Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Lesotho

Lesotho: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 21,586 in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
21,586
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
146th
of 200 countries
All-time high
25,507
in 2012
All-time low
342
in 1972
Years of data
44
1970–2018

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Lesotho, 1970–2018

010.0k20.0k30.0k1970199420181970: 4021971: 3681972: 3421973: 4681974: 5631975: 5291976: 7081977: 9501978: 1.1k1979: 1.3k1980: 1.2k1981: 1.3k1982: 1.4k1983: 1.4k1984: 1.4k1985: 1.8k1986: 1.9k1987: 2.2k1988: 2.4k1989: 2.4k1990: 2.0k1991: 2.1k1992: 3.7k1993: 4.0k1994: 4.4k1995: 4.4k1996: 4.6k1997: 4.4k1998: 4.2k1999: 4.0k2000: 4.5k2001: 5.0k2002: 5.0k2003: 6.1k2004: 7.0k2005: 7.9k2006: 8.5k2012: 25.5k2013: 24.1k2014: 23.5k2015: 21.7k2016: 22.1k2017: 22.6k2018: 21.6k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

Lesotho recorded 21,586 for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and up 154.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Lesotho peaked at 25,507 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 342, in 1972.

Lesotho ranks 146th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Lesotho, 1970 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1970 402
1971 368 -8.5%
1972 342 -7.1%
1973 468 +36.8%
1974 563 +20.3%
1975 529 -6.0%
1976 708 +33.8%
1977 950 +34.2%
1978 1,075 +13.2%
1979 1,260 +17.2%
1980 1,188 -5.7%
1981 1,319 +11.0%
1982 1,397 +5.9%
1983 1,432 +2.5%
1984 1,373 -4.1%
1985 1,771 +29.0%
1986 1,869 +5.5%
1987 2,220 +18.8%
1988 2,410 +8.6%
1989 2,391 -0.8%
1990 2,029 -15.1%
1991 2,112 +4.1%
1992 3,704 +75.4%
1993 4,001 +8.0%
1994 4,365 +9.1%
1995 4,384 +0.4%
1996 4,614 +5.2%
1997 4,425 -4.1%
1998 4,235 -4.3%
1999 4,046 -4.5%
2000 4,470 +10.5%
2001 4,976 +11.3%
2002 5,005 +0.6%
2003 6,108 +22.0%
2004 7,013 +14.8%
2005 7,918 +12.9%
2006 8,500 +7.4%
2012 25,507 +200.1%
2013 24,073 -5.6%
2014 23,545 -2.2%
2015 21,664 -8.0%
2016 22,118 +2.1%
2017 22,572 +2.1%
2018 21,586 -4.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 666.5 342 1,260 10
1980s 1,737 1,188 2,410 10
1990s 3,792 2,029 4,614 10
2000s 6,284 4,470 8,500 7
2010s 23,009 21,586 25,507 7

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 143 Gambia 27,304 compare
  2. 144 Mauritania 24,444 compare
  3. 145 Trinidad and Tobago 22,384 compare
  4. 147 Montenegro 21,177 compare
  5. 148 Malta 21,120 compare
  6. 149 Iceland 20,287 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Lesotho?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Lesotho was 21,586 in 2018, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 25,507 in 2012.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 342 in 1972.
How does Lesotho rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
Lesotho ranks 146th out of 200 countries with data for 2018.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in Lesotho?
Over the last ten years it is up 154.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Lesotho data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/lesotho/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/lesotho/">Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Lesotho</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
421 places, 19,011 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.