Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), Lesotho or Sub-Saharan Africa?

Lesotho, at 16.3% against 5.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Lesotho and Sub-Saharan Africa?

35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Lesotho vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)

Lesotho

16.3%

in 2025

Sub-Saharan Africa

5.7%

in 2025

Lesotho rank

14th

Sub-Saharan Africa rank

12th

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) over time

Lesotho
Sub-Saharan Africa

How they compare

Lesotho currently reports 16.3% against 5.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 10.6%.

That makes Lesotho's figure about 2.9 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.

Across all 35 years both countries report, Lesotho has been ahead every year.

Lesotho ranks 14th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th of 187 countries.

Lesotho has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Lesotho	Sub-Saharan Africa	Difference	Ahead
1990s	15.7%	6.4%	9.3%	Lesotho
2000s	16.1%	6.0%	10.1%	Lesotho
2010s	16.2%	5.9%	10.3%	Lesotho
2020s	17.0%	6.1%	10.9%	Lesotho

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), Lesotho or Sub-Saharan Africa?: Lesotho, at 16.3% against 5.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2025.
What is the difference in unemployment, total (% of total labor force) between Lesotho and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 10.6%, with Lesotho ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Lesotho and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
How do Lesotho and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?: Lesotho ranks 14th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th of 187 countries.
Where does this data come from?: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Lesotho vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force). Statizoid, drawing on ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-modeled-ilo-estimate/lesotho/sub-saharan-africa/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-modeled-ilo-estimate/lesotho/sub-saharan-africa/">Lesotho vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 235 places, 8,211 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed: 03 September 2026

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.