Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 13,054 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Lesotho, 1970–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Lesotho is 13,054, measured in 2018.
The figure is down 6.0% on the previous year and up 178.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Lesotho peaked at 15,152 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 133, in 1971.
That places Lesotho 146th out of 195 countries with data for 2018, putting it 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, female (number) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 138 | — |
| 1971 | 133 | -3.6% |
| 1973 | 209 | +57.1% |
| 1974 | 246 | +17.7% |
| 1975 | 222 | -9.8% |
| 1977 | 455 | +105.0% |
| 1978 | 541 | +18.9% |
| 1979 | 600 | +10.9% |
| 1981 | 659 | +9.8% |
| 1982 | 715 | +8.5% |
| 1983 | 723 | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 692 | -4.3% |
| 1985 | 935 | +35.1% |
| 1986 | 1,014 | +8.4% |
| 1987 | 1,317 | +29.9% |
| 1988 | 1,488 | +13.0% |
| 1989 | 1,463 | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 1,179 | -19.4% |
| 1991 | 1,244 | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 2,013 | +61.8% |
| 1993 | 2,223 | +10.4% |
| 1994 | 2,398 | +7.9% |
| 1995 | 2,421 | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 2,509 | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 2,579 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 2,764 | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 3,158 | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 2,905 | -8.0% |
| 2003 | 3,745 | +28.9% |
| 2005 | 4,503 | +20.2% |
| 2006 | 4,690 | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 15,152 | +223.1% |
| 2013 | 14,114 | -6.9% |
| 2014 | 13,784 | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 12,964 | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 13,880 | +7.1% |
| 2018 | 13,054 | -6.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 13,054 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 142,539, 9% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 13,054 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 40,177, 32% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Lesotho changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +223.1% | 4,690 | 15,152 |
| 1977 | +105.0% | 222 | 455 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 318 | 133 | 600 | 8 |
| 1980s | 1,001 | 659 | 1,488 | 9 |
| 1990s | 2,071 | 1,179 | 2,579 | 8 |
| 2000s | 3,628 | 2,764 | 4,690 | 6 |
| 2010s | 13,825 | 12,964 | 15,152 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
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 enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Lesotho?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Lesotho was 13,054 in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 15,152 in 2012.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 133 in 1971.
- How does Lesotho rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- Lesotho ranks 146th out of 195 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 178.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release