Literacy rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Literacy rate was 90.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
90.5%
World rank
74th
of 128 countries
All-time high
97.3%
in 2016
All-time low
52.5%
in 1950
Years of data
7
1950–2024
Literacy rate in Lesotho, 1950–2024
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 90.5% for literacy rate in 2024.
That represents a change of down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Lesotho peaked at 97.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 52.5%, in 1950.
That places Lesotho 74th out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 52.5% | — |
| 2000 | 86.2% | +64.3% |
| 2006 | 66.1% | -23.4% |
| 2016 | 97.3% | +47.2% |
| 2018 | 86.2% | -11.3% |
| 2019 | 92.4% | +7.1% |
| 2024 | 90.5% | -2.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 90.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 1.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 90.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.9%, 1.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 52.5% | 52.5% | 52.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 76.2% | 66.1% | 86.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 92.0% | 86.2% | 97.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 90.5% | 90.5% | 90.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 71 South Africa 91.2% compare
- 72 Thailand 91.1% compare
- 73 Eswatini 90.8% compare
- 75 El Salvador 89.8% compare
- 76 Iran 88.9% compare
- 77 Cape Verde 88.5% compare
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 literacy rate in Lesotho?
- Literacy rate in Lesotho was 90.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 97.3% in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.5% in 1950.
- How does Lesotho rank for literacy rate?
- Lesotho ranks 74th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.