Unemployment rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Unemployment rate was 16.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate in Lesotho, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 16.3% for unemployment rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Lesotho peaked at 18.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.4%, in 1992.
That places Lesotho 14th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15.5% | — |
| 1992 | 15.4% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 15.6% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 15.6% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 15.8% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 15.7% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 15.8% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 15.9% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 16.2% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 16.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 16.1% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 16.1% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 16.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 16.2% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 16.0% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 16.1% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 15.9% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 15.9% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 16.1% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 16.1% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 16.1% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 15.8% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 15.9% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 16.1% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 16.2% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 16.1% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 16.9% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 18.4% | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 18.2% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 16.6% | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 16.3% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 16.3% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 16.3% | -0.2% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 16.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 3.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 16.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 3.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.7% | 15.4% | 16.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.1% | 15.9% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 15.8% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.0% | 16.3% | 18.4% | 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 unemployment rate in Lesotho?
- Unemployment rate in Lesotho was 16.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.4% in 1992.
- How does Lesotho rank for unemployment rate?
- Lesotho ranks 14th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.