Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female (%) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female (%) was 12.0% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female in Lesotho, 1970–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 12.0% for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female in 2018.
That represents a change of down 5.2% on the previous year and up 199.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female in Lesotho peaked at 12.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1971.
Lesotho ranks 149th of 189 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female (%) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.3% | — |
| 1971 | 0.3% | -10.4% |
| 1973 | 0.4% | +52.5% |
| 1974 | 0.4% | +12.9% |
| 1975 | 0.4% | -13.3% |
| 1977 | 0.7% | +89.2% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | +14.7% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | +7.3% |
| 1981 | 0.9% | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | +6.0% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | -6.4% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | +32.1% |
| 1986 | 1.3% | +5.9% |
| 1987 | 1.6% | +23.7% |
| 1988 | 1.8% | +12.1% |
| 1989 | 1.7% | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 1.4% | -20.2% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | +59.3% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | +8.1% |
| 1994 | 2.6% | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 2.6% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | -6.6% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | +12.0% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -9.5% |
| 2003 | 3.2% | +27.5% |
| 2005 | 3.9% | +19.0% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | +219.7% |
| 2013 | 12.1% | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 12.1% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 11.6% | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 12.6% | +9.1% |
| 2018 | 12.0% | -5.2% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 12.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15.0%, 80% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 12.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.3%, 1.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female (%) 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 | +219.7% | 4.0% | 12.8% |
| 1977 | +89.2% | 0.4% | 0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.9% | 8 |
| 1980s | 1.3% | 0.9% | 1.8% | 9 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 8 |
| 2000s | 3.2% | 2.5% | 4.0% | 6 |
| 2010s | 12.2% | 11.6% | 12.8% | 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 gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female in Lesotho?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female in Lesotho was 12.0% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 12.8% in 2012.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1971.
- How does Lesotho rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female?
- Lesotho ranks 149th out of 189 countries with data for 2018.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 199.3%. 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 Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release