Doubling Emigration Plans: Lesotho's Youth Reveal Challenges and Priorities

Strategic Insights -

In a trend that warrants attention, the share of young Basotho who have considered emigrating has nearly doubled since 2017, from 27% to 48%. This demographic is profoundly affected by the country's slow economic growth, high unemployment rates, and perceptions of government failure to address key issues.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lesotho's youth (aged 18-35) are more educated than older generations, with 74% having attained at least secondary education, compared to 23%-41% among older age groups.
  • Youth unemployment is a significant concern, with 62% saying they are not employed and looking for work, compared to 53% of those aged 36-55.
  • Key barriers to employment cited by young Basotho include a lack of required experience (26%), an unwillingness by youth to accept certain types of work (24%), and inadequate training or preparation (18%).
  • Most (59%) of youth prefer to start their own businesses as a type of employment, followed by public-sector work (20%).
  • Increased government spending to support young people would be prioritized by youth, with 62% prioritizing job creation, followed by access to business loans (16%), job training (10%), and education (9%).
  • Unemployment is the top concern among young Basotho, with 67% identifying it as the most important issue they want the government to address.
  • Other top priorities for government action include infrastructure/roads (49%), crime and security (25%), water supply (24%), and electricity (19%).
  • The government's Initiative for Youth Empowerment, aimed at promoting youth entrepreneurship in key sectors, has been launched in response to the youth bulge and socioeconomic challenges.

Statistics:

  • 48% of young Basotho report having considered emigrating, nearly doubling since 2017 (Government of Lesotho, United Nations, 2023).
  • 30.5% unemployment rate among youth in Lesotho, ranking among the highest globally (United Nations Development Programme, 2015; World Bank, 2021a).
  • 44% of 20- to 35-year-olds and 29% of 15- to 19-year-olds in Lesotho are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) (World Bank, 2021b).
  • 59% of youth prefer to start their own businesses as a type of employment (Afrobarometer Round 10, 2025).

Sources:

  • United Nations Development Programme (2014). Report on Sustainable Development in Lesotho.
  • World Bank (2021a). Lesotho Overview.
  • United Nations Development Programme (2015). World Youth Report.
  • World Bank (2021b). Lesotho: Unemployment, Informality, and Poverty Reduction.
  • United Nations (2023). Initiative for Youth Empowerment in Lesotho.
  • Afrobarometer Round 10 (2025). Dispatch on Basotho Youth's Experiences and Perspectives.