Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Lesotho
Lesotho: Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes was 66.1% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Lesotho, 1970–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Lesotho is 66.1%, measured in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Lesotho peaked at 68.2% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 44.3%, in 1971.
Lesotho ranks 148th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 46.9% | — |
| 1971 | 44.3% | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 44.3% | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 46.6% | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 51.7% | +10.8% |
| 1976 | 50.5% | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 50.3% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 49.5% | -1.5% |
| 1979 | 50.3% | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 51.0% | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 52.6% | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 54.7% | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 55.6% | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 55.5% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 56.7% | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 56.0% | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 57.7% | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 58.8% | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 58.0% | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 57.1% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 57.0% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 56.5% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 54.5% | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 55.6% | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 56.2% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 54.7% | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 52.4% | -4.3% |
| 2000 | 57.8% | +10.3% |
| 2001 | 59.0% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 60.0% | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 62.0% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 63.9% | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 65.5% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 68.2% | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 66.3% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 66.1% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 65.3% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 66.1% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 48.3% | 44.3% | 51.7% | 9 |
| 1980s | 55.7% | 51.0% | 58.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 55.5% | 52.4% | 57.1% | 8 |
| 2000s | 61.4% | 57.8% | 65.5% | 6 |
| 2010s | 66.4% | 65.3% | 68.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 145 San Marino 67.7% compare
- 146 Afghanistan 66.6% compare
- 147 Lebanon 66.3% compare
- 149 Cambodia 65.8% compare
- 150 Cameroon 65.4% compare
- 151 British Virgin Islands 65.0% compare
More education data for Lesotho
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 309,480 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.8093 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Lesotho?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Lesotho was 66.1% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 68.2% in 2012.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.3% in 1971.
- How does Lesotho rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- Lesotho ranks 148th out of 193 countries with data for 2017.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. 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 to tertiary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release