Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Lesotho
Lesotho: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 6.98 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Lesotho, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 6.98 years for average years of schooling, males vs. females in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 22.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in Lesotho peaked at 6.98 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3.91 years, in 1990.
That places Lesotho 152nd out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.91 years | — |
| 1991 | 3.99 years | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 4.07 years | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 4.14 years | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 4.22 years | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 4.29 years | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 4.38 years | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 4.47 years | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 4.56 years | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 4.65 years | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 4.74 years | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 4.84 years | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 4.94 years | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 5.04 years | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 5.14 years | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 5.24 years | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 5.17 years | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 5.05 years | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 4.93 years | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 5.08 years | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 5.24 years | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 5.39 years | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 5.55 years | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 5.7 years | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 5.86 years | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 6.01 years | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 6.16 years | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 6.32 years | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 6.47 years | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 6.64 years | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 6.81 years | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 6.98 years | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 6.98 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 6.98 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.27 years | 3.91 years | 4.65 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.02 years | 4.74 years | 5.24 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.93 years | 5.24 years | 6.64 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.94 years | 6.81 years | 6.98 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More education data for Lesotho
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -4.37 % change on previous year (2018)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 7,735 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2,653 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 13,054 (2018)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -5.95 % change on previous year (2018)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 8,532 (2018)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -1.84 % change on previous year (2018)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in Lesotho?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Lesotho was 6.98 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 6.98 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.91 years in 1990.
- How does Lesotho rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Lesotho ranks 152nd out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) men over 25 years participated in formal education.