Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Lesotho

Lesotho: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 57.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
57.5%
World rank
74th
of 196 countries
All-time high
67.5%
in 1999
All-time low
26.6%
in 1996
Years of data
11
1966–2024

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Lesotho, 1966–2024

02040601966199520241966: 56.61976: 28.11986: 36.51996: 26.61997: 56.21999: 67.52006: 31.62008: 40.12013: 57.32019: 48.92024: 57.5

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Lesotho recorded 57.5% for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in 2024.

The figure is up 0.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Lesotho peaked at 67.5% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 26.6%, in 1996.

Lesotho ranks 74th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Lesotho, 1966 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1966 56.6%
1976 28.1% -50.4%
1986 36.5% +30.1%
1996 26.6% -27.0%
1997 56.2% +111.0%
1999 67.5% +20.2%
2006 31.6% -53.1%
2008 40.1% +26.7%
2013 57.3% +42.9%
2019 48.9% -14.6%
2024 57.5% +17.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 71 Cameroon 57.7% compare
  2. 72 Ethiopia 57.6% compare
  3. 73 Gibraltar 57.5% compare
  4. 75 Zambia 57.4% compare
  5. 76 Korea 57.3% compare
  6. 77 Cuba 57.3% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Lesotho?
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Lesotho was 57.5% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 67.5% in 1999.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 26.6% in 1996.
How does Lesotho rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
Lesotho ranks 74th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 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 database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-female-percent-of-female-population-ages-15-national/lesotho/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,454 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.