Male labor force participation rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Male labor force participation rate was 66.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Male 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
The most recent figure for male labor force participation rate in Lesotho is 66.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor force participation rate in Lesotho peaked at 81.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 66.1%, in 2021.
Lesotho ranks 122nd 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 | 80.5% | 79.0% | 81.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.1% | 75.5% | 78.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.9% | 67.2% | 75.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.9% | 66.1% | 67.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 119 Equatorial Guinea 67.2% compare
- 120 Iran 67.2% compare
- 121 United States 67.1% compare
- 123 Democratic Republic of Congo 66.8% compare
- 124 Latvia 66.8% compare
- 125 Lebanon 66.7% compare
More work & labour data for Lesotho
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- 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)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 66.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 23.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 34.6% (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 male labor force participation rate in Lesotho?
- Male labor force participation rate in Lesotho was 66.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male labor force participation rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 81.3% in 1990.
- What is the lowest male labor force participation rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.1% in 2021.
- How does Lesotho rank for male labor force participation rate?
- Lesotho ranks 122nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor force participation rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. 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 Male labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).