Labor force participation rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Labor force participation rate was 57.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
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
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Lesotho stood at 57.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Lesotho peaked at 73.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 56.8%, in 2021.
Lesotho ranks 128th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 73.4% | 72.9% | 73.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.0% | 67.5% | 72.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.0% | 57.7% | 67.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.2% | 56.8% | 57.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 125 Spain 57.4% compare
- 126 Kyrgyzstan 57.4% compare
- 127 Fiji 57.2% compare
- 129 Cape Verde 57.0% compare
- 130 Honduras 56.6% compare
- 131 New Caledonia 56.4% compare
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 in Lesotho?
- Labor force participation rate in Lesotho was 57.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 73.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.8% in 2021.
- How does Lesotho rank for labor force participation rate?
- Lesotho ranks 128th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. 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 Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).