Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Lesotho

Labor force participation rate in Lesotho in 2025 — 57.12%. Ranked 127 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 16.55 pp.

2025 57.12% −0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank 127of 182
Period maximum 73.67%1990
Period minimum 56.8%2021

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Lesotho, 1990–2025556065707519901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 73.67%1991: 73.67%1992: 73.64%1993: 73.59%1994: 73.51%1995: 73.42%1996: 73.33%1997: 73.21%1998: 73.07%1999: 72.92%2000: 72.41%2001: 71.89%2002: 71.37%2003: 70.84%2004: 70.3%2005: 69.76%2006: 69.21%2007: 68.66%2008: 68.1%2009: 67.54%2010: 66.97%2011: 66.4%2012: 65.82%2013: 65.24%2014: 64.02%2015: 62.78%2016: 61.52%2017: 60.24%2018: 58.96%2019: 57.66%2020: 57.11%2021: 56.8%2022: 57.5%2023: 57.46%2024: 57.42%2025: 57.12%
Change over the period: −16.55 pp Annual average: -0.47 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Lesotho

Lesotho 57.12%
World 60.98%
Southern Africa computed 56.15%
Labor force participation rate — Lesotho, by year Lesotho All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 57.12 −0.3 pp
2024 57.42 −0.04 pp
2023 57.46 −0.04 pp
2022 57.5 +0.7 pp
2021 56.8 −0.31 pp
2020 57.11 −0.55 pp
2019 57.66 −1.3 pp
2018 58.96 −1.29 pp
2017 60.24 −1.27 pp
2016 61.52 −1.26 pp
2015 62.78 −1.24 pp
2014 64.02 −1.22 pp
2013 65.24 −0.58 pp
2012 65.82 −0.58 pp
2011 66.4 −0.57 pp
2010 66.97 −0.57 pp
2009 67.54 −0.56 pp
2008 68.1 −0.56 pp
2007 68.66 −0.55 pp
2006 69.21 −0.55 pp
2005 69.76 −0.54 pp
2004 70.3 −0.53 pp
2003 70.84 −0.53 pp
2002 71.37 −0.52 pp
2001 71.89 −0.52 pp
2000 72.41 −0.51 pp
1999 72.92 −0.15 pp
1998 73.07 −0.14 pp
1997 73.21 −0.11 pp
1996 73.33 −0.09 pp
1995 73.42 −0.09 pp
1994 73.51 −0.07 pp
1993 73.59 −0.05 pp
1992 73.64 −0.03 pp
1991 73.67 −0.01 pp
1990 73.67

Southern Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.