% | 49.0% | 59.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.4% | 48.1% | 48.5% | 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 female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Lesotho?
- Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Lesotho was 48.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 67.4% in 1999.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.1% in 2025.
- How does Lesotho rank for female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending?
- Lesotho ranks 122nd out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).