Female labor force participation rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Female labor force participation rate was 57.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Lesotho, 1966–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, female labor force participation rate in Lesotho stood at 57.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Lesotho peaked at 67.5% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 26.6%, in 1996.
That places Lesotho 74th out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 56.6% | 56.6% | 56.6% | 1 |
| 1970s | 28.1% | 28.1% | 28.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 36.5% | 36.5% | 36.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 50.1% | 26.6% | 67.5% | 3 |
| 2000s | 35.9% | 31.6% | 40.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 53.1% | 48.9% | 57.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 57.5% | 57.5% | 57.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More work & labour data for Lesotho
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 66.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 71.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 48.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 59.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 68.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 50.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Lesotho?
- Female labor force participation rate in Lesotho was 57.5% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 67.5% in 1999.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.6% in 1996.
- How does Lesotho rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Lesotho ranks 74th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.