Lesotho — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Lesotho, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Lesotho was 57.12% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 73.67% in 1990. The lowest was 56.80% in 2021 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.72% per year.
Lesotho ranks 128 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 68%. The median for Sub-Saharan Africa is 64.31%, so Lesotho sits below it. It peaked in 1990 and has fallen 22% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 9%. Within Sub-Saharan Africa it ranks 34 of 47 economies; Cabo Verde (57.02%) is just below it. That is 3% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 25th of 187 in 1990 → 33rd of 187 in 2000 → 50th of 187 in 2010 → 118th of 187 in 2020 → 127th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 57.12% | -0.3 pp |
| 2024 | 57.42% | -0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 57.46% | -0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 57.5% | +0.7 pp |
| 2021 | 56.8% | -0.3 pp |
| 2020 | 57.11% | -0.5 pp |
| 2019 | 57.66% | -1.3 pp |
| 2018 | 58.96% | -1.3 pp |
| 2017 | 60.24% | -1.3 pp |
| 2016 | 61.52% | -1.3 pp |
| 2015 | 62.78% | -1.2 pp |
| 2014 | 64.02% | -1.2 pp |
| 2013 | 65.24% | -0.6 pp |
| 2012 | 65.82% | -0.6 pp |
| 2011 | 66.4% | -0.6 pp |
| 2010 | 66.97% | -0.6 pp |
| 2009 | 67.54% | -0.6 pp |
| 2008 | 68.1% | -0.6 pp |
| 2007 | 68.66% | -0.6 pp |
| 2006 | 69.21% | -0.5 pp |
| 2005 | 69.76% | -0.5 pp |
| 2004 | 70.3% | -0.5 pp |
| 2003 | 70.84% | -0.5 pp |
| 2002 | 71.37% | -0.5 pp |
| 2001 | 71.89% | -0.5 pp |
| 2000 | 72.41% | -0.5 pp |
| 1999 | 72.92% | -0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 73.07% | -0.1 pp |
| 1997 | 73.21% | -0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 73.33% | -0.1 pp |
| 1995 | 73.42% | -0.1 pp |
| 1994 | 73.51% | -0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 73.59% | -0.1 pp |
| 1992 | 73.64% | -0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 73.67% | -0.0 pp |
| 1990 | 73.67% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Lesotho’s Labor participation in 1991?
73.67% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Lesotho’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -22.5% in total — about 0.7% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 57.12%; 2024: 57.42%; 2023: 57.46%; 2022: 57.5%; 2021: 56.8%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.