Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 16.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Lesotho, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Lesotho is 16.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Lesotho peaked at 18.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.4%, in 1992.
That places Lesotho 14th out of 186 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, total (% of total labor force) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15.5% | — |
| 1992 | 15.4% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 15.6% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 15.6% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 15.8% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 15.7% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 15.8% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 15.9% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 16.2% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 16.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 16.1% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 16.1% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 16.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 16.2% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 16.0% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 16.1% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 15.9% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 15.9% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 16.1% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 16.1% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 16.1% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 15.8% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 15.9% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 16.1% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 16.2% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 16.1% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 16.9% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 18.4% | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 18.2% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 16.6% | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 16.3% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 16.3% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 16.3% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.7% | 15.4% | 16.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.1% | 15.9% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 15.8% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.0% | 16.3% | 18.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More education data for Lesotho
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 150,993 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0646 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 158,487 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.5022 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0678 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 136,497 (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 5.99 % change on previous year (2017)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 10,388 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.66 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Lesotho?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Lesotho was 16.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.4% in 1992.
- How does Lesotho rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Lesotho ranks 14th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. 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, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.