Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions) (US) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions) (US) was 94.02 millions in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on primary education, US$ in Lesotho, 1972–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 94.02 millions for government expenditure on primary education, us$ in 2018. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of up 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on primary education, us$ in Lesotho peaked at 94.02 millions in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1.71 millions, in 1972.
That places Lesotho 121st out of 154 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions) (US) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 1.71 millions | — |
| 1974 | 2.12 millions | +23.6% |
| 1983 | 14.61 millions | +590.5% |
| 1984 | 9.46 millions | -35.2% |
| 1985 | 8.76 millions | -7.4% |
| 1988 | 12.96 millions | +47.9% |
| 1989 | 13.27 millions | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 38.62 millions | +191.2% |
| 1994 | 29.32 millions | -24.1% |
| 1995 | 39.4 millions | +34.4% |
| 1997 | 39.94 millions | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 57.61 millions | +44.2% |
| 2000 | 44.8 millions | -22.2% |
| 2001 | 44.23 millions | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 78.56 millions | +77.6% |
| 2006 | 76.09 millions | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 74.65 millions | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 94.02 millions | +25.9% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 94.02 millions is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 274.17 millions, 34% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 94.02 millions is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 179.98 millions, 52% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions) (US) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +590.5% | 2.12 millions | 14.61 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.91 millions | 1.71 millions | 2.12 millions | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.81 millions | 8.76 millions | 14.61 millions | 5 |
| 1990s | 40.98 millions | 29.32 millions | 57.61 millions | 5 |
| 2000s | 63.67 millions | 44.23 millions | 78.56 millions | 5 |
| 2010s | 94.02 millions | 94.02 millions | 94.02 millions | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More education data for Lesotho
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 68.25 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 67.83 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on primary education, us$ in Lesotho?
- Government expenditure on primary education, us$ in Lesotho was 94.02 millions in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on primary education, us$ recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 94.02 millions in 2018.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education, us$ recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.71 millions in 1972.
- How does Lesotho rank for government expenditure on primary education, us$?
- Lesotho ranks 121st out of 154 countries with data for 2018.
- Is government expenditure on primary education, us$ rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. 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 Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release