Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 29.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lesotho, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lesotho is 29.2%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lesotho peaked at 51.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 29.2%, in 2023.
Lesotho ranks 61st of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 51.2% | — |
| 1992 | 50.9% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 50.6% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 50.1% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 50.3% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 50.2% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 49.9% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 48.9% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 47.8% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 46.4% | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 44.7% | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 43.3% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 41.6% | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 40.1% | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 38.3% | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 36.7% | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 34.3% | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 32.6% | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 32.5% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 32.3% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 32.0% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 31.6% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 31.4% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 31.1% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 30.8% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 30.4% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 30.4% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 30.3% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 29.8% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 30.2% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 30.1% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 29.6% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 29.2% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.0% | 47.8% | 51.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 39.1% | 32.5% | 46.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.0% | 29.8% | 32.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.8% | 29.2% | 30.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More agriculture & rural data for Lesotho
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0649 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 70.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6715 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5533 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 5.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lesotho?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Lesotho was 29.2% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 51.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.2% in 2023.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Lesotho ranks 61st out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.