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Lesotho · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

173rd of 185 · 38th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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UnemploymentLesotho's unemployment rose from 15.7 % in 1996 to 16.3 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202516%17%18%19%16.3 %

Lesotho's unemployment rose from 15.7 % in 1996 to 16.3 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

153rd of 183 · 36th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Youth unemploymentLesotho's youth unemployment rose from 21.8 % in 1996 to 24.7 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%22%24%26%28%30%24.7 %

Lesotho's youth unemployment rose from 21.8 % in 1996 to 24.7 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

127th of 182 · 33rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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ParticipationLesotho's participation fell from 73.3 % in 1996 to 57.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202555%60%65%70%75%57.1 %

Lesotho's participation fell from 73.3 % in 1996 to 57.1 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

123rd of 182 · 35th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)Lesotho's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 67.0 % in 1996 to 48.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202545%50%55%60%65%70%48.1 %

Lesotho's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 67.0 % in 1996 to 48.1 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

151st of 182 · 37th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)Lesotho's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 61.8 % in 1996 to 47.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202545%50%55%60%65%47.8 %

Lesotho's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 61.8 % in 1996 to 47.8 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

143rd of 182 · 37th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force, totalLesotho's labour force, total rose from 843,925 in 1996 to 889,530 in 2025.200020052010201520202025800k820k840k860k880k900k889,530

Lesotho's labour force, total rose from 843,925 in 1996 to 889,530 in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

80th of 182 · 37th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Self-employed (% of total employment)Lesotho's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 44.7 % in 1996 to 38.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202538%40%42%44%46%38.5 %

Lesotho's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 44.7 % in 1996 to 38.5 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

99th of 182 · 8th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)Lesotho's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 38.7 % in 1996 to 32.6 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202532%34%36%38%40%32.6 %

Lesotho's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 38.7 % in 1996 to 32.6 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

55th of 182 · 34th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)Lesotho's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 35.9 % in 1996 to 30.9 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202528%30%32%34%36%38%30.9 %

Lesotho's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 35.9 % in 1996 to 30.9 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

9th of 182 · 1st in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in industry (% of total employment)Lesotho's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 15.9 % in 1996 to 33.0 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%10%20%30%33.0 %

Lesotho's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 15.9 % in 1996 to 33.0 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

160th of 182 · 27th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in services (% of total employment)Lesotho's employment in services (% of total employment) fell from 48.2 % in 1996 to 36.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202530%35%40%45%50%36.1 %

Lesotho's employment in services (% of total employment) fell from 48.2 % in 1996 to 36.1 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

151st of 168 · 29th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)Lesotho's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $4,953 in 1996 to intl $8,639 in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $4kintl $6kintl $8kintl $10kintl $8,639

Lesotho's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $4,953 in 1996 to intl $8,639 in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for Lesotho.

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