Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 71.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Lesotho, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Lesotho is 71.9%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Lesotho peaked at 85.3% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 71.9%, in 2025.
Lesotho ranks 122nd of 187 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.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 82.0% | — |
| 1991 | 82.0% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 82.1% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 82.3% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 82.6% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 83.0% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 83.4% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 84.0% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 84.6% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 85.3% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 84.8% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 84.3% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 83.8% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 83.2% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 82.7% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 82.1% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 81.6% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 81.0% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 80.4% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 79.8% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 79.2% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 78.6% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 78.0% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 77.4% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 76.7% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 75.9% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 75.2% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 74.4% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 73.6% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 72.9% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 72.9% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 73.0% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 71.9% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 72.0% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 72.1% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 71.9% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 83.1% | 82.0% | 85.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 82.4% | 79.8% | 84.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.2% | 72.9% | 79.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.3% | 71.9% | 73.0% | 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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Lesotho?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Lesotho was 71.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 85.3% in 1999.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.9% in 2025.
- How does Lesotho rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
- Lesotho ranks 122nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.