Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Lesotho
Lesotho: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 71.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Lesotho, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Lesotho stood at 71.9%. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 rates in Lesotho peaked at 85.3% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 71.9%, in 2025.
Lesotho ranks 121st 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.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | 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 rates in Lesotho?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Lesotho was 71.9% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 85.3% in 1999.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates 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 rates?
- Lesotho ranks 121st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates 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 International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).