Female labor force participation rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Female labor force participation rate was 48.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate in Lesotho, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Lesotho is 48.1%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Lesotho peaked at 67.4% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 48.1%, in 2025.
That places Lesotho 123rd out of 186 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 rate 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% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 48.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.7%, 97% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 48.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.3%, 84% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
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 rate in Lesotho?
- Female labor force participation rate 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 rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 67.4% in 1999.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.1% in 2025.
- How does Lesotho rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Lesotho ranks 123rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate 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 rate. 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).