LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Lesotho

Lesotho: LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was 22.78 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
22.78
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
21st
of 188 countries
All-time high
22.78
in 2027
All-time low
18.6
in 2012
Years of data
23
2005–2027

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Lesotho, 2005–2027

05101520252005201620272005: 192006: 192007: 18.92008: 18.82009: 192010: 192011: 192012: 18.62013: 18.82014: 18.92015: 192016: 18.92017: 19.12018: 19.32019: 19.52020: 21.42021: 22.62022: 21.62023: 222024: 22.82025: 22.72026: 22.72027: 22.8

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Lesotho recorded 22.78 for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in 2027. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 19.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Lesotho peaked at 22.78 in 2027 and was at its lowest, 18.6, in 2012.

Lesotho ranks 21st of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Lesotho, 2005 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2005 19.02
2006 19.03 +0.0%
2007 18.89 -0.7%
2008 18.77 -0.6%
2009 19.04 +1.4%
2010 18.97 -0.4%
2011 19 +0.2%
2012 18.6 -2.1%
2013 18.76 +0.8%
2014 18.87 +0.6%
2015 19 +0.7%
2016 18.86 -0.7%
2017 19.08 +1.1%
2018 19.29 +1.1%
2019 19.53 +1.2%
2020 21.42 +9.7%
2021 22.62 +5.6%
2022 21.58 -4.6%
2023 22.01 +2.0%
2024 22.76 +3.4%
2025 22.66 -0.4%
2026 22.68 +0.1%
2027 22.78 +0.4%

Lesotho compared with similar countries

  • Lesotho's 22.78 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.95, 1.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • Lesotho's 22.78 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.61, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 18.95 18.77 19.04 5
2010s 19 18.6 19.53 10
2020s 22.31 21.42 22.78 8

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 18 Yemen 24 compare
  2. 19 Armenia 23.45 compare
  3. 20 Azerbaijan 23.35 compare
  4. 22 Iraq 22.76 compare
  5. 23 Somalia 22.46 compare
  6. 24 Rwanda 22.27 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Lesotho?
Lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Lesotho was 22.78 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 22.78 in 2027.
What is the lowest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 18.6 in 2012.
How does Lesotho rank for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment?
Lesotho ranks 21st out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment rising or falling in Lesotho?
Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Lesotho data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu2-combined-rate-of-time-related-underemployment-and-unemployment-ilo-modelled-estimates/lesotho/

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About this data

Indicator
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 6,324 data points, 2005–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. LU2 represents the share of the labour force that are either in unemployment or time-related underemployment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.