Labor force — all countries

Labor force — Lesotho

Labor force in Lesotho in 2025 — 889,530 people. Ranked 143 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 16.9%.

2025 889,530 people +1.21% vs 2024
World rank 143of 182
Period maximum 889,530 people2025
Period minimum 761,128 people1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · people

Labor force — Lesotho, 1990–2025750,000800,000850,000900,00019901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 761,128 people1991: 775,070 people1992: 789,181 people1993: 803,287 people1994: 817,270 people1995: 831,046 people1996: 843,925 people1997: 855,421 people1998: 865,579 people1999: 874,102 people2000: 876,334 people2001: 876,220 people2002: 874,139 people2003: 869,919 people2004: 862,883 people2005: 853,090 people2006: 847,150 people2007: 847,339 people2008: 848,116 people2009: 848,288 people2010: 848,407 people2011: 848,921 people2012: 850,066 people2013: 851,501 people2014: 844,443 people2015: 837,276 people2016: 830,732 people2017: 825,264 people2018: 820,144 people2019: 814,339 people2020: 819,139 people2021: 827,248 people2022: 850,547 people2023: 864,326 people2024: 878,864 people2025: 889,530 people
Change over the period: +128,402 (+16.87%) Average annual rate: 0.45 %

Comparison, 2025

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

Lesotho 889,530 people
World 3.74B people
Sub-Saharan Africa 527M people
Southern Africa computed 30.4M people
Lower-middle-income countries computed 1.34B people
Labor force — Lesotho, by year Lesotho All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2025 889,530 +10,666 +1.21%
2024 878,864 +14,538 +1.68%
2023 864,326 +13,779 +1.62%
2022 850,547 +23,299 +2.82%
2021 827,248 +8,109 +0.99%
2020 819,139 +4,800 +0.59%
2019 814,339 −5,805 −0.71%
2018 820,144 −5,120 −0.62%
2017 825,264 −5,468 −0.66%
2016 830,732 −6,544 −0.78%
2015 837,276 −7,167 −0.85%
2014 844,443 −7,058 −0.83%
2013 851,501 +1,435 +0.17%
2012 850,066 +1,145 +0.13%
2011 848,921 +514 +0.06%
2010 848,407 +119 +0.01%
2009 848,288 +172 +0.02%
2008 848,116 +777 +0.09%
2007 847,339 +189 +0.02%
2006 847,150 −5,940 −0.7%
2005 853,090 −9,793 −1.13%
2004 862,883 −7,036 −0.81%
2003 869,919 −4,220 −0.48%
2002 874,139 −2,081 −0.24%
2001 876,220 −114 −0.01%
2000 876,334 +2,232 +0.26%
1999 874,102 +8,523 +0.98%
1998 865,579 +10,158 +1.19%
1997 855,421 +11,496 +1.36%
1996 843,925 +12,879 +1.55%
1995 831,046 +13,776 +1.69%
1994 817,270 +13,983 +1.74%
1993 803,287 +14,106 +1.79%
1992 789,181 +14,111 +1.82%
1991 775,070 +13,942 +1.83%
1990 761,128

Southern Africa, 2025

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

About the indicator

The economically active population — everyone aged 15 and over who either works or actively looks for work. It covers the employed, the unemployed and first-time job seekers; it leaves out students, homemakers and other people who do not offer their labor on the market. The size of the labor force is the basic constraint on the growth potential of an economy.

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