Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Lesotho

Lesotho: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 73.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
73.9%
World rank
67th
of 196 countries
All-time high
79.2%
in 1999
All-time low
44.5%
in 1966
Years of data
11
1966–2024

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Lesotho, 1966–2024

0204060801966199520241966: 44.51976: 62.11986: 76.41996: 56.71997: 69.21999: 79.22006: 58.12008: 50.92013: 742019: 67.12024: 73.9

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

Analysis

Lesotho recorded 73.9% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2024.

The figure is down 0.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Lesotho peaked at 79.2% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 44.5%, in 1966.

Lesotho ranks 67th 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Lesotho, 1966 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1966 44.5%
1976 62.1% +39.5%
1986 76.4% +23.0%
1996 56.7% -25.8%
1997 69.2% +22.1%
1999 79.2% +14.4%
2006 58.1% -26.6%
2008 50.9% -12.5%
2013 74.0% +45.4%
2019 67.1% -9.3%
2024 73.9% +10.1%

Lesotho compared with similar countries

  • Lesotho's 73.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 71.7%, 1.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Lesotho's 73.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.2%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 44.5% 44.5% 44.5% 1
1970s 62.1% 62.1% 62.1% 1
1980s 76.4% 76.4% 76.4% 1
1990s 68.4% 56.7% 79.2% 3
2000s 54.5% 50.9% 58.1% 2
2010s 70.6% 67.1% 74.0% 2
2020s 73.9% 73.9% 73.9% 1

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 64 Cameroon 74.5% compare
  2. 65 Belarus 74.1% compare
  3. 66 Panama 74.0% compare
  4. 68 Kenya 73.8% compare
  5. 69 Singapore 73.6% compare
  6. 70 Brazil 73.5% 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Lesotho?
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Lesotho was 73.9% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 79.2% in 1999.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 44.5% in 1966.
How does Lesotho rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
Lesotho ranks 67th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Lesotho?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-15-national-estimate/lesotho/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male 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, 5,453 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.