Population by labor force status in Lesotho
Lesotho: Population by labor force status was 805,944 people in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
805,944 people
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
133rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
821,528 people
in 1996
All-time low
719,177 people
in 2007
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Population by labor force status in Lesotho, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by labor force status in Lesotho is 805,944 people, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in Lesotho peaked at 821,528 people in 1996 and was at its lowest, 719,177 people, in 2007.
Lesotho ranks 133rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Population by labor force status in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 790,241 people | — |
| 1992 | 801,573 people | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 810,175 people | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 815,973 people | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 819,577 people | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 821,528 people | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 819,747 people | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 813,492 people | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 804,521 people | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 793,643 people | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 782,022 people | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 769,812 people | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 756,984 people | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 743,720 people | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 730,166 people | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 721,087 people | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 719,177 people | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 721,198 people | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 724,925 people | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 729,463 people | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 735,514 people | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 742,893 people | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 751,321 people | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 760,997 people | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 770,858 people | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 780,011 people | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 787,219 people | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 792,469 people | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 796,972 people | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 801,332 people | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 805,044 people | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 806,923 people | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 807,249 people | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 806,862 people | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 805,944 people | -0.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 805,944 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.79 million people, 21% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 805,944 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.33 million people, 13% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 810,759 people | 790,241 people | 821,528 people | 9 |
| 2000s | 746,273 people | 719,177 people | 793,643 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 764,772 people | 729,463 people | 796,972 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 805,559 people | 801,332 people | 807,249 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More work & labour data for Lesotho
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1902 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1964 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1849 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.293 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.37 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,485 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,719 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,674 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,586 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3,259 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by labor force status in Lesotho?
- Population by labor force status in Lesotho was 805,944 people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 821,528 people in 1996.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 719,177 people in 2007.
- How does Lesotho rank for population by labor force status?
- Lesotho ranks 133rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).