Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Lesotho

Lesotho: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 16.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
16.2%
World rank
8th
of 181 countries
All-time high
32.5%
in 2008
All-time low
15.1%
in 2019
Years of data
7
1986–2024

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Lesotho, 1986–2024

01020301986200520241986: 21.71997: 28.91999: 21.52008: 32.52013: 22.42019: 15.12024: 16.2

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2024, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Lesotho stood at 16.2%.

That represents a change of down 27.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Lesotho peaked at 32.5% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 15.1%, in 2019.

Lesotho ranks 8th of 181 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Lesotho, 1986 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1986 21.7%
1997 28.9% +33.2%
1999 21.5% -25.7%
2008 32.5% +51.6%
2013 22.4% -31.2%
2019 15.1% -32.5%
2024 16.2% +6.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 21.7% 21.7% 21.7% 1
1990s 25.2% 21.5% 28.9% 2
2000s 32.5% 32.5% 32.5% 1
2010s 18.7% 15.1% 22.4% 2
2020s 16.2% 16.2% 16.2% 1

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 5 Namibia 21.1% compare
  2. 6 French Polynesia 21.1% compare
  3. 7 Curaçao 17.6% compare
  4. 9 Puerto Rico 15.0% compare
  5. 10 Jordan 14.7% compare
  6. 11 Iraq 14.3% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More work & labour data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Lesotho?
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Lesotho was 16.2% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 32.5% in 2008.
What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 15.1% in 2019.
How does Lesotho rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
Lesotho ranks 8th out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Lesotho?
Over the last ten years it is down 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Lesotho data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-national-estimate/lesotho/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
205 places, 5,415 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.