Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate was 44.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
44.7%
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
175th
of 236 countries
All-time high
44.7%
in 2025
All-time low
1.8%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Lesotho, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 44.7% for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Lesotho peaked at 44.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1950.
That places Lesotho 175th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.8% | — |
| 1951 | 1.8% | +0.8% |
| 1952 | 1.8% | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 1.9% | +3.3% |
| 1954 | 1.9% | +4.1% |
| 1955 | 2.0% | +4.6% |
| 1956 | 2.1% | +5.3% |
| 1957 | 2.3% | +9.7% |
| 1958 | 2.7% | +14.7% |
| 1959 | 3.1% | +16.7% |
| 1960 | 3.7% | +16.9% |
| 1961 | 4.2% | +16.0% |
| 1962 | 4.9% | +14.5% |
| 1963 | 5.5% | +12.7% |
| 1964 | 6.1% | +10.9% |
| 1965 | 6.6% | +9.0% |
| 1966 | 7.1% | +7.3% |
| 1967 | 7.6% | +6.9% |
| 1968 | 8.1% | +7.0% |
| 1969 | 8.7% | +6.8% |
| 1970 | 9.2% | +6.3% |
| 1971 | 9.7% | +5.7% |
| 1972 | 10.2% | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 10.6% | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 10.9% | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 11.1% | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 11.2% | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 11.2% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 11.2% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 11.2% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 11.2% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 11.2% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 11.2% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 11.3% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 11.3% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 11.3% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 11.3% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 11.5% | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 11.8% | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 12.3% | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 12.9% | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 13.6% | +5.3% |
| 1992 | 14.3% | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 15.0% | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 15.8% | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 16.5% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 17.1% | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 17.7% | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 18.2% | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 18.8% | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 19.3% | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 19.9% | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 20.5% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 21.1% | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 21.8% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 22.5% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 23.3% | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 24.2% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 25.2% | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 26.3% | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 27.4% | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 28.6% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 29.9% | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 31.2% | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 32.6% | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 34.1% | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 35.5% | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 36.5% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 37.6% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 38.6% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 39.6% | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 40.7% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 41.7% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 42.7% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 43.7% | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 44.7% | +2.3% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 44.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.9%, 88% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 44.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 100% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.1% | 1.8% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.2% | 3.7% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.7% | 9.2% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.4% | 11.2% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.0% | 12.9% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.4% | 19.3% | 26.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.2% | 27.4% | 38.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.2% | 39.6% | 44.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 172 Zambia 45.9% compare
- 173 Seychelles 45.5% compare
- 174 Democratic Republic of Congo 45.1% compare
- 176 Central African Republic 44.6% compare
- 177 Togo 44.4% compare
- 178 Moldova 43.7% compare
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 urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Lesotho?
- Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Lesotho was 44.7% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 44.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1950.
- How does Lesotho rank for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate?
- Lesotho ranks 175th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population vs. female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.