Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Lesotho
Lesotho: Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes was 80.2% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
80.2%
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
205th
of 217 countries
All-time high
130.0%
in 2006
All-time low
80.2%
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Lesotho, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Lesotho is 80.2%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Lesotho peaked at 130.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 80.2%, in 2024.
That places Lesotho 205th out of 217 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 90.1% | — |
| 1971 | 86.2% | -4.4% |
| 1972 | 86.8% | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 90.5% | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 103.1% | +14.0% |
| 1975 | 102.8% | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 100.6% | -2.1% |
| 1977 | 100.4% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 98.9% | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 99.1% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 99.7% | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 101.7% | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 105.0% | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 105.0% | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 103.5% | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 104.9% | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 102.5% | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 107.4% | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 108.2% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 105.9% | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 103.7% | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 103.7% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 101.6% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 97.1% | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 98.2% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 99.3% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 97.1% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 94.9% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 95.5% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 95.3% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 109.0% | +14.4% |
| 2001 | 112.8% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 116.7% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 122.5% | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 124.3% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 125.9% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 130.0% | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 124.0% | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 122.5% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 119.6% | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 118.6% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 117.2% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 115.3% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 110.5% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 107.8% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 105.2% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 104.2% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 105.6% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 96.0% | -9.1% |
| 2019 | 91.3% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 87.7% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 85.0% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 83.6% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 81.6% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 80.2% | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 95.8% | 86.2% | 103.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 104.4% | 99.7% | 108.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 98.6% | 94.9% | 103.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 120.7% | 109.0% | 130.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 107.2% | 91.3% | 118.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.6% | 80.2% | 87.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More education data for Lesotho
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,021 tertiary education (2022)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth -0.0496 % change on previous year (2018)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 10,388 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre-primary education 3 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Lesotho?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes in Lesotho was 80.2% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 130.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.2% in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes?
- Lesotho ranks 205th out of 217 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio, primary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release