Gross enrolment ratio, primary, male (%) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Gross enrolment ratio, primary, male (%) was 81.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
81.8%
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
201st
of 214 countries
All-time high
131.0%
in 2006
All-time low
69.4%
in 1972
Years of data
54
1970–2024
Gross enrolment ratio, primary, male in Lesotho, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio, primary, male in Lesotho is 81.8%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.5% on the previous year and down 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary, male in Lesotho peaked at 131.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 69.4%, in 1972.
That places Lesotho 201st out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary, male (%) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 71.6% | — |
| 1972 | 69.4% | -3.1% |
| 1973 | 72.8% | +5.0% |
| 1974 | 83.3% | +14.3% |
| 1975 | 84.3% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 82.8% | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 82.0% | -1.0% |
| 1978 | 80.3% | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 81.0% | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 82.3% | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 85.4% | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 89.8% | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 90.9% | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 90.7% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 92.6% | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 90.7% | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 94.8% | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 96.2% | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 95.1% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 93.8% | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 93.8% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 93.2% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 90.2% | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 92.4% | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 94.1% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 92.3% | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 91.1% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 91.9% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 91.8% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 107.3% | +16.8% |
| 2001 | 112.1% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 116.2% | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 122.2% | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 124.9% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 126.8% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 131.0% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 125.3% | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 123.8% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 120.4% | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 120.5% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 119.6% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 117.4% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 112.2% | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 109.6% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 107.2% | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 106.2% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 107.6% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 97.8% | -9.1% |
| 2019 | 90.7% | -7.3% |
| 2020 | 89.0% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 85.9% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 85.0% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 83.0% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 81.8% | -1.5% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 81.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 102.6%, 80% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 81.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 101.3%, 81% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 78.6% | 69.4% | 84.3% | 9 |
| 1980s | 90.9% | 82.3% | 96.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 92.5% | 90.2% | 94.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 121.0% | 107.3% | 131.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 108.9% | 90.7% | 120.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.9% | 81.8% | 89.0% | 5 |
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, primary, male in Lesotho?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary, male in Lesotho was 81.8% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary, male recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 131.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary, male recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.4% in 1972.
- How does Lesotho rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary, male?
- Lesotho ranks 201st out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary, male rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio, primary, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release