Labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho
Lesotho: Labor force participation rate by age was 35.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
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
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho is 35.0%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho peaked at 69.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 35.0%, in 2024.
That places Lesotho 116th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 68.0% | 64.7% | 69.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.2% | 50.8% | 63.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.5% | 35.4% | 49.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.2% | 35.0% | 35.4% | 5 |
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 labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Lesotho was 35.0% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 69.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.0% in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Lesotho ranks 116th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.5%. 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 Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).