Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 32.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Lesotho, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Lesotho stood at 32.6%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Lesotho peaked at 41.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 32.6%, in 2025.
That places Lesotho 86th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 41.0% | — |
| 1992 | 40.4% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 40.0% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 39.5% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 39.2% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 38.7% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 38.5% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 38.2% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 37.8% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 37.5% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 37.1% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 36.8% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 36.5% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 36.2% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 35.9% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 35.4% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 35.1% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 34.7% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 34.7% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 34.5% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 34.2% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 33.9% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 33.8% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 33.5% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 33.3% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 33.2% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 33.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 33.1% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 33.2% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 33.3% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 32.6% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 32.7% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 32.9% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 32.8% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 32.6% | -0.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 32.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 55% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 32.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 48% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.3% | 37.8% | 41.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 36.0% | 34.7% | 37.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.6% | 33.1% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.8% | 32.6% | 33.3% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Lesotho?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Lesotho was 32.6% 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 41.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.6% in 2025.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Lesotho ranks 86th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. 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 Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).