Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 18.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Lesotho, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Lesotho is 18.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Lesotho peaked at 20.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.4%, in 1992.
That places Lesotho 17th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 17.5% | — |
| 1992 | 17.4% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 17.5% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 17.6% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 17.8% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 17.7% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 17.8% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 17.9% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 18.1% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 18.1% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 18.1% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 18.1% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 18.0% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 18.2% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 18.0% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 18.1% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 18.0% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 17.9% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 18.2% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 18.2% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 17.8% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 18.0% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 18.1% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 18.3% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 18.2% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 18.5% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 18.8% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 19.1% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 20.6% | +7.8% |
| 2021 | 20.4% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 18.9% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 18.6% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 18.6% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 18.4% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.7% | 17.4% | 18.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.1% | 17.9% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.3% | 17.8% | 19.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.2% | 18.4% | 20.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More education data for Lesotho
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5,672 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 30,627 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 22,924 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 23,698 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 136,497 (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 309,480 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8093 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1324 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Lesotho?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Lesotho was 18.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 20.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.4% in 1992.
- How does Lesotho rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Lesotho ranks 17th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.