Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 37.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Lesotho, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 37.1% for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Lesotho peaked at 42.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 28.4%, in 1992.
Lesotho ranks 21st of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 28.5% | — |
| 1992 | 28.4% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 28.6% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 28.6% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 28.8% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 28.6% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 28.8% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 28.9% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 29.4% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 29.4% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 29.4% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 29.5% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 29.6% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 29.9% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 29.9% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 30.1% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 30.2% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 30.3% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 31.0% | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 31.3% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 31.7% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 31.5% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 32.2% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 33.1% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 34.0% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 34.4% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 35.5% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 36.5% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 37.6% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 42.5% | +12.9% |
| 2021 | 40.2% | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 37.7% | -6.4% |
| 2023 | 37.2% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 37.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 37.1% | -0.2% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 37.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.3%, 3.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 37.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.5%, 3.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.7% | 28.4% | 29.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 29.9% | 29.4% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.8% | 31.3% | 37.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.7% | 37.1% | 42.5% | 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, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Lesotho?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Lesotho was 37.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.4% in 1992.
- How does Lesotho rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- Lesotho ranks 21st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.